Unforgettable Campout at Burke Lake Park

We missed the allure of camping in the forest, and we found a very nice and tranquil park only half an hour away, with very little traffic to slow us down.

We enjoyed roasting vegetarian hot-dogs and talking as darkness set in.

After a very late breakfast around 11:00 am, we set out on a 4.5 mile hike around the lake.

Pull-up bars for short people?

On Saturday night, a big storm blew in rapidly. Rain beat down and the lightning was fierce. A strike nearby pinned us down for a few minutes, while we shook inside the tent.

The next morning we discovered this tree about 100 M away struck by the lightning. The bark was peeled off in a big strip from top to bottom.

On the ground, strips of bark were sticking into the dirt, and holes were blown out of the ground where the lightning had raced down the roots.

Our car battery and another camper's battery died, so we gave our car a moving jum-start, and then helped him start his car.

We were glad to get home on Sunday afternoon.

Christina & Fauzia

Christina took some time off from the hospital in Virginia where she works as an ER nurse and came to visit.

We tooled around town and visited the Air Force Memorial...

......The changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery,

the White House,

and the Lincoln Memorial. The inscription on the wall says:

In this temple

as in the hearts of the people,

for whom he saved the union

the memory of Abraham Lincoln

is enshrined forever.

I discovered something new this time--a basement below the Memorial with some interesting exhibits.

The Washington Monument and the Reflecting Pool.

Fauzia is a Fulbright Scholar from Lahore. We had her over for supper and lively conversation.

Vanity Plates

Has there been a rash of vanity plates on the road lately, or is it just me? Its probably just me.

PJCOOL
JOSHIN
1ATATME
YOO TEE
4 BASKET
BENJI 1
GURLL
LAZY RVR

FLM PLZ
CZ 2DAYY
IM ILL
KEEDEE

OPINION

Fun in the August Sun

White water rafting in Ohiopyle State Park, PA.

One afternoon, my honey fixed some tasty spinach pin-wheels.

There was another visit to the White House on Wednesday, but this time no pics.

In the afternoon we went over to visit Dad working on the Passport Taskforce, and ran into KG after more than a year.

We went to the Inter-American Development Bank--El BID--to talk with the Chilean mission.

Back in Spanish class, it was time to celebrate a birthday.

Another visit to Roosevelt Island--one of my favorite places in DC.

Another Sunday, another leg of the C&O Canal trail. The water is getting full with algae this late in the summer.

This is the end of the irrigated portion of the canal, some 20 miles outside DC.

We hiked a leisurely 6.3 miles today, and stopped near mile post 22 at Seneca Locks to eat our lunch on the river bank.

Little Critters & the C&O Canal Trail Saga

My folks hadn't seen the National Arboretum yet, so we went for a look-see.

Some prickly things near the bonsai garden.

A twisted flower.

Bee on the prowl.

A beetle up to his neck in anther.

Our saga on the 184 mile C&O Canal Trail continues. At this point in the trail we were crossing under the Capital Beltway.

On this particular Sunday we hiked from Lock #5 to Swain's Lock, about 13 miles.

Some kind of egret (I think) by the canal. I'm not a birder, so correct me if I'm wrong.

Milepost 11 was a friendly encouragement.

Things got more quiet and desolate as we left the city far behind.

C&O Canal barge ride

The C&O Canal has boat rides up the canal every day from Great Falls NP and Georgetown. One afternoon we went for a ride at the former location. The two "horse power" engine consists of two mules towing the boat along the canal, led by a canal lass.

The yeoman makes a final call.

Miss Daisy steers the boat.

Tying up at the locks.

The flood gates let the water out.

When the water level is down to the next level, the boat can proceed.

Men at work-- these hard-working contractors didn't let anything distract them from the task at hand.

George Mason & the Bangkok Blues

My honey and I took one of the paddle boats for a whirl in the Tidal Basin on a recent Wednesday afternoon. Some helicopters flew overhead a couple times.

One of the lesser-known monuments in Washington DC: The George Mason Memorial. He was an important founding father of our nation. Known as the "reluctant statesman", he refused to sign the Constitution because it failed to abolish slavery and did not sufficiently protect the individual from the Federal Government.

A male mermaid on the Ohio Street bridge crossing the tidal basin.

On the last night before my honey went out west to visit her family, we had dinner at the nearby Bangkok Blues restaurant in Falls Church.

Some tomyam soup and lightly fried tofu for appetizers.

We tried to chat with the waitress in Thai, but it was difficult because only Spanish would come out....

For dessert, mango & sticky rice, and fried banana pastries.