Showing posts with label Potomac River. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Potomac River. Show all posts

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Bike, stroll, rock and roll the Mt. Vernon Trail

On the Mt. Vernon Trail in Alexandria, you can fish solo and ponder the meaning of ......? You choose/By Patricia Leslie
 Or fish with a friend/By Patricia Leslie
 Or ride/By Patricia Leslie
 Run/By Patricia Leslie
 Run almost naked in 50 degree weather/By Patricia Leslie
 Ponder solo/By Patricia Leslie
 Ponder with a friend/By Patricia Leslie
 Bike/By Patricia Leslie
 Rendezvous or find sculpture in wood/By Patricia Leslie
 Fish with a group/By Patricia Leslie
 Contemplate a science project/By Patricia Leslie

 Find Mother Nature/By Patricia Leslie
 Study Mother's effects/By Patricia Leslie

 
It's heave ho on the Mt. Vernon Trail/By Patricia Leslie

 Admire the sinewy trunk that remains/By Patricia Leslie
 All the way up to the tippy-top and wonder when it will fall/By Patricia Leslie
 Find beauty everywhere and admire the craftsmanship of bridge designers. The 18.5 mile trail will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2023/By Patricia Leslie
 See the gorgeous Potomac River sights/By Patricia Leslie
 Bike with friends/By Patricia Leslie
 

Walk instead of ride the challenging last mile before Mt Vernon, George's home/By Patricia Leslie
But if you get a running start and think you can ..../By Patricia Leslie
 You can!/By Patricia Leslie
 It's a demanding finish/By Patricia Leslie
 Easier to walk/By Patricia Leslie
 Than ride/By Patricia Leslie

 Or strategize on the best way to top it/By Patricia Leslie
Whatever you do, enjoying the outdoors and escaping inner space are delightful on the Mt. Vernon Trail. Thank you, National Park Service!/By Patricia Leslie

patricialesli@gmail.com

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Sierra Club hikes the Potomac


Yeeker, yikers! Dinosaurs in Great Falls National Park? Well, doesn't it look like one? Emerging from the tree on the left with its mouth ajar and tongue extended?  Ready to eat your lunch! Actually it's the shadow of the tree seen below on a trail yesterday/Photo by Patricia Leslie
This is the real "dinosaur" whose branches are shadowed in the first picture above, scenery from yesterday's walk in the park at Great Falls/Photo by Patricia Leslie
A-hiking we will go, a-hiking we will go!  Hi, ho, the derry-o, a hiking we did go with the Sierra Club yesterday at Great Falls National Park/Photo by Patricia Leslie
Attention, Dog: Where is your common courtesy? One-lane or single-file is necessary at this stretch in Great Falls National Park where dogs must give way to oncoming traffic, too/Photo by Patricia Leslie
These roots along a trail at Great Falls National Park are worse than the ones you see growing on human heads, and these cause stumbles. Look like petrified snakes to me. That's the Potomac River out there/Photo by Patricia Leslie
Now this is what I call natural support, found at Great Falls National Park/Photo by Patricia Leslie
Sierra Club hike leader John McShane got pricked by this varmint pretending to be a plant at Great Falls National Park.  "Yowee," he kind of screeched when he touched it. (Why did he touch it? To show us not to touch it?) The name of the plant was something like, Grizzly Needles. Speaking of ground (and tree) nuisances, abundant poison ivy and other invasive species of plants were in full "bloom," perhaps brought over from our friends across the Atlantic. Thanks, friends from across the Atlantic! Please take these back home.  Mr. McShane said they cost parks big bucks/Photo by Patricia Leslie
Stendahl's The Red and The Black which was published almost 200 years ago (1830) may be the reasons these trees are named "Red Oak" on the left, and "Black Oak" on the right, Mr. McShane said, identified by their different barks which are quite similar but after a brief study, even a novice like me could see differences. I hope Great Falls National Park is going to host a big bicentennial birthday bash for The Red and the Black which, after all, stand not too far from the intersection we passed that in 1814 James and Dolley Madison crossed when they fled the British advancing on Washington. The Madisons took the high road, and the British (they likely brought over some of those nasty invasive plants), the low road/Photo by Patricia Leslie
These rocks in Great Falls National Park are, no doubt, covered by water from time to time, but yesterday, they were covered by hundreds of human feet, clobbered by the rocks/Photo by Patricia Leslie
I guess the man is too old to know how to read. The sign says "Danger Boat launching, swimming, WADING, and alcoholic beverages PROHIBITED Treacherous waterfall downstream."  Several people have died at the park, misled by the calm surface which hides "alligators" underneath to carry visitors away/Photo by Patricia Leslie
We did have lots of fun, we did have lots of fun, hi-ho, the derry-o, we did have lots of fun at Great Falls National Park.  Thanks, John and Larry!/Photo by Patricia Leslie
Beautiful scenery from an overlook at Great Falls National Park. Absent (glory be!): boaters, kayakers, canoers, and swimmers/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Another view from the overlook which looks towards the District of Columbia/Photo by Patricia Leslie

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood, perfect for kicking off Memorial Day weekend with a leisurely four-mile Sierra Club hike (which actually turned out to be 3.5 miles or 3.7 miles, depending upon whose web counter was doing the talking or rather, the measuring).

A group of 21 mostly strangers met Saturday at the crowded Great Falls National Park  to relish the sights and sounds of the falls and the trail, and be out in the woods.  Nature, you know, and the glory of all its benefits, recounted by hike leader John McShane reading from the writings of the Club's founder, John Muir. 


(At the rear of the pack, Larry Broadwell was "the sweeper," to keep us "in line." Both leaders, outstanding in their roles. Applause.)


It was that kind of a beautiful day. Everybody, out and about, including members of Rolling Thunder at the park.

The hike was described in the posting as "easy to moderate" but when you're talking and admiring the scenery, my, how time does fly. 

No snakes! But a (likely) volunteer was spotted, picking up small bits of litter along the trail.


We were lucky that Mr. McShane knew so much about trees, snakes, leaves, and roots!  Not only did we get a walk, but we got welcome lessons in nature. 

It was a crowded park, yes, but maybe, it's always like that.

It took me at least 20 minutes (someone else said, 35) to wait in the car to make it through the gate (cost is $15/carload unless you have a senior pass).  When the hike ended two hours later and I exited the park, I counted 108 drivers waiting to get through the gate. (Two-lane road; no room for expansion.  Save the trees!)  

Sierra Club hikes are highly recommended.  You don't have to be a Sierra Club member to participate ($2/person is requested to hike but is not mandatory, and no one takes a listing of who pays and who doesn't).

But, if you are interested in joining, it's only $15 for new members to join the Sierra Club's Great Falls Group which you may do here and go here for a list of upcoming area outings which vary in length and degree of difficulty.

Benefits, galore!

patricialesli@gmail.com

Join us for morning hike along the Potomac River including stops at the spectacular overlooks and a discussion of some of the common trees in the area. DISTANCE--approximately 4 miles; PACE--easy to moderate; SURFACE--mostly flat, natural trails. Some sections of the trail are very muddy so wear sturdy boots. We will meet In the open area directly below the visitors center at 9:45AM to sign waiver. We will leave at 10AM sharp and return at 12 Noon. Facilities: there are restrooms in the visitor's center.Parking: there is plenty of parking at the visitors center. Fee: $15/car park entrance fee (unless someone in the car has a National Parks Pass). SCPRO appreciates a donation of $2 per person to support our many volunteer-led activities and leader training. You will be able join the hike even if youre unable to donate. You can become a Sierra Club member by clicking join on the Virginia Sierra Club website: http://www.sierraclub.org/virginia Level: Moderate
Cost: There is a $15/car park entrance fee (unless someone in the car has a National Parks Pass). SCPRO appreciates a donation of $2 per person to support our many volunteer-led activities and leader training. You will be able join the hike even if youre unable to donate. You can become a Sierra Club member by clicking join on the Virginia Sierra Club website: http://www.sierraclub.org/virginia

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Cruisin' July 4 on the Potomac

Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming  
 
The view of the fireworks on the National Mall July 4, 2014, from onboard Virginia's Jewel on the Potomac River.  To the far right and barely visible is a tall, white lighted structure, the Washington Monument/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Sometimes, "late" is a good thing.

"Late" as in a fire which transformed a cash bar into an open bar, yes!

It was a July 4th miracle.
No matter where you go in this town, there is no escaping Bryce Harper.  This was the upstairs bar on Virginia's Jewel where alcohol flowed freely.  Happy July 4th, Everybody!/Photo by Patricia Leslie

The fire occurred at the Washington Marina and delayed the scheduled departure of the yacht, Virginia's Jewel, chartered by the International Club for a three-hour July 4 cruise.

My spirits doth overfloweth.
In Alexandria, Virginia's Jewel anchors behind two smaller boats/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Champagne greeted us who finally boarded the boat after a riding shuttle buses which the International Club had to procure at the last minute to take us from the marina at 1300 Maine over to Alexandria where the ship and delights awaited. 

Rather than leaving the Maine dock at the scheduled 6:30 p.m. time, the frustrated captain set sail from Alexandria at 8:15 p.m. but we guests were not unhappy, anticipating the three-hour boat ride, bounteous food and beverage, a beautiful night on the water with perfect weather, gorgeous scenery, a well-stocked bar, great times with new and old friends, and, ahoy matey!  Fireworks, ahead!
Rosslyn even looks kinda purty from the Potomac at night.  The captain of Virginia's Jewel said July 4 was the worst time to navigate a vessel on the river because of the jammed sea and so many inept ("drinking" and unlicensed) boat drivers.  "If something happens, I could lose my license," he wailed, "and they would lose nothing."  Maybe, a life?/Photo by Patricia Leslie
The time is always right for love. To the right in the distance and what looks like a straight pin rising from the ground is the Washington Monument/Photo by Patricia Leslie

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming...Our view of the National' Mall's fireworks July 4, 2014 was obscured somewhat by the ensuing black smoke, but it could not compare to the view from a hill at the Pentagon several years ago during a grey day when all we saw was black smoke and n'er a purty color or fireworks/Photo by Patricia Leslie 
For once, since it was July 4, the Secret Service ignored the red flying saucers above the Potomac River.  Far in the distance and what looks like the Batman building is the Washington National Cathedral/Photo by Patricia Leslie
Lucy in the sky with diamonds/Photo by Patricia Leslie
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air...Red birds flew in every direction frightened by the noise, I suppose/Photo by Patricia Leslie
The Jefferson Memorial peeks out on the far right/Photo by Patricia Leslie
From inside Virginia's Jewel/Photo by Patricia Leslie
Adjacent to Virginia's Jewel was the Delta Queen getting ready to sail down the Mississippi River.  The white line of lights at the top of the picture is a reflection of lights inside the yacht, Virginia's Jewel.  Our boat was bigger than their boat/Photo by Patricia Leslie

After the really big fireworks ended on the Mall, we yachters were treated to more fireworks set off by partygoers who lit up the shores of Hains Point and other locations in Maryland. Did we see any fireworks going up on the Virginia side of the Potomac?  You've got to be kidding. Yes,Virginia, there really are fireworks in Maryland.

Towards evening's end, the yacht's restrooms got a little raunchy, and to quote my favorite politician:  Go early and go often.

The ship's wait staff was ample and attentive, frequently inquiring if we were "okay," especially as I briefly dozed on a table while lying on soiled napkins, overturned plastic cups, chicken remains, and slurring "life jacket" in my stupor. (Just kidding.  It's hard to beat non-stop, unsalted Margaritas. I only drank four. Really though, folks, the staff was wonderfully pleasant during the whole affair, especially, the besieged bartenders who never lost their smiles,  composures, or upbeat attitudes.)

Early tickets for the cruise cost $100 (later price, $145) for unreserved seating while $120 ($165) got you a reserved seat on the upper deck, both which included a loaded BBQ buffet.



On the menu were pork and chicken bar-b-cue, corn on the cob, cole slaw, potato and macaroni salad, petite chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, chocolate brownies, and plenty to drink/Photo by Patricia Leslie

We didn't dock until 11:15 p.m., affording the ones  onboard who rode the Metro, opportunities to ride uncrowded trains on July 4 from the Mall all the way home (Little Piggy) which set a new world's record for Metro efficiency. (Another benefit of "lateness.")  You see, the increased Metro fare is working, after all.
A band of revelers onboard Virginia's Jewel/Photo by another reveler 
 
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
 
Francis Scott Key, 1814

patricialesli@gmail.com