005: Day 6: College Park to Washington DC (119 miles- m128.4) and Days 7 and 8 resting (April 14-16)

We started the morning with a shared omelette at the iHOP down the street from the hotel. There is something about food. Your body tells you first that you are hungry and after breakfast, you are suddenly very tired. The almost 5 miles to the beginning of the Anacostia Trail near the Riverdale Elementary School took forever. 

 We had a lovely interlude with an older woman when we were pushing the bikes uphill. She looked at us and said that we are pushing quite a lot of baggage. When both Christine and I pointed at the other with similar comments that the baggage belongs to the other, she looked at us with a smile. In typical West-African fashion she responded, "Well, if this does not belong to you, then you are pushing a lot for somebody else." We had a good laugh with her. 

 The Anacostia trail is beautiful and we were amazed at how many people used it, walkers with and without dogs, cyclists, birders, etc. and with people from so many walks of life. We again felt the reset mode when we experienced the friendliness along the trail - from a cyclist that greeted me with a smile and a simple "George"- probably in reference to the George Floyd murder trail currently ongoing - to pedestrians with broad smiles and "Hallo's."

The City of Bladensburg developed a great waterfront park at the site of the battle during the War of 1812. 

From here it became colder, windier and a drizzle started. So, we changed our plans and arranged with Marius to pick us up at Haynes Point DC. We decided to leave the Monuments of DC for the next day. 

Another beautiful board walk along the Anacostia Trail.

The new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge where we crossed the Anacostis River into DC.   

 A memorial to the men on the Titanic that gave up their places to women and children. 

The view from Haynes Point to the South East Waterfront. See also the high water level - must be high tide. 

Marius arrived. After dropping our bikes at Conte's Bike shop for a checkup we went home for a well-deserved rest. 

We had quite a lot of admin to do - like mailing the box of stuff that we took off out bikes and trailer to Lizl, setting up Social Security and Tax arrangements - and just relaxing before we get on our bikes again. We had a lovely send-off Spaghetti Bolognaise dinner at Marius and Hilda, joined by Tom and Leani as well as Elmarie and the twins on Thursday evening. Missed you, Martin, Kiera, Eva, Karmi and Becky!

In the end we decided to stay at Marius and Hilda for an extra day. We shall start again on Saturday,  April 17.