East Potomac Park: Sailboat

Underway on the Potomac River

Sailing in the sunset...

I can't decide which of these two pictures I like best, though I love all the elements in the bottom one: the sailboat, the seagulls, the plane in the background landing at National Airport, the U.S. Air Force Memorial below the sun, the sunset itself... What do you think? Which do you like best?

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 5/08

East Potomac Park: Chestnuts

Chestnut trees in bloom in May...

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 5/08

Sunset, Seagulls, Sailboats and So Forth...

Today begins a series of photos I took over in East Potomac Park a couple of weeks ago. This is another of Washington's urban treasures of tranquility. For more than 20 years, it was the home of The Awakening at Haines Point, but several weeks ago, this well-loved sculpture was dug up and moved to the largest development project in the country--Prince George's County's National Harbor. A monstrosity to consumerism, but touted as a destination point and the place to live and work, it will soon feature this fun sculpture.

Haines Point is still a lively spot in the city, but it's a bit sadder and lonelier without The Awakening and, once a fun place to take visitors and tourists to see something out of the ordinary, it's no longer a specific point of interest unless you like watching airplanes take off and land from Washington National Airport on the other side of the river. In general, though, it's still a lovely park and a nice respite off the beaten paths and frenzied energy of the city.

Sunset, Seagulls, Sailboats and So Forth... will run sporadically over the next week or so along with my regularly scheduled posts. I hope you enjoy it.

East Potomac Park: Cyclists

Cycling in East Potomac Park

East Potomac Park is a popular spot with cyclists. They can ride a one-mile circuit in relatively light traffic on two lanes running one way. Here are just a couple of pictures of folks making the circuit.

Cycling at sunset

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 5/08

Rock Creek Park: Bridges

Foot path over Rock Creek

Rock bridge on Beach Drive over Rock Creek

Old bridge abutment

This is the last of the Rock Creek Park Series. Hope you've enjoyed it!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 4/08

Rock Creek Park: Critters

Ducks in a row

Posing squirrel on a fallen branch

NiC at London Daily Nature Photo, in answer to my query regarding how he gets such great photos of flying things and ground critters, said the best thing to do is simply approach them slowly. These are my modest first attempts. In the case of the squirrel, he actually took an interest in me and sat still long enough to be photographed. I think he was hoping I'd have a handout and was distinctly disappointed that all I had was a camera.

One of Saturday's postings was also an attempt at following NiC's advice. Now if I could just get some decent pictures of the damn starlings that have started cohabiting in my gutters, that would be great. (How does one evict starlings, by the way, when their nest is in a gutter 40' up on the back of the house? I hate to do it, but if I don't, my downspout will inevitably end up blocked by their nest, which will undoubtedly wash that way in one of our spring/summer deluges. Then I'll end up with water backing up and under the eaves which will result in flooding in the house.... Ugh. Homeownership. I should have stuck with renting, right!)

Thanks, NiC for the advice! I'll keep working at it.


Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 4/08

Rock Creek Park: Texture

Deeply-etched tree bark

Tree graffiti. I hope Tara and Kevin are still together
so the desecration of this tree was worth it.

Lichens growing out of a dead log

Peeling bark

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 4/08

Rock Creek Park: Rock Creek

Rock Creek

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 4/08

Rock Creek Park: Urban Oasis

Backlit dogwood

Shadows, water, fallen logs: part of what makes Rock Creek Park an oasis in an urban setting

Creekside living and dying

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 4/08

Rock Creek Park: Path and Road

Shaded paths

Shaded Beach Drive

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 4/08

Rock Creek Park: A Series

Today's post begins a brief series featuring the beauty of Rock Creek Park. I'll post a new set of photos, along with my regularly scheduled daily entry, over the next week. The series includes the following:

Roots
Path and Road
Urban Oasis
Rock Creek
Texture
Critters
Bridges

Hope you enjoy this look into one of D.C.'s great urban treasures of tranquility.*

* Since I can't figure out what the plural of oasis is, I'm going with urban treasures of tranquility. Help!

Rock Creek Park: Roots

Roots at water's edge...

Exposed roots throughout Rock Creek Park
(Click images to enlarge)

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 4/08