"Happy Tails To You....."

At the beginning of this week, the wind chill here in Alexandria was 1 degree, and we were covered in snow. By Saturday, the forecast called for mid-seventies, and cabin fever had gotten the best of us. The Great Outdoors beckoned. Eager to be away from the pace of city life, Jessica, Ella and I ventured up to Great Falls National Park. It seems as if everyone else in Northern Virginia had the same idea! The picnic area at the park's entrance reminded us of crowds at Cade's Cove during the first days of spring. As we hiked deeper into the park, the crowds and the stresses of school and work diminished. The trail we chose followed the Potomac River from the Great Falls through Mather Gorge for several miles. Ella loved it, leading us over rocks, and streams, up and down hills, and along the ridge. Operation "Mountain Adventure 1" - Success.