Category Archives: Photography

Why I don’t have a green thumb

Posted on March 13, 2014 by John M

I never seem to be able to do much with my back yard. It’s shady, being adjacent to a vacant, wooded lot that thankfully cannot be developed, and underneath the thin topsoil is marine clay interspersed with stones the size of … Continue reading →

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Disappointment

Posted on March 10, 2014 by John M

I’m kind of disappointed with the past weekend’s hikes. Plans almost always fall short of expectations during execution, and these were no exception. You just can’t make chicken salad out of chicken sh*t, as this fellow I used to work … Continue reading →

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Wonderland

Posted on March 3, 2014 by John M

As the weeks go by, the “wonder” part of “winter wonderland” seems to be wondering just how much longer before winter eases its grip on us. Not just yet, anyway. Last weekend we went on a 6-mile hike along the Billy Goat … Continue reading →

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Delayed Awakening

Posted on February 27, 2014 by John M

Last weekend I finally managed to do a hike across the Potomac from Jones Point, in Alexandria, Virginia, across Wilson Bridge to The Awakening statue in National Harbor, Maryland. I originally planned the 6.4-mile hike for February 15th, and hoped to schedule a subsequent hike … Continue reading →

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Persistence

Posted on February 13, 2014 by John M

Persistence is the word that comes to mind when looking back over the past couple of weekends’ hikes: the persistence of  a cold Winter, as it drags through February and probably at least halfway through March, and the persistence of the … Continue reading →

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Across the Potomac

Posted on January 26, 2014 by John M

Winter is a great time of year to do urban hikes. Not only is it easier to find spots for warm-up breaks during the hike, but there’s a better chance the roads and sidewalks will be cleared in an urban … Continue reading →

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Catching up

Posted on January 21, 2014 by John M

The past couple of weeks I have been so busy hiking and planning hikes that I haven’t had any time to post! So here’s a stab at catching up a bit. The weekend of January 11th and 12th featured hikes in Reston and … Continue reading →

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Contrasts

Posted on December 30, 2013 by John M

This past weekend presented a study in contrasts. Saturday was sunny, clear and warm, and a big group of hikers turned out for a moderate to strenuous hike over rocky, hilly terrain, while Sunday was overcast, rainy and cold, and only a few … Continue reading →

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Carderock

Posted on December 22, 2013 by John M

A wonderful 6-mile hike on an unexpectedly warm, sunny Saturday on the Billy Goat Trail, sections B and C, starting from Carderock Recreation Area along the C&O Canal. (Google map here.) Section A is the most popular (and strenuous) part of … Continue reading →

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Christmas in the City

Posted on December 17, 2013 by John M

A lucky break in the weather on Sunday enabled a nice Christmas walk around the National Mall, something we’ve done for the past couple of years. This year, starting from near the Smithsonian Museum, we walked west to the World War 2 Memorial, north to … Continue reading →

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