Approximately 230 riders participated in the 5th Annual Tour de Mount Vernon. Photo courtesy of Mount Vernon District Office
On Saturday, Oct. 3, approximately 230 riders joined Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck for the 5th Annual Tour de Mount Vernon. Starting with a socially distanced rolling start at the historic Workhouse Arts Center, riders traveled through the southern portion of the Mount Vernon District, visiting many cultural and recreational sites, while enjoying several water vistas and building a sense of community. This year’s ride included both 40-mile and 24-mile routes and featured stops at Mason Neck State Park, George Mason’s Gunston Hall, Pohick Regional Park, Accotink Bay on post at Fort Belvoir and the new National Museum of the US Army, before returning to the Workhouse for friendly camaraderie and Dave’s Famous Sweet Potato Chili. This year’s ride was dedicated to the memory of Dave Evans who was a community champion, business leader and inspiration for Tour de Mount Vernon. Riding over a mix of roads and trails, including the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail, cyclists wound through South County, glimpsing several of the historic and environmentally beautiful sites the area has to offer. Supervisor Storck sees the ride as an opportunity to share the beauty and history of Mount Vernon. He commented, “I believe strongly in connecting people to places, history, culture and nature. The recent loss of my best forever friend, Dave Evans, made the ride more special this year. It was Dave who inspired me to create this community ride. I hope everyone will take a moment to reflect and appreciate our dear connections in life, the natural world around us and join us for the ride next year!”
A special thanks to all our Tour de Mount Vernon partners: Office of Economic Initiatives, FABB Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling, Workhouse Arts Center, La Prima Catering, Volunteer Fairfax and especially the Fairfax County Police for support in keeping riders safe on the roads. The event adhered to Governor Northam’s COVID-19 phase III protocols for social gatherings, including requiring masks and social distancing.
For those interested, the routes can be found here and additional ride information can be found here: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/mountvernon/tour-de-mount-vernon-2020.