Author Archives: John M

Looking back on 2016

Posted on December 30, 2016 by John M

Looking back, it has certainly been a busy year for hiking! Our hiking group grew by 1,779 members, from 6,796 to 8,575, and we met for 103 events during 2016, hiking a total of 450 miles at locations throughout Virginia, … Continue reading →

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Walk to National Harbor

Posted on December 8, 2016 by John M

Last weekend we walked across Wilson Bridge to visit National Harbor in Maryland, starting from Jones Point Park in Alexandria, Virginia. It’s about a 6-mile (10-kilometer) paved walk both ways, and it is so gently inclined that it may as … Continue reading →

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El Galeón and a Super Moon

Posted on November 18, 2016 by John M

Last weekend we had a visit from El Galeón Andalucia, a full-size replica of a 16th century Spanish galleon. The ship docked at the Alexandria Waterfront from 9 to 14 November as  one of her stops along a journey up … Continue reading →

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Streamlined

Posted on July 21, 2016 by John M

Here’s a few interesting shots from a walking tour of historic Del Ray, Virginia, which was for the most part a tour of the town of Potomac, Virginia, which existed from 1908-1929. The genesis of the tour was a complaint … Continue reading →

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Lake Frank and Meadowside Nature Center

Posted on June 30, 2016 by John M

Last Saturday I took a day off from group hiking to explore Lake Frank, in Montgomery County, Maryland, for a hike our group is doing this coming Saturday. Lake Frank is only about 10 miles from the I-495 Capital Beltway, … Continue reading →

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Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary

Posted on June 17, 2016 by John M

On Wednesday I drove out to Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary to take a look around for a hike we’re doing this coming Saturday. Jug Bay is due east of Washington DC and very close, only 12 miles from the I-495 … Continue reading →

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Two Falls

Posted on May 22, 2016 by John M

This past Friday I drove out to Shenandoah National Park to reconnoiter an upcoming hike near the Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center, in the Big Meadows area of the park. The planned hike is a counter-clockwise loop, about 5 … Continue reading →

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A hike in Patapsco Valley State Park

Posted on May 13, 2016 by John M

Last weekend we took a nice hike up in Maryland, at Patapsco Valley State Park, just south of Baltimore. For the first part, we crossed the river on a suspension bridge and hiked a 1.25 miles upstream on the Gristmill … Continue reading →

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Potomac Overlook

Posted on March 11, 2016 by John M

Last weekend we took an urban hike in Arlington County, Virginia, starting from Potomac Overlook Regional Park. The hike was basically a 5.1-mile counter-clockwise loop, boxed in by Donaldson Run, the Potomac River, Gulf Branch, and North Glebe Road. It … Continue reading →

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Keep moving

Posted on February 18, 2016 by John M

One of the downsides to winter is that you just have to get out there and keep moving, but you often spend more time getting dressed for and getting to a hike than you do actually hiking. (Actually, this applies … Continue reading →

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