Needham Reservoir

We just returned from a whirlwind road trip to Boston. It was for my oldest cousin’s memorial. She unexpectedly passed away last year and this would be a time to celebrate her life. And we haven’t been out of the state in three years due to the pandemic. So we were very much looking forward to getting away. Aside from the afternoon memorial we spent the first full day in Gloucester and the third full day walking around the neighborhood pond and relaxing. We got to stay in my cousin’s family home that has been beautifully renovated and redecorated. It reminded me of all of the times we visited there over the years. You could almost hear of the voices of the past. Because she rents the side by side out now she lives in another neighborhood about twenty minutes away. So on the last evening of our visit we went out to dinner at an Asian place. Then she drove us around town for a bit to see the sights. We ended up in Needham. There, we stopped at a lovely reservoir that she visits for walking. It was so very peaceful. First of all we visited at my favorite part of the day - dusk. And the walk around the boardwalk was very enjoyable. The weather was just right and the scenery was even better. There were a few other people milling about including a couple of boys fishing. It made for a perfect photo op. And of course there was a pair of swans to complete the scene. I wish we had more time to spend there on this mini “vacation.”  It was a good time. 

A Small Mouth Bass or Trout?

It's been almost a year since our son and his family moved to Virginia from DC. We see them now almost as much as we saw them here - and they used to live just down the street from us. We have visited their new hometown twice and plan to go again next month. It's a four hour plus ride by car and requires an overnight. Things are certainly different there than here. Our grandson has taken up fishing. Living along the James River must make one think of things like that. We used to fish in a small pond in Florida as youngsters using dough balls and bamboo rods. But we never caught anything that could even be considered a meal. It seems the young man is getting the hang of it and every time we see a picture the catch is getting bigger starting with a trout and a small mouth bass. They have even prepared the fish for dinner - or should I say - snack? He's been told by the locals that he needs to get out there early in the morning for better results. With school out now and baseball season in full swing I'm not sure how much longer this new found hobby will last. It's certainly not something he did with any regularity here, but it sounds like a relaxing way to pass the time - not something you hear about much in these parts. 

 

East Potomac Park, Grille, Golfing, Fishing, Picnicking, Biking, Living - Everything

Every once in a while we take a side trip through Potomac Park on our way home to Capitol Hill. We haven't typically been there on a Friday or at this time of year. The place was teeming with activity. From the minute we entered the park, the golf courses were filled with carts and golfers on foot. The fishermen were out in full swing....some appeared to be more interested in enjoying the beautiful day than catching a fish. Both on the Anacostia side and Potomac side there were boats heading to and from the city center. Bikers, joggers, walkers, and skaters were in plain view trying to avoid the stream of buses that were touring through. It looked like a year end school picnic taking up considerable space near Hains Point. In between is a restaurant called the Grille, and near it was a bath house, pool, and mini golf course. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. From that vantage point is the Washington Monument on one end and the Titanic Memorial on the other, near the place where the Lincoln conspirators were hanged. When we crossed over to the other side to SW Washington, the huge Wharf redevelopment is in progress. The construction activity must have affected the fish market places along the water. It was hard enough to find parking without it. It is here where one can get charter yacht service and other water faring rentals. It seems wherever you go in this town there is construction underway. My husband always says we will miss it when - and if - we leave. I'm not so sure.