christmas eve on the d&l

Yesterday my international students and I took a walk on the D&L. I wanted to do something with them during the holiday weekend since I can't very well invite them to my house for a traditional American Christmas. Haven't really had one of those for a decade.

The girls had been in DC for the weekend, and didn't want to go till 1. It gets dark at 4:30. We had to stay local.

I arrived at school at 1, and they finally came out about 1:30. Punctuality is not their strong suite. I decided to do the D&L, and use the new trail head off Farmersville Rd. It was close and I really want to see the improvements. Wow is it nice. Big parking lot, trailhead sign, and even markers telling you how far things are.

We parked and I announced that I brought silly hats. Did anyone want to wear one. It was, after all, Christmas Eve. I brought the antlers because I thought they'd work perfect on Isha's hijab. They did! She tried a couple times to wear the Santa hat, but it wouldn't stay put. Surbhi and I wore the Santa hats.

The girls love to take photos. Lots and lots and lots of photos. Especially selfies and videos. We were at the trailhead sign at least five minutes before we even started. The trail post said it was 2.2 miles to the Rt 33 trail head, so that's the way we went. It took an hour to get there. We stopped a couple times for photos.  Yes there is even a video of the trail as we walked. They need one of those go-pro cameras.

We arrived at the boat launch and spent a good 30 minutes there. It was probably longer. They made dancing videos and took a poop-load of photos. They even got me to sit on the ground!

It was only 3:15 and the sun was already starting to go down. I told them we needed to head back. The College does not provide food services during winter break. Their scholarship gives them an extra stipend to allow them to buy food. On the way back Isha says, "tomorrow could you take me to the grocery store?"

"It's Christmas, they'll be closed."

"Can we go tonight?"

"It's Christmas Eve, everything closes early. Sometimes as early as 4, no later than 6."

As we all know, supermarkets are hell the day before Christmas. But she wanted to go to Elias (the Arab store) because they have halal meats, and are fairly cheap.  I told her she had to be quick because I needed to pick Lydia up at work. "Okay. I will be quick" as she runs into the store still wearing her reindeer ears.

Elias was busy. Actually, it was packed. We were probably there close to a half hour. Surbhi and I sat in the car. At one point my phone rang and I was told to bring milk home. I ran in and came back out.

Ultimately it all worked out. I got them back to the dorms and picked up Lydia a half hour late.

Later in the evening it started to snow. Maybe we'll have a white Christmas.

Miles/Steps:   4.4 miles according to the sign 
Bathrooms:     they didn't add a port-o-potty to the trail head. Nothing is perfect, I guess. 
Weather:        low 40's. Overcast
Wildlife:         some tracks, that's it. 
Extras:           there was hardly anyone on the trail. We saw only 2 bikes.