The Sakura Dojo

Just got back last week from a trip to Washington DC, which as you no doubt know, is full of museums, galleries and history. We were staying in Alexandria, Virginia, fairly close to the Old Town area which is quite nice and an easy Metro ride away from the heart of DC.

( Details of where we went and what we saw behind the cut )

Our continuing adventures to the wilds (?) of Florida.

( Again, cut to save space. )

We left on Friday (Leaving Tyche's in wuxiadaddy's capable hands) for a short and painless trip up to Unicoi State Park. We had one of cabins (B-7 in fact) which was really nice, no TV, phone or wireless but a stove, microwave and a fridge.

After settling in, we went off to Anna Ruby Falls, a small Federal park only accessible through Unicoi. The falls are amazingly beautiful, though the 1/2 mile walk to see them is all uphill, but the walk is really lovely as well. Then we returned to our cabin, had a nice dinner, played some cribbage and backgammon and went to bed early.

On Saturday, slept in a bit, and then into Alpine Helen, a North Georgia town that reinvented itself into a slice of (Americanized) Germany and it is a classic American tourist trap, where high and low brow rub shoulders with foreign and local tourists. Spent about three hours wandering through the kitsch and had a good time.

Then back to the cabin to get ready for the wedding of Kelly and Matt. The wedding was held in the main lodge at Unicoi, very nice short ceremony, followed by dinner and a bit of dancing. Laura knew the bride and groom and two of the guests (both co-workers), all of whom I new very casually, so I was feeling a bit of an outsider but that did not worry me. Still, a good time was had by all, I think.

Then back to the cabin for more cribbage and backgammon and reading and then to bed. Up earlier on Sunday. Went for a nice walk along the lake and then checked out and headed home.

A nice break from our usual routine.