Napping Panzer
last update: 08/30 @ 14:51

I’ve been going back in the blog and adding topic tags to older entries. It’s been a fun project that I’m a bit over halfway through. But I realized in the process that it’s been a while since Panzer has graced the screen here.

And so, Panzer in his curled up napping pose.

Another picture perfect day!
last update: 08/25 @ 16:54

Blue skies!

80 degrees!

3.23 on the Little Falls gauage!

We took advantage and headed to Angler’s for a very nice midday treat. We did see a couple other folks and glimpsed a couple groups, but generally, we had the river to ourselves.

I think we watched bald eagle circling a bit as we headed upstream. And I did try more on my offside after the clinic over the weekend.

Sarah returned the favor from our last time out, getting this great shot of me coming across the Virginia Chute wave.

If only my hand was a little lower, you could see the smile on my face.

Another fun day!
last update: 08/22 @ 20:31

First time in a long time that I’ve been to Little Falls (perfect today with high 70s, low 80s and 3.1 on the gauge).

Today the CCA arranged for Jordan Taylor to teach a single person Open Canoe (OC1) clinic.

Jordan was great with lots of new (certainly to me) ideas; good suggestions and great attitude. And it was great to meet and paddle with Gary, Ginny and Owen — in addition to Jordan. (Left to right that’s Owen, Jordan, Gary and Ginny.)

We started with some exercises on the flat part of the feeder canal, moved up to the faster current section for some more exercises, then on to Little Falls.

Really an excellent day; Jordan gets major recommendations from me and I’m hoping to get into his next OC1 clinic. And it would be great to cross river trails with Owen, Ginny or Chris again.

Thank you CCA!

Not what you see everyday…
last update: 08/20 @ 14:25

Part of the promotion for the crazy Indy Car race in DC was bringing this car in on Metro — “Because Metro is the best way to get to the race!”

It didn’t stop for us, but it was cool to see it roll down the tracks.

Can’t pass up a beautiful day!
last update: 08/18 @ 15:41

It was about 85 degrees and the river was about 2.95.

A lovely time to be out on the Potomac.

Again, I took my canoe, Sarah her packraft.

We ran into several classes: SUP folk and kayakers of all ages. And still we had plenty of time to play in both Maryland and Virginia chutes.

Check out Sarah surfing the Maryland chute hole!

That may not have been entirely intentional — the first time.

But we both went back several more times.

Really a nice day and nice way to let all the news and politics drain out of our minds.

Back on the River
last update: 08/12 @ 16:43

It was likely the nicest of the weekdays today: high 80s and the river just about 3.0. We ran into two kayaking classes, a raft trip and a couple SUP boaters. Crowded for a weekday :)

Today, I opted for my canoe — I have an open canoe clinic later this month and felt the need to get back in my canoe before that.

Sarah opted for her packraft.

We both had a lot of fun.

Sarah even got her packraft into both the Maryland chute hydraulic and the one on the Virginia side.

My trusty Joby Gorillapod tripod broke a leg last time out. So I picked up a less expensive option from Amazon to replace it. It’s a little bit taller and Sarah noted it’s about the size of a small selfie-stick. So we have a new view on our river trips.

I think the jury is out on which is “better;” I wonder if this post will pick up any votes one way or the other…

Digging out
last update: 08/10 @ 15:12

A view from the Metro platform showing the excavation under the “jump bridges” they installed to allow them to work on widening the bridge.

You can see the 4th trackbed, which has been just a road, is now cut just on our side of King St. And, hard to see, but they have excavated below the other three trackbeds.

Mighty Machines
last update: 08/05 @ 20:01

I can’t get the theme song from Mighty Machines out of my head when I look in the backyard.

So many and so much variety they hide behind each other.

There is the remaining red crane (the other one has gone, the yellow crane moved closer to Duke St. — same construction site but the opposite side from us), a back hoe hiding behind a driller in the back on the left, a big-tired, drive-in-the-middle dump truck and another back hoe in front of the crane, a back hoe bucket at the bottom of the road, another back hoe working on digging out under the temporary jump bridge, another back hoe on the close side of the street, hiding something (skid steer loader, maybe) and maybe a generator to the right of those.

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