Walking or driving by the Tidal Basin, it’s hard to resist the idea of renting one of the peddle boats. In addition to looking like fun, peddling out on the Tidal Basin offers some great photo opportunities of the Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument and fun on the boats.
Before heading out, here are five tips to remember for maximum fun:
- Take It Easy. It’s easy to get carried away at the start and peddle like crazy. That’s a perfect way to ruin even a short rental. Peddling these boats is work, so don’t overdo it at the start. Find a nice, easy, smooth and comfortable pace, set your course, and go. Slow and steady is definitely the way to go here if you want to enjoy the outing.
Washington Monument from the Tidal Basin - Plan Your Route. The Tidal Basin is surrounded by land, bridges and other barriers. So, you’re not going to go far or explore a wild waterway. Fact is, most people just go out toward the middle, get tired, float around awhile, then peddle back. If you want the best picture options, think about making a small ellipse. Stand on the dock so the Jefferson Memorial is directly in front of you. From this vantage point, it’s best to plan traveling to your right first, directly toward the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. As you travel straight, the shore line will turn away from you, and the Washington Monument will come into view on your right. Stay your course and get a few shots of the Washington Monument. The King Memorial will be ahead of you, but still nearly 1/2 mile away. So depending on your stamina, you can keep peddling ahead to get a few shots of the Memorial from the Basin. But remember, for every revolution you make toward the King Memorial, it’s that much further back to the dock. Unless you’re in good shape, I suggest you turn to your left, and grab a few shots of the Jefferson Memorial instead, and drive to the King Memorial later.
- Watch the Wind. If the wind is at your back when you leave the dock, you’ll get a gentle push from behind. And if you’re not aware, you may not realize how much harder it will be to peddle back toward the dock into that head wind. Trust me, it makes a difference. It’s probably better to peddle into the wind at first, then use the gentle push to get back more easily. Depending on your rental time, a gentle breeze can also allow you to stop peddling and float slowly back toward the dock.
My peddlers pooped out and just enjoyed the ride. - Bring Along Water. There’s water available at the dock, so if you don’t have some along, buy some. It’s best to get at least one bottle per person. Peddling is hard work, and a sunny spring or fall day can be deceiving.
- Consider the Electric Swans. In addition to the peddle boats, there are a few electric swan boats available for rent. They are a great option if you want to go out on the Basin but don’t want the extra work of peddling the boats. Downside: Electric Swans have a strict two-person capacity, so if you’re traveling with grandchildren or children, you may have to split up, take the peddle boats, or choose another activity.
Fitness Thoughts for Active Boomers
The peddle boats really are a lot of fun — and lots of work. Don’t be surprised if your traveling companions give out on you. I had eager helpers for the first few minutes, then I was on my own for most of the peddling in our four-person boat. As long as you take your time, you can still have fun. Unless you’re in great shape, don’t let a ticking clock and the charge for a second hour force you into hurrying. Better to pay for the extra rental time than suffer the consequences of over-exertion.
I’m an active exerciser, and use a Garmin VivoActive HR to track my daily activities. My normal resting heart rate generally is around 60. During the day in normal activities, I’m generally in the 80-90 bpm range. For my cardio exercise, I’m generally averaging around 145-150 BPM. Below is my heart rate profile from noon until about 6 pm on the day we did the peddle boats. I’ve highlighted in white the period when we were on the peddle boats. The green indicates my normal active range, ~90-130 BPM, with my regular exercise “peak” zone in red. Some pretty steady effort there, with two peaks near 160 bpm while peddling alone.
Enjoy the boats, and keep your own capabilities in mind.
