DC - Metro Pylon-to-Pylon Challenge!

[BootScootin'FireFighter]

A little over two months ago, I decided to plan my first big scooter adventure. I was inspired by people like “trackpete” (who rode a scooter to the Arctic Circle and back over 90 days all across the Canada and the Central USA) and “Arizona Howard” (completed the Iron Butt challenge on a scooter, 1000 miles in less than 24 hours). I wanted my adventure to be enduring, yet not requiring me to go far away. I was never more than 25 miles from home throughout this trip. My plan was to incorporate checkpoints, and to photo-document each of these locations as I passed. Finally, I wanted to experience almost every portion of the Washington metropolitan area into this trip.

The final idea dawned on me, and I mapped out the Metro Pylon to Pylon Challenge. The Washington Metrorail system has 86 stations throughout the District and immediate suburbs of Virginia and Maryland. By the end of trip, it was over 200 miles of city/suburban riding and 15 hours. It may not seem like a lot, but consider lots of time at red lights, posing for pictures, traffic under 30mph, and a few breaks.

This trip really was a big sense of accomplishment for me. I feel like I earned a Playstation or Xbox trophy. Discover all 86 Metro stations, *ding*, with the icon on the top right of the screen. I needed to see how well I endured a long day riding, since there will be a few long days riding to get me to New Orleans in the summer for Amerivespa 2011. I strongly encourage everyone, regardless of your riding experience to find an adventure that works for you. Plan it out, make it a personal goal, and go out and do it, regardless of how ridiculous it may sound. It doesn’t have to be anything big and elaborate. Make time for YOU and you alone. Stop being so caught up in your job or family, just take a day for yourself and do something crazy.

For the full FLICKR photo album, click HERE or HERE (with ride report on left column)

[TVB]

I strongly encourage everyone, regardless of your riding experience to find an adventure that works for you.

Riding to the Arctic or 1000miles in a day is out of my league as well. But riding from Indiana to Wisconsin (the long way), or from Mackinac to Lake Erie... those I figured I could do. And I could.
So... all 83 counties in Michigan... I think I can.

[Stormswift]

have 2 plans. One is to scoot from Baltimore to Penn. to see Amish country and the bridges. The second trip will be much more ambitious: I want to ride from Baltimore to Deep creek Lake using old roads instead of interstate.

[Lagerhead]

pylonjpg by benandangie, on Flickr

[trackpete]

Haha, well done! I've been in the DMV area for five years and have probably only been to 2/3 of the metro stations. When looking through your pictures it's funny how many of the spots are in my memory as "lived near there" "worked near there" or "dated a girl near there." Man DC is metro connected.

[KABarash]

scoot from Baltimore to Penn. to see Amish country and the bridges.

[Howardr]

Nice pics, Boot scootin'. I'll bet it was a great time. Scooters just make things like that more interesting, more fun and more memorable. Sure, you cold have done the same thing in your car, but . . . . . .why?

Looks like a great time

Howard