Ride In 8/29: Foaled  Another commute along the National Mall.
I've become quite taken with it, at least in the mornings when
it's empty. Except for runners. So many runners. People just
love running. If you ever feel like a loner or a social outcast
or in any way out of the mainstream, my advice is to 1) go to
City Sports and buy a branded shirt and 2) run around on the
National Mall. Then you'll be just like 10 million other people.
Instant assimilation! (Also, if you feel like a loner or an
outcast don't expect riding a bike to solve these problems. In
many ways, it amplifies them)  Instead of riding on the Rock
Creek trail, I decided to cut through Foggy Bottom. 23rd street
is essentially terrible, at least until Virginia Avenue. One of
the worst side effects about the over-securitization of already
lifeless federal buildings is how the street life is deadened
even further, allowing city streets to essentially be converted
into freeways. Freeways aren't the best for bicycling. I mean,
they'd be ok if ther