FortDupontSummerConcertSeries2011
Introduction/Definition/etc
Biking in the area near North East and decide to hit the concert
coming up that evening...
Pictures and Video
To be uploaded
Body
I had planned to go back from last year's
FortDupontSummerConcertSeries2010
and was in the area doing some bike stuff,
and stopped in...
Bag Checks
Some changes from last year, NPS was doing bag checks,
reminded me of July 4th the other year and the
Arlington Sheriff's office forcing me to drink my bike water bottle
when I had been rushing and had difficulty breathing,
almost choked and guy laughing, cruel...
NPS Park Police had recently tasered a pedicabber in DC,
twice according to reports and once while he was down,
some rumored to have been a mohawked guy who didn't follow
instructions, but as a biker, who knows about 3 DC pedicabbers,
was uneasy with this security change...
Police/ park guy was nice enough, I was early, and very little
lines, I had bags, and we went through one of them,
they wanted to smell the water bottle, which might have still
been somewhat frozen after hours out.
Seemed like invasion of privacy... What's in your bags/
purse/ wallet/ trunk, computer files, etc???
We ended up talking bikes and BicycleFilmFestival.com
coming up the next weekend. "You don't have anything"
which could imply don't own anything of value, or
nothing on our contraband list. No bottles / glass/ alcohol,
incense, or whatever. Generally, as a biker, I don't carry
glass bottles, with the exception of vinegar for salads and stuff,
which only comes in glass, AFAICT, to and from home.
I do typically carry some tools, and don't do monuments
and other controlled access buildings, more because it's
a PITA to get all the stuff through bag checks, and might
have just turned around and been happier as the day progressed...
Seating
Sit on the edge of the hill, near where I was before, but up closer,
no folding chair. I should have brought one, as ants were everywhere,
and part of why I left early. My bags, trunk pack had a few paper
cups which got many ants while the bike was on it's side.
Neighbors
Some people sat near me, and asked me to move over some,
maybe into the ant hills more, I Don't Know, I'm being polite
and moving next to a moving blanket left empty, probably
saving some one's seat on the lawn.. I could have been up front,
in the Mosh Pit or similar, but difficult. getting in and out...
And I don't even like crowds that much, hence why I'm in a park,
not a shopping mall...
An aide?, and blind man with a cane. They had chairs and
stuff, food, etc... I ate a banana, biker food for potassium,
and what I picked up at a farmers market earlier in the day,
trying to eat it before it smooshed (my camp banana holder given to
Reggie at StreetSense, and never found another banana case...)
She picks up my banana peel, saying it will attract ants,
I'd not had a problem with them before, and the trash can
is hidden behind people's lawn chairs... I was getting to it...
Just eating the apple, filling the tank so to speak...
We talk for a while, he's working with kids in Montgomery County
or something, kids need attention and the well paid professional
parents don't really do that, they visit and go to McD's,
Chuckie Cheese is where kids can be kids (tm?),
I don't think I've ever been personally, but some kids like it,
maybe even overgrown kids, like me...
Will See... Route 1 had one, it moved, got a Walmart,
and well I haven't been back. Used to be a health clinic there,
they didn't think I had lost hearing, but they would have had
to do something about it, if I had, so what frequencies?
Which ear? Public health at it's worst...
And before budget cuts...
Concession Stand
Anyways, I try the local foods...
Despite eating way too much cheap watermelon,
$1/ slice? then $0.25 per smaller slice,
some canalope, more watermelon and cheese samples for $0.25
multiple times earlier in the day elsewhere, in a park,
I'm hungry, and somewhat bored...
Diversity, SmartBikeDC and CapitalBikeShare
Coincidentily, the only other whites noticed early are
with the Capital Bike Share, which has a stand out front of the park,
and two women and one guy, giving out free stuff
(Mylar like water bottles with a carabiner) Very Sharp Edges,
like tuna pouches... I take one, when not offered, after a long
conversation... We talked a bit, then I was basically ignored.
CaBi is too expensive, SmartBikeDC was reasonable and helpful to me,
even with the free membership (now $75/ year) converting over from
SmartBikeDC, it wasn't worth it, $30 for about 3 hours when it used to be free.
Credit Card charges of $1000 of you lose the bike, while renting a car is $500 deductible,
and they don't want to hear it, and eventually turn away...
This is part of the arguments with BWA/ BPAC,
GooglePlus2011 some video of a police taking someone down put up,
then AfricanAmericansDon'tBike2011 and eventually leading to
GoodbyeCruelWorld2011
I had suggested give people bike memberships and free rides
as part of human services,
it is way too expensive for the average person to use,
disabled and poor, and it's using public money (Stimulus/ Tiger),
so should be for everyone, not just tourists...
And most don't wear helmets, so who is going to pay
when someone is hurt??? Local Jurisdictions, likely in public services,
while an international company is profiting instead of local bike coops
and other places... LBS (Local Bike Shops) and buying a bike,
even a coop used bike and then donate it back,
turns out to be cheaper, IMO...
Anyways, I'm tired, was then for the concert and didn't stay
even until it started...
Besides bag checks, no water fountains, selling stuff,
no recycling, and noticing as biking across town at dusk/
sunset, the difference between National Parks in the Capital
and Mall area, working water fountains, vs no water fountains,
no recycling, and feeling the differences between Downtown DC
tourist areas and SE/ East of The River....
Food at concession is fried. $5 for chicken tenders with Fries.
Some say the fish isn't very good...
$3 for just fries... Hot dog $2. Funnel cake, no price marked,
my third time through and people getting in front of me,
lines getting longer, cooking taking a while, and people getting edgy,
I'm feeling like I'm treated different, cashier asks for a pen, then
keeps it, I had one, with me then didn't. I thought it was for borrow,
she played for keeps... Other customers put me up forward,
as I was in line, but just looking, had already eaten at that point
and don't really need anything else fried, much less fried dough,
with sugar on top... Sodas $1, water bottles almost empty,
get back to ants all over those too..
Funnel Cake $4, all I wanted to know.
Bathrooms are Port A Potties, vs Mall buildings,
but outside near the picnic area, there is a regualr
bathroom, and the building near the stage seems to
be something else? Handicapped sign, and thought
it was a bathroom, but no Port A Potties,
which are luxury items, the NPS along the
C&O Canal have them, and pump water fountains,
brackish, Iodine I hear, but drinkable.
At least at White's Ferry, some 45 miles
out from DC...
Bug spray on the only food concession counter,
when I pull out a camera, someone tells the people
at the table to take it off the counter,
and I realize and say it's poison, and log my food...
Later thinking people don't like me, I'm tired, baggy
and well, white, if that makes any difference,
it shouldn't but I'm feeling it, not sure why...
Police near the car were talking with people and talked with me,
then comments about how he is seen to the other guy.
I'm still thinking someone didn't like bikers,
and the pedicab stuff is bad... TourMobile contract
needs to be rebid with a green alternative of pedicabbers,
I don't know if car taxis go on park lands, the mall to drop
and pick up. One guy said he was in the cross walk,
and well here is a reg, CFR (Code Federal Regulations)
you can bike through the park, Mt Vernon Trail,
in Virginia at night, IF A COMMUTER, or pedestrian,
but you have headlights in your face, so can't see much,
not sure how you prove you are a commuter...
http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/parkmgmt/documents.htm
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_04/36cfrv1_04.html
http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/parkmgmt/upload/REV0611_GWMPCompendium-6-20.PDF
I'm up and nervous as can't sit with all the ants,
didn't bring a lawn chair, and know I'm tired,
been up too late AND Early, biked 20 miles or so that
day so far, and probably have another 20 to get
back... Earlier reading a book, then holding it,
not reading while standing and asked what it is...
snipped out
for bevity and staying on topic a bit here...
You Touring?
Anyways, most people ask if I'm touring,
but I'm just commuting. I usually have a trailer
with me when touring, and full camping gear,
but I pack HEAVY.
I don't stay long enough for the concert.
I bike back at sunset, my serenity, and stopping
briefly for photos along the way...
Night Biking
Exponentially more dangerous at night,
IMO (In My Opinion)
especially Friday and Saturday nights,
and Sundays during football season...
No Matter What part of town...
Obstacles
And the broken glass is about the same everywhere,
Rt 1 South of Alexandria City, and NE/ SE,
just the quantity of liquor stores and convenience
stores seems to change...
(Virginia sells hard liquor in ABC stores,
soft liquor, beer etc, in all sorts of places...)
And the foods...
See Also
StElizabethsSummerConcertSeries
FortDupontSummerConcertSeries2010
Conclusion
Summary of experience or similar
People are pretty much the same everywhere,
no matter what background,
and when I'm tired, cranky, etc
I'd rather just go home,
which is hours away from Ft. Dupont Summer
Concert Series, so can't stay long enough
to really enjoy the concert, and need a lawn
chair to get up off the ground and maybe
the ants....
Dragonflies were swarming on the hill,
(might be able to see it in video?)
wonder what kind of dirt it was filled with?
Discussion
A place for feedback on the page presented
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