Fall is upon us so the evening temps are on the cooler side. But no rain for now. The weekday numbers are dwindling, but let’s all pull together for this Wednesday and next Wednesday for the last weekday DC touch under natural light. If everyone shows up on time, we get a good hour.

Also I want to hype the bike ride social again. The weather is taking a decidedly cold turn, so I recommend a windbreaker and gloves. Otherwise it should still be a fun time. Even if you don’t ride, you can meet up at one of the bars for a pint and socializing. If you are in, plan to meet at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday at 11:30am to start.

It’s going to be on the chilly and breezy side. We should be able to squeeze in a solid hour and a half of play if we start on time. Let’s all aim to get there at 5:30 ready to play.

We’ll squeeze these short runs in under the natural light until the end of the month. Then likely going to Wednesday only, with location TBD.

Tidal Basin 9:30am. It should be great weather while we play, but bring your traveling umbrella if you don’t intend to rush home afterward. There’s a light afternoon shower headed our way.

Rumor is our friends at Potomac Exiles and WRFC will be playing in the afternoon if anyone wants to stick around to watch.

Now that I have your attention. I’m floating this idea out there for a social a week-ish from now. I will personally be biking and drinking beer, and the more people that join me the better. This is a great opportunity to get to know our touch friends better while engaged in a non-rugby activity.

A big thank you to everyone coming on time Monday. It makes a big difference on these short days when we can get started right away.

The weather is starting to feel like fall, with some great mid 70s weather tee’d up for our touch session. Hope to see another great turnout.

The days are getting shorter. I know it’s tough for people to get there right after work, but we want to get enough people to start as close to 5:30 and maximize the limited daylight. The more people at 5:30 the better.

As we lose daylight and the evenings get colder, in the coming weeks we’ll prepare to go to one day a week and search for a field with lights. The day will likely be Wednesday, but to avoid conflicts with other touch groups that could change.

Saturday 9:30 at the Tidal Basin. We’ve made an abrupt transition into Fall. It will be a beautiful day for touch tomorrow, and dare I say it will feel a little chilly in the morning after the long hot and humid summer.

We’ll play Wednesday on the Mall 5:30pm near Smithsonian metro, probably closer to Washington Monument.

Forecasts are a little inconsistent at the moment, but there is about 50% chance of light to moderate rain. Right now it looks like you’re likely to get wet enough to wash the sweat away, but not enough to call off touch. Otherwise the temp will be a pleasant mid 70s with minimal wind.

I’ll keep an eye out in case it takes a turn for the worse.

It should be a perfect 75 degrees this afternoon. 5:30pm. The days are getting shorter but we can still get in a good run around on the tidal basin

We’ll play at 9:30 on the Mall, metro side near Washington monument

Three weeks ago someone beat me to booking tomorrow morning on the tidal basin. The Exiles planned a game and booked the afternoon, but they assured me they had nothing to do with the morning booking. I assume it has something to do with the rally tomorrow, but seems like a random location. Maybe the soccer people were overzealous. At any rate, the tidal basin still shows reserved tomorrow. I will go early and scope it out, but I don’t expect we can play there.

I’m very mindful of the rally tomorrow with with our safety as number one priority. Secondarily ease of accessing the field. The rally is supposed to be only about 700 people and will be at Union Square, next to the Capitol reflecting pool. There are only a few minor road closures near the capitol, so getting downtown shouldn’t be a problem. Secondly any interaction with the protesters should be almost non-existent if we play on the Mall section between Smithsonian Metro and Washington Monument. For what it’s worth there is also a counter-demonstration at Freedom plaza around noon, which is too far away and too late to have any effect on us.

If for some reason the Mall is cordoned off in the morning, the fallback is the mall on the WWII memorial side. I’m still going to check the tidal basin in the morning, but barring any last minute change we’ll meet on the Mall.