Smokies Hiking Trip - Day 3

Woke up at 0600, got ready and did a little telework.  I then got food from the breakfast bar (for lunch time) before leaving (0645) to meet up with Erin in Kingstowne.  Arrived at La Madeleine at around 0705 and walked in the mini-mall parking lot (to get some steps).  Erin got to the restaurant at around 0730 and we ate breakfast together.  It was a nice visit and we were able to have a good conversation until around 0830.  After that, she went to work and I drove back to Fort Belvoir.  On the way, I stopped for a walk (just outside the Tulley Gate) on the Pohick Loop Trail.  The interpretive trail was rather short (about half a mile) but I found some other trails (e.g., Wetlands, Poe Road, Accotink Creek, Beaver Pond, etc.).  In the process, I got some more exercise, learned about the massive trail network on Post (it extended into the Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge) from some construction workers and found places to kayak.  I was impressed by the overall trail infrastructure (parking, suspension bridges, markings, etc.) that appeared to be put in place by the Army.  Went back to my BOQ room at around 1000 and spent the rest of the day teleworking.  Ate lunch (snacks) in my room and talked to Mollie about my upcoming visit at Virginia Tech.  After work, I drove over to the Hilltop Center (1620) to do some errands before stopping at Nicky's to drop off the paperwork for Erin.  On the way, I talked to Brenna on the phone about our plans for the coming week.  I didn't expect Erin to be at Nicky's (because she said she might be on her way to Baltimore) but, after I had left the paperwork in the mailbox, she arrived and I got to give her another hug goodbye.  Then I drove to Huntington Station and got on the Yellow Line, bound for Pentagon City.  When I crossed through the turnstile, I noticed that the balance was very low.  Later, I realized that the SmarTrip card that I'd brought wasn't my normal (work) one; when I texted Mollie, it became clear that she'd given me the wrong card after she returned from DC in June.  As a result, I had to charge the card when I got off the train (1720).  I then went to Mattie and Eddie's (opened in the place of Sine Irish Pub) and got a drink.  It was nice to be able to sit outside and I liked how several of the staff remembered me from when I used to visit regularly (they told me where others had gone).  At about 1800, Ash and Bridgette arrived and we had a great time talking and visiting for the next few hours.  The food was pretty good but it cost a LOT more than it usually did when the place was Sine...  By about 2000, we said goodbye and I made my way back to the Metro station.  While waiting for the train, I watched a mouse trying to collect an M&M (unsuccessful) whenever there weren't any people nearby.  Got on the train and headed back to my car at Huntington Station.  Then drove (via US-1) back to Fort Belvoir (arrived at 2100).  Finished up my telework day and then packed, rested and read until bed (2230).