GW Parkway to Mount Vernon

It was a beautiful day yesterday following the unexpected rainy morning walk in the park. Since we didn’t want to go out for dinner during super bowl time, we decided to have brunch at Faccia Luna near Old Town, Alexandria. They have a breakfast pizza that is usually quite good - and it was. We frequently use the George Washington Parkway from our house in northern Virginia to DC but we haven’t gone in the other direction for a while. Since the sun was shining, we headed out toward Mount Vernon on one of my favorite drives along the Potomac River. I have visions of George Washington riding along some path along there towards his home. We passed by the eagle’s nest on the golf course - but it was unoccupied. We passed by Cedar Knoll - a restaurant my husband hates, but I love for the views. It’s like an old time super club vibe sitting on a lucrative piece of property. Once we hit Mount Vernon we took the circle drive around to head back. There were quite a few visitors considering it is the off season. A lot of locals have visitor passes to walk the grounds all year round. Mount Vernon is really a pretty place to visit. One of these days we need to stop and visit Fort Hunt on the other side of the river. On the way back towards DC the bikers, hikers, and walkers were out in full swing ambling along the path by the river. There are a lot of parks and boat ramps along the way. We took a detour when we reached Alexandria and stopped for gas. It was a lovely day to be outside. 

GW Parkway Ride

As is true with every Saturday morning, we take a ride to McLean Family Restaurant followed by grocery shopping at either Safeway or Harris Teeter. This morning was no different. Because it rained very hard last night the sun seemed even brighter this morning, the wind was ferocious, and the clouds were dancing! The George Washington Parkway along the Potomac River is our favorite route there. The season, the fall colors, and the cooler temps made the usual ride more enchanting. What we now take for granted is seeing some of the most recognized buildings, monuments, and places in the world. Starting with the Capitol Building right after we get on the freeway just a few blocks from our house; the Jefferson Monument; the Washington Memorial; Memorial Bridge and the Lincoln Memorial; Kennedy Center; Roosevelt Island; Georgeteown University; Potomac River; and scenic overlooks. There’s even more on the way back, but I’m driving so I can’t take photos - I missed a wedding shot at the WWI Memorial on Independence Avenue. We had a few other errands this morning but made good time getting home. Sometimes I’m not sure how and why we moved to DC from the Midwest, but it’s days like this that remind us it wasn’t such a bad idea. 

It Took Two Hours to Travel Two Miles - and the Subaru Hits a Landmark 88,888 Miles

Just as he was saying the mileage on the ten year old Subaru was 88,888, it turned to 88,889 when I got the photo. This conversation was occurring because we were traveling at a snail's pace along the George Washington Parkway at the height of the cherry blossom season and EVERYONE was heading to Washington. We made the big mistake of doing our usual Saturday routine of having breakfast in McLean, then picking up a few groceries. Getting out of town was easy but coming back in was dreadful - except the sun was out! And I was able to take photos of things that I usually can't because the car is traveling much too fast. There was a city scene from the distance, a Marine memorial, a dinner boat passing along the river, the Pentagon, and the Anacostia river along Potomac Park East.  So what is typically a twenty minute ride turned in to almost two hours because our real destination this afternoon was the Arboretum - to see more cherry trees away from the madness of the Tidal Basin. Was it worth it? I suppose so. But as it turns out some of the prettiest blooms are right in our neighborhood, but that's another story. 

Planes to Washington Every Five Minutes

Maybe it's because we just came back from a trip to visit friends in France and England. Or maybe because flying in airplanes lately has become a bigger risk for a lot of reasons. But probably because we live in the nation's Capitol and are only about fifteen minutes from Reagan Airport, I noticed a lot of planes today. We drove over I395 and then to the George Washington Memorial Parkway on our way to lunch in McLean. It's supposed to be the best day of the weekend after a miserable week of rain - and so far it's simply lovely. There was a hint of fall in the air, the sky was blue, and the planes were coming in over the Potomac River toward the airport every five minutes. Having landed in Washington from Milwaukee many times, flying in from that direction is really nice. All the well known monuments and landmarks can't be missed. And when we drove back home from McLean, they were still coming in...every five minutes. It's one thing to visit DC as a tourist, but it's another thing all together to come home. 

The Silver Line In McLean

It's been awhile since we went to Cafe Deluxe in Tysons. So we decided it would be a nice ride up the George Washington Parkway, to highway 123 or better named Dolley Madison Boulevard. Along side it runs the new Metro Silver Line that is supposed to be opening soon. And it will run through Capitol South, which is a little over a block from our house. Not that we would take it as far as I am concerned, but my husband would certainly like to. Based on what I have heard, it will be the most modern form of transit, making the other metro trains archaic. It has also been reported that there will even be obvious restroom facilities, something that is not known in the current configurations around town. Near the Tysons Mall site is a huge office and apartment structure that is also nearing completion. Eventually the area is supposed to be a green space walking heaven. I know a few people who live in the area who could take the train in from work rather than drive. Neither one of them think they will because it still requires a drive to the parking lot first, a wait for the train, and not being in control. I think you need to either have grown up using this kind of transportation, or you don't have any other choice. I was so used to driving my own car in Milwaukee because there was no train and my job required a lot of travel to and from a variety of facilities. Here, I walk two blocks to work. The metro sounds like a good idea, but I just can't seem to get in to it - even if it's new and goes all the way to Tysons. 

Boats and Paddlers on the Potomac

Finally a beautiful day, and the ride along the Potomac River on the George Washington Parkway is always so pleasant. The white puffy clouds make for a very serene and picturesque scene. The water level is quite high, and muddy, from all the rainstorms around here this last week. As we moved further down the river away from the city, the boats got smaller and smaller - coincidental I am sure, but nevertheless something that did not escape my eye. I have this horrible sense of noticing things from a very objective perspective. At least this time it's sort of something to chuckle about. At the Washington Monument was a larger dinner boat type of vessel sailing by. When we reached the Kennedy Center, the smaller tour boat was just passing under the bridge. When we reached the higher level and scenic overlook spots on the way to McLean, the two standing paddlers were tiny. I have alway lived near water - even in cities with water in the names. We really don't use the water, fish, swim, or sail on it. But it's always so very pleasant to look at. 

Turkey Bird in Alexandria

Whenever we travel along the George Washington Parkway I am always on the lookout for eagles. We used to see them quite regularly when we first moved here. Recently we were headed to Alexandria and traffic was slightly congested. Without warning the car in front of us slammed on the breaks. Usually I have my phone in hand to snap pictures because you never know what you are going to run in to around here. Unfortunately I did not this time. A huge walking - or should I say running - bird appeared out of nowhere in front of us crossing the very busy street. We weren't sure what it was, so I'm posting a photo by Ahmad Saib of what we thought we saw. There is a lot of wooded area just past Ronald Reagan Airport. There are always ducks and geese flapping about in the rain made puddles. But this thing was nothing like that. We are thinking it was a turkey bird, not a turkey buzzard. She certainly took a big chance, and did make it to the other side. I hope her family appreciated the risk she took! What good are those wings if you can't use them?