The two dogs and I have been enjoying our evening walks down along the Potomac River. The breeze is usually noticeably heftier there, and it's nice to get a longer perspective reaching out to horizons on the east (Maryland shore), north (DC) and south (downriver). Usually sailboats are breezing by and always others are out for a walk, jog, bike or run along one of the paths and trails down there.
A few of those others have dogs along for the walk, too. Kooper and Logan will either avoid them (at my prompting) or go sniff appropriate (for dogs) body parts in a canine introductory ritual. Kooper tends to approach out of fear and apprehension. Logan out of curiosity (if I may add on a layer of human intent here).
We typically walk down Bashford Lane, which crosses the George Washington Parkway just up from the house, bend south along the railroad tracks that feed coal to the power plant down along the River, and then cut across the tracks into the Riverside park. The park (with some gaps in the business and residential districts) goes south along the River through a good chunk of Alexandria. But we only do a bite-sized chunk on our walks and cut back west and north again before hitting the Alexandria downtown area.
Then it's back to the house for a treat (dog treats), some water and settling in for the night (until around 10 PM when it's time for a pee break . . . and 3:30 AM . . . and 5 AM). Get lots of walks that way.
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About Me
- Mark Gorman
- I was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, along the banks of the Susquehanna River, in the valley made up by Bald Eagle Mountain to the south, and gentle hills and valleys to the north. That place that sheltered me, gave me food and friends, and both physical and spiritual nourishment for 18 years. That is the space where I was physically and emotionally formed. Ever since growing up there . . . because of growing up there . . . I have been inexorably linked to nature . . . to the earth and to all life.