Biking Mount Vernon Trail

The Washington, D.C. area is a bicyclist's paradise with numerous bicycle-friendly routes.  Because of its magnificent scenery and its (mostly) off-road character, the Mount Vernon Bike Trail is rapidly becoming a our favorite.  For a look at the Mount Vernon Bike Trail's map, click here. 

Tim & I at the entrance to Mount Vernon

Beginning in Rosslyn, Virginia near the Theodore Roosevelt Island, the Mount Vernon trail runs 18 miles south to the historic home of George and Martha Washington, hugging the shoreline of the Potomac River along the way.

We arrived early at Mount Vernon, so early that our bikes are the first ones to be chained to the bike rack.

We traded bike shoes for sneakers and helmuts for baseball caps; then, we stopped at the ticket booth to buy yearly admission cards.  No doubt, we'll be visiting Mount Vernon a lot since half the fun is getting here.  Plus, the plantation's air-conditioned Visitor's Center and Food Court is a great place to cool off.

These beautiful stained glass windows in the Orientation Center commemorate the reading of the Washington's reading of the Declaration of Independence before his assembled troops.

There we also found a miniature replica of George and Martha's home.  Fashioned by expert and very skilled craftsmen, every door knob turns and each drawer opens in this exactly scaled reproduction.

We began our tour of the real mansion at the west gate known as the Bowling Green gate.  Washington laid out formal gardens to the left and vegetable gardens on the right, but he wanted a majestic view for the approach to his home's front entrance.  This Bowling Green fits his plan perfectly.

Washington added two sweeping porticos to both sides of his home, enhancing the symmetry and creating walkways between the kitchens, gardener's residence and the main house.  There's also a great view of the Potomac River to the east.

Washington's Wharf has been restored so that tour boats may dock here to let off tourists.

I found Washington's sixteen-sided threshing barn fascinating.

Since I recently experienced a 2011 wheat harvest, it was interesting to learn how progressive farmers like George Washington experimented with this threshing technology. 

See the slatted fence behind this lady? That's where 4 horses were harnessed and led in a circuit...

...to trod on the sheaves of wheat laid under their hooves.

The barn's floor underneath the horses' circuit is slotted so grains of wheat fall out of the wheat stocks into the area below.

Leaving Mount Vernon, Tim and I stopped at a nearby scenic overlook of the Potomac River.

At Milepost 7, we are halfway home.

We took time along the way to enjoy the marina with its sailboats.

This photo shows a marshy area to the left.

Reagan National Airport is also found along the trail.

If you look carefully...very carefully...just above and slightly to the left of Tim' elbow, you'll see the Washington Monument in the distance.

Safely home again, but we have plans to return to the Mount Vernon Bike Trail soon!