[MB1]

Now you gotta understand.......

51 weeks of the year Miss M and I meet afterwork down by the Jefferson Memorial with no problems at all. In the winter we pretty much have it to ourselves, in the late Spring and all Summer long there are softball players parking on Ohio Drive, sometimes in the fall we see folks along there too.

But there is nothing like Cherry Blossom week. Nothing at all.

Several times last week Miss M and I just parked our bikes and sat there in amazement. Every year since 2002 the crowds have gone from small to huge, this year was the craziest yet.

Now we don't like crowds that much but we understand.

You would too.

 

[MB1]

So, since Bigrider insisted that I put up some Cherry Blossom pix I saved a weeks worth.

Here they are.

BTW the folks at work like most offices in DC had a lunchtime walk down to the Tidal Basin to check out the blossoms. I like to dress up for special occasions.....

Just us and a few hundred thousand other folks enjoying a springtime stroll.

 

[ChuckUni]

Sweet. I really like the 2 sunset/sunrise ones with the curved waterline....nice classic light.

My parents had two of those trees when I was younger. They were huge ones too. Always like them, like a start to summer I guess. They died a few years back. Never could figure out exactly why. I think it might have something to do with my brother and me setting up targets on them and shooting the BB gun at them when we were young.

Never stick copper BBs/items in trees folks....doesn't work out well for them.

So maybe I'm responsible for killing part of my childhood. Accidental...boredom. That's what happens when you grow up in the middle of no where I suppose. Well at least that's my current excuse....

 

[bigrider]

You done good. It always reminds me spring is here when you post the cherry blossom pics. We bloom about a week behind you all in the south.

Hey you kind of look like Indiana Jones escorting those babes.

 

[MB1]

The sun was like a blowtorch.

Sweet. I really like the 2 sunset/sunrise ones with the curved waterline....nice classic light.....

For about 5 minutes after a cloudy sunrise yesterday the sky opened up and the sun blazed through and then it was over. There were only a few folks down there too, so unlike last week....

 

[Ridgetop]

Some great shots MB!

Really like the sunset shot. Also, didn't I see you in Casa Blanca?

 

[The Walrus]

...and here I was thinking, "Ho-hum--must be a few dozen people out looking at the cherry blossoms and MB1 is going off on his annual rant", and then there's that photo. Sir--I stand corrected! Looks like a great time to visit Peru or someplace, anyplace that isn't D.C.

Still, I think I'd like to see that once in my life, especially if I could enjoy it with that late-afternoon light.

Now, if only GeoCyclist will come through with cherry blossoms from his part of the world....

 

[rogger]

To do proper Hanami you should have a picknick under the cherry blossom. Maybe a Hanami ride-picknick combo?

 

[MB1]

That was Friday, Saturday was worse, Sunday insane.

We cruised by the Tidal Basin on our way home after our Century on Sunday to check out the crowd. Traffic was pretty much stopped for miles in every direction, cars were parked everywhere legal or not and the sidewalks were overflowing (we figured there were more people walking on the streets than the sidewalks). The lines to get on the Metro were around the block at any station near the Mall.

It was great since we know the area so well and we were on our bikes we were able to avoid all the mess and still see it. By Tuesday the place was almost back to its normal peace and quiet. The funny thing is that there are a lot of areas in DC with just as nice Cherry Blossom Trees and they are ignored by everyone except the locals.

As you say, the Cherry Blossoms around the Tidal Basin are someting that are well worth seeing at least once (perhaps not on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday though).