Chantilly, VA (USA)

[...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day... - contacted Joey as I was departing the office - met him and Stephanie at Crystal City (Highline RxR) - we stayed until 1945 - I then walked back with him (via 18th Street) to Pentagon City Metro Station - then headed home]

Woodbridge, VA (USA)

[we ate and packed up Mollie’s stuff so she could go home in the evening - the weather was good, so we drove (0830) down to Woodbridge to meet up with Kelly and Monica and their kids - we convinced everyone to go to Prince William Forest Park and hiked (around four miles) from about 1000 until 1300 - the kids tried to do a Junior Ranger packet but lost interest - we saw lots of butterflies and deer and splashed around in the Quantico Creek - we went back to Kelly’s house and had lunch - we watched movies, played games and relaxed all afternoon at around 15030, we drove back to Alexandria and played catch at Mark Twain Middle School - I dropped her off at her mother’s house at 1655]

Arlington, VA (USA)

[I worked in the morning - Mollie slept until 1300 (!) - ate lunch and watched movies in the apartment for several hours until we went to Mass - we then drove to Pentagon City to enjoy a dinner party at Joe R.'s - we were there from about 1815 until 2145 - we stopped at Bonefish Grill to pick-up Sabrina's birthday present - we then took Emma home with us for a sleepover - we had ice cream and watched movies until the kids fell asleep on the couch - got them moved to Mollie's room and we all tried to sleep (2345)]

Arlington, VA (USA)

[I found Mollie and Emma watching movies when I came out of my room in the morning - we ate breakfast - at 0900, we drove to Arlington (saw Rolling Thunder on the way) - we stopped at Theodore Roosevelt Island and took a nature walk for about two hours (we saw a box turtle and deer) - after we returned home (1130), we made lunch - the kids started making sausage and cheese balls after that - I went to get Brenna so we could practice driving (from about 1230 to 1430) - kids made yellow cake when I got home - I worked for a few more hours - I then went to Sabrina's birthday party for a bit (1700-1800) and then went back to pick up the kids from my apartment - we took two snails from our fish tank to give to Emma and Aidan - after picking up some supplies (1830), we drove to Kelly's for a cookout in Woodbridge - we arrived very late and only stayed for a few hours - got home at 2200 PM and went straight to bed]

Williamsburg, VA (USA)

[up very early - ate breakfast and drover Mollie to her school for the orchestra field trip (I was chaperone) at 0600 - we ended leaving school close to 0700 and rode in bus for around three hours to Newport News - the kids performed three songs for judges there and we watched a high school from Loudon County play - then we drove to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, eating lunch on the way - we were at the theme park from about 1300 until 2000 - with an awards ceremony, volunteering at the first aid center and dinner mixed in, I didn't see Mollie a lot but got to talk to her friends and other parents - the bus ride home took another three hours and we were not at my apartment until midnight]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day...]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day...]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[got gas in Centreville (0645) - ...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day... - home around 1600 (nasty weather and commute again - school chaperone meeting at 1830 - then weather was much nicer]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[got a call from my boss that they needed help at the office - drove to Chantilly around 1000 - worked for several hours with team - then drove to Bethesda to meet up with Jim H., Arnol and Kelly - it was very rainy and the traffic was horrible - but when I eventually got to the Crab House, I had a fun time hanging out - had parking issues (had to keep moving my car) - later went for dinner (enchilladas) at Uncle Julios (left at 1835) - weather was even worse but traffic was better - making really good time near Tysons Corner when my car hydroplaned from the left lane of the Beltway - I spun out into the oncoming traffic of the Express Lanes - fortunately, no one was coming and I was able to get back into the local traffic lanes without exiting the toll road - shaken pretty bad but made it home by around 1945 - Erin was there to drop something off and then pick up presents - watched "Game of Thrones" episodes with Bob until around 2200]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day... - commuted towards home (1600) but got call from Kelly and Sabrina that I should meet them for drinks - so drove to Huntington and caught the Metro - arrived at Pentagon City (1715) and found the group (Joe R. was there too) at Bonefish Grill - finished our fun at 1855 - Kelly and I ended up at the Frat house for their "Steak Night on the Balcony" - had a good time but spilled red wine on myself (ruined pants) - at the end of the night, I got a ride back to Huntington from Kelly (2300) - home late]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day... - commute home from Hell - wanted to meet up with Joe, Stephanie and Kelly but I was too tired]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day... - stayed very late]

Falls Church, VA (USA)

[stayed at the house all day with Mollie - dropped her off at her mother's house at 1700 - went to Kim & David's for a late dinner at 2000 - had a nice visit (had planned to watch Game of Thrones but decided against it) - home by 2230]

The Plains, VA (USA)

[beautiful morning but Mollie not feeling well - worked at the apartment - friends talking about Twilight Polo all day but incoming rain showers discouraged all of them - in the end, only Mollie and I departed as scheduled - Mollie tested out her new credit card at the ATM (1630) - we then ate dinner at Cracker Barrel in Manassas (Mollie's treat, with gift card!), finishing at 1725 - while driving west to The Plains, the weather looked nasty - but, when we arrived (1815), there were no clouds and the first polo match had already started - it got progressively colder, though, and we bundled up as the sun went down - it was Military Appreciation Night (with promised fireworks) but the crowds dispersed as it got windier - we saw some good polo (perhaps semi-professional?), which was different than past years (when it seemed they were local amateurs) - Mollie bought us fried "birthday cake oreos" - at around 2030, a lady approached us and asked if we wanted to sit in her box - we ended up having a great time there (without her, even) because there was a lady (Tatyana, from Russia) with her son and daughter to talk to - we all ended up sharing our big green blanket for warmth and had a great view of the action - later, Jeanne (it was her box) returned and talked to us - overall, fun evening and we might have stayed longer - however, the dance music started and the fireworks were nowhere in sight by 2200, so we departed - got home around 2300 and went straight to bed]

Gaithersburg, MD (USA)

[had to work in Gaithersburg for the day - ended up catching lunch (bento box) with Bill M. at Quickway (1145) - after work ended(1500), headed home - ate dinner with Mollie and watched movies - by the end of the night, Erin had come to stay with us too... - bed very late]

Washington, DC (USA)

[worked in DC - afterwards, I went to Penn Social for drinks with co-workers (Joey, Luke, Brenna) - stayed from 1715 until 2115) - rode Metro to Pentagon City with Joey and enjoyed a drink at Shake Shack until they closed at 2200 - took Metro home (2300)]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day... - lunch at Applebee's (1245) - worked very late - gas in Centreville (1910) before driving home]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day...]

Buena Vista, VA (USA)

Woke early, grabbed breakfast (Hardees - 0735) and drove up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Started SOBO at Punchbowl Overlook (m/m 51.7) and headed up Bluff Mountain (0815). After yesterday, the change in elevation wasn't very strenuous. But the fatigue in my muscles and the higher temperatures made it slow going. I passed thru hikers all morning, chatting with a few. Views at the top were nice and I kept going across a series of small roller coasters until I reached an overlook of the James River on Big Rocky Row, my turnaround point. A larger pack of thru hikers caught me soon after I headed NOBO again and I had conversations with most of them as they passed me (or I passed them while they were picnicking). Butterflies where everywhere - and so were lots of pesky flies (I killed several) and ticks (on the outside of my clothes only). Flora & Fauna: the many Trillium and Rhododendron flowers were beautiful and I saw several large birds (from above). Throughout the day, there was a pleasant breeze that kept me from overheating too much. At the top of Bluff Mountain again, I spent an enjoyable time talking to Flicker (he was from Pittsburgh) and Shiver (she was from Hanover NH). They were carrying over 14 pounds of food and set up an amazing spread! Departed for my car just as weary dads and little kids arrived - it was getting downright crowded! I love the whole hiking culture but encountering so much of the leading edge of the NOBO bubble may be a warning for me to hike farther north in the future, though... On the way back, I encountered a Ridgerunner and we talked for a bit - he had lots of tips for enjoying the mountains. Finished my roughly 12.5 mile day around 1415 and headed home. There was very nasty traffic on I-81 - I had to use US-340 to get to I-64 and then US-29. Even then, the traffic was bad and it was a frustrating drive... Got gas in Bealeton (1625) and continued via I-66 and I-495, arriving in Alexandria at 1730. Ate dinner with Brenna at my apartment and then watched "Game of Thrones" episodes with Bob. Nice weekend - it will have to hold me for awhile, I think... AT Today = 6.10 miles / G.T. AT = 700.30 miles!

Buena Vista, VA (USA)

I went to bed last night without a plan or alarm clock. It has been raining every day this week, so the idea of driving three hours to get soaked wasn't appealing. But when I woke up, the weather had improved enough that I took the gamble... Left home at 0800 and used I-66, US-29 to head south. Got gas in Ruckersville (0955). Then used I-64, US-250 and VA-151, arriving at the AT Trailhead on VA-56 by 1115. It was sunny and pleasant - truly a beautiful day for hiking! I headed SOBO, straight up the north face of The Priest (~3000 foot climb in less than three miles). Right after I reached the summit, the trail went back downhill again... I didn't see any people until I passed the Crabtree Falls (crossing) trail. After that, I saw a steady stream of day hikers and few NOBO thru hikers. Didn't actually talk to many of the people, though, since climbing had sapped my intellect (that's a GOOD thing!)... But it all changed when I passed another section hiker who asked about a crossing road behind me. I gave him the intel (including my hike origin) and turned to go - it was then that the other hiker realized he'd been going in the wrong direction (and had traveled about two miles since he was in the right place). He was lucky to have talked to me - there was almost no one behind me. I later encountered an energetic hiker, "Mambo" (19, from Nashua NH, thru hiking during her "Gap Year"), who asked me lots of questions. She also mentioned how she'd encountered our mutual friend, "Jabba" (AKA "Hiking Viking" - see March 27), several weeks earlier - he must almost be done... She and I chatted for awhile before we both realized the daylight would be a factor. I hiked about another 1.5 miles, to the campground at Spy Rock before turning around. It started to rain (luckily, not hard) and I got it into my head that I'd reach the car quicker if I used the Crabtree Falls Trail. The rain did stop but the detour was not the best idea (apart from the views). Four miles later, in the parking lot of the park, I was fortunate that nice day hikers I'd caught on the way down offered me a ride. It turned out that it was FIVE miles along the road - I definitely wouldn't have made it to my car in the daylight. Serious miscalculation but Trail Magic saved the day for me... Hiked over 16 miles total, even with the ride (finished at 1915) and drove west until I got dinner (McDonalds - 1945). Afterwards, headed to Buena Vista (2035) for the night. More tomorrow! AT Today = 8.70 miles / Grand Total AT = 694.20 miles

Bethesda, MD (USA)

[I picked up Mollie at school at 0900 and drove her to Walter Reed for another appointment (1030) - afterwards, I dropped her off at school again (1140) - I then went to Fort Belvoir to fill a prescription for her - teleworked the rest of the day]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day... - left at 1500 and drove to Huntington - rode Metro to L'Enfant and walked to Penn Quarter Sports Tavern (met up with Joey, Stephanie and folks from their office) - stayed from 1630 to 2130 - took Metro home (2230)]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day... - got gas in Centreville (VA) at 2000]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day...]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[...supporting Proposal Team at company HQ all day...]

Dulles, VA (USA)

[Mollie and I went to the early showing of "The Jungle Book" at the movie theater - just as it was ending, we heard from Joey that he was stranded at the Dulles Airport - we picked him up and then got gas in Vienna (1440) - we ended up eating lunch at the Smashburger (just off VA-7) with him - after navigating a huge amount of traffic (and taking the "scenic route"), we drove home and found Brenna there (studying) - since there was no other way to do it, I walked to retrieve the Chrysler minivan from Nicky's house - Brenna practiced her driving with me after I dropped Mollie off at Nicky's (1745) - Brenna and I ate dinner together and she stayed until 2045 (studying)]