[SkateDC] After-Skate Report, Rolling Thunder Intermediate

[Bill English]

We had a good Intermediate Skate today, because of our flexibility.

Susan did not show up at 11:15, but she phoned to invite us to her home to sell t-shirts. So we diverted from the planned route after the first mile or two. We went on a search for ATM machines so we could pay for the shirts. After Susan sold three shirts, she came along for the rest of the skate. It was getting close to 1:00 pm by then, so we scrapped our plans for Catholic University and went to the closer RFK stadium instead. By luck, we found a bicycle race underway when we arrived. Sabina had fun photograping the racers along with skaters posing behind the race track to appear as if they were also in the race. Sabina posed as well on the next lap, while Shawn took over behind the camera. After that, we went over to Independence Avenue and got to skate along with the Rolling Thunder motorcycle parade for about a mile. The police did not object to us this year, and the bikers seemed to love us as usual. The 12th street tunnel was closed to cars
 today, so skating it was extra fun. We saw the same motorcycles going by just before and just after using the tunnel. The riders must have wondered how we lapped them!

Participants:

Bill
Eryx
Shawn
Sabina
Jackeline
Emily
Susan

The advanced group included:

Jeffery
Fabio
Carl
perhaps 2 or 3 others but I forget who they were. 

The Advanced & Intermediate groups skated entirely separate routes, but got back together for lunch at Capitol City Brewing Company. Strangely enough, the advanced group was done skating in two hours today, while the intermediate group needed three hours to finish. We intermediates spent extra time taking breaks at Susan's house, RFK and in a couple of places by the motorcycle parade, so we were more of a "social skate" than usual. With the heat & humidity, the extra breaks were most welcome. At least we had a nice breeze that cooled us a little and carried away the motorcycle stink.