Dam 5, C&O Canal towpath along the Potomac River. Built in 1835, the dam raised the river level enough to fill 22 miles of the canal. It's a great place to stop and rest after a day of biking the towpath!
Maryland
Potomac River, C&O Canal
Dawn along the C&O Canal towpath. The Potomac River is still, just above Dam 5. This is looking south into West Virginia, from Maryland.
Spring Sailing
Daylight savings time is not yet here, and so the evenings come early, and the water is COLD (about 40 deg F / 4.4 deg C), but it's hard to pass up a strong March breeze. The spring season is officially underway - maybe, finally, an indication of normal life returning.
Tearing Up Jack…
I really enjoy trail-riding on my mountain bike (an old Specialized Rock Hopper). At the same time, I hate what mountain bikes do to some of my favorite trails. It's a conundrum, forcing a little bit of self-examination and recognition of hypocrisy that I haven't figured out how to resolve. To be clear, I'm not…Read more Tearing Up Jack…
Westward Bound
Keeping up the sailing theme - the "Dove" was the smaller of two ships carrying those who founded the colony of Maryland in 1634. It took an act of courage to venture across the Atlantic.
Calm Before The Storm
(Note, I posted this most places on Sept 12, as Florence approached - but remote interface for WordPress was acting flaky. Sorry it's late, the sentiment still holds true!) Calm before the storm. Out on the fringes of the Florence cloud deck, thinking of all those enduring the fury. Y'all stay safe!
#NightMusic
I tried an experiment via YouTube this week - jury's still out, but I'm discovering that either 1) People don't think this is as cool/interesting as I do, or 2) People are just ignoring me. Still, I have a few people who have expressed interest and promised to play along... so we'll see. I have…Read more #NightMusic
Ready to Run
This eastern cottontail rabbit was chilling, literally laying in the yard without a care in the world, until I pulled into the driveway. Then he jumped up on high alert and stood like this, absolutely still, for a minute or two while we sized each other up. Get Out There Troy http://www.flying-squirrel.org
Patuxent River, Bowie, MD
Tucked away in the trees, just out of sight of one of the busiest commuter corridors in the US (along US 301 and US 50 east of Washington, DC), you can still find a spot of wild refuge. The Patuxent River is the longest river wholly contained within the borders of Maryland, and along its…Read more Patuxent River, Bowie, MD
Sailing Intro, Under Harsh Conditions
We had the opportunity this weekend to get some boys out on a Pearson 37 sailboat, the designation 37 referring to its overall length, in feet. Weather was not great - 20 knots sustained, heavy rain which came at you horizontally, and 3-foot swells. Despite that, we went sailing! Two reefs in the main, a…Read more Sailing Intro, Under Harsh Conditions
Cedarville State Forest, MD
Washington, DC traffic is no fun. Some love the area, but for many, the 50 miles surrounding our nation's capitol are viewed as a mass of commuters that grows in density and frustration, the I-495, the Beltway, marking an orbit of wasted time and despair. Given that many of us are forced to deal with…Read more Cedarville State Forest, MD
Sugarloaf Mountain, MD
Rocks, and the smell of hickory. Those were the two primary impressions this mountain made on me one recent, overcast workday afternoon. Before I get too far - I'm NOT talking about any famous ski resorts, I'm referring to a mountain in Maryland that sits by itself well east of the Catcotins and the main…Read more Sugarloaf Mountain, MD
Flying Squirrel Outdoors 