Some people have railed on driving as an obliteration of place. In contrast, Demerath & Levinger in essence explained how walking is an activity of place making.

Today, I would say that when you walk, you arrive with every step in a new place. On a bike, however, you are constantly leaving. If you think of it, really, arriving on a bike is a practice in awkwardness. Bikes like to go and don’t stand long when stopped. Indeed, if the bike were in broad use earlier in the evolution of the english language, the word might be a “fallstill”.

After my restorative night in Leesburg, Virginia, I departed again after noon from Whites Ferry. I used the morning to get a full night sleep, a full belly, attend to repacking and to improving my clothing. Practicality won out over purity and I took the shuttle back from the hotel as though last night’s stay were an exception on this ride.

Today’s ride included more great wildlife, with deer, a woodchuck, and numerous majestic Great Blue Herons (I have yet to get a photo).

For the first time, I said “I’m leaving *today*” when I awoke. I think that means I really am leaving tomorrow. Oh, also all my lists are checked off tonight as I go to sleep.

Forecast is now four days of rain, but grey skies always contain silver linings.

Been sleeping in my sleeping bag on my pad on the hardwood floors for days now, so the ground will be soft in comparison.

This has become a week of more substantial goodbyes. The two women of greatest importance in my life beyond my mother and aunts died. Judy Demerath a week ago at 76 and Nan Archer today at 84. They took leave each in different ways, but did not cling desperately. There was a grace about each. I am thinking of them and their families with love and appreciation.

And I will keep going.

Today’s ride was one of my longest ever. I set a goal when I began today to keep riding without putting a foot down for an hour. Then, I stretched that to two hours and 20 miles. Then three, and finally four hours and 45 miles later stopped for lunch in Williamsport.

A good two hours later, I hit the trail again for another 25 miles to Hancock, MD.

The fun thing about my delayed departure was that it became a joke in my cohousing community, and my neighbors were wanting to send me off well when the anticipated moment arrived.

I rode the familiar streets of DC with fondness particular to a departure. The Georgetown historic district and especially the canal signs bore new meaning and relevance to me. The investors in the canal reaped benefit by charging Georgetown businesses for waterwheels driven by canal flows.