ThatKellieGirl and Frederick Douglass at The Lion Ride.
It’s a beautiful thing when you see the fruits of your labor. Yesterday, ThatKellieGirl was so excited to be a part of the inaugural “Lion Ride”. ThatKellieGirl was on the planning committee with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) to host the biking event in honor of civil rights advocate and former Anacostia resident Frederick Douglass. The event was named “The Lion Ride” because Douglass was known as the “Lion” of Anacostia because of his mane-like hair. 🙂 The event was in partnership with the 5th Annual Frederick Douglass Family Day hosted by Fredrick Douglass National Historic Site. We also partnered with Capital Bikeshare and Bike & Roll who loaned out bikes and helmets to attendees. We had close to 100 people show-up to ride bikes from the Frederick Douglass House to Anacostia Park! It was hot, but thank goodness for the breeze off of the Anacostia River to cool us down a bit! 🙂 Attendees were treated to free ice cream, cupcakes, music, dancing, bicycle portraits, historic house tours, and Massachusetts 54th re-enactors. And the Frederick Douglass impersonator was a big hit with everyone! 🙂
If you know ThatKellieGirl, you know I love to do bike rides. However, this was by far my favorite bike ride event. I was so happy to hear so many people say this was their first time on a bike since they were a kid. And to see so many young people who were excited to ride bikes was priceless. To me, it really is about the youth and creating a generation that is conscious about their history, their health and fitness and their community.
And a BIG “Thank You” to Adrienne McCray for recruiting bike marshalls from Artemis Bicycling Club. ThatKellieGirl is already looking forward to next year. And I hope you will join us. Enjoy the pictures below. 🙂
Happy Monday!
Peace and Blessings, ThatKellieGirl
ThatKellieGirl and Frederick Douglass at The Lion Ride.
Members of Artemis, a bicycling club are being debriefed about marshalling the bike ride.
Frederick Douglass posing with a young girl from Anacostia.
Thanks to the bicycling club, Artemis for marshalling The Lion Ride.
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
African dancing in front of the Frederick Douglass House.
African dancing in front of the Frederick Douglass House.
Audience participation with African dancing.
African dancing in front of the Frederick Douglass House.
African dancing in front of the Frederick Douglass House.
African dancing in front of the Frederick Douglass House.
African dancing in front of the Frederick Douglass House.
African dancing in front of the Frederick Douglass House.
LeVita Mondie and her daughter attend The Lion Ride.
Community members come out to support The Lion Ride.
Adrienne McCray, Artemis member and Frederick Douglass
WABA event coordinator Nelle Pierson providing safety tips before The Lion Ride.
WABA event coordinator Nelle Pierson providing safety tips before The Lion Ride.
WABA event coordinator Nelle Pierson providing safety tips before The Lion Ride.
WABA event coordinator Nelle Pierson providing safety tips before The Lion Ride.
WABA event coordinator Nelle Pierson providing safety tips before The Lion Ride.
WABA event coordinator Nelle Pierson and Frederick Douglass at The Lion Ride.
ThatKellieGirl and Frederick at The Lion Ride.
Free cupcakes for attendees at The Lion Ride.
Free cupcakes for attendees at The Lion Ride.
Very Good Cupcakes Food Truck provided free cupcakes to The Lion Ride bikers.
MPD and EMS come out to escort The Lion Ride bikers.
Bikers of The Lion Ride entering Anacostia Park.
Bikers of The Lion Ride on the Anacostia Park Trail.
Bikers of The Lion Ride on the Anacostia Park Trail.
Bikers of The Lion Ride on the Anacostia Park Trail.
Bikers of The Lion Ride on the Anacostia Park Trail.
Bikers of The Lion Ride on the Anacostia Park Trail.
Bikers of The Lion Ride on the Anacostia Park Trail.
Bikers of The Lion Ride on the Anacostia Park Trail.
Bikers of The Lion Ride on the Anacostia Park Trail.
Bikers of The Lion Ride on the Anacostia Park Trail.
Bikers of The Lion Ride on the Anacostia Park Trail.
Bikers of The Lion Ride on the Anacostia Park Trail.
Bikers of The Lion Ride on the Anacostia Park Trail.
Riding by the iconic Anacostia sign.
ThatKellieGirl, LeVita Mondie and LeVita’s daughter at The Lion Ride.
BlackWomenBikeDC come out to support The Lion Ride.
ThatKellieGirl and the good folks from BicycleSpace come out to support The Lion Ride.
Anacostia resident and author Courtney Davis, ThatKellieGirl and Anacostia resident DeNay.
ThatKellieGirl with 54th Massachusetts re-enactment soldier at The Lion Ride.
Thanks so much! This was our inaugural ride, so we are looking forward to a bigger and better event. We hope you can make it next year. And thanks for stopping by! 🙂
That Kellie Girl 
Terrific photos, thanks so much for sharing them ThatKellieGirl! The nice inaugural ride was the start of something great.
Thanks so much Walter! I had a great time and I’m quite excited for next year. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
I hadn’t heard about this – fabulous photos! Looks like it was a great day! I love your skirt!
Thanks so much! This was our inaugural ride, so we are looking forward to a bigger and better event. We hope you can make it next year. And thanks for stopping by! 🙂