Lucky to live near the W&OD Trail
We moved to Loudoun County back in 2005 when we were expecting our second daughter. We were looking for more space, great schools and lots of family friendly resources and activities. We hit the jackpot when we moved to Ashburn, VA and we have loved every minute of it.
We fell in love with the abundance of family activities including kid concerts, local parks, parades and local farms. One resource we hadn’t realized would become such an important part of our lives was the W&OD Trail. Back in 2005, my husband was a beginning road biker. He was easily able to go out for rides with minimal time away from the family because of the trail’s proximity (less than 1 mile).
Soon, we started taking family rides on the trail pulling the girls behind us in a bike trailer. We logged many miles with the trailer and have since past it on to some friends with young ones. The girls loved spotting white tailed deer, box turtles and dozens of types of birds.
Eventually I started biking on the trail regularly. I have owned an entry level road bike for a little over a year and I enjoying riding whenever I can. My favorite ride is from Ashburn to the top of Dry Mill Road and back with lots of rolling hills and scenery. One day soon, I plan to ride the entire 45 mile trail with my husband.
I love having the W&OD Trail in my own backyard and I know many of you feel the same. I am honored to be an ambassador and volunteer for the upcoming Dominion Trail Mix celebrating the trail. This is a great opportunity for those of you who love the trail like I do to take part in a day of family fun activities on and about the trail. More details will follow, but mark your calendar for Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012 for the Dominion Trail Mix at Farmwell Station Middle School in Ashburn, VA!
I would love to hear what you love most about the W&OD Trail. I will pick two responders at random and send them a Dominion Trail Mix t-shirt. Let me know your thoughts!
Dominion Trail Mix: http://www.dominiontrailmix.com/
Kevin Chisholm
12:58 am on Friday, August 3, 2012
I have ridden on the trail off and since the 1980s. Its been great for excersize and, for me, transportation.
In fact, I plan to make a campaign trail bike trip soon. If you want to know when I will and where I plan to stop, please let me know.
Kevin Chisholm
Candidate for Virginia's 10th Congressional District
www.chisholmforcongress.com
Tracy Rossi/Dominion Trail Mix
8:26 am on Friday, August 3, 2012
That would be awesome. Let me know when and where! Tracy
Kevin Chisholm
12:29 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
Tracy,
I am aiming for September 8 and 9. I will head westward on the morning of the 8th. Tentative times are Vienna 8 am, Herndon 9 am, Carolina Brothers Pig Roast in Ashburn 10 am. Should I stop at schools? I would be happy to and like you I love talking science.
Kevin Chisholm
Brian Blakebrough
12:54 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
Tracy,
I love the trails accessibility but have a growing concern for rider safety. Is there any plan or delegation of concern for increased trail safety? Specifically for road crossings? I recently observed members crossing Smith Switch with no apparent regard for oncoming traffic.
Regards,
Brian
rebecca
5:21 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
The crossing at Hay Road is hazardous! I recently had to retake the DMV written test (expired license, oops) and I had to take note of all the bike safety/laws that are a part of the test, anyone who regularly rides the W&OD really needs to re-read the bicycle safety laws. It is NOT, is it absolutely NOT a drivers responsibility to stop when a bike path with a clearly visible stop sign is present at a road crossing. When riders pay no attention to on-coming traffic, it is irresponsible and can cause car accidents, deaths and at the very least, traffic hold-ups. When cars stop to let riders pass (which again is irresponsible, it can cause accidents when someone coming from behind is not expecting a stopped vehicle in the middle of the road), they need to be clear that the rider has the stop sign and therefore vehicular traffic has the right-of-way. While it is a drivers responsibility to look out for unexpected situations, bike riders should not disregard all traffic signs.
Tracy Rossi/Dominion Trail Mix
6:02 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
Brian, I agree about trail safety. Smith switch is becoming a more travelled area with the new homes there. I am not sure what the plan is, but I will look into it. Brain, if you send me an email through the email button, I'll send you a shirt.
Kevin, perhaps we can meet you at Carolina Brothers on the 8 th and I can give you your shirt! Thanks, Tracy Rossi
rebecca
5:24 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
If this is a sponsored event, you should really ask if Loudoun Sheriff's office would come out and hand out bicycle laws and safety tips. People riding the W&OD and bike riders in this area in general really need to be reminded that they are to follow ALL traffic signs, not just the ones that are convenient. (Based on my above comment, I am sure you can see this is a pet peeve of mine!)
Kevin Chisholm
10:13 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Ms. Rossi,
A t-shirt huh?
So Dominion Electric supports your program. Supposedly, your program is about the environment. Dominion only gives lip service to environment (as the Generally Assembly has largely given it direction to do so). Its highly compensated head of renewable energy programs, Mary Doswell – does very little in that regard.
If anyone in Virginia expects that to change, you are delusional. The General Assembly will likely continue to do very little other than a few good sounding pet projects peppered here and there in Virginia.
If you sense an angry invective – you are correct. And I have earned my stripes on this topic.
How much money do you (or your school) get to make it sound as though Dominion is doing anything worthwhile for the youth of today?
Teaching them well taught science is simply not enough.
Kevin Chisholm
Candidate for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District
www.chisholmforcongress.com
Tam Willenbrock
11:52 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
The W&OD Trail was very helpful to me when I was training to reach a life goal of running a 5k race. I had always struggled with running since I was a teenager but I had secretly envied all those joggers/runners that I would see every single day as I drove along. The W&OD became my training ground - whether in Ashburn near my home or in Reston near my office. When I signed up for a running class through AVSP, our whole class used the trail. I love the ease that the trail provides for beginning runners: easy mile-markers and an option of the hard-surface bike trail or the soft-surface trail that runs alongside.
Tracy Rossi/Dominion Trail Mix
10:22 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Tam, have you seen all of the cross country teams that use the trail? It is great for training. When I did the MC Marathon years ago, I used the trail for most of my training runs. Have you continued running races?
Tam Willenbrock
1:43 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Tracy, I've participated in a few races (including Susan G. Komen) since I first began in 2009 but then I was sidelined with with a c-spine issue. Corrective surgery and rehab are behind me now and I'm just about to re-start training again, taking it a bit slowly, with the goal to be able to run the Ashburn Farm Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day.
If you could pass on a reminder to organizers - it would be great if the Friends of the W&OD Trail offered the W&OD oval decals for sale at the event. I was looking for them when our family attended the Trail Mix last year.
Kevin Chisholm
3:46 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
Ms. Rossi,
Thank you for offering to meet me at the W&OD Trail. Your efforts to bring community together around the trail should be applauded and not criticized. My apologies for “venting my spleen” on the topic of Virginia’s electric utility.
I am working on the idea of a campaign bike event. It needs coordination with others though. Frankly, political campaigns are quite involved and exhausting at times.
Kevin Chisholm
Tracy Rossi/Dominion Trail Mix
10:20 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Thanks Kevin. I really don't want this blog to turn into a political debate, but I do appreciate your concerns. Keep me posted on the campaign route!
Rick Tocchet
5:54 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
I love the W&OD trail! I've run it from Sterling Blvd to Purcellville, and as a Tavistock Farms resident, regularly run the stretch from 659 to Catoctin Circle. Absolutely love it, and hats off to the maintenance crews, who do an outstanding job keeping things trimmed and the trails clear. I've seen everything from Copperheads to chipmunks, did I mention I love it? :)
Tracy Rossi/Dominion Trail Mix
10:19 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Hi Rick, thanks for the positive note! I agree that the trail is well taken care of and one of the reasons it is so enjoyable. I have rescued a few turtles from the trail during my rides. They are not quite quick enough to get out of the way. I'll let you know when the shirts come in ;-)"
Tracy Rossi/Dominion Trail Mix
10:15 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Rebecca, I will talk to the planning committee about incorporating trail safety and rider responsibilities as part of the days activities. Thanks!
Sarah P.
12:04 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
We have loved the trail ever since moving to south Leesburg 5 years ago. The ride from Leesburg out to Hamilton is beautiful and mostly shaded, love it! Our only gripe is access. The choice is taking your life in your hands riding into town from the south along 15 or packing up the bikes and driving the 2 miles to the trail.
Would also love to see more biker-friendly businesses come up around the trail with places to stop for drinks/meals. Those that do exist are great and we patronize them often.
Kevin Chisholm
1:55 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012
Ms. Rossi,
I will be available to voters on September 8 (10 am to 3 pm) at the Pet Safety and Health Day event at Express Lube Car Wash (near Cascade Pkwy and Rt 7, Regal Center Shopping Center - between Applebees and Borders Plaza).
The event is sponsored by the business and MANY pet care businesses throughout the area (Leesburg, Sterling, Ashburn).
So, anyone who want to just say Hi - or show off their pet - it should be fun!
Kevin Chisholm
Candidate for Virginia's 10th Congressional District
www.chisholmforcongress.com
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