We’re really enjoying autumn in DC–and so are Sugar Baby, Ollie, and Lola, who have gotten their humans to take them on many fun day trips. This time we ventured a little to Cacoctin Mountain Park in Maryland north of DC. (Pronounced “Ka-Kock-tin”). A little over an hour of driving brought us to the beginning of our hike. The sky was a bit gray and the temperatures in the 60s. Ollie was especially excited and pulling hard on his leash. After a mile of downhill, we had a mile of steep uphill, on a trail of granite stones covered in leaves. ...

On a beautiful sunny fall day, Audrey, Carolyn and I ventured to Annapolis with Ollie, Sugar Baby and Lola. What’s a beautiful outing without three dogs? The dogs were especially delighted when we immediately came upon a Dog Treat Parlor on Main Street–fresh biscuits for all! Annapolis has a great collection of colonial architecture from different eras. At the visitor center we picked up a walking tour guide. The visitor center was on such a colorful street! ...

On a beautiful fall day, I ventured to Great Falls National Park, just outside of Washington, DC. The air was clear, dry and just a little warm in the sun. Sugar Baby and Ollie came for the ride, and were delighted with the number of dogs at the park and the quality of the resulting smells. Aside from three easy overlooks, the trails in the park mostly follow the cliff above the river. The dogs liked boulder hopping and climbing around. Heading downstream, the river enters a narrow gorge. I liked upstream better, where an old dam created a very long and even water fall, glistening in the late afternoon sun. We saw a blue heron and Canadian geese. ...

New Jersey’s finest guitar player, Al Di Meola, ventured to Washington DC for a club performance near the waterfront. I enjoyed the unusual configuration of the band. He brought along a unusual band: Tabla player Amit Kavthekar, Drummer Richie Morales, and another classical guitar player. I was lucky, because I showed up late and still found a seat only about five feet away. Perfect to watch a master guitar player in his art. ...

For a delayed Father’s Day outing, Micah and I attended Bill Frisell & Trio at Berkeley’s historic Freight & Salvage club. The music was mostly quiet. And you could have heard a pin drop. Frisell’s virtuosity was on full display. In any minute of music, he conjured up more tones and textures than most guitar players find in an entire set. The final song was “What the World Needs Now (is love sweet love)” by Burt Bacharach. After a thunderous standing ovation, the trio came back and played their rendition of “We Shall Overcome.” ...