Bounding on the Billy Goat Trail

We usually make an effort to explore out-of-the-way locations, alternatives to the more commonly visited sites of the Washington D.C. metro area.  But, sometimes a popular site is popular for a very good reason.  One such example is the Billy Goat Trail A.  The trail head is a short hike south from Great Falls Overlook on Olmsted Island.

Prominent signs warn passersby that this is a strenuous hike, one that requires sturdy shoes and good balance.  In that respect, it is understandable that the trail is named after billy goats.  Although none live on the land, one can easily imagine ease with which a billy goat could traverse the rocks and cliffs.  Agility is key for this hike, and that's why the Crazies so thoroughly enjoy it.  They love the scrambling and conquering of each rocky outcrop.  Their parents enjoy it for the great views of the Potomac, the birding, and the good workout.

On our most recent visit to the Billy Goat Trail, we saw several examples of wildlife that make the area home.  A pileated woodpecker, sunbathing skinks, a pair of indigo buntings, and a northern parula.  Unfortunately, we did not get a photo of the later bird (look it up!).  The tiny warbler preened, fluttered, and bathed delightedly in close proximity to Mom and the youngest Crazy, both of whom were equally delighted.

The Crazies scaling a rock wall on Billy Goat Trail A.

Female (front) and male (back) broadheaded skink.

View of the Potomac river from the trail.

A Big Day

While visiting the Crazies's grandparents in Houston for Christmas, we, the parents, decided to challenge the Crazies to a Big Day.  We headed east towards High Island, TX, one of the birding Meccas of the North America, with the goal of seeing at least 50 different species of birds.  The kids quickly warmed to the idea, and began trying to identify birds shortly after passing downtown Houston on I-10.

As it turned out, we never made it to High Island because we took a detour at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge.  There we walked and drove around the refuge, the kids eagerly taking turns with binoculars, looking for alligators and birds, and recording our findings.  Before we knew it, the orange and pink of sunset was spreading across the sky, and our Big Day was coming to a close.  By the end of it, we had seen 63 different species of birds.

A sampling of some of the more interesting birds we saw on our outing:

Vermilion flycatcher

American kestrel

Marsh wren

Flock of red-winged blackbirds

Finally, on a related adventure to Brazos Bend State Park, we had an unexpected sighting: roadkill, a feral pig!

Small Adventure or Attack of the Praying Mantis

Sometimes our adventures are small and unexpected.  Such was the case when we headed north of our abode in hopes of finding a safe, dark place from which to watch the Perseids meteor shower.  Our plans were abandoned while we were still enjoying our cones at a popular ice cream stand.  We could see the clouds beginning to blanket the sky.

We decided to take a short walking tour of the town before going home.  It was on this walk that we encountered our evening's natural wonder:  a large praying mantis in hunting mode beneath the bright lights of a local parking lot.  For almost the next hour, the Crazies and the mantis carefully considered each other and tested each other's nerve.

Check out the photos and video below.

Praying mantis stakes out a patch of well-lit sidewalk.

Praying mantis attacks the camera.

Urban Adventure

Our summer adventures usually take us to the wilderness, some rural location, or the beach.  But, with the Crazies off visiting their grandma, we, the Parents, decided to embark on a most thoroughly urban adventure in the Greatest City in the World, NYC.

The weekend getaway started with a near misadventure, when we barely made it on the bus.  We grabbed the last two aisle seats next to each other.  Next came the actual misadventure: heavy traffic between Washington DC and Baltimore.  The normally 4 hour bus ride slowly turned into more than 5 hours.

Thankfully, there were no misadventures for the rest of the weekend, and the weather was perfect for exploring the city by foot.  Here are the highlights:

• Well maintained parks stretching from the southern tip of Manhattan north along the Hudson River.
• The Irish Hunger Memorial - a very cool sculptured landscape reminding us of the Great Famine that brought so many Irish immigrants to this country and the hunger that still exists throughout the world.
• The Highline - a unique, beautiful park created upon the structure of long abandoned, elevated train tracks.
• Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, standing behind a mother and daughter who wore matching pants, t-shirts, and sweaters and shared the same manicure, carefully painted lady bugs on each nail.
• Home-cooked Austrian meal complete with our gracious hosts, E. and I.
• Bike ride through Central Park on Father's Day - rent bikes at the entrance of the park, not from the throng of harassing vendors canvassing the streets around the park.
• Pizza at Lombardi's, the first licensed pizzeria in the country.

Self-portrait of the Parents in a store window.

Adventures for Out-of-Towners

It is well known that DC offers a multitude of options for eager sightseers.  As DC Metro residents for the last 5 1/2 years, we have taken advantage of our proximity to DC to visit many of the popular sights, and we have prided ourselves on the many less popular, but thoroughly interesting sights we have discovered outside DC.

Below are many of the sights that the Crazies's, Uncle T. and girlfriend K. enjoyed while recently visiting our neck of the woods.

• The Smithsonian - Natural History, American History, National Gallery, American Indian, Air and Space
• Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, etc.
• US Holocaust Memorial Museum
• Arlington Cemetery and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
• Washington National Cathedral
• The Kennedy Center (free concerts every evening!)
• US Capitol - special tour by Senator Moran's staff
• Gettysburg National Military Park and the Cyclorama

(For special D.C. tour opportunities, contact one of your state's members of Congress.  The earlier the better to get White House and other hard-to-get tours.)

Feeling inspired?  Come visit us!  The Crazies love visitors and their parents enjoy hosting.

Mural on the dome of the US Capitol.

Crazies A. and S. visiting Abe Lincoln at Gettysburg.

Memorial Day Weekend 2012

On Saturday, we headed to Belleplain State Park where we would camp for the weekend.  The state park is located in Cape May County, New Jersey.  It's best features include a swimming beach on a small lake (Nummy) and its proximity to the South Jersey Shore.

Travel time: 3h 15 min

Adventures:

1. Our friends from Connecticut drove down to join us.  It was the first car camping adventure for their 2 year old daughter.
2. Spent Sunday afternoon enjoying the beach, the Atlantic Ocean, and the boardwalk at Wildwood, NJ.  Had good pizza at Sal's and even better ice cream at Cool Scoops, which is fantastically decorated in 50's Doo-wop style.  Our 2009 Christmas card photo was taken there.
3. G. and S. took an early morning walk through the dunes and beaches of Corson's Inlet State Park during low tide.  Lot's of fishermen.
4. Toured the small, but impressive Cape May County Zoo.  Worth a stop, especially since it's free.

Misadventures:

1. One of the Crazies, A., forgot her bag, which contained her swimsuit and clothes for the weekend.
2. The hose connecting the propane tank to our camp stove developed a leak, ending the stove's use less than 24 hrs. into the trip.
3. A black widow spider built a nest under our tent. We discovered it when we were packing up.

Tips:

1. Don't attempt to leave the shore before 5pm.  There are only a few roads exiting the peninsula.
2. Take the off-the-beaten-path roads.  New Jersey is the Garden State, and its countryside is scenic.

At the campsite in Bellaplain, NJ.  A. giggling with her little friend, E.  S. looks on.

The Crazies posing with one of their parents at the Cape May County Zoo.