planes, trains, and automobiles (Part 1)

East Coast Trip (Part 1) - Shenandoah National Park (Washington, D.C.)

Leaves flew by the window of the train. Part of the reason for the trip had been to experience autumn’s vibrant palette. There hadn’t been much of a display until now. As we traveled along the tracks, the leaves couldn’t hold onto their limbs any longer. They danced around the train as we passed. There were trees everywhere, on hillsides and across harbors, fall’s colors reflecting in the water. I looked over; my traveling companion was asleep, missing the scenery. I was exhausted, too, but didn’t want to miss anything. It had been a great trip so far, tiring, but exhilarating at the same time. I thought back over our adventure. ****** I had flown into DC over a week before. Once off the plane, I hopped on the metro to meet one of my college roommates (T) at a bar in her neighborhood. She wasn’t there, yet. After finishing my first drink, I decided I should give her a call, when I realized I didn’t have a cell number for her. I called her husband. He was out of town, which was very unfortunate, because I could have used some brotherly advice. However, a girls’ weekend was just what I needed. He and I chatted a while, then I let him go so I could give his wife a call. He asked me to keep his wife out of trouble. I suggested the reverse might be necessary. We both laughed and then said goodbye. Just as I dialed the number written on the napkin, she walked through the door. We gave each other a big hug and settled into our bar seats. I’d seen both she and her husband in February. However, it’s always been too long; even when it seems no time has passed at all, as it always is with all good friends. That night we shared more stories and laughter, crab cakes and crab legs, over a glass of wine or two at J. Paul’s in Georgetown. Then home to relax and pet Joey, our cat, named after the bar that we drunkenly took her home from in college. We drove through Shenandoah National Park the next day, even hiked* part of the Appalachian Trail. T is my only friend that might actually understand my (perhaps unhealthy) fascination with photography, and didn’t hurry me too much as we drove through the just-beginning-to-change leaves. On the way back to the city we stopped at a couple of wineries. After J’s flight got in later that day, we all headed to Jaleo for tapas and sangria. I’d been there many years before, the first time T and I had a girls’ night in DC. I’d talked it up too much and too often since then. The sangria was better than I’d remembered. Unfortunately, the tapas did not hold a candle to the memory. ****** * By hiked, I of course mean hobbled about 50 yards or so. What did you expect from a girl who had only been out of her cast for a week? You can see larger versions of the images by clicking on them.