Obamarama

No presidential sightings today, at least not in person, but we did see his helicopter rise and fly away while resting on the steps of the Jefferson memorial. We walked through the Capitol area, seeing the sights, the Smithsonion Musuems, the Memorials, the White House, and all the rest. It was good, and some of these things are inspiring, but this is not among my favorite cities so far. I think it's the population. A little unfriendly, cold and pushy, hurried and angry. I can't blame them, it's partially just a side effect of living in the city, but I don't want to be a part of that, and coming from out of the South, where everyone seemed to actually care when they said hello, it's a reality jolt.

The traffic sucks, as well. No mercy on the road.

Alexandria, on the other hand, is beautiful, and full of people from all over the world. We ate dinner there tonight, a relief from the Capital, and walked, soaking in the history and watching the people, residents and tourists alike.

In other, more personal news, I received the first real injury today, not from being on the bike at any great speed, or a run in with a farm dog, but from walking face-first into a gate that was silently(I think) closing in front of me, splitting a chunk of my nose off. I've got a great picture of it, thanks to Jeff, who's first instinct was not to help, but to yank out his camera and get a reaction shot. At least the photo's good.

Now we rest, our bikes are waiting for us to head out in the morning, onto the C & O towpath, out of traffic and following the Potomac river to Pittsburgh over the next few days, where we'll route again and finalize our wanderings in Buffalo by next weekend. I can't believe how close we are now, but this should be a perfect way to wrap it up, in hilly country but out of traffic, following a river we might find time to fish in?

I suppose I'll have to start thinking about what I want to do when I get home.