[SkateDC] Today's season-opening skate: surprising and fun!

[Emily Bennett]

Skate report:  

We had about 25 skaters and perfect Spring weather as we toured the Southwest waterfront and admired the Hains Point cherry blossoms from the Titanic memorial. Then we left for Eastern Market - and took a surprise turn into the Navy Yard!  The gentleman guarding the gate was kind enough to approve our entry, with the requirement that we wore helmets and stayed on the sidewalks. There is a nifty little outdoor museum on the NY grounds, with a WWI railroad-car cannon and some parts from the USS Maine, plus a bunch of other stuff.  But we couldn't stay long as we were due for lunch at one.  

So it was on to Eastern Market and some fancy footwork around the Capitol, and then past the red-rocked Verizon Center to Cap City.  Jennifer Swalwell had arranged to get the upstairs room so all us winter housebound skaters could get reacquainted.  (Eryx, was that really you??)

And then six of us set out for a leisurely tour of the Tidal Basin, which actually turned into a Hains Point loop as the Basin was far too crowded with bridesmaids, tourists, and jubilant Caps fans to safely navigate on skates.  We have good news for the Friday Night Skate - the plaza at the Lincoln Memorial is at long last fully resurfaced with beautiful glass-smooth concrete slabs. And no more jersey barriers or fencing either. Bliss!

I would like to thank Bill English for leading this thoroughly enjoyable season-opening skate.

Thanks again and see you on the streets,

Emily