Tidal Basin Floods and Disappearing Sidewalks

I don’t remember it being this bad before. The Tidal Basin flooding has become much worse- especially after several days of downpours. We went in to town for a morning walk and parked in our usual spot. It was the first time we had to walk completely around the Jefferson Memorial because the path that lead to the famous Stumpy cherry tree was under water. We wanted to visit Stumpy at least one more time before they pull him and a lot of other cherry trees out for the large scale restoration/renovation project to secure a new sea wall that has sunk several feet. We hope they pay tribute to Stumpy somehow aside from taking his DNA and creating mini trees. All along the tidal basin the sidewalks are submerged. It makes it difficult to get around it due to the unexpected nature of it all. It’s almost a two mile trek but stretches in to more than that with all of the detours. Even the sidewalks by the Roosevelt Memorial are not passable. I’m sure in the end it will be a lot safer and drier but it’s going to take at least two years and is supposed to start in May. This is one of our favorite places to park and walk. I have a feeling we won’t be able to once the construction begins. 

Storms, Hail, and Downed Trees

It started last night around eleven o'clock in the evening. The lightning just wouldn't stop. Then the wind gusts started and the torrential rains followed. The rain turned to hail the size of marbles and golf balls - I thought they would break our tiny glass patio table. It was scary enough. I don't like that sort of thing, although I know a lot of people who thrive on it! Then all the phones rang out with emergency flash flood warnings. You just knew there had to be some collateral damage, and this morning's walk showcased the outcome. It was thankfully a bit cooler than usual these last several days. Rather than being near 90 at 9:30, it was only in the 80's with lower humidity - one nice side effect? Our house sustained a broken downspout, and someone said their kitchen flooded. Near our house were a couple of downed very large trees - one of them smashing a car and both closing the streets. The sidewalks were filled with plant debris that will eventually clutter up the sewer system. I don't remember the weather being this horrible in Milwaukee where we lived for thirty years. And I don't ever recall hearing about DC having such storms, and earthquakes, and blizzards - only since we've been here the last ten years. I'm sure it could have been worse. But at night especially, it's just not my cup of tea.