The South Riding RV Travels

748

25th-27th October 2012 - Annandale VA

We left Southampton heading south through Philadelphia although visibility was not good.
On down to Washington DC and round the Beltway (ring road). We think this building to the north west of the city is the Mormon Temple.
We went to a contra dance at Glen Echo. This is a band called Elixir. They were very lively. The guitarist is Owen Morrison. We stayed with his father near Charlottesville a few years back.
The quality of dancing was good and there were plenty of people. This is the largest contra dance club in the US.
It was a Halloween dance with fancy dress and prizes. This was a Mitt Romney Etch-a-Sketch. Pull down the flaps and the position has changed. It comes from a quote from Romney's campaign manager who was explaining Romney's change of stance after the primaries.

The other winners were two girls who turned up in 'binders' after Romney's infamous comment that he asked for binders on potential female candidates for jobs in Massachusetts. I guess this is a Democratic group.

Down in Alexandria on the Potomac the boats were out in force.
Only in America - a water fountain for you - and your dog.
The Beltway crosses the Potomac via this bridge. The centre section can be raised to permit the passage of large ships. I bet that causes a traffic jam.
In days gone by travel on the river would have been by paddle steamers like this.
One of several fireboats on the river.
Way in the distance this is the Capitol Building soaring above the Washington skyline.
There is an arts centre in the old torpedo factory on the Alexandria waterfront. We could not resist this camel.

Below are the art sculptures on the side of the stairway to the first floor.

Driving back we passed Arlington Cemetery and (below) the Pentagon.
The colours of fall are in full display. They will not be there for long.
We visited Great Falls National Park where the Potomac flows through a narrow canyon. This stops the river being navigable down to the ocean.
The river seems quite benign with what are normal water levels. It can be very different. Under storm conditions the water can be 20ft above this...
A few days from now the water will be 10ft above this following hurricane Sandy.
It is a favourite place for kayakers wanting to hone their white water skills.
Just to prove we were here.
A Washington suburban home nestles amongst the trees - but we couldn't get the RV up the slope.