But not the skinniest ever ... Rides can start from NRL for only a few more months, but more importantly, go through JBAB ( gotta have the right kind of ID card ) and avoid the heavy traffic that is S. Capitol and 295. Access to the military bases is pretty important if you're gonna ride across Alpe d'Bridge and then climb Col du Casino, aiming to get to the Oxon Hill park. Once you get back into DC, it's either a tough climb to the heights toward Anacostia or go thru JBAB. The climb to Bellevue up Blue Plains Dr is ... challenging. But for today, give-back-your-equipment day, the regular loop was plenty good enough. Rode north to the Foundry Branch tunnel under the canal (and Canal Road) and was pleasantly surprised to see DC has installed lights in that dark, wet cavern. (This is the best way to get from the river to the Key Bridge to Rosslyn.) Left the Mt Vernon trail at the airport in favor of the better, wider trail through Crystal City and down to Alexandria. Still required a stop at the beginning of Col du Casino but once the heart rate came down, it was a steady grind upward. All in all, not displeased given that the Col comes at Mile 25...