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Eastern Avenue

March 25, 2020 (Afternoon)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: upper 40s and light rain

Comments:
Drove to Chez Gunther with Leah B and met Julia. Pointed Leah up Oregon Ave bike path so she could do her tempo from NW boundary stone #9 back to home. Julia and I meandered across the park and took Aspen into Takoma Park. I hadn't done any true research about where the northeast stones were located with the exception of NE #1. I recalled reading that NE #2 is at the corner of Magnolia St. Julia recalled reaching NE #3 last summer with Matt after heading east to the end of Rittenhouse, so we began to meander south and East after crossing the railroad tracks. Eventually reached Eastern Ave and Julia become increasingly confident we approached the McDonalds. Found the stone at the end of Rittenhouse as advertised and I finally realized I could trust this Gunther not to lead me astray on behalf of her little sister. We headed back along Eastern into the heart of Takoma Park and then searching for Magnolia street and attempting to follow the angle of the now finished Eastern ave, we cut through a parking lot and headed north on Maple. Circling that long block past beautiful Victorian homes, we were disappointed not to find Magnolia Ave nor the stone and headed northeast along the next portion of Eastern Ave. After a pair of disappointing blocks I asked a passerby for Magnolia Ave. She told me there was no Magnolia Ave near there. I then asked for the boundary stone and she told us to return to Maple ave, which we did and spotted the stone 20 yards from where my "shortcut" had spit us out of the parking lot. Aargh! according to mapmyrun tonight we did nearly a mile of extra, unnecessary wandering. Still, at least we didn't rely on modern phones/GPS/maps/wifi/Sega/pager/fax/bluetooth/Atari technology to locate what Ben Bannaker did with stars, astrolabes, compasses, and genius. We then took Eastern up into Silver Spring including a nice pedestrian bridge over the train tracks to Georgia Ave. When we reached the block with the supposed plaque marking the location of NE #1, Julia and I split up to scour both sides of the sidewalk since Oliver and I had apparently run past it on Monday. I ran past the block I suspected it was on. Then I looped behind the building to see if it was in the back. Julia was searching the opposite sidewalk. Again, I passed by the front and only on my desperate third pass (4th if you count Monday) did I notice the plaque on the walk very close to the doorway of a business. Again, who needs technology when one has eagle eyes and a stone carver's fantastic instincts. From there we meandered south-ish past Lowell and into the woods on what might be the Kalmia trail. Took the Valley Trail and eventually Beach and came back up the trail to Tennyson. Bid farewell to Gazelle at her front door and drove home. The run to reach our first stone was 3.6 miles from my parked car, for the record. A very enjoyable exploration with an enthusiastic and supportive and patient fellow searcher and the time flew by. route is recorded here. Note the extra mile we ran as we circled NE2. https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/2947083625