Skookum Traveler

National Generator (A.K.A. Book) Festival

I love this fabulous book festival in DC and have caught it several times when it fills the National Mall over a weekend in September. But this year had a measurable downside. The author lineup was great, as usual, and thousands came to enjoy the show, but one aspect of the festival layout frankly sucked. Large generators and giant air blowers that ventilated the book sales circus tent were placed right next to a major speaking tent, creating a serious and constant distraction, not only for the audience but for the speakers themselves. It wasn’t just a little white noise, it was obnoxiously loud—even from my seat near the center of the tent. With an event this large, this sophisticated, one wonders how the planners failed to consider the high decibels when laying things out. For now, 2013 goes down in my book as the National Generator Festival. Let’s hope the next one is much more about books! Okay, I yield my soapbox.

Around DC

Chief Justice John Marshall.

A slow game of chess will turn you into bronze.

C&O Canal, Georgetown.

U.S. Grant.

Island monument to signers of the Declaration of Independence.

At the WWII Memorial.

Sunset at our neighborhood elementary school.

Fountain at Dupont Circle.

Home of the EPA.

Museum of African American History under construction.

At the Navy Memorial.

Union Station.

Columbus Memorial.

U.S. Senate Fountain.

C&O Canal, Georgetown.

The other Washington Monument (MD)

On the way home from Annapolis Rocks (below), we stopped at the original Washington Monument to learn some more history, climb the dark stone stairs to the top, and soak up one more view. The monument was originally built in 1827 and was the first to honor the iconic president. (The more famous obelisk in DC was not even started until more than 20 years later.) Remarkably, about 500 townsfolk gathered at the site on the 4^th of July, 1827, and built the first 15 feet in a day, then increased it to 30 feet that fall. Neglect, vandalism and the elements took their toll over the ensuing years, until the CCC rebuilt the tower in the 1930s. Well worth a visit.

From atop the monument.

Annapolis Rocks and Black Rock Cliff (MD)

Kris and I headed north again beyond Harpers Ferry this time, for a hike up to two popular viewpoints near the top of South Mountain in northern Maryland. Forty-one miles of the AT pass through upper Maryland. Only West Virginia, at four miles, has less. Virginia has the most, by far, at 544 miles. Many attempt Maryland’s 41 miles in a single day and success brings both accolades and strange looks, depending on who you go bragging to. Kris and I may give it shot at some point, but we’ll do it over a few days so we can savor it a bit. In any event, a good chunk of Maryland’s AT follows the scenic ridge of South Mountain, and an 8-mile out-and-back dayhike to Annapolis Rocks and Black Rock Cliff takes in some of the best views on the mountain. I’ll let the photos do the talking. We did the hike on September 20th.