Regular, normal loop EXCEPT for a stretch along Rockville Pike/MD 355 because of being tired of ugly route along Gude and Crabbs Branch. Suspect it's a mile or two shorter, but involves climbing a giant pedestrian/bike structure (zoom in on Mile 24.5 for details) and then 1.5 miles along a wide sidewalk, narrow sidewalk, parking lots .... It was a nice diversion from the Other Way, which is always dreaded. Earlier, a good portion of Beach Drive was blocked off to motorized traffic ... not sure what that was about. It's not a holiday ... other than Friday Afternoon ... does that count? Anyway, nice to ride there without dealing with cars. Body felt ... OK. Back to the tight knees problem and must must must get back to stretching the IT bands EVERY DAY. Once in a while ain't getting it. Lovely warm day, temps in the low 70s. We'll see if this holds (what's that? Forecast calls for 30s overnight next week AGAIN? Sigh .... )