Early risers

Besides the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler, we've had a couple other early-morning adventures in the past week.  We went out last Tuesday night to see the cherry blossoms at their peak, but people admiring cherry blossoms were also--naturally--at their peak.  Utter madness.  We got up early the next morning, reasoning that it's harder for swarms of people to arrive at the Mall at 6 AM than it is for them to stay up until 7 PM.

Jefferson Memorial, just before 6 AM

Even first thing in the morning, the Tidal Basin was crazy with cameras.

This weekend, after trying to see the Aurora Borealis, we got up early to go see the sunrise over the Potomac.  It was a more successful venture than the previous evening, and we were the only people in the area, which in itself was kind of nice.

We could see National Harbor from our side of the river, and The Girl thought it would be a good time to introduce me to The Awakening, a huge sculpture that used to live out on Hains Point, but has since been moved to a tiny scrap of sand among the boats and shops.  Some of the shops are just plain terrifying.

I was assured that this Peeps store was not seasonal.  The mind boggles.

She told me it's as though he's waking up, and coming p out of the sand, but it always looks to me like he's sinking into it, and is highly panicked by this.

This enormous piggie goes to to market...

We both took pictures of being eaten by the huge mouth, because it is expected.  I guess climbing on it is, too, because it was obvious that kids had slid down his shin enough to polish it.  Concerned for the kids' well-being, I thought it best to test this practice for safety.