Washington, DC, 9/28/09

I went to Washington, DC at the end of September to visit several old friends and, of course, to go to a U2 show with one of them.

I’d never been to DC before, and Monday before the show my friend and host spent a day taking me to some of the major attractions. Since it was a Tourism Blitz, we didn’t really go into any of the museums or anything – just hit the high points. It was amazing! I had no idea it was possible to see so many monumental sites (really, no pun intended) in one day, so close together.

First, I learned to ride the Metro, DC’s light rail system, which seemed like a great system run sensibly – buy a card, prepay it, scan it when you get on and when you get off, and it deducts you for that ride. Fill it up at a kiosk at the station with your atm card. How much more convenient could it be?

We started at Arlington National Cemetery, the national cemetery for war dead, home of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and several Kennedys. Our ‘hit the high points’ agenda included the grave of John F. Kennedy (now with more Jacqueline and eternal flame).



It was smaller and flatter than I imagined – I think I was thinking of something more like the tomb of the unknowns. I liked it, though – relatively plain and simple – and I liked the stonework.

Nearby is Robert Kennedy’s much simpler grave, then Teddy’s.



You can see the outline of the new sod.

Arlington itself was a good place to visit, too. I’d like to go back when I have more time. A cemetery is a very effective monument to the glories of war. Imho.

One long walk across a long bridge later (well, the bridge was long if you’re walking it) and we came up behind the Lincoln Memorial. You know it, you love it.



Looking over the national mall from the Lincoln Memorial:



From there, on the right is the Korean War Memorial, and on the left is the Vietnam War Memorial. (and, of course, straight ahead is the Washington Monument, and waaay past that, the Capitol.) We went to the Korean memorial first; apparently I have never seen any pictures of it – it was amazing. I’d never seen anything like it. The pictures don’t really do it justice. A striking kind of diorama of a unit of soldiers with all their gear, looking tired and brave.



And then, of course, the Vietnam Memorial. I liked how one’s path sank gradually, as into a grave. You read one name, another name, and another, and they go on and on, and it’s like the rows and rows of tombstones at Arlington. Absolutely overwhelming.



We went on to the World War II memorial, which was gigantic with a plinth for each state and lot of water. I don’t know that I’ve ever used the word “plinth” before, by the way. Then we walked several blocks away – past many important government buildings and the Red Cross headquarters – to the White House’s back yard. Which, wow. One of the many, many places it was very difficult to tear myself away from.



At this point we were hot and tired and footsore, so we went a few blocks further to the Press Club and had lunch at a little sandwich place there (and did a bit of touristy shopping, too) before heading back to the mall and eyeing the Washington Monument from yet another angle before admitting we were too pooped to go right up to it. We also admired many great views of the Capitol and various places where Josh Lyman went jogging on “The West Wing.” Finally we limped into the Air and Space Museum just to use their bathroom, but on the way to the facilities I touched a moon rock that’s on exhibit for that purpose, so that was cool.

Here’s my whole flickr set for the day:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/m_lynch/sets/72157622420923223/

photo post - bird nerd edition

Husband and I went on a trip to Florida last month with his parents. I had never been to Florida before and couldn't get over the adorable little shorebirds and the way ibis and herons hung out at outdoor cafes hoping for errant french fries the way sparrows do here. thus a post of photos of birds I saw on the trip.

These first several, we saw in Orlando at Sea World - not in captivity, except the scarlet ibis, but just hanging around stealing fish and being cute.
white ibis


scarlet ibis


snowy egret (check the feet!)




wood stork


great egret (right)


I took this one at Busch Gardens in St. Pete.
great blue heron


And the rest are from Fort Myers Beach. I took this one from the pier and couldn't decide: cormorant or anhinga?




plovers and sandpipers (probably!)


wee whatevers (I love these guys!) Every time we went to the beach, which was like four or five times a day, there were crowds of all these guys.


plus gulls


We also saw assorted gulls and terns, black skimmers (!!) - those were more skittish, less photo-able - brown pelicans, of course, and also common gallinule.

Pere Marquette State Park

Still catching up!

Here's a bit of a recap of our early March eagle-watching trip to Pere Marquette State Park.


After the Feb. 29 DBT show, we’d spent the night near STL and got up the next day and headed over to the Grafton area. Grafton itself is a part-quaint, part-dilapidated little town right on the river and very near our further destination, Pere Marquette State Park.

On the way, we drove through Alton, Illinois, home of Robert Wadlow, whom my dad once met.



We also saw the Piasa Bird .


In Grafton we went down to the water. The first day, there was visible ice in the river, and we did spot a mob of (american white) pelicans hanging around out by little islands as well as soaring around, as well as a few eagles on the far bank (thanks, binoculars!).

We walked around a little, watched the ferry come and go, and had an awesome late lunch at a little bar/restaurant overlooking the new marina. Sweet!

The state park is where we had an aborted visit last winter just before J’s mom got sick and we had to hurry away. This time we were able to hike some of the trails and get some awesome eagle spotting. I also ID’d a group of male canvasback ducks in the river by the lodge.

The trails were far more, not rugged exactly, but primitive than the ones at Starved Rock State Park, and some of them were pretty muddy. There were times I really thought, geez, they should have some kind of rail here so people don’t PLUMMET to their DEATHS, but we hung on to trees for dear life and made it through all right. The weather was all over the place because it was bright and sunny the whole time, but then we’d be right on the water or atop a totally unprotected hilltop overlook with cold wind howling in our faces. But that, too, was enjoyable, because really the weather was just right – cold enough that the eagles were still there, warm enough for us to get out and hike and look. The second day there was noticeably less ice in the river, so we just made it!

These pictures aren't really in order, so here's just a bunch of 'em:

river view, with pelicans


J on trail


View, with J




our room at the lodge was huge. Much more awesome than the tiny room we had at Starved Rock, although we were in the 'old' wing there, in fairness. Starved Rock is a more awesome park overall and the lodge restaurant is better, but I like the Pere Marquette lodge better generally.


The lodge has an awesome stone terrace overlooking the water down below.


hey, eagles! I named 'em Sam and Abe. :-)


bird nerd!




The lodge from down by the water


The statue of Pere Marquette at the park – J and I always think it looks like he’s chasing geese or shooing kids off his lawn. *snort* Hey! You geese!


grafton - love those cliffs


nerdsville at grafton


We also went to the army corps of engineers museum at the lock and dam near Alton. The views around the lock itself weren’t all that, because we couldn’t really get up and above, but it was interesting, and it was a nice little museum.


With a small Jay Farrar display.


Eagles overhead! Best picture of the trip.


Except maybe this one at the museum. Haha! We had to take individual pics, because there are just two of us, and J merged them later.

year in review

In January we went to Big Head Todd's annual show at the Pageant. (well, it's been four or five years in a row now, anyhoo.)

In February I went to the Obama announcement here in town.

J's band's cd release party was at the Hoogland at the end of March and it was awesome.

Our first wedding anniversary was April 19. However, come May we'd been cohabitating for 16 years all told.

We went to Son Volt at the Pageant in April. I stood next to Beatle Bob.

J and I spent a couple of great days hiking and relaxing at Starved Rock State Park around May 21-22

J's oldest nephew graduated from high school on June 1, making us quite ancient indeed.

In July we saw the Police in St. Louis. Bottle Rockets and later the Avett Brothers here in town. We went to Toad the Wet Sprocket in Chicago and hung out with friends, then to Eric Clapton's Crossroads festival the next day, which was ... incomparable. I thought nothing could top Pink Floyd, but if anything could, that did.

In August, Joe Walsh at the state fair, and the Braves series in St. Louis. I'm seriously missing baseball right now.

In October, Dylan and Elvis Costello in Bloomington, then the Drive By Truckers in Chicago the next day.

In November, Jason Isbell, then the Smokies, and then Neil Young.

That's probably about it for us this year, but I see that Big Head Todd, Jay Farrar, and R.E.M. are announcing dates.

starved rock

Husband and I spent a couple of days at Starved Rock State Park at the beginning of the week. We'd never been there before; it was marvelous.