I thought I'd follow up to Ian's cast.
He loves his camo...
Marc
Monday, August 8, 2016
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Solo hike up Old Rag Mountain
I have been wanting some wilderness for a while, I finally got off my butt and made the effort. I woke up pretty early to get to the Old Rag parking lot by 7 am. Too bad my cell phone with google maps didn't have coverage, so I missed my turn, but still got there by about 7:30.
It is about 2 miles up, pretty much uphill the whole way, but nothing terribly steep or challenging, until you hit the rock scramble. The photo below was taken on the doorstep of the rock scramble - or at least the difficult part. It starts with what I call a slot chimney - about 10-15 feet down for a 20 foot distance. You have to use arms and legs to make it down, and that is just the start!
There are rock "caves" and keystone rocks (a rock that fell and got wedged between two other rocks, without blocking the trail) to crawl over/through/under. All in all, it was a very enjoyable hike, but I'm glad I didn't try to bring Catherine or the kids. No way, we would have had to turn around - it was pretty dicey in places.
The reward for making it to the top is the remarkable view, seen above. This is actually shot directly at the place where I made the photo immediately preceding this one (the wee little rock outcropping in the lower left).
I continued the loop hike on the way out, which was pretty unremarkable, except for the hordes of people. I did manage to find this peaceful series of little waterfalls off the fire road, which made a nice break.
It was a short trip, but the sun was out and the wind was blowing. It was just what the doctor ordered!
Cheers,
Marc
It is about 2 miles up, pretty much uphill the whole way, but nothing terribly steep or challenging, until you hit the rock scramble. The photo below was taken on the doorstep of the rock scramble - or at least the difficult part. It starts with what I call a slot chimney - about 10-15 feet down for a 20 foot distance. You have to use arms and legs to make it down, and that is just the start!
There are rock "caves" and keystone rocks (a rock that fell and got wedged between two other rocks, without blocking the trail) to crawl over/through/under. All in all, it was a very enjoyable hike, but I'm glad I didn't try to bring Catherine or the kids. No way, we would have had to turn around - it was pretty dicey in places.
The reward for making it to the top is the remarkable view, seen above. This is actually shot directly at the place where I made the photo immediately preceding this one (the wee little rock outcropping in the lower left).
I continued the loop hike on the way out, which was pretty unremarkable, except for the hordes of people. I did manage to find this peaceful series of little waterfalls off the fire road, which made a nice break.
It was a short trip, but the sun was out and the wind was blowing. It was just what the doctor ordered!
Cheers,
Marc
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Whoopsie!
Wow, it's been quite some time since I've posted. Lots has happened since May, but most recently (last night), Ian broke both of the bones in his left forearm while running around and playing at his Boy Scout meeting. That took a bunch of fun out of it...
To make matters worse, Ian had just started a fencing camp in the area, which he was really enjoying - though he had only taken one day of lessons. He wanted to show off his stance with the wooden sword we bought when we lived in Germany.
Needless to say, Ian isn't taking fencing lessons the rest of this week.
Have a great day - enjoy the update!
Marc
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Fun at the local playground
These photos were taken a couple of weeks ago at the local playground.
The kids enjoyed hanging upside down.
But what they really liked was me spinning them on the merry-go-round.
By now you've probably heard that Leah is having a surgery next week - what we thought was appendicitis turned out to be a pancreatic cyst. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I can't wait to get my little girl back to "normal"!
Cheers,
Marc
The kids enjoyed hanging upside down.
But what they really liked was me spinning them on the merry-go-round.
By now you've probably heard that Leah is having a surgery next week - what we thought was appendicitis turned out to be a pancreatic cyst. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I can't wait to get my little girl back to "normal"!
Cheers,
Marc
Sunday, May 1, 2016
Revolutionary War weekend at Mt. Vernon
It was a wet weekend, but that didn't stop us from having fun. I had a Boy Scout training event on Saturday, which was cold and damp. Luckily, there were a bunch of good folks there to make the event fun.
Sunday, after we went to church and had lunch at home, we braved the rain and made our way to Mount Vernon for the Revolutionary War weekend. We missed the rain, though it was still cool. I think the rain helped keep the crowds down a bit.
Ian and Leah played "grace", where you use a couple of sticks to toss a ring, where the other other person then tries to catch it.
We then strolled amongst the encampment, and then played a spy game, which the facility puts on.
Finally, it was time for the "tactical demonstration". No battles were fought here, but that didn't stop the organizers from hosting a bunch of folks in period costume.
No surprise, the Americans won the day. General Marquis de Lafayette helped lead the soldiers off the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Catherine hopped on a tour, which she said was pretty good. Afterwards, we found a restaurant which served pretty good German food, right next door to a frozen yogurt place. Everyone was happy! All in all, not a bad day.
Cheers,
Marc
Sunday, after we went to church and had lunch at home, we braved the rain and made our way to Mount Vernon for the Revolutionary War weekend. We missed the rain, though it was still cool. I think the rain helped keep the crowds down a bit.
Ian and Leah played "grace", where you use a couple of sticks to toss a ring, where the other other person then tries to catch it.
We then strolled amongst the encampment, and then played a spy game, which the facility puts on.
Finally, it was time for the "tactical demonstration". No battles were fought here, but that didn't stop the organizers from hosting a bunch of folks in period costume.
No surprise, the Americans won the day. General Marquis de Lafayette helped lead the soldiers off the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Catherine hopped on a tour, which she said was pretty good. Afterwards, we found a restaurant which served pretty good German food, right next door to a frozen yogurt place. Everyone was happy! All in all, not a bad day.
Cheers,
Marc
Sunday, April 17, 2016
We made it to the White House!
Twice a year the White House south lawn and gardens are opened to the public. We made our way to DC early in the morning so we could get our tickets at 9. After we had our tickets, we had to wait another hour before they let us in.
Christina is visiting, so she came along, too. Catherine and Leah, below, are posing right outside the Oval Office.
A bit down the hill we finally had a nice view of the White House without too many people standing in the way. The park service was handing out 500 tickets every 30 minutes, so there were a fair bit of people to contend with, but not that bad. Honestly, the volunteers they were using to keep people off the grass were more rude than any of the tourists/visitors.
The obligatory shot of the White House from down by the kitchen gardens.
And the kids did a Junior Ranger program for the President's Park. Since the "park" is open only four days a year to the general public, not too shabby!
Have a great day,
Marc
Christina is visiting, so she came along, too. Catherine and Leah, below, are posing right outside the Oval Office.
A bit down the hill we finally had a nice view of the White House without too many people standing in the way. The park service was handing out 500 tickets every 30 minutes, so there were a fair bit of people to contend with, but not that bad. Honestly, the volunteers they were using to keep people off the grass were more rude than any of the tourists/visitors.
The obligatory shot of the White House from down by the kitchen gardens.
And the kids did a Junior Ranger program for the President's Park. Since the "park" is open only four days a year to the general public, not too shabby!
Have a great day,
Marc
Thursday, March 24, 2016
National Museums of Natural History and American History
We drove in to see the National Museum of Natural History today. Since we braved the crowds (not bad on the way in, YIKES!!! on the way out!) we got an early start. A bit too early, so we had time to waltz on down to the tidal basin before the museum opened at 10. I couldn't pass up the opportunity for a quick family photo, with the Jefferson Memorial peaking through in the background.
The National Museum of Natural History was fairly busy, and there was lots to see. Leah enjoyed the butterfly garden - while Ian was a bit creeped out.
There was a tiny aquarium there, with everyone talking about "Dora" and "Nemo". Regardless, Ian really enjoyed watching the fishes swim.
After a long day, we decided to take in the National Museum of American History, which is right next door. Ian liked the ships and boats on display, in keeping with his nautical interest of late.
The top floor had a presidential section, and Leah gave her best at a stirring campaign speech.
Ian did, too. Too bad they are too young for a write-in this year . . .
The National Museum of American History also has the flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 - of Francis Scott Key and "The Star Spangled Banner" fame, on display. I think that was everyone's favorite part of that museum. If not, it definitely was mine!
Cheers,
Marc
The National Museum of Natural History was fairly busy, and there was lots to see. Leah enjoyed the butterfly garden - while Ian was a bit creeped out.
There was a tiny aquarium there, with everyone talking about "Dora" and "Nemo". Regardless, Ian really enjoyed watching the fishes swim.
After a long day, we decided to take in the National Museum of American History, which is right next door. Ian liked the ships and boats on display, in keeping with his nautical interest of late.
The top floor had a presidential section, and Leah gave her best at a stirring campaign speech.
Ian did, too. Too bad they are too young for a write-in this year . . .
The National Museum of American History also has the flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 - of Francis Scott Key and "The Star Spangled Banner" fame, on display. I think that was everyone's favorite part of that museum. If not, it definitely was mine!
Cheers,
Marc
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)