Colonial Beach, VA.

Colonial Beach, Virginia, is a small, Chesapeake Bay town of several thousand that saw its heyday come and go several years ago.  Now it seems more of a home to dilapidated piers, bedroom communities for Dahlgren Naval Base staff and ospreys.  It's not to far from our house and is just the type of place I love to photograph!  Additionally, it’s breeding season and we saw several large nests with juvenile ospreys and nervous parents watching the weird guy with the camera taking pictures!

As we made our was to Colonial Beach, Anais spotted our first Osprey of the day with material for a nest.

 I think old barns make great photographs. 

 Potomac Beach which is right next to Colonial Beach on the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia.

Juvenile Osprey near the nest.

Pilings from an old pier that likely once held a casino.  The low tide line is the Maryland State line and years ago, this area was lined with casinos as gambling was legal in Maryland but not Virginia.  Several hurricanes took care of the casinos though!

 Juvenile Osprey near the nest.

More old boardwalk pilings.

 I'm always looking for old signs like this.  I like the way they take you back to a time gone by...

Nations Capitol #02 - USAF Memorial / Arlington Cemetery / Pentagon Memorial

This morning I stopped by the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.   Between the two of us, Anais and I have 10 years in the AF.  I’ve wanted to photograph the memorial with the new camera for some time. 

The memorial’s website notes it was dedicated by President George W. Bush on October 14, 2006, and is a place of reverence, remembrance and celebration to honor America’s Airmen.

It’s located on an hill next to Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon.

Marine One flew over as I was at the Memorial.

This is a view of the Washington monument I had never seen before.  

Grave stones at Arlington national Cemetery are in the foreground.

Never had all of these in a photo together before either: Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, The Pentagon and the US Capitol.  Might be a Smithsonian or two in there too.  (Click the photo to enlarge.) 

 Looking out over the flowers at the USAF Memorial toward Arlington National Cemetery.

   

Arlington National Cemetery.

Arlington National Cemetery.

Arlington National Cemetery.

Pentagon 9/11 Memorial.

Repaired section of the Pentagon.  Lighter bricks are new.

  These benches signify the people killed in the attack on the Pentagon. 

The Air Force Memorial is in the background.

 Small pool of flowing water under each bench.

 

This stone, labeled September 11, 2001, is blackened from the attack on the Pentagon.  

The stone was re-used in the rebuilt section.

Nations Capitol #01 - DC Cherry Blossoms

Each year, Washington DC plays host to thousands of tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of thousands of  Cherry Blossom trees in full bloom.  This year was the 100th anniversary of Japans gift of 3000 Cherry Blossom trees to the Nations Capital.  Unfortunately, the blooming season only lasts for about two weeks.  The peak blooming time is when 70% of the buds are open.  This year, that was March 23 and that's the day we picked to take my parents to DC for our last big outing of their trip!  

 Our trip started at the MLK Memorial.

NOW I know how to take pictures!!!!!

This was the morning news doing a live broadcast.

 

    

Even this little guy liked the flowers!

The MLK Memorial in relation to the Lincoln Memorial.

Jefferson Memorial.