From the live discussion with John Kelly...
What's in the water over by National? I pass there morning and afternoon on the bike path and lately there is a distinct, nauseating rotting-onions smell emanating from the canal wedged between the runway and GW Pkwy.
That's city livin'
Have you ever biked around what you would call Washington D.C.? A perimeter tour, if you will.
JK: There isn't a single trail that leads all around the perimeter of the city, thought that would be an interesting path to chart out. Washington isn't the most bike-friendly city, but nor is it the least. There are bike/jogging paths through Rock Creek Park that are nice, as is the C&O Canal and (outside the city) Capital Crescent and W&OD trails. I think I'd pack a lunch. Didn't someone say Bike to Work Day is May 18? I'm game.
Here's my attempt. Note: I have not attempted all of this yet, but I plan to. If you know a better way to get the perimeter of DC all in let me know. Also if you know I've chosen a road on which I will die, that would be good info too. I would have gone through Bolling Air Force base, but it appears that's no longer an option:
Although previous base commanders have allowed cyclists through, the new commander has rejected the practice, citing Air Force "security requirements."
And that was pre-9/11 (anyone know if this is still the case?) I rode through Fort Myer for the first time the other day (all I needed was an ID). It was pretty cool - like a weird small town. I actually saw a site I haven't seen since I was a kid. An unattended, unlocked bike lying in the front yard. And I'm sure there was no threat of it being stolen.
I believe the smell by National is a result of glycol runoff. Depending on which type of glycol they're using (ethelene or propylene) it is either poisonous or just annoying. They use the stuff to de-ice planes -- in that canal you'll see there are little floats to contain the quite visible slick that the stuff causes. There might also be some jet fuel in there for good measure.
Posted by: | March 29, 2007 at 01:16 PM
My guess was de-icer, also - it reminded me of getting on small commuter planes (stairs, no walkway) in the winter in Wisconsin.
On a related note, what the $!&* is the loud popping noise that I hear all the time when I ride by in the morning? I've never been able to locate it, or associate it with anything I see (while watching for traffic on the trail, of course).
Posted by: ohmypolarbear | March 29, 2007 at 11:45 PM
This one I do know. It's some sorta of canon to scare off birds so that they don't get sucked into the jet engines.
Posted by: washcycle | March 29, 2007 at 11:49 PM
Yes, the loud popping noises are to scare the birds away from the airport. I never get tired of watching people jump like they just heard a gun shot while riding, walking or running by.
I too was wondering what that funny odor is. It makes perfect sense that it's de-icer runoff.
Posted by: ctankcycles | March 30, 2007 at 03:39 PM
The smell is ethanethiol, which is added to propane so that you can smell it. Look for the LP tanks and the propane canons across the canal. When the wind is right, the propane just blows out of the tube of the canon instead of exploding. Stinky.
Posted by: J_S | April 09, 2007 at 10:41 AM