Home

No, not home at the National Zoo - I just forgot to send the zoo pic when I got back there to get my car and I wanted to put up a post letting anyone following along know that I was done for the day. The drive home was actually quite nice too. There was some traffic, but nothing more than a typical afternoon, not even rush-hour level traffic.

Time to clean up

The clean-up job will not be an easy one from what I've seen. While I followed a "leave it as you left it" policy (repacking wrapping from hand warmers and used tissues in pockets and such) enough others did not so as to create quite the clutter.

There were also a number of overflowed garbage containers that collected a clutter around them.

A View From The Jumbotrons

A few images with the "action" on the Jumbotrons, the "live" Capitol Building shown in the distance, and the crowd all around.

This first photo shows the President-Elect walking through the Capitol Building to the stage.

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This next photo shows the crowd around me waving their flags when they saw the Jumbotron cut to a view of another part of the Mall waving their flags.

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This next image is from just after President-Elect Obama started to recite the oath.

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This final image of the swearing-in ceremony is just after President Obama finished the oath, as his final words came across in the captioning.

Talk about wrapping oneself up in the flag!

Happy Birthday

A mother and daughter celebrating the daughter's 21st birthday asked me to take their picture when I told them I was photoblogging the day.

Huddled Masses, Yearning to be WARM

It was a bit chilly out. This group found one way to collect body heat and avoid the occasional wind.

Have I mentioned the crowd?

7th Street Sea

Looking out from within a virtual sea of people on the National Mall at 7th Street. Many of the people with the red hats are PIC volunteers.

Crowds

Opening Concert "Rebroadcast"

A little while ago, they began replaying the opening ceremony/concert on the jumbotrons.

The Washington Monument Crowd

Crowds were forming in different pockets early in the day. The Washington Monument was closed and surrounded by a gate of bike racks. A crowd began to form early on the hill to see the show.

(In case you are wondering how it got so much brighter in only a few minutes, it did actually get a bit brighter that quickly but I also used a different camera with a higher ISO setting for this picture.)

If an incident occurs...

An early-morning look across the National Mall.

A close-up on the jumbotron instructions.

Les feet, they have arrived!!

A poor pun on General Pershing perhaps (“Lafayette, je suis arrivé”) but after walking for over three miles, I hope you will allow me this one.

The picture is dark, but then so is the day right now.

A few other people are here too :)

Getting closer...

Dupont Circle

Walking down Connecticut Avenue towards the National Mall. This might be my easiest trip through this traffic circle yet!

I was not alone in my walk. Even at the Zoo I saw a few people ahead of me and when I looked back I saw people coming down Connecticut behind me. Not too many people, but a few. Here at Dupont Circle, there were some people milling about and others were merging onto Connecticut Avenue from some of the other streets.

Parked

I parked at the National Zoo (I have a zoo membership, so a good parking deal). The drive down was pretty nice. There was very light traffic on my side of the Beltway (though passing by Greenbelt, I saw quite a backup on the other side as people were heading to that Metro station). Connecticut Avenue was fairly empty, only a few other cars.

Well, my toe-warmers are in my boots. Time to double-up the gloves, get on the earmuffs, scarf, and hat. The red-line was reported as being at "crush" capacity already, so back to the walking plan - it's actually a fairly nice morning considering the time of year.