Alexi's graduation from her dietetic internship, June 23, 2006
Celebratory dinner with Alexi's mom
Alexi's room is all cleared out!
Saying goodbye to roommates.
Alexi leaving her apartment for the last time... maybe.
Wanna score some Smartfood?
Buying food for our kayaking/camping trip, and waiting for the rain to end.
Deploying our rented kayak and setting out for Grape Island in the drizzling rain.
Welcome to Grape Island - our surprise destination #1. It didn't go quite as I imagined -- it was cold, rainy, and with hordes of mosquitoes ready to eat us alive.
Nonetheless, we attempted to roast some marshmallows.
This worked pretty well...
...until the tide came in and put an end to our fire.
It rained all night, and in the morning we woke up in lakes of water inside our tent. Our sleeping bags were thoroughly soaked.
Packing up in the pouring rain. By this point, WE were thoroughly soaked.
Alexi took it pretty well, though.
Back at our car. It's still pouring.
Back at Alexi's apartment to dry off.
We missed our train to Old Orchard Beach, so we went out to Legal Seafoods for a nice dinner.
The next train was sold out, so we ended up sitting on the floor most of the way.
Welcome to the surprise destination #2: Old Orchard Beach. Still cold, still rainy, but at least no mosquitos this time...
Old Orchard Beach amusement park.
Well, at least the cold, foggy weather allowed for atmospheric shots like this one.
"Sunbathing"
One man's trash is another bird's treasure.
Waiting for a train outta here.
Back in Boston, a layover of several hours gives us time to plan our upcoming Europe trip.
On the night train to DC, the planning continues...
We spent a couple of days sightseeing in DC.
They put these ugly little fences everywhere on the Mall. Are they supposed to protect national security or something?
More ugly fences...
We were there, dude!
The Capitol building's rotunda.
The roof of the Capitol's dome.
The Washington metro -- arguably, the most efficient public transportation system in the United States.
Waiting for our train in the Metropolitan Lounge at the Union Station.
Alexi in our cozy compartment.
A study in brown.
Typical scenery on the way to Chicago: pleasant, but nothing too special.
Self-portrait in the upper bunk.
Typical midwestern scenery: corn, and lots of it.
Approaching Chicago.
Approaching Denver.
Approaching Boulder in a rental car, July 2, 2006. What a long, strange week it's been...
Pearl Street Mall in Boulder.
