I learned on Friday that I did not have Sunday for a long ride, so I quickly adjusted my plans. Instead of staffing a booth at Maryland Day, I set up and worked the alumni breakfast and got out of there before noon. Plus I rode my bike there to squeeze in mileage. Then I took the subway to Rosslyn again, this time with plans to take the W&OD far out and come back.

Except I turned right again and rode to Mt. Vernon instead. I'm not sure why, except that the weather was gorgeous and I felt like being near the water. Turned around before the last mile to skip an atrocious hill. There's a turnoff near the airport for the Four Mile Run trail (it says to Shirlington) and I tried turning there to find the W&OD, but I lost the trail fast. I poked around the neighborhood for a while trying to figure out what happened, but eventually I doubled back and returned to Rosslyn, where I got on the Custis Trail.

The Custis Trail rises in a way that made me want to cry. I made it to the W&OD at last, then rode for a while and noticed that I was 1) riding real slow and 2) casting a long shadow. I didn't want to be riding home in the dark, so I turned around. Now I wish I had soldiered on a bit, but I guess I will next time: the ride back was a breeze. Wind and gravity were both with me and I was flying the whole way. That was fun!

The metro ride was not--the red line was single tracking for a long stretch on my route and we had to sit on the train for a long time. A LONG time. I had nothing to read with me, although I am in the middle of several good books. Thinking of them only made it more annoying. Everyone just sat there, staring at the one person who had phone reception at Gallery Place as she chattered away. I was relieved to see when we got above ground that it was still light. When I got home Maureen, the babysitter, was there cooking up a storm. Brian had run an errand for her and somehow that turned into her coming to the house and cooking enough food for three meals. It would have been four meals, but Christopher was home, too, and he can tear through some food. Maureen loves to cook for Christopher! She also loves to point out my shortcomings, so giving her free reign in the kitchen was a real Christmas in April. My pots are too big, except the ones that are too small. Or light. And such a nice kitchen, why didn't I keep it clean? (I swear, it was clean when I left. Really.) She had plenty of girlfriend advice for Christopher, too, and her regular barrage of general wisdom for all. That was fun, too!

In the end, I rode about 62 untimed miles. It looks like Saturdays are my only option for long rides, since Brian has softball from now on. That kills every Sunday for me unless the game's cancelled. Or I could take a day off work, although I don't see myself doing that. Or I could find another babysitter, but I don't see myself doing that, either. I am going with the rain plan.