Theropods

I go to the river. I see dinosaurs. Very cool.

Back To The River

C & O Canal NHP... A slightly different look.

One Day. What To Do?

You've got one day. One free day in the DC region. What's there to do? Much!

First things first... breakfast. Get up early and head for the Market On The Boulevard in Potomac, MD. Good coffee and bagels. (They've got excellent specialty sandwiches for lunch, too.)

From there you can zip right up the road to the C&O Canal N. H. P. Wildlife viewing, good hikes, peace and quiet. Inspiring.

As the morning begins to give way, grab your things and head back down the boulevard toward the city. This particular day as I made my way to Georgetown, I slipped over to Rosslyn and continued a little further south to Gravely Point near National Airport. Watching jet liners landing just overhead is really quite a rush. After the plane passes the air above continues to swirl from the jet engines creating a weird hissing sound above for a few seconds. Took me a while to figure out what was going on. Very cool!

OK, what's next? Well, what would a trip to DC be like if you didn't visit at least one museum? My favorite is the National Gallery of Art on Constitution Ave. All the greats represented. Rembrandt, Manet, Degas, and more.

By now you're probably getting hungry. Lunch trucks are a big thing in DC these days. At Farragut Square NW there are several to choose from. Tacos, sandwiches, ice cream. Much variety. I picked the Mojo Truck, owned by Damian Dajcz. He makes Uruguayan sandwiches called "chivitos." They're huge and tasty! I had chopped steak topped with a fried egg on a toasted roll. Amazing. It was an unseasonably warm January day, so I found bench in the park and planted my already weary body and enjoyed the meal.

Rest up. More to do.

After lunch I hopped back in the car and headed across the river to Rosslyn, VA. There you'll find the Iwo Jima Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery right next door. The Lee House, JFK's Eternal Flame and many famous and not so famous men and women lost in war. Pierre Charles L'Enfant is also buried there. And from this vantage point you can take in a spectacular view of his city. In fact, I'd say this is one of the most recognized images of the District of Columbia. You've probably seen it yourself, so many photographers have made it before.

As the sun begins to drop below the horizon, I can think of no better way to wrap up the day then with a pint of Guinness at my favorite DC pub, Ireland's Four Fields (formerly Four Provinces, or "4 Ps", as the locals still call it). Great atmosphere and the best pour in town. A decent selection of Scotch, too! The neighborhood is Cleveland Park. Good restaurants and a great old theatre. Always worth the trip.

(Check out the map below for locations visited. This was actually how I spent the day. All photos were taken the same day in general order of appearance.) 

View One Day in the DC Region. in a larger map

Thanks for hangin' with me today.

This is obviously just a small sampling of things to do and see and eat in the Nation's Capital. I'll try to bring you more as the new year rolls on. See you again soon. Happy New Year!

-MK

iCanal

Ventured down here with only the iPhone. Nothing else. Felt weird not having everything hanging off my shoulders, bag, camera, lenses...etc. Nice, but odd.

Walking

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." ~ John Muir

"Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time." ~ Steven Wright

Working The Canal

The Charles F. Mercer is the most recent packet boat to make its way up and down the canal. Built with funds raised by private organizations and actually started by a group of third graders, it has been plying these waters now for 5 years.

Watching the volunteers and Park Service employees work this boat through the locks and up the canal gives one a strong appreciation for how the folks 150 years ago used to survive.

A Trip Back In Time

It took 22 years, from 1828 to 1850, to complete the C&O Canal. 184.5 miles. From Cumberland, Md to Georgetown in DC, coal and building materials made their way, slowly. With the help of mule teams and through a series of locks, the full trip took seven days to complete.

For most of the 19th century the canal remained in operation. A series of devastating floods and more advanced modes of transportation eventually rendered the canal obsolete.

Good Day At Work

Imagery abounds.

From The Potomac River Gorge Area

Feel the Burn!

Peace.

Then and Now #9

This is a slight variation on the Then & Now theme. I made this first shot in 2006. This is what Great Falls looks like normally.

Yesterday we had almost three inches of rain in a very short period of time. This morning, I went to the Falls to see what I could see. From what I've heard, it still hasn't crested. That will probably be tonight sometime. Anyway... pretty powerful stuff.

(And yes, can't help but think about the tsunami in Japan today.)

Updated...

Hi folks. Just a quick note to let you know I've done a little bit of a refresh on my main website. On the front page and in DC and Canal galleries... new images abound! Pop on over and have a look. Thoughts, critiques and artistic thrashings are welcome.

Many thanks to my friend Jeremy Shockley for his advice and encouragement! Cheers.

The River

I have been negligent. I have been lazy. It's been nearly two months since I last wandered around the Potomac River Gorge, that 15 mile stretch of wildness just outside DC. But I soon plan to rectify this troublesome situation.

Meantime... here are a few photos from visits past.

Cheers.

Washington DC Via iPhone

A little more exploration of DC with the iPhone. Cafes, canals, and cathedrals.

Happy New Year all!