An Urban Boychick Takes on the Outdoors

Eagle to the left, Lincoln Memorial to the right. Eagle to the left, Lincoln Memorial to the right. Ahh, seeing a bald eagle soaring majestically over Arlington National Cemetery was just one of the joys of this morning's outing. For one thing, the air and water temperatures have warmed enough that I was finally able to ditch the dry suit. Instead, my farmer john wet suit, a thin neoprene top, and my new NRS boots (really bought for our upcoming Alaska trip) served as the uniform of the day. Second, spring is really all around. The marina was busy even though it was Easter morning. Fishermen were out, which means the fish must be running too. The bird life is back - in addition to the eagle there were ducks galore, cormorants in unusual numbers for this section of the river, and a bird I didn't recognize (might have been a merganser). I also chased a great blue heron down the river. Herons, bless them, are more graceful than intelligent. I've found that if you disturb o...

Ahh, the smell of sunscreen, tung oil and dry suit sweat. Surely this is the aroma of spring. Tall Tom and I set out from Gravelly Point on what was originally to have been a cherry blossom paddle. Unfortunately the blossoms were uncooperative, being barely at the stage of peduncle elongation  - in other words, not much color. So instead we headed up the Anacostia River, up to and a little past the railway bridge. It's getting to be that time of year when the air is warm but the water is cold. Time to schvitz in our dry suits and tut tut at those out on the river without proper cold water gear (which today included several groups of novice rowers and dragon boaters out of the Anacostia Boathouse, as well as any number of scullers). Looking for Blossoms at Haines Point I had noticed in the past that the Anacostia Waterfront Park has a small boat ramp but I'd never stopped there. I'm happy to report it was a pleasant place to take a break, stretch our legs (and my ba...