some shots of Graham from our bike ride on the eve of the end of the shutdown

it is funny...

during the MoCo Epic my son Dean was dreading the C&O Canal

I get it

off the tow path and onto the single track

so much hard work for so little reward

unless you are into counting turtles

http://gwadzilla.blogspot.com/search?q=canal

http://gwadzilla.blogspot.com/search?q=turtles

pedaling on the tow path along side the C&O Canal may be an acquired taste

a taste I acquired at a very young age

lots of great memories on different mile markers of the C&O Canal

this shot in Georgetown with an old barge and some great examples of the lift locks

flanked by historic buildings

a wonderful time-capsule surrounded by the ever evolving Washington DC

I have ridden bikes with my boys to a spot just a few city blocks north or is it west

over by Moby Dicks

we get lunch and eat
the boys eat while I prep the rods

then the boys fish for blue gill with the naan bread

the blue gills love the food from Moby Dick and so do the boys

win win

catch and release

Graham doing his best Dudley

http://gwadzilla.blogspot.com/search?q=dudley

Graham and I were doing another tour of the Smithsonian during the Federal Government Shutdown

Graham is a horticulturist at the Smithsonian

I think that is a fancy name for a gardner

but I am not entirely sure

we were curious what was happening on the National Mall and around all the Federal Buildings during the Federal Government Shutdown

the city was a ghost town

tumbleweeds blowing through Dodge City

DC stands for Dodge City

or so I am told

we made a detour on our way down town

at this moment Graham is pretty close to mile zero on the C&O Canal

which is National Park land

which means that we were enjoying the peace and serenity of an area that was closed during the Federal Government Shutdown

a ride that took us through Rock Creek Park... along side the National Zoo... then more National Park land along side Beach Drive

awkward

it was the Federal Government Shutdown that gave us the moment to appreciate so many great places that are owned, operated, serviced, and maintained by the Federal Government
National Parks and National Park land... that is a good percentage of the green space in Washington DC

all closed during the Government Shutdown

shamelessly.... virtually guiltlessly we crossed through invisible lines
passing some signs
but also passing Park Rangers and Park Police
as if our behavior was not just accepted but allowed

Mount Vernon Trail, Capital Crescent Trail, and of course Rock Creek Park and its various trails

all wonderful local amenities

what is my point?

just trying to add some words to go with the photos