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These are pictures Larry and Dottie's friend Jody took.  Dottie: "Since we traveled all the way up there and told many friends we would be riding with Bill they would probably like to see the pictures on your web site." Click this picture to see the others in the gallery.

In the morning at the The Meadowlark Gardens, we met a woman named Linda Andress. Ms. Andress invited us to have lunch with here at her favorite restaurant, the Vienna Inn, which is near the W&OD trail. Veterinarian Linda Neimeir also came out to ride with Bill.

The town of Vienna was having a festival, when Brenda and I arrived. Brenda had to park the truck at a local high school; there just wasn't anywhere else to park. We spotted Ms. Neimeir's truck and trailer at the school. She didn't have anyone to drive for her, so she parked there, then rode to meet Bill. That didn't quite workout as planned, as the trail is split in some sections. The paved sections are mainly for bicycles. Bill was switching back and forth and Ms. Neimeir missed him somewhere along the way.

Anyway, when everyone finally met up we walked over to the Vienna Inn. Ms. Neimeir watched the horses while we went in to eat. After lunch we said good bye to  Ms. Neimeir and  Ms. Andress and hit the road again. We drove on to our next camp site for the night.

We didn't know what to expect when we got to the next place for the night. Bon Air Park is a city park, and a very busy one at that. Louis Barb, Randy Randall and his granddaughter Isibella came out to help us get situated. The folks in the park couldn't quite make out why we were parking the big truck and trailer on the grass for. When Bill and Blackie arrived we where swarmed with kids. One thing I have learned is that kids love horses.

Although the W&OD trail accommodates horses, the remaining trek into Washington D.C., on the Custis Trail, does not. I'm not sure who was able to give permission to ride the bike trail. Bicycle & Pedestrian Programs Manager, David Goodman was contacted by Paul McCray, and Mr. Goodman agreed to assist Bill with routing. Mr. Goodman brought aerial photos and maps, which he went over with Bill that night at Bon Air Park.

After eating lunch at Carolina Brothers Pit Barbeque Bill got back on the W&OD. Brenda and I got back on highway 7. Unfortunately we just happened to get back on during a traffic jam. I'm sure it wasn't as bad as it could have been. It's times like this when we wonder if Bill and Blackie are making better time then we are.

On the 24th we set off once again. To get to the W&OD we rearranged the trailer and drove to parking lot of the parking lot of Loudoun County High School which is about 30 miles north of Bull Run Regional Park. Paul McCray came to see us off as well as a few other people, including a reporter who brought (I believe) her granddaughters, Vivian and Grace. After visiting Bill headed down the W&OD.

Bill and Blackies brake was where the W&OD and Ashburn Rd. intersect. At this intersection is a little place called Carolina Brothers Pit Barbeque. While we waited for Bill, Brenda and I ate some great food and visited with Danny Hurdle and his family. Mr. Hurdle talked to me about his business, the history behind the building which he now owns.

We camped out at the Bull Run Regional Park from the 18th to the 24th of May. The Bull Run Regional Park was an excellent place for Blackie to rest up. We were a few day ahead of schedule, and still needed to figure out the rest of the routing. Blackie also developed some swelling where ticks had been on his back. As Brenda says,”he's thin skinned.” Veterinarian Linda Neimeir gave Blackie some antibiotics and steroids to help the swelling go down.

Bill and Blackie made it into Washington D.C. Here are the picture I took on the 25th and 26th. I will write proper stories and compile the video soon.

Video shot while Bill was riding to the National Memorial Day Parade. 05-13-08 - 05-18-08 recompiled and uploaded...