Lest We Forget

Somme Battlefields outside Paris - Memorial

It's ANZAC Day tomorrow but we have been following the tributes back home. We are not going to the service tomorrow and it is not a holiday here of course. There is a dawn service and a gunfire breakfast being held but we missed the chance to make the list - maybe next year. Never the less, no matter where in the world we are, we always call Australia home and always ALWAYS always remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our beautiful Australia. 

We visited the Somme Battlefields in 2012 and words cannot express the deep sadness, horror and pride we felt as we saw the battlefield, where 1000's of soldiers lost their lives. Lest We Forget. 



Yet another quiet few days so not an exciting blog post. We had a big day out today on the bikes - it was a super day outside and everyone else thought so too. We rode about 40k on the Georgetown Branch Trail and hooked up with the Capital Crescent Trail to ride into Georgetown. It is bike path ALL the way. These trails are old rail lines that have been removed and converted into walking/bike trails. Just amazing. I plan to ride this trail during the weeks for some training outside. However, there are some adventures to plan as there is another trail call the Cheasapeake & Ohio trail which runs from DC to the south for about 100 mile. So, I'll start planning, get the backpack sorted and head off on some long rides during the week. Lookout for some photos and updates in the months ahead. 

 

The scenery along the ride is beautiful - it's hard to believe you are in a big city like DC. As you approach DC and the Potomac river, you are spoilt for views.

 

We visited a shop in Georgetown called Pie Sisters who are well known for their sweet pies. They do have 3 savoury pies. They looked fantastic but we only had a chicken pie today. Definitely be going back to try those sweet pies - apple, banana cream, coconut cream, peach, blueberry, chocolate cream, strawberry...and they looked very home made. 

Came home and took the dogs for a walk. We are trying to teach Cricket that he can swim. I plonked him in the water today and he madly paddled out. Slow progress but hopefully he'll jump in himself before too long. 

And we saw three chipmunks today - OMG. Such tiny little things and very cute. They were on the lawns as we walked up the street. We thought they were baby squirrels but nope, they were little chipmunks. I wonder if they will pop up on our lawns. Dogs will go k-razzeeee.

We visited a dog sitter yesterday. This is booming business in DC - the US is incredibly pet friendly. The couple were lovely, have lots of experience from their lab rescue days and LOVE dogs. They loved Macey and Cricket so it looks like we have a place for them to stay when we travel. They have a lovely 12 yo black lab too and he's in good shape. So the three dogs will have a great time together. 

And a few pics to finish. My two kitchen supervisors keeping an eye on my cooking operations. And a very cool bike with a dual bike-stand. This is a special photo for our dear friend - aka 'bikestandgirl'. You're bike's never too cool for a bike stand !!

Oh yeah, and we stopped by a bike shop on the way home which is the one I plan to visit. A guy stops outside, locks his bike and believe it or not, he's got this thick long beaver tail hanging off the back of his jeans. We desperately wanted a photo but it didn't seem right. So he wanders off into the shop with this bloody brown tail hanging off his bum. The things you see right !!