Of course there was running.

While in DC, I was post-relay and definitely recovering from that effort.  Add in lots and lots of walking, museum shuffling, a different bed than I'm used to and running was just low on the list of priorities.

However, everyone on the Reach the Beach teams (most live on the East Coast and some even in the DC area) said I had to get out and run as there was such a nice running there.

And they were so right. 

Our hosts live within a mile of the Rock Creek Park.  It's a wonderful paved trail running alongside Rock Creek.  I didn't explore too far but even found a trail which required scrambling up rocks and roots.  I took a little detour to see if I could check out an interesting old cemetery and saw some deer in the stream one morning.

The weather was perfect when we first arrived in DC but by the end of the week, temps had risen to highs in the mid-90s with high humidity.  Of course by our last day in DC (when the temps were supposed to be highest) I really wanted to go on a longer run.  M was game and a good sport and took me down Rock Creek trail to the trail which runs along the Potomac.  We left early before sunrise but temps were still 70 degrees with 85% humidity.  Perfect for an easy, site seeing run.

We crossed the Arlington Bridge and stopped to take in the sunrise over the Mall.  I was loving it!  There were quite a few other runners out and about.  We crossed back to DC and into Georgetown and M took me along the historic C&O Towpath.  It starts here at Rock Creek in Georgetown and continues 184 miles north along the Potomac.  Amazing.

Thanks M!  That was a yet another highlight of the trip for me.   

No really...

It was the first time visiting "the other Washington" for both of us.  It was more beautiful and more stirring than I expected.  So much to see and do and we did it all plus ate and drank very well. 

The Supreme Court tour gave us both chills.  I hadn't really thought of how many ways my life has been touched by Supreme Court rulings.  Often through many tours, I felt a sense of the underlying power of the US government for right or wrong.  That power is there and it is chilling and inspiring and awing.

This building of the Smithsonian American Art Museum recently underwent renovation and enclosed their old and dated courtyard with a lovely enclosed and soaring space reminiscent of the my favorite the British Museums' enclosed Great Courtyard.  We enjoyed roaming through the various spaces of this museum and saw the enjoyable exhibit of Norman Rockwell paintings and drawings.

Since being home I've had to read about the history of how Washington DC became our capital.  Slave labor and epidemics and wishful thinking all played their part in placing The Capitol on the banks of unnavigable river (George was wishful) and yet, here we are today. 

We saw all the highlights and still missed some things we wanted to see.  And to be able to take the time to go through some exhibits would be delightful.  Next time!  

It really was incredible...

Washington DC

Great place to visit! I felt like we did it all.  Day 1 was recovery from way too much fun with H & P.  Does the monument look like it might be swaying a bit?  No matter.