Jaap and I just got back from a morning ride along the Potomac. We took the Capital Crescent trail to the Maryland border and back, about 75 minutes. It was nice to ride out when it was still fresh -- on our way back the temperature was rising already.

We had planned to take the Chain Bridge back to Virginia, but I took a wrong turn and we decided to just go back the way we came. From the riverside we saw the spot where we were swimming a week ago.

On Monday I brought our car for repair -- some cosmetic damage -- so the past few days I've been bicycling to work.

My own bike wasn't ready yet so I've used the nice BikeShare system for a few days. It works great. I can pick up my pick around the corner from our apartment building, bicycle for 13 minutes and then park it right near my work in Ballston.

Tonight I picked up my bike from the repair shop, so tomorrow I'll use my own bike to get to work.

On Monday John and Juliana invited us for a boat trip on the Potomac.

Their motor boat is moored in a harbor near the Pentagon and we went for a pleasant trip over the Potomac. It was really cool to see D.C. from the water.

Near the Key bridge we put out the anchor and jumped in the river. After a BBQ on the boat we returned back home, a very nice Monday evening.

Rosslyn as seen from the Potomac river.

The Georgetown harbor.

At the other side of the Key bridge. This is where we had a BBQ.

Swimming in the Potomac.

This morning Jaap and I went to a bar in Ballston to watch the first Dutch soccer game for the European Championship. We took the rental bikes again; it's about 15 minutes from our home by bike. Part of Wilson Boulevard was closed due to a bicycle race so we drove through Lyon Village.

The game was a disappointment -- Holland lost with 0-1 from the Danes and it is not looking very good for the Dutch right now. Jaap and I had a good time though. Jaap never watches soccer at home but he even wore an orange cap to the game.

We met quite a few people in Frontpage, like Shanti, Petra, Wouter, Candice, and Erik.

Jaap has been here for one week already, and Nora is having a great time.

It's not only leisure though! As Jaap said: "First let's do your exercise, then we'll read a story".

While Sasha and Nora spent a mother-and-daughter afternoon together, Jaap and I went for a long bike ride. We rented bike's from BikeShare, and drove to the National Mall. This was the first time I rented bikes from there and it worked really well. We picked up our bikes at Veitch Street, drove 20 minutes to DC and left them at the kiosk at Metro Center. Great system.

At the Mall we visited the Freer Gallery, a museum with Asian and Western art, and then had lunch in the National Museum for the American Indian. The latter is a new museum. It's a beautiful building, with interesting materials, but it had an air of melancholy -- not surprising of course, given the subject.

On the way back we biked past the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, and crossed the bridge to Arlington. A great afternoon. It's so special that we can simply go for a bike ride together.