I made a hotel reservation in Leesburg (though I could always cancel, if there's a party), since that would put me in a position to cross the Potomac (after rush hour) relatively far from the capital city and then find some backroads that amble down through small towns in Maryland, skirting both DC and Baltimore metro areas, to the coast and on to West River. Does that make sense, or should I head south and cross the Potomac somewhere south of DC instead?