After a late night, I slept in this Sunday morning, and got a late start to the walk today, just making it to the start point at 2 PM, the latest I could start according to the brochure. Suburban Virginia was only 45 minutes away from my home on this non-rush hour Sunday afternoon, kind of cut it too close. Just like Saturday, I could not get my daughter Robin interested in going out, so I had to leave our puppy Cosmo behind and just bring volksmarch veteran pooches India and Peaches with me on this sunny, breezy Sunday. The start point was the physical education building on the George Mason University, just across from the Patriot Center, the School's big sporting event and entertainment center. The Northern Virginia Volksmarchers put together this two day event here, with a 5 km and a 10 km trail, rated a 1+.
I tied the pooches up just outside the start point and got registered quickly for the 10 km trail. There was a quick explanation of the map/directions with one staffed checkpoints and three unstaffed ones. I followed yellow ribbons out on the Patriot Circle Loop while on the University grounds, and then written directions only outside of campus, then red ribbons on the way back in through another loop of the campus. I missed the first checkpoint, an unstaffed one in a loop through some dormitories, which I also missed. I think it was because I was distracted by this person who was asking for directions to the antique show at the fieldhouse. I didn't know where the fieldhouse was, but I recognized this person as a famous on-air TV personality from days gone by, but couldn't recall his name. He looked very scruffy now; I don't believe he has been on camera for a while. Just thinking who it was got me distracted from following the trail, and misinterpreting the map also contributed to the confusion.
I didn't realize I missed this loop till I reached the one staffed checkpoint. Tom and Joyce Andrews, long-time friends on the trail, were staffing the checkpoint, and explained where I went wrong. Oh well, I shrugged it off, got a candy and a drink, made sure Peaches and India did too, and went on my way. This marked the exit off the campus and into neighborhood streets of Fairfax City, VA, and onto reading the written directions.
After several turns through pleasant enough developments on this beautiful Sunday afternoon, we wound up in the downtown area of Fairfax. I was thinking about what great contrasts the two walks I did this weekend had. Older, more established neighborhoods with plenty of old trees today versus newer, more clear-cut neighborhoods of Olney MD yesterday. Other contrasts were in evidence too. Peaches and India liked the trail today a bit more, as these bigger trees support a bigger squirrel population, which means more interesting moving targets to chase after!
In the downtown area, I answered another question for a checkpoint, then headed on back towards the University on University Drive. I saw familiar faces as I approached the University Grounds, it was Gary and Charlene Traub, who were doing trail breakdown for the 5 km trail, which stayed on the campus area. It was a pleasure to walk the remainder of the trail with them, as I didn't have to follow the markers or directions any more, and helped them a little bit in taking some of the markers down. This final loop wound around more of the inner buildings and facilities of the campus, in contrast to the outer loop at the beginning. Interspersed with woodland, the campus is nicely laid out mostly, though some of the architecture of the campus buildings wasn't among the world's best. But Charlene's tour was most interesting, and I also caught up on some local Virginia volksmarch news.
Before we knew it, we were back at the finish, and I got my books stamped and thanked all the club volunteers for putting on this event. There was a grand total of 380 walkers for the two day march. I do look forward to another event on campus someday in the future.
Seneca Valley Sugarloafers
Upcoming walking events in Maryland
Volksmarch and Walking Index Web page
About.com DC/Annapolis
US National and State Parks
