Well, I did it! Essex to Annapolis and back!

What a nice day it turned out to be, starting out a little on the brisk side, but warmed up nicely by the time I reached Annapolis.

The ride through the city wasn't bad at all. In fact, in some places, a bicycle has distinct advantages over a motor vehicle.

It's funny how the mind works. I was so apprehensive about riding downtown that my heart rate was elevated until I reached familiar territory--The BWI Trail on Andover Rd.

I revamped my route so that I could avoid Monroe Street, because I wasn't sure what to expect at the huge interchange for 295, 95, and Monroe. Instead, I borrowed a part of a route from www.bikewashington.com that suggested using Greene St to Washington Blvd. But, after I made my left on Greene, I missed Washington and wound up on Russell St where there was some construction and that interchange that I wanted to miss. My remedy for the missed turn was to make a right on Bayard (which, incidentally has a bike lane). Bayard runs back into Washington Blvd, which has a bike path in severe disrepair. Once back on track, I had no more mistakes.

I made it to Annapolis using the BWI Trail followed by the Baltimore and Annapolis Trail in 2 hours 45 minutes. After crossing the U.S. Naval Academy Bridge, I rested in a parking lot two streets from the bridge (near Perry Circle). Here, I stripped off leg and arm warmers, then proceeded to refuel for the trip back.

The wind was in my face most of the way back, but my average speed was the same as the outbound trip--slow; just under 16 MPH. According to www.routeslip.com, the entire trip was about 77 miles with about 2,620 feet of climbing.

A map of the trip can be viewed here:

http://www.routeslip.com/map.php?map=14643