My MetBranch Trail opening experience(s)

[DancesWithCars]

The Met Branch opening was crowded and hot,
new black asphalt, DC politics and speakers

I didn't much know besides Eleanor Holmes Norton,
Phoenix Bike had lots of people, I refused to sign
the surprise WABA waiver at Coop ride
and only one other guy showed up,
so the tech just stayed there,
the other guy raced ahead,
I almost wiped out trying to pass
a group on the hill near the
power plant water output boardwalks,
I'd wanted to go around the parkway side
instead...

We waited at  W&OD for a while,
thinking we missed them....

Talked to a guy waiting for his son
with a data plan on cell, and he kindly
looked up where the Met Branch
trail actually is, (I was just going to follow people,
who didn't show)
Union Station!

I could NOT wait in the noonish mid day
sun at the airport landing strip area,
too much sunburn day before Friday
USDA Smithsonian farmers market before CM,
 so said I'd meet at 14th st, to keep moving...

Waited in the shade on the other side
of the bridge...

After some traffic and waiting at stops,
CM last night didn't do that...

Shot my mouth off about kid
with headphones, one is legal,
two is not! OOPS...

Then kids along Pennsylvania Avenue
in confusing new bike lanes,
I got ~in trouble~ for biking
CM in Front of Kids, teens with attitude at that,
single file/ vs Take The Lane!...

Cars having difficulty thinking we
in the middle were going to make a left,
when going straight, blocking their view too...
Cones across the lanes, large black circles
base of barrels were blocking using
the lanes too...

Stopped at Bike Station, asked where
the trail was...

First finding the trail, 2nd & L, NE?
Further north and east than I would
have expected...

Talked to a family with baby in
trailer, Kiddo had a head neck
rest!  Makes sense with that young,
but getting jealous of the poshness...

Got advice on building wheel,
check for paid PDF online...


A few interesting things at MBT
Steps at Florida Avenue rail,
or around the corner, no real side walk
and traffic one way,
coming the other way...
He had said not go that way,
but I had to find out for myself...

Back and forth ramp up hill
at trail.  Small fences blocking
to stairs or parking lot?

Trail is along  side of trains,
from some recent list mails
about Trains to Richmond, etc,
thought it was not safe to have
bikes & paths along edge of train tracks,
some with concrete barriers,
some just fence.

Graffitii and smashed
out car windows, some glass
along alley way looking places,
rather urban and ghetto,
and I live along Rt1, but it was not
what I was used to...

Could use some revitalizations...


Several stops near each other,
first one lots of booths,
a shop trying to open up,
one further loud music
stopped in to talk a bit,
They one best music,
has a computer center
and studio.  I mentioned
OLPC Laptop.org and
 SugarLabs.org
for a younger kid
interface...  Downloadable
ISO and can put Sugar
on a Stick...  Stop in sometime,
find name, no cards or papers
handed out, just food and talk,
this time...

Further up food given out,
speakers on stage,
and in a shopping mall
parking lot,
WABA ran a kid bike rodeo,
bike valet and had a tent..

Rock climbing wall, some free food
lots of Kaiser people selling/
promoting but gave away
water bottles.   Some arts and crafts
tables, in parking lot.
I'm broke so could not buy stuff..

Along trail, one bike trailer watering
arrangement, suggested
they put benches (with signs
as a corporate sponsor)
and water fountains along the trail,...

Some hiking club booth,
patches and stickers...

Suggesting WABA has a Bike
Bandaid/ patch, along the lines
"I'm a real biker now..."
for the bike rodeos and other
biking with kids.  Kind of a badge
of honor, road rash...


Bailed on biking the trail.
Too sunburned, warm and tired,
so went back by Metrorail
to Alexandria, to bed
and nurse my pains...

-- 
DancesWithCars
leave the wolves behind ;-)