Lyndon Johnson Memorial Grove

Right by the Pentagon is a parking lot for the Lyndon Johnson Memorial Grove. We hadn’t been there for quite some time. I was looking for places to capture water photos for the 52Frames challenge last week. It started with a walk across the foot bridge over to the park. You can walk along the GW Memorial Parkway with a clear view of the Washington Monument. Walking past the Memorial takes you to the marina that is filled with all sorts of watercraft. There is another clear view of the pentagon from here. We always try to avoid the paths that are surrounded by geese - as they can be rather nasty. We then passed under the bridge and saw a fisherman trying his luck. There were a lot of opportunities for water shots including one with a spider and web dangling above the water. We aren’t able to walk as far as we used to. My husband keeps having dizzy spells from the medications he is taking and my plantar fasciitis is quite uncomfortable - so much so that I’ve decided not walking for a week is in the cards this week since nothing else seems to be helping. It’s always a joy to find places like this to some the time, but I wonder for how much longer. 

River Farm in Alexandria

Last week the 52Frames weekly photo challenge subject was “unexplored.” So we tried to come up with some ideas of places we had never been to visit. And one of those places was River Farm on the Potomac River. February probably isn’t the best time to visit a farm or gardens, but it was worth the try. It is located right next to Mount Vernon and the land was once owned by George Washington. The original house still stands but has been enlarged and renovated several times. It is now a wedding venue and an artist by the name of Dhamin Jassim has works on display for purchase. We were almost the only people there. We parked next to the house and did a walkabout. The white rocking chairs on the porch overlooking the Potomac River would be a great spot to sit in the summer. The gardens were still in winter hibernation. There were hints of spring with a few crocus popping out along the paths. There wasn’t much to look at inside the house - although this is the national horticulture headquarters and this place does have quite a history. In the back was a dilapidated shack. We walked around the circular drive and path a couple of times before leaving. It is unlikely that we would ever visit again, but I am glad we checked it out. 

The Other Way in Old Town Alexandria

We usually visit Old Town Alexandria at least once a month for a morning walk. We generally take the path along the waterfront and then criss cross up and down past the stately old homes and townhouses. But yesterday we decided to go the other way. I read somewhere that there was a Washington Monument somewhere along the way - and we did find the miniature version. So we headed towards the airport where you can see the Capitol and the real Washington Monument in the distance. This path is the same one that winds all the way down to Mount Vernon along the Potomac River. There are a lot of new condominiums this way and everything starts to look the same after a while. There used to be some locks here to lift boats up and down - particularly during the civil war. There is also a very ugly and rusty old power plant that looks to have been there quite some time. The pathway is surrounded by a bird cage - perhaps to not get hit by any falling debris? We took the higher ground back towards the car where the old railroad track cuts through the town. After the walk we sat by the water in Founders Park and ordered pizza and chicken from Vaso’s Kitchen - a habit when we are in the area. After picking the food up we drove on to Gravelly Point to watch the planes land and have a bit of lunch. I don’t think we will probably walk that way again. But it was good to check it out for a change of pace. 

Dreamy Potomac River in Old Town Alexandria

We hadn’t been to Old Town Alexandria for a few weeks. After our morning walk we usually stop at Vaso’s Kitchen to pick up Greek food and pizza, then drive to the airport at Gravelly Point, eat lunch, and watch the planes fly in and out overhead. And, it would also be a great time to check out the old town Christmas decor. We parked at Founders Park on the beautiful “warm” winter day and headed towards the Potomac River and riverfront. The river was exceptionally quiet and calm. It was almost magical - and mystical - walking along the area. Everything looked all so familiar since we have been coming here for seventeen years. It wasn’t busy - which I prefer. As we continued on I was intrigued by the glass like reflections on the water. The tall ship Providence mast and clouds looked cool. And each of the piers looked united  - actual and reflection - as one piece. The sun began peeking out and added another dimension. The bridge underbelly looked like large letter x’s in the distance. The guy on the pier was also enjoying the views. The waterfront homes also doubled in size. As we turned to head back in to town it occurred to me why it seemed so peaceful. There weren’t any planes taking off or landing. Once it started up again it didn’t stop - one after the other, messing up the calm environment. So that’s what was so unusual about the day. Yes, the water was calm - but there was no noise pollution from above. 

Theodore Roosevelt Island

It’s an unusual thing to have an island in the middle of the urban jungle. We try to visit Theodore Roosevelt island at least once every season, but usually more. So before all of the leaves fell off the trees we thought we would take a ride there. From northern Virginia you have to travel down the GW Parkway to Arlington Cemetery only to circle back in the same direction we came to make the only turn off to the island. It’s convoluted but it is the only way to get there. I think we missed most of the color, but the walk across the footbridge over the Potomac River to the island is always a pleasant one. We take our usual walking path route and ran into a couple of tour groups. You can see the Kennedy center from one side and Arlington/Clerendon on the other. We stumbled across several Osage oranges. They look like little green brains and could really cause damage if they fell on your head. I like the option to look things up from the photo stream since it is getting harder to remember names of things. At the end of the walk we usually visit the Roosevelt Statue in the center. On this day the sun was brilliant as was the shadow cast against the backdrop. The unfilled fountain and park still looks lovely in the middle of nowhere. The one drawback is the constant air traffic overhead flying to and from Reagan airport. It reminds you that you really are still in the jungle.