The great flamingo matriarch of the National Zoo, Betty, died last month. In her honor, we are dedicating our Valentine’s Day yard art (video below) in her memory. Our yard display brings us great joy to see how much the kids in the neighborhood enjoy it and interact with it: https://twitter.com/theHillisHome/status/1491590291886952450
Lately, I have been biking the Anacostia River Trail in the morning. It is absolutely, one of the most spectacular urban bike trails in the U.S. While it is only a few miles from downtown, when you are on it, you almost feel transported to a rural wilderness wildlife preserve.
Some mornings, I am so eager to get on the trail, that I do not wait for the sun to rise.
The wildlife (mostly birds, fish and deer) and the imagery (trees, wetlands, shrubs, and flowers) are fantastic.
There is a dock just south of the Bladensburg Waterfront Park that is my usual destination.
I usually bring my camera and make believe that I am on a safari, trying to capture a clear image of the herons catching a fish. The trail extends into PG county and I am always hopeful that I will have a zebra sighting.
Sometimes, I visit the Kennilworth Aquatic Gardens. There is a back entrance, right from the trail.
The National Arboretum is just across the river. A pedestrian bridge is in the planning stage to connect the two.
Here is a link to my latest Anacostia River Trail videos:
SC photos
We decided to take another RV trip to visit friends and family in SC. We tried to stay safe by only visiting outside. Since I am unable to fly my drone here in DC, I was happy to be able to capture some amazing photos and video. Below are just a few of the photos. (Click here to view video.)
I had never been to Beaufort, and was quite taken by the beauty of the marshes all around. We stayed two nights on Saint Helena Island, which is actually comprised of many different islands. Huntington Beach State Park was also quite beautiful.
Worthy Mouse Clicks 