Tidal Basin Before the Blooms

Last week I wanted to get some slow shutter photos for the 52Frames challenge this week. So we drove in to town and took a ride around East Potomac Park, and then parked by the underpass along the Anacostia River and walked over to the tidal basin. The idea was to get a helicopter traveling past the Washington monument. It was a fiasco because I don’t know anything about slow shutter photography and didn’t have the essential tripod, but the walk around the Tidal Basin was lovely. The cherry blossom buds were just starting to show signs of life compared to the near full blossoms that we saw yesterday. It’s hard to believe that such rather ugly looking trunks and limbs turn in to a magical paradise. We walked as far as the FDR Memorial, then turned back around and walked over to the Jefferson Memorial that is undergoing renovation. It was a beautiful blue skies day and perfect for this excursion. I always try to find the best day of the week to get our drive in to the city. With spring here it’s the prettiest time of the year to visit. If the crowds get too large the park police plan to close down all the cherry blossom areas in the name of social distancing. For that reason we may ride over to the US Botanical Garden. We haven’t been there since we moved to northern Virginia. The flowers don’t last very long which is why they are so inviting. Luckily there are a lot of different places to find them. 

Reflections at the Tidal Basin

Our morning walk yesterday took us to the Tidal Basin where I had some ideas for the 52Frames photography challenge this week. Before I started thinking more about those, other images became more obvious - reflections. The water was so still and there was no wind, which is very unusual. And, the area was devoid of other people partly because it is January, but also because of the threats in the city and landmarks. There was a lot of police presence and helicopters flying over. As we strolled along the path everything looked surreal - especially if one focused just on the reflections of the most recognized monuments. The Jefferson, MLK, and Washington monuments looked like water color paintings. There were also a bunch of geese making their presence known, along with loose feathers caught up in the twigs. The cherry trees took on a more ominous tone - it’s amazing how spring turns them in to a fairy wonderland. Even though it was overcast the walk was delightful. And the place was all to ourselves. 

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. 

Clouds and Monuments

It's been weird weather around here. I can't remember being this hot in Florida! At least there were afternoon thunderstorms that cooled everything down. Here, it's been everlasting heat and humidity without much of a break. Last evening we drove to McLean for dinner at Amoo's Persian Restauarnt. On our way home, it was sprinkling a bit, and the skies were beginning to look rather ominous. But they were only looking ominous sporadically rather than throughout. As we crossed Memorial Bridge, the clouds were scattered in a very funny array over the Lincoln memorial. Heading closer in, there was just a small area where it was pouring, and it looked like it was just next to the Washington Monument and could be just over our neighborhood. Passing by the Tidal Basin, black skies were forming in very threatening shapes. When we reached the Capitol, things were less spooky looking until we turned up towards our house in the neighborhood. I really don't like rain storms and prefer to be home when they strike. I have an umbrella for every kind of rain. Call that paranoid - or prepared. It doesn't really matter though because I'm ready for it. I just don't like being in it. 

The Tidal Basin Madhouse But in a Pretty Way

We've spent the last few days chasing the cherry blossoms all over town. For whatever reason, they were more appealing this year than most and I think it had to do with the beautiful and delightful weather. Friday was still cold and dreary, but the weekend more than made up for it. We drove around Haines Point in Potomac Park East, checked out the National Arboretum and Stanton Park, walked down to the Tidal Basin yesterday afternoon along with the multitudes of visitors, went back to see the sun set on all the action last evening, and then again today we walled around Capitol Hill. It was simply gorgeous but it is something that looks even better after the fact. It was difficult to maneuver around the crowds and crossing the street was a challenge. It has the be the busiest two weeks in Washington because it is such a compressed time table. If you blink you'll miss it all. We stopped in the Smithsonian castle for a soda and to put our feet up and then made our way home. The crowds thinned out as we headed East. All along the way the fairyland continued. One of my favorite photos is the reflection of the Washington Monument and the cherry blossoms in the Tidal Basin. It looks like an upside down impressionist painting. And to think all we have to do is walk there. That really isn't too inconvenient.