Day 21 - Dumfries to Crystal City, VA - 48 miles, 2200 feet ascent
We claim this ground in remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001. To honor the 184 people whose lives were lost, their families, and all who sacrifice that we may live in freedom. We will never forget.
~ Inscription at the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial, Arlington Virginia.
Crystal City. There’s a city, it has construction barrels, but not a whole lot of crystal. We are on the eve of our final leg to Annapolis. It hardly seems possible after 21 days on the road and 1,158 miles since leaving Apalachicola. This feels like Christmas Eve and we’re all little boys wondering what we’ll find under the tree tomorrow morning. I hope we manage some sleep.
The alarm went of at 0600 like all mornings. We ambled down from bed and some of us had the misfortune breaking our overnight fast in the lobby of the Days Inn. The feast consisted of Frosted Flakes, Fruit Loops, stale bagels, one pre-packaged chocolate muffin, and a solitary cup of yogurt. This is no exaggeration. The cereal dispenser was probably a coffee grinder in a previous life because it turned flakes of a fine powder. You may note this list omits milk; this was NO oversight. How many small cups of half and half would it take to make the meager cereal offerings tolerable? So much for the most important meal of the day.
I could go on about the Days Inn. I could talk about the musty scent, the nasty carpet, the ill-fitting ceiling tiles, the substandard electrical work, the loose plumbing fixtures, the depressing fitness room with just enough equipment to qualify as a fitness room, or the fact that I would never stay there with my family, but I digress. Alren saved day realizing that a Navy travels on its stomach arranged for a return visit at Montclair Family Restaurant. Given the portion sizes for dinner the previous evening, they were probably shocked to see us back for more. This second breakfast had me feeling like a Hobbitt, but food is food and there is nothing worse than riding on an empty stomach. Even more surprising was Carl June’s waffle order. Why eat hotel waffles when you can have them special made at a diner? Thanks, Arlen, for looking out for us, and thanks to the wait staff at the Montclair, you guys are amazing.
Apologies for the lack of in-ride photos from today’s cycling. This was the kind of ride that required two hands on the bars at almost all times. We launched into the day with a nine-mile detour around a two-mile section of Richmond Highway. This may sound silly, but rest assure this was worth EVERY pedal stroke. Once on our final stretch of the Richmond Highway Motor Speedway we were cruising along in a bike lane segregated from car traffic. After lunch we rode single file along the Mount Vernon trail through Old Town Alexandria and into Cystal City. Most of us will probably need new brake pads.
A trip to the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial made for a somber highlight of the day. As the shadows grew long, Butch Hansen and Jay Donnelly gave remarks talking about the attack at the Pentagon on a day still very fresh in our minds 24 years later. Afterward we strolled the grounds in a moment of reflection, each reliving that day in the quiet of our thoughts. A favorite aphorism says, “never judge someone on their worst day.” September 11th was a worst day that saw many give their best in the midst of horrible circumstances. We would all do well to remember those we lost that day and make good on our promise to NEVER FORGET.
Tomorrow, we draw this journey to a close. The time has come to complete our mission. The journey began in Florida three weeks ago, but the story really started in Annapolis. It began on Induction Day when we swore an oath, it began in the crucible of Plebe Summer, it began on cruise, and it began at graduation. It continued into the fleet and beyond. We have had great fun reliving those memories over beers in nameless hotel parking lots and over too many Mexican dinners. We are anxious to get home and share this victory with family and friends. See you in Annapolis. See you tomorrow. GO NAVY!