My friend Mary organizes an "Errandonnee" every year, latish in the Winter. The term "errandonnee" is a play on the words "randonnee," which is an organized long distance bike ride of 1200 kilometers in 90 hours, and "errand," which is, well, an errand. The Errandonnee is a bit easier than a randonnee: bike at least 30 miles and finish 12 errands in 12 days covering at least 7 of 9 prescribed categories between March 5-16. It is actually harder than it seems because of the category requirement. You can't just ride to work every day, and maybe stop at a bunch of different stores on the way home. The upside is that it pushes you to use your bike in new ways. Or, if you are a lawyer like me, it encourages you to redefine the term "errand" and get creative with the categories. It is a lot of fun and I look forward to it every year.
To prove I completed the event, I completed the a "control" card Mary created to document my errands, and took a photograph of each errand. I forgot to take a photograph a couple of times, so let's just say I have a photograph closely associated with each errand, many of which were actually taken on the errand. In any event, here is my control card, with bonus commentary and photos.
Errandonnee 2015: Errand by Errand
Errand 1
I started the Errandonnee on my back foot because we had the heaviest snowfall of the year on the first day and I am simply afraid to ride on anything like ice or snow. In fact, that fear, plus a bit of travel, had kept me off the bike for almost three weeks. So on Sunday, feeling desperate for a ride and an errand I dabbled with the Dark Side and went for a nice 50 mile ride and by lawyerly sleight of hand, called it an errand; you know, to "pick up" some mental and physical health. You can see my route here.
Category:Non-Store Errand Destination: Riley’s Lock
What I learned/observation: I went for a bike ride to get my happy place
after two+ weeks off the bike. I learned
I can still ride a bike. I saw two
spectacular Broad Winged Hawks in Rock Creek Park and a Pileated Woodpecker in
a snow covered copse off Esworthy in Potomac.
Miles: 52 Date: Sunday, 3-8-2015
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| Snowy Historical Marker at Riley's Lock |
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| Snowy Stairs up to the Tow Path |
Errand 2
With that out of my system, and the weather improving to near-seasonal temperatures, I could settle into more normal errandoneeing, starting with a ride to the dry cleaners Monday morning.
Category: Personal Business Destination: Carriage House Dry Cleaners
What I learned/observation: Potholes and a bit of ice are still lurking
in the early morning hours. And you can
stuff an amazing amount of dirty laundry in panniers.
Miles: 0.3 Date: Monday, 3/9/2015
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| Carriage House Cleaners, Takoma Park |
Errand 3
That evening I stopped at the bank on my way home. I felt bad about this one because it broke one of my personal Errandonnee rules. Because I bike to work almost every day, I want my Errandonnee errands to require some deviation from my normal commuting route, and I count only the miles of the deviation. But, I was tired, and really had to get to the bank, so I stopped at the ATM right on on the route.
That evening I stopped at the bank on my way home. I felt bad about this one because it broke one of my personal Errandonnee rules. Because I bike to work almost every day, I want my Errandonnee errands to require some deviation from my normal commuting route, and I count only the miles of the deviation. But, I was tired, and really had to get to the bank, so I stopped at the ATM right on on the route.
Category: Personal Business Destination: Bank
What I learned/observation: Warm weather!
Shorts! Short sleeves! I think I biked much faster with fewer
layers. Whatever, it felt great!
Miles: 6 Date: Monday, 3/9/2015
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| Takoma SunTrust ATM |
Errand 4
Tuesday was another workaday day of errands. I decided to count my commute as an errand today.
Tuesday was another workaday day of errands. I decided to count my commute as an errand today.
Work or Volunteering Destination: Work (Farragut Sq.)
What I learned/observation: Despite the warm temperatures and rain, there
are still some surprise piles of filthy, gritty, snow, or “snirt”, in the bike
lanes. (FYI: Snirt is that mix of dirt and snow by the side of the road that just won't melt).
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| A bit of stubborn snow on our North-facing front yard |
Errand 5
That night I went by CVS to pick up a few things, although they did not have everything we needed. No drama, but was very frustrated that CVS in Takoma has no accommodation for bikes.
Category: Store (includes bike
shop, grocery store, etc. You know, a store.) Destination: CVS
What I learned/observation: CVS no
longer carries Q-Tip brand cotton swabs, which is sad because CVS brand swabs
are not the same as the real thing.
Also, the Takoma CVS has no bike parking.
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| Deluxe Locking Station at CVS |
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| The VIP Bike Lot at CVS |
Errand 6
The next night I was not sure if I would get an errand in, but a last minute text message from my son asking for ketchup saved the errandonnee! And off to CVS I went. It had started to rain, so I metroed to Takoma and then biked to CVS and home.
Category: Store Destination: CVS Part 2
What I learned/observation: Last minute
call for catsup/ketchup let me pick up another errandonnee errand. Forgot a lock, though, so I pretended my bike
was a horse and tied it up with my helmet straps and a Velcro strip. That high security, or maybe the rain,
deterred theft and my bike was waiting for me when I finished my errandonneeing.
Miles: 1 Date: Tuesday, 3/10/2015
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| Ketchup |
Errand 7
The next night I counted my ride home as an errand and was treated to mild temperatures and striking sunset.
Category: Work/Volunteering Destination: Home from Work
What I learned/observation: Beautiful sunset tonight.
Miles: 6.8
Date: Wednesday, 3/11/2015
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| Blurry Sunset |
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| Better Sunset |
Errand 8
The next night was an extra-special errand: a trip to the liquor store (a treat in itself) to buy six single malt whiskeys for a scotch tasting we were hosting that weekend. Lots of fun shopping, and then figuring out how to pack the bottles into my panniers. The clerks and other customers were highly amused, although I am not sure if they were laughing with me or at me.
Category: You carried WHAT on
your bike?! Destination: S&A Liquors
What I learned/observation: We are hosting a Single Malt Scotch tasting
on Friday so I had to pick up 6 bottles of whiskey on my way home. Took some advanced geometry to get them into
my panniers, but it worked.
Miles: .3 Date: Thursday, 3/12/2015 Destination:
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| Now You Don't |
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| Now You See Them |
Errand 9
Friday morning means Friday Coffee Club at ME Swings, near the White House. Mary and husband Ed started FCC a few years ago as an informal weekly gathering of DC bike commuters, bloggers, and twitterers. I used to be a FCC regular, but Fridays are often deadline days, so I typically try to get into work early and my FCC attendance slid from regular to occasional to "who is that guy?" The Errandonnee inspired me to make the effort this week, and I was glad I did
Friday morning means Friday Coffee Club at ME Swings, near the White House. Mary and husband Ed started FCC a few years ago as an informal weekly gathering of DC bike commuters, bloggers, and twitterers. I used to be a FCC regular, but Fridays are often deadline days, so I typically try to get into work early and my FCC attendance slid from regular to occasional to "who is that guy?" The Errandonnee inspired me to make the effort this week, and I was glad I did
Category: Social Call Destination:
Friday Coffee Club
What I learned/observation: I need to
make a greater effort to come to FCC!
This is a B-roll shot I stole from Rudy.
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| FCC Still Life |
Errand 10
Friday night was the Scotch tasting so I left work a bit early to help get ready. As I walked out of the office I saw a flower stand and bought some roses for the table. Errandonnee score! Good husband points too!
Friday night was the Scotch tasting so I left work a bit early to help get ready. As I walked out of the office I saw a flower stand and bought some roses for the table. Errandonnee score! Good husband points too!
Category: Wild Card Destination: Home with flowers
What I learned/observation: Stopped to get flowers for a scotch whiskey
tasting we hosted. Flowers in your
panniers make the bike ride more fun, no doubt.
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| Reenactment of Roses Errandonnee |
Errand 11
Sunday I had a big ride planned. A new biking friend, Hamid, and I planned to pre-ride a 200k brevet for the DC Randonneurs. Hamid was the ride organizer so he needed to pre-ride the route. I had a conflict the day of the official ride, so Hamid let me tag along. This turned out to be a very tough ride, with strong, 20 mph headwinds for the first 55 or so miles. Plus, this is a very hilly route with a lot of difficult climbing over the Catoctins, South Mountain, and the Blue Ridge in the first 30 miles. After that, you only have about 88 miles to ride! I stretched a point or two in the Errandonnee rules and counted the ride as two errands. Here is what the complete ride looks like.
Sunday I had a big ride planned. A new biking friend, Hamid, and I planned to pre-ride a 200k brevet for the DC Randonneurs. Hamid was the ride organizer so he needed to pre-ride the route. I had a conflict the day of the official ride, so Hamid let me tag along. This turned out to be a very tough ride, with strong, 20 mph headwinds for the first 55 or so miles. Plus, this is a very hilly route with a lot of difficult climbing over the Catoctins, South Mountain, and the Blue Ridge in the first 30 miles. After that, you only have about 88 miles to ride! I stretched a point or two in the Errandonnee rules and counted the ride as two errands. Here is what the complete ride looks like.
Category: Wild Card Destination: Lunch in Pennsylvania!
What I learned/observation: Wind is the silent killer of speed. Also, my hyper-caloric training regimen this
winter did not, contrary to all expectations, improve my endurance on the
bike. Just edged into Pennsylvania on my
aborted 200k attempt. The swollen rivers and streams, especially the Monocacy and Chonocheague, were amazing to pedal by, especially on roads that were just inches above the water level.
Miles: 60 Date: 3/15/2015
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| Menu and Brevet Card |
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| Welcome to Pennsylvania |
Errand 12
I wanted to do this ride as the first in the "Super Randonneur Series," a series of rides of 200k, 300k 400k, and 600k spread out from March - early June. I have done the 200k and 300k distance before, but never all four rides in a single year. Unfortunately, I did not get my 200k this weekend. Hamid was on his first long ride after coming back from a serious injury last summer, and the wind, hills, and miles were all too much. After lunch there as a long, tough climb over South Mountain and Catoctin Ridge. On the top, it was very cold, near freezing. I made it over first, waited at the top until I got the shivers, and then descended into Thurmont to wait for Hamid. When he came down he said he was done, and called a buddy for a ride back to his car. I waited with him, and decided I did not want to ride the remaining 40+ miles alone and took a shortcut (if 30 miles is a shortcut) back to the car. 113 miles on the day, but not the 200k I had hoped for. On the plus side, I get to do it again to complete the 200k ride. Here is a map of the ride I actually did.
Category: Non-Store Errand Destination:
Urbana to collect completed brevet card
What I learned/observation: Sometimes things don't go to plan. Set out to do this brevet with Hamid. Headwind and hills put us behind schedule
almost from the start, and then Hamid needed to abandon at mile 85 because of
some health issues. I ended up riding
about 113 miles, but no completed 200k.
Miles: 113 Date: 3/15/2015
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| Incomplete Brevet Card |
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| Resting at KOA near Williamsport, MD |
Monday came and my legs were remarkably not sore. I had made plans to meet Rudy (biking buddy, FCC regular, and all-round good guy) for a beer to catch up on bikes and life (there is a difference ... I think).
Category: Social Call Destination: Glenn’s Garden Market for beers with Rudy
What I learned/observation: There is a whole other world out there! I have not spent much time around Dupont
Circle for many years and have forgotten what a whole bunch on young
professionals looks like. It was a nice
change of pace and scene, and the beer was good too. Thanks Rudy!
Miles: .5 Date: 3/16/2015
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| Rudy and the Beers |
Summary:
Total Errands: 13
Total Miles: 201.4
Once again, the Errandonnee surprised, delighted, and challenged me. Lots of fun. Thanks Mary!
