Tag Archives: Potomac River

Snooping around

Posted on March 28, 2014 by John M

Yesterday I took a lunchtime stroll around the National Mall to get a look at the preparations for the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival. It’s always more fun walking with friends, so a half-dozen folks joined me in the Enid A. Haupt … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Photography | Tagged Cherry Blossom Festival, Enid A. Haupt Garden, Floral Library, gun control, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, National Cherry Blossom Festival, outdoors, Potomac River, Storm the Hill, the National Mall, Washington DC | 4 Comments

Now that’s more like it!

Posted on March 22, 2014 by John M

This morning we went for a hike in Riverbend Park, on the south bank of the Potomac River in Northern Virginia. Our stated intent was to see if any Virginia bluebells had popped up, but also just to enjoy one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Photography | Tagged Arboretum, azaleas, Great Falls National Park, nature, outdoors, Potomac Heritage Trail, Potomac River, Riverbend Park, Virginia bluebells, Witch Hazel Bluff | 2 Comments

Morning on the marsh

Posted on March 16, 2014 by John M

Saturday was taken up with hikes in a couple of nearby wetland areas, Huntley Meadows and Dyke Marsh. The goal of both visits was to check out the wildlife, so we didn’t set much of a demanding pace. With over 1,500 … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Photography | Tagged Alexandria Walking & Hiking Group, Dyke Marsh, fairfax county virginia, Great Falls, Huntley Meadows, nature, outdoors, Potomac Heritage Trail, Potomac River, quantitative easing, Riverbend Park, Washington DC, wetland restoration project, wildlife | Comments Off

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 →

Posted in Hiking, Photography | Tagged Billy Goat Trail, C&O Canal, Carderock, Maryland, Meetup, nature, outdoors, Potomac River, water temperature, winter wonderland | 5 Comments

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 →

Posted in Hiking, Photography | Tagged Capital Wheel, Meadowbrook Local Park, National Harbor, National Park Seminary, outdoors, Potomac River, The Awakening, Washington DC, Wilson Bridge, Woodend Nature Sanctuary | 3 Comments

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 →

Posted in Hiking, Photography | Tagged Alexandria, Civil War, Cross County Trail, Ellsworth, fairfax county virginia, Old Town, outdoors, Potomac River | 3 Comments

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 →

Posted in Hiking, Photography | Tagged C&O Canal, cannons, cupcakes, Dawson Terrace Community Center, Exorcist Steps, Georgetown, Georgetown University, Healy Hall, Key Bridge, nature, Old Stone House, outdoors, Potomac River, Rock Creek, Sprinkles, Washington DC | 6 Comments

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 →

Posted in Hiking, Photography | Tagged Billy Goat Trail, Bull Run, Civil War, Great Falls National Park, Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, Manassas, Mather Gorge, Matildaville, nature, outdoors, Paradise Springs Winery, Potomac River, Potowmack Canal | Comments Off

Open and shut

Posted on December 1, 2013 by John M

Two hikes this weekend, on Friday and Saturday, yielded looks at the Potomac River in two contrasting states: one open and unfettered, at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and the other partially shut in and put to work, at Riley’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Photography | Tagged C&O Canal, nature, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Osage Orange, outdoors, Potomac River, Riley's Lock, Seneca Acqueduct, Seneca Quarry, Thomas Jefferson, turkey vulture, Washington DC, wildlife | 4 Comments

Leesylvania

Posted on October 18, 2013 by John M

Yesterday I visited Leesylvania State Park to check it out for a group hike this weekend. The 508-acre park was once the plantation home of Henry Lee II, father of “Light Horse” Harry Lee and grandfather of Robert E. Lee, and is located along the Potomac River in Prince William County, Virginia. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, History, Photography | Tagged CSX train, Harry Lee, Henry Lee II, Lee's Woods, Leesylvania State Park, nature, outdoors, Potomac River, Prince William County, Robert E. Lee, train, Virginia, wildlife | 6 Comments