Big Devil Stairs hike

 

I did a meetup hike to Big Devil Stairs for 14 miles with 2700 feet elevation gain today in sunny & cool weather. We ran into a group of old hiking friends at an Appalachian Trail shelter by accident.

Plus the 6.6 miles run during weekdays, I logged in 20.6 hike/run miles this week.

Tephra ICA Arts Festival

 

I swung by Reston Town Center for Radiant Spawn” as a part of Tephra ICA Arts Festival for the 12:00 p.m. show @ Reston Town Square Park. It was Claire Ashley’s installation of inflatable sculptures, activated by community dancers. There were many other artists’ booths as well. It was dry and cool to walk around town today, except a little windy. A lot of people came with their dogs. The only drawback of this event was no street food. I guess they wanted people to eat at the restaurants.

When I lived in Falls Church, I often rode my bike for 30-50 miles round trip to stop by Reston Art Festival for a nice break. After I moved to Reston, this was the 2nd time I visited the Art Festival. One reason was the just in my back yard so I can visit anytime attitude, and the other reason was some of my 3-month long international trips started in late May.

pinkster apples hike

 

I joined some friends hiked in the Shenandoah National Park for 12.3 miles with 3600 ft elevation gain, after the dragon boat race got postponed due to high water level in the Potomac River. Mountain Laurels are blooming along the trails from Panoramic parking lot via Mary’s Rock, Buck Ridge, and Buck Hollow.

We tried the light green, fleshy, bladder-like wild azalea fruits which may be azalea leaf galls, also known as pinkster apples, should be edible. An azalea leaf gall is a fungal disease that causes abnormal leaf growth. Otherwise, azaleas are not edible. All parts of the azalea plant, including the flowers, leaves, and nectar, are toxic to humans and animals. Ingesting azaleas can cause a variety of symptoms. Ingestion of the "mad honey" of azalea flower is not the only way people have been poisoned.

Plus my weekday run 6.6 miles, I logged in ~ 19 miles this week.

Mary's Rock + Little Stoney Man

 

I hiked with three friends in the Shenandoah National Park from Panorama parking lot to Mary's Rock Hike and then on to Little Stoney Man, out and back for 14 miles with 3000 feet elevation gain at rush pace. It started cold at 42f (5.5c) then into 70f (21c) in the afternoon. Mountain azealia was blooming.

Plus 6.6 miles run during weekdays, I logged in 20.6 hike/run miles this week.

Attack on Titan: Beyond the Walls World Tour

 

I ushered at Capital One Hall tonight for the concert : Attack on Titan: Beyond the Walls World Tour. I watched a few Youtube clips about the story before the concert, yet still amazed by this epic music and anime combined experience!

The concert only performed twice at Capital One Hall. You can check online to catch it at other prestigious venues like Dolby Theater, Carnegie Hall, OVO Arena Wembley, Sydney Opera House, etc.

Around the World Embassy Tour 2025

 

I fell on my knees when running this morning, so I cut short the run and went into DC for the Around the World Embassy Tour (63 non-EU countries participated). I attended this annual event a few times, and knew better than starting from the over-crowded DuPont Circle. I went straight to UDC student Center next to Van Ness Metro to harvest 8 embassies under the same roof. I waited in AC to taste Burkina Faso food, Nepali food, Gambia food, and Uganda food.

Then I walked to the new Chinese Embassy, which was huge and had a group of protestors at the front door. I got alta mark (red dye, different from henna) on my right hand at Bangladesh Embassy, which is applied during special occasions such as weddings, festivals, and religious ceremonies. The vibrant red color is associated with auspiciousness, love, and fertility in many cultures. I walked to my last stop of the day: Ethiopia Embassy. Pakistan Embassy cancelled at the last minute. I visited 11 embassies today, many of which I have no plan to travel to. I will visit five south American countries this fall, to make my total country number of 100, that's it.

I ran 13.5 miles this week, and then walked and stood in lines 4 hrs today.