Volksmarch Along the C&O Canal & Thunder Burger in Georgetown

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This is a nice invigorating walkabout from Georgetown following the Potomac River to Fletcher's Landing and back. Our SHR group did it last year and obviously had a great time being outdoors (and indoors) during the cold of winter.

Our route is a big loop that takes us on the Capital Crescent Trail leaving Georgetown, and then the C&O Canal towpath for the return journey. Afterwards, we'll visit Thunder Burger & Bar on M Street in Georgetown for some refreshments and tasty food.

Meetup at Nick's Riverside Grill

We begin by meeting up at Nick's Riverside Grill next to the Georgetown Waterfront Park. Nick's is right on the dock at the riverfront down the hill from K Street under the Whitehurst Freeway. It's a tourist restaurant with unremarkable food, but Nick's has a great scenic location on the Potomac River for us to meet up and start our walk. We can gather inside where it's warm and people can admire the views of Roosevelt Island and the Kennedy Center.

Full details about Nick's are here:

http://nicksriversidegrill.com

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Volksmarching

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Volksmarching (from the German Volksmarsch meaning "peoples' march") is a form of non-competitive group fitness walking that developed in Europe and has since spread to the United States. Participants typically walk 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) on an outdoor path to a favorite destination, while sharing the company of fellow walkers who enjoy getting out for some exercise and fresh air in a natural environment.

A Volksmarch is not a race, although Volksmarching associations usually offer incentive awards such as pins to record their achievments. People walk at a pace that works to make the event fun for everyone.

Walking Along the C&O Canal

Leaving Nick's, our Volksmarch will go through the park and under the Whitehurst Freeway to the start of the Capital Crescent Trail. Then we'll walk the trail for approximately 3 miles to Fletcher's Landing where it crosses the C&O Canal towpath. There are lovely views of the Potomac River and the Virginia side most of the way. The Capital Crescent Trail is paved and ascends gently for several miles to Bethesda. It's very popular with bikers and walkers, so we'll need to stay to the right to let other users pass by.

Our half-way point is Fletcher's Landing on the Potomac which has a seasonal boat house, as well as public restrooms. From Fletcher's Landing, we'll move over to the C&O Canal towpath for the return trip. It's a peaceful stroll back to Georgetown along the banks of the canal that parallels Canal Rd. above. The towpath is packed dirt and gravel on this section, but it generally drains well and the surface should be fine for walking.

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The total distance of our Volksmarch will be approximately 7 miles. Wear comfortable shoes that can handle any muddy conditions on the C&O towpath. Bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated and appropriate spirits to keep yourself warm

Afterward at Thunder Burger & Bar

Thunder Burger & Bar is located on M Street in the heart of Georgetown. It features bison burgers and other interesting fare, an impressive selection of beers, and is highly rated on Yelp. We loved being there last year.

Our group's standard policy at restaurants and elsewhere is for SHR members to order and pay for their food and drinks individually. We don't make group reservations due to the "flash mob" nature of Meetups where some people may not show and many people don't know each other. As individual customers, we get better service and no hassles about splitting checks. So plan to order individually and pay as you normally would. Then we'll socialize together as we always do.

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Check out Thunder Burger's full menu, location, photos, and Yelp reviews below:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/thunder-burger-and-bar-washington

http://www.thunderburger.com/index1.html

Meetup Details

You can get to this event by taking Metro to either Foggy Bottom or Rosslyn, and then walking to Georgetown Waterfront Park. If you drive, there are public garages and street parking under the Whitehurst Freeway on K Street.

We'll need good walking weather for this event. I'll post a notice here and send out an email by 10:00 am on Saturday morning if we need to change plans or cancel the event. Call Jake at 703-798-8435 with any questions or to find us. I don't always hear my iPhone at events, but you can try me.

I hope to see you there!