I rode my CrossCheck today to Long Bridge Park, located about 12 miles north of home. Long Bridge Park is situated aside the main rail line that crosses the Potomac River to link DC with points south. The rail crossing currently is being expanded which will eliminate a major pinch point for Amtrak, commuter rail, and freight traffic. Next to the new Long Rail Bridge will be a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge.
This morning I saw a picture of a line of cherry trees in bloom in the park on social media so naturally I had to go see it for myself. I arrived to see that none of the trees in question were in bloom. The Internet lied! (Who knew?) I continued past the trees to the northern end of the park where I saw something unexpected.
The construction crew had taken down all the trees on the north end of the park that had obscured the view of the river crossing. The new rail line will leave the park, cross the George Washington Parkway and the Potomac River before land fall in East Potomac Park on the DC side.
I turned for home and rode back south and picked up the Mount Vernon Trail at the southern end of Old Town Alexandria. The path lies immediately between the Parkway and the Potomac. I noticed on the grass between the trail and highway a large black shard of plastic autobody. I didn’t give it a second thought until I passed another large dark object in the grass. It was a huge beaver. Judging from the condition of the carcass and the small number of flies lighting it, I guessed the poor critter had been dead only a half hour or so. Apparently, the beaver had been hit by a black car while crossing the Parkway. Dan
A Few Spokes Shy of a Wheel 