Dad in DC, Part I

Dad and The Lady came to visit us in August.  I got to spend a week dragging them all over the area, because Dad had never been to DC before, so it was all new to him.  We also ate pretty well. (that link won't work until October 24, but that will give you reason to come back)  In the interest of numerous posts (I'm still trying to figure out how to keep this going without me next year, and generous backfilling seems like the best bet), I'm splitting their visit into three parts.  Today is our hike at Great Falls.

We spent their first day in town walking the west end of the mall, including a circuit around the tidal basin, which let us cover almost all of the major monuments in the city.  Then, because we had time and needed a break from pavement, we took a walk on Teddy Roosevelt's island, a nice little spot that seems unknown to visitors and most locals.  The island is home to T.R.'s memorial, a marsh, dozens of five-lined skinks, and either a muskrat or mink.  I didn't get a good look  at it, but it was a swimming mammal of roughly those proportions.

The Girl had the weekend free, so after our usual morning trip to the Farmers' Market (on the way back I saw a hawk fly over the George Washington Parkway with a fish in its talons, which remained the most exciting sight of the day), we had a quick lunch and drove to Great Falls for a little hike.

kayakers

five-lined skink

excellent camouflage

climbers

rafters (some of them are swimming)