Monumental D.C. – Maine Lobstermen

Monumental DC – A series where I’ll be documenting the many memorials in DC that we pass by frequently, but rarely seem to stop and pay notice to. Follow on twitter with #monumentalDC

What: Maine Lobstermen

When: Saturday March 30, 2013

Where: Water Street SW

March is going out like a lamb, and spring weather is slowly but surely coming back to Washington, DC – so it is fitting that I start memorial hunting again.  This is the Maine Lobstermen statue along the Southwest Waterfront, a memorial that I knew existed, but had never run across until this past saturday.

It makes me really happy to see this one, as my grandfather was a lobsterman plying the coast of Long Island Sound for these delicious crustaceans. I was only 6 or 7 years olf when he passed, but I fondly remember trips to the boatyard to see the Carlee B., his gifts of dried starfish, and the smell of the bait fish that were kept in drums on deck.  Every once in a while a bag of lobsters would wind up in the refrigerator at home, and we would “race” them across the kitchen floor.

This statue was originally created for the 1939 worlds fair in New York, and exhibited in the Maine booth in the Hall of States, but at the time it was only a plaster cast painted in bronze colored paint.  Eventually it fell into disrepair and was passed around from town to town along the Maine coast.  Eventually a bronze cast was made, and this is the result, ending up in DC around 1983 thanks to the Camp Fire Girls of Cundy Harbor Maine.

Monumental D.C. – President George Washington

Monumental DC – A series where I’ll be documenting the many memorials in DC that we pass by frequently, but rarely seem to stop and pay notice to. Follow on twitter with #monumentalDC

What: President George Washington

When: Tuesday December 13, 2011

Where: Washington Circle, Foggy Bottom NW

Today, when we publicly celebrate the 57th inauguration of the President of the United States, I felt that it was time to bring back the #monumental series and see what places I could explore in DC over the next year – honoring famous generals, inventors, peace makers and presidents alike.

Fitting in nicely with the presidential theme, I rode past the equestrian statue of President George Washington recently and stopped to snap a quick picture.

Did you know this is one of two statues of Washington on his horse in the District. I’ll be seeking out the second soon!

This bronze statue is of Washington dresses as the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army at the Battle of Princeton in the Revolutionary War.  Washington’s horse, which appears rearing back, was sculpted so because Washington was reportedly so close to the front lines that the horse was afraid to advance any further. The bronze statue was made for $50,000, and dedicated on Febraury 20th, 1860. The transportation and installation of the statue, and the dedication ceremony cost an additional $10,000.

Le Beater, c’est tout.

Our time with the Beater Bike ended last week – but the good news is that now you can try it out at The Daily Rider on H Street.

Final impressions? Mostly unchanged from my initial impressions.  It is a solid bike for a low price – accordingly don’t expect too much from it other than a way to get from A to B with minimal hassle.  Since I know you’ll be stopping by The Daily Rider to check it out – might I also suggest donating a pair or two of pajamas for children in the DC foster care program.

Monumental D.C. – Justice William Douglas Memorial

Monumental DC – A series where I’ll be documenting the many memorials in DC that we pass by frequently, but rarely seem to stop and pay notice to. Follow on twitter with #monumentalDC

What: Justice William Douglas Memorial

When: Sunday September 2, 2012

Where: C&O Canal Lock #3, 30th Street and C&O Canal

As I write intense rain is pouring down in the metro DC area – with some weather stations reporting nearly 3 inches of rain within the last 20 minutes.  Yes, read that again… wow, mother nature is amazing at times.  Few and far between are the times that I am thankful to not be on the bike, but this is one of those times, you see I had planned an overnight solo trip on the C&O canal this weekend, hoping to cover between 150 and 200 miles between Saturday morning and Monday mid-afternoon.  After fretfully watching the radar on Friday night, I decided to ditch the ride on Saturday morning and instead enjoy the weekend in other ways, including meeting up with a longtime friend from Vancouver.  It was the right decision.

As penance for my abandoned trip, I decided to set out for a short trip on the rain softened canal towpath this afternoon, as light sporadic rain fell.  I started at what I consider to be the head of the trail, at 30th Street NW in Georgetown, before detouring on the asphalt paved Capital Crescent Trail to Fletchers Cove where I rejoined the C&O.  Before I left the trailhead I made sure to get a photo of the monument there os Supreme Court Justice William Douglas.  Douglas served on the high court from April 1939 to November 1975 – 36 years, the longest ever.  The monument to Douglas is not for this streak though, it is for his immense contribution to the C&O canal that we know today.

The use of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal as a shipping route fizzled out in 1924, and it sat unused for 14 years until 1938, when the US government purchased the land.  Eventually the lower 22 miles were restored as a recreational trail, but World War II stopped further development.  After the war, as the automobile boomed in the United States, many people called for the towpath to be converted to a parkway (the horror!) to better access the potential of the corridor.  Thankfully, Justice William Douglas, an avid outdoorsman spoke up against this proposal, famously leading a hike of the entire length from DC to Cumberland, MD.  In a letter to the editor of the Washington Post, Douglas wrote:

One who walked the canal its full length could plead that cause with the eloquence of a John Muir. He would get to know muskrats, badgers, and fox; he would hear the roar of wind in thickets; He would see strange islands and promontories through the fantasy of fog; he would discover the glory there is in the first flower of spring, the glory there is even in a blade of grass; the whistling wings of ducks would make silence have new values for him. Certain it is that he could never acquire that understanding going 60, or even 25, miles an hour.

Thank you Justice Douglas – I aspire to ride the entire distance sometime soon, and experience the beauty of nature that you described in your letter.  As you wished, you make the earth a little more beautiful.

His eternal view.

Monumental D.C. – Admiral David G. Farragut Memorial

Monumental DC – A series where I’ll be documenting the many memorials in DC that we pass by frequently, but rarely seem to stop and pay notice to. Follow on twitter with #monumentalDC

What: Admiral David G. Farragut Memorial

When: Sunday July 22, 2012

Where: Farragut Square, 17th Street and K Street NW

One of the great things about riding aimlessly in the city, riding with no purpose or destination, is that you sometimes stop paying attention to where you are headed until a light clicks in your head and you say “oh shit, I wasn’t planning on being here”.  (Note: You may also say “hot damn”, “golly”, “sweet”, “awesome”, “meh” or any number of things – it’s regional I suppose).

Back in July the rain was coming down steadily, but I had been cooped up for long enough.  I thought to myself  “Damn the Rain, Full Speed Ahead”, so out I went – down Independence, over to Hains Point, through downtown, up some hills to Columbia Heights – eventually after about 2 hours I had had my fill and turned home.  On the way home I found myself in Farragut Square – this was the light bulb moment – I stopped to wipe mist from my glasses and leaned my bike up on a low fence.  A ha! Another monument captured – but who is this Farragut fellow anyways?

Born James Farragut in a small town near Knoxville, TN, Farragut lived in many parts of the country before settling in New Orleans, where his father, an immigrant from Spain,  struck up a friendship with the father of a naval officer.  This relationship flourished, despite the death of James mother, and the officers father.  In repayment for their friendship and to help the Farragut family, the naval officer offered to adopt Farragut and train him in the Navy.  Shortly thereafter James took the name David (the name of the naval officer), and went to sea at the age of 9.

It shouldn’t come to much surprise that starting a naval career at age 9 offers quite an opportunity for advancement through the ranks.  Accordingly, Farragut saw action in the War of 1812, the West Indies, the Mediterranean, and the Civil War. Eventually becoming the first man ever appointed to the rank of Admiral in the US Navy.  Perhaps Farraguts most lasting contribution though is during his time commanding ships at the Battle of Mobile Bay – a Confederate stronghold and and important shipping port.  When he saw his ships hesitating at the entrance to the port, he inquired why.  When the answer was given, he reportedly responded

“Damn the torpedoes!” Four bells. Captain Drayton, go ahead! Jouett, full speed!”

A call which is now shortened to “Damn the torpedoes! Full Speed Ahead!”.  So remember next time you’re hesitating to head out for a ride, just repeat the battle cry and head out – FULL SPEED AHEAD!

Monumental D.C. – George Mason Memorial

Monumental DC – A series where I’ll be documenting the many memorials in DC that we pass by frequently, but rarely seem to stop and pay notice to. Follow on twitter with #monumentalDC

What: George Mason Memorial

When: Sunday July 8, 2012

Where: Tidal Basin, Ohio Drive near 14th Street Bridge

It was a hot day on July 8th and while I was struggling to make it across town a group of riders were racing through the mountains between France in Switzerland at high speed.  One fellow in particular, Chris Froome, was settling into his role as domestique for teammate Bradley Wiggins, who had recently started to wear a lot more yellow.  I could have used a domestique that day (fetch me an ice cream, post haste!).

Hiding in plain sight

As I rode around dreaming of ice cream and air conditioning I found myself looking for shade, and finally stumbled upon the George Mason Memorial, which had eluded me on many previous bike trips.

For those who are unaware of George Masons work (a group in which I include myself) I think I can describe his impact to this country best in cycling terms.  Mason was a lot like Mr. Froome, a domestique to the Founding Fathers. He was an accomplished statesman who had some important minor victories, he was relied upon by other founding fathers as they raced to victory in the”major races, and was later forgotten because, well, the second place finisher is rarely remembered.

Like a good domestique, always offering a bottle.

What do I mean by this?  Well Mason is certainly considered a founding father of this country, and he wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights, a pretty important document.  In fact, if we call that his minor victory, then one could say that he acted as domestique to Thomas Jefferson as he used much of the Virginia Declaration of Rights in his role drafting of the Declaration of Independence.  Later James Madison relied on Mason for inspiration when drafting the Bill of Rights.  Mason helped these two men to victory!  But, alas he is forgotten in many US History textbooks – partially because he did not sign the United States Constitution because it did not abolish the slave trade or offer enough protection of personal freedoms.

It took a while for Mason to be memorialized for his efforts, with this memorial being authorized by Congress in 1990, and dedicated in 2002 – 210 years after his death.

Mason enjoying the weather.

Monumental D.C. – LBJ Memorial Grove

Monumental DC – A series where I’ll be documenting the many memorials in DC that we pass by frequently, but rarely seem to stop and pay notice to. Follow on twitter with #monumentalDC

What: President Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac

When: Sunday July 8, 2012

Where: Ladybird Johnson Park

I started writing the #MonumentalDC series because I was constantly amazed at how many memorials and statues there were hiding in plain sight in and around the District of Columbia – and the President Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac (not one for brevity I suppose) is one of these.  If you have ever driven on the George Washington Parkway, or cycled along the Mount Vernon Trail, you likely have passed this memorial without ever knowing it exists.

On the incredibly hot July 8th I set off to find a few more memorials, and this one was high on my list as I hoped that a shaded spot and a cool breeze off of the Potomac would make the heat bearable.  Unfortunately the air was still, but I did find some refuge from the mid-day sun in a stand of pine trees, needles rusting under my tires and the sweet smell of pine sap in the air.

Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac

Though the tranquility of the park is somewhat lessened due to the hum of traffic nearby, it offers a spectacular view of DC, and was reportedly a favorite place for the 36th President and First Lady to admire the view.  Hundreds of white pines, dogwoods and rhododendrons are planted in the grove, and a prominent granite stone is centered in a circular open area in the center.  Around the stone are four inscriptions, carved on Texas granite (the Presidents home state) laid flat at ground level – however a little bit of lichen growth and the direct sun made it nearly impossible to read what was carved during my visit. Further searching online revealed that one of these carvings reads:

The promise of America is a simple promise: That everyone shall share in the blessings of this land.

A stone bearing an inscription

Authorized by Congress in December 1973, about 10 months after Johnson died, and dedicated in September of 1974, this tranquil spot of land is well worth visiting during a ride on the MVT – allow yourself to step back in time and imagine when the President and his wife enjoyed the views, and share in the blessings of our great city.

Monumental D.C. – General George McClellan Memorial

Monumental DC – A series where I’ll be documenting the many memorials in DC that we pass by frequently, but rarely seem to stop and pay notice to. Follow on twitter with #monumentalDC

What: General George McClellan Memorial

When: Tuesday December 13, 2011

Where: Connecticut Ave and Columbia Rd, NW

General George McClellan Memorial

This is an old one #monumentalDC trip that got lost on my computer.  Fortunately I found the photos the other night and can post a little bit of information about it.

This monument, for General George McClellan is interesting, since it seems the fellow wasn’t actually that great of a battlefield general.  McClellan reportedly was a great organizer of men, which got him promoted to general-in-chief of the Union Army and leader of the Army of the Potomac – but once in battle it seems like George was a little gun shy.  His well trained forces usually beat back the Confederate army, but often just barely, or it let them escape instead. All of this caused Abe Lincoln great pain and was cause for McClellans demotion through the ranks.  Interestingly, he later ran as the Democratic party nominee for the 1864 election against Lincoln!

Despite all of this a statue was authorized by act of Congress in 1901.  For the handsome sum of $50,000 the monument was designed and built, eventually being erected in its current location in 1907.  McClellan certainly has a nice view – but does he deserve it?

Monumental D.C. – Women’s Titanic Memorial

Monumental DC – A series where I’ll be documenting the many memorials in DC that we pass by frequently, but rarely seem to stop and pay notice to. Follow on twitter with #monumentalDC

What: Women’s Titanic Memorial

When: Thursday April 19, 2012

Where: Southwest Waterfront, 4th St and P St SW

A few days after the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the majestic RMS Titanic in the cold waters of Atlantic ocean far off the coast of Newfoundland I visited the Women’s Titanic Memorial on my way home from an evening ride.  Nestled away in the Southwest Waterfront, with a spectacular view of Hains Point this memorial is striking for its similarity to Leonardo DiCaprio’s character standing at the bow of the ship proclaiming “I’m the King of the World!”.

The memorial, authorized by Congress in 1917 and completed in 1918 after receiving 25,000 one dollar donations is meant to memorialize the men who stayed aboard while women and children were sent off to safety on the scare few lifeboats aboard the ship.

Made of red granite from Rhode Island and carved in Quincy, Massachusetts, the memorial had to wait until May 1931 to be erected on a parcel of land at the south end of Rock Creek Park.  The long period of time spent finding a suitable location is ironic, as 35 years later the statue would be removed and put into storage to make way for construction of the Kennedy Center. Eventually the memorial would be placed in its current location in 1968.

An original/alternate version of the memorial designed and carved by a woman was rejected.  In this original design a woman holds a hammer in her hand, meant to show that women created this memorial for men – and showing that women (the “weaker sex”) had power and capacity to do such things.  In that sense it was a political statement during the period of the womens rights movement.  demonstrating that the memorial is from women to men, and emphasizing the power and capacity of women “the weaker sex” during a high period in the struggle for equal rights for women, including the right to vote.

I highly recommend this spot for a rest after an evening ride on Hains Point.  Beautiful sights and a hidden oasis that many people wouldn’t even know exists.

#coffeeneuring challenge complete!

Coffeeneuring challenge complete! Full review on maybe the most fun coffeeneuring challenge rife I’ve completed in the next few days. We visited Tryst in Adams Morgan, east Potomac park, le droit park and bloomingdale.

Next up… Beerdonneuring?

 

52Coffeeortea