Riding With ChesapeakeMan

I got out for a 30 mile ride today and beat the approaching rain that's already soaking much of the DC area. It's interesting to me how much of DC's weather never makes it across the Bay, especially in the winter. It often seems to slide up the I-95 corridor.

I delayed my ride a bit today to allow participants in the "ChesapeakeMan Ultra Triathlon" to complete their riding. However, I ended up passing a handful of them once I got out there and none overtook me. I was feeling kind of smug about it until I realized what they were facing for their day—2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run. Nonetheless, my speed was good at an average of 16.8 mph over 30 miles of riding.

I'm considering riding the Sea Gull Century this year for the first time in a very long time.

Wildlife sitings were unexceptional, except for an apparently injured Great Blue Heron struggling and bounding to cross the road about 10 yards ahead of me. These really are very large and somewhat prehistoric looking birds. I see them often, but never before hurt like this. He crossed safely into an area of deep, uninterrupted marsh.

Below is a shot of a small church along my route today (map link). There are many small churches in the area, some forgotten, most are United Methodist.

Oak Grove Church
Church Creek, Maryland
N38.413623, W-76.233997