The Oregon Coast / Labor Day Wk-end

Since we attended "church" at Salem Alliance on Saturday night, we drove down to Lincoln City on Sunday morning and walked on the beach at "Road's End" before having lunch on an Entertainment Book coupon. It was a gorgeous day at the Coast, with no wind and plenty of sunshine! - rw

First Day of School in Silver Spring

Eli

Daniel

All were up early and ready for the first day of school. Eli, 6th grade, headed off for his first day of middle school where he joins his brother Daniel, 8th grade. Micah is now in 3rd grade at Rock Creek Forest where he is in the Spanish immersion program. It's off to her 3rd year of teaching biology at  Montgomery Blair High School for Marta.

Micah

Marta

Let the Games Begin ...

Or let the competition continue. Take your pick for the best Mark and Marta photo for the romantic couple picture among the younger Woodward's.

These might even rival pictures taken at Hug Point in Oregon! Although I don't know about hats and sunglasses in pictures.  I thought there was a certain Woodward that recommends the removal of hats and sunglasses in pictures. Oh, but there is a picture without the sunglasses and hat. - Nancy

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

After church on Sunday we headed to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C& O) National Historical Park in Maryland and had a picnic lunch and then took a nice hike. The rest of the family was more adventurous than me and took the "Billy Goat Trail" that went over rocks while I had a leisurely hike along the canal.

The C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market.You can see the old locks and hike for miles along the old canal.

At the view points you can see the Great Falls on the Potomac River where the river builds up speed and force as it falls over a series of steep, jagged rocks and flows through the narrow Mather Gorge. We watched kayakers navigate the whitewater through the gorge.- Nancy

 

On the Billy Goat Trail

Ethiopian Dinner

Marta's aunt had the family over for a wonderful Ethiopian meal. Marta's brother Mike and the boys had a good game of poker (the chips were scrabble letters) going on in the "back parlor." - Nancy

Marta and a cousin

Trip to Gettysburg

 After learning a lot about President Lincoln at the Ford Theater and Museum we decided to take a trip to Gettysburg and learn more. - Nancy

Climbing to the top of observation towers was a highlight.

Daniel looking over the Battlefields from the observation tower.

Trip to DC Museums

I went to Silver Spring to enjoy some time with the family while Mark and Marta went back to work and the boys were still on summer vacation. Daniel, Eli, Micah and I took a field trip to downtown DC.- Nancy

 
In the room where President Lincoln died at Ford Theater Museum.

We had time for a quick stop at the Smithsonian Freer/Sackler Art Gallery.

A lunch stop with Nancy friend Connie Buford was time for a good visit.

The National Postal Museum was our last stop. Making a postage stamps with a picture of yourself was lots of fun at the National Postal Museum.

We tried being postal employees and scanning barcodes.

Visit with friends from KL

I had a fun visit with the Eisen family who were friends in KL.- Nancy

A stop at Takhlakh Lake

On our drive home we stopped by the campground at Takhlakh Lake. The view of Mt. Adams is awesome.

Camping at Walupt Lake, WA

We camped at Walupt Lake for 3 nights. The campsite was private with lots of shade. The first day Ron and I hiked along the like to a stream. On the second day I hiked up to get a view of Mt. Adams. I enjoyed taking pictures of all of the wild flowers