June 4, 2014
Hi Ho, Hi Ho to Washington we go. La la la la la la la la Hi Ho Hi Ho Hi Ho Hi Ho, and so on, and so forth. Get my drift? I have come to the conclusion that I am like a big shaggy dog. I can't wait till I get in the car and stick my head out the window. I absolutely love to travel and fortunately so does Lisa. It helps that we travel well together. We like to do the same things and enjoy each others company. A good thing because we're married.
Laura dropped us at the car rental at about 10:30 and we were on the road by 11. We always put the car in Lisa's name because I don't really like to drive and she's a teamster.
Nuff said. We stopped for coffee at Dunkin Donuts, it's no Timmy Ho's!
At 11:45 we stopped at Edisons, a Jersey Diner for lunch. I had a half pound burger, no bun and a monstrous salad. Lisa had an omelet with two pounds of home fried potatoes. I was so jealous!
By the time we got going again, it was two hours after we started, and we had covered 12.9 miles. At this rate, Obama won't be president by the time we get there! About 2pm we stopped for gas and another coffee at a Pilot station. They are trucker stations and have nice showers and small sleepers for the drivers. I went to use the bathroom and in the bathroom was a scale. Twenty -five cents for a true and accurate measurement of your weight, that's what it said. I stood on the scale, put in my quarter and waited, and waited. It must have taken twenty seconds. Then it said your exact weight is....299.6 lbs. Woo Freakin Hoo! I'm having Pizza! Later. I should remind you, I said I was going to have Pizza when I broke three hundred Pounds. And that weight was with my clothes on! It's one thing to step on a scale naked in my bathroom, but at a truck stop? I could have maybe made some dough! It was also on a different scale. None the less I am on vacation, and I did break the three hundred barrier, at least on a truck stop scale. I am still working out every day and walking a ton. They have a fitness room and a pool in the hotel.
We came down through Philadelphia. It's a beautiful drive through rolling hills and so green. So many rivers as well. We're going back to Philly on Friday to have dinner with Rob, Lisa's cousin.
At 3:45 we were twenty minutes from our hotel. At 3:46 there was an accident up ahead and six lanes of traffic was reduced to one. We finally pulled into the Hyatt Bethesda at 5:40. We think we have traffic in Vancouver! Ha!
Unloaded the bags, loaded up the backpack and hit the Metro. The ticket buying process befuddled me. And I started out fuddled! We had to get the attendant out of his booth to help us. He was a nice guy and very helpful. We were on our way to the Mall. Half an hour and one transfer later we walked out of the Smithsonian Metro Station.
Which way to go. To the left was the Rotunda on Capitol Hill.
To the right, the Washington Monument.
If you have never been to the Mall in DC there are grass fields everywhere. Every field had a softball or kickball game going on. Real teams, uniforms and everything! What a rush, playing softball with Abraham Lincoln watching. How cool is that.
There were about a million school kids there. Looked to be mostly junior high age. We saw school jackets from as far away as Nebraska and Utah and as close as Delaware. I talked to a teacher who told me he brings his class here every year. No wonder they got so much Yankee Doodle.
We walked down to the Washington Monument. You can actually go up inside it. You have to be at the place where they give out the tickets ( all the attractions are free ) at 7:30am, and the Park Ranger I was talking to said they are gone by 8am. Not happening!
We kept walking along the Mall and came to the Second World War Memorial.
I was surprised at the effect it had on me. I come from a military family. Not me personally, but my brother Garry was Airborne and I have a couple of Nephews who currently serve. I don't approve of war. The truth is, no soldier has ever started a war. I honour them for their service. Freedom is not now, nor has it ever been, free. It was bought and paid for in blood by the youth of our nations. Their sacrifice has given me the right to call Harper an asshole to his face. Try that in Russia or anywhere in the Middle Eastand see where it gets you! Sorry, I'll get off my soapbox now.
From there we went to the Lincoln Memorial. There is a feeling of reverence, almost like being in church when you stand in front of that statue. Looking up at the Great man, the Gettysburg address etched into the wall on your left. His second inauguration speech on the right. I was amazed how the kids who had been horsing around everywhere else seemed awe struck by the moment. I know I was.
Twenty-three of the monuments and museums are within walking distance of each other on the Mall. It's a long walk, but we like to walk.
Next up was the Vietnam Memorial, I spent a summer in Detroit with relatives when I was twelve. Their oldest son Roger was already in the army. That was 1969. I never met him. He was killed in Vietnam in 1970. We found his name on the wall and I cried. Such a fucking waste. Lisa did a pencil Rub of his name, I tried, but I couldn't stop shaking.
With heavy hearts we made our way slowly back towards the Metro. Past the Reflection Pool and the monuments, lost in our own thoughts.
I must have done something right, because I found an umbrella on a wall. There was no one around. I assumed it was a runaway! It came in handy, because two minutes later the skies opened up and the rain came. It pounded for fifteen minutes. Then stopped. I should have told you it was 28 degrees and 90% humidity. That will makes it rain pretty much every day.
I managed to get our Metro tickets on the fourth try and headed for the Hyatt, which, by the way is a really nice hotel. Hotwire.com Secret Deals is the way to go. You don't know the name of the hotel only the star rating and general area until you pay. We got our room for 70% off. Warmed my Scottish Cockles!
Any way let's get to the good stuff. Pizza! Mariam the concierge told us we would have to go back to DC if we wanted to go out for Pizza at ten o'clock on a Wednesday. She gave us a brochure for a joint that delivers that she says is the best. Hot wings, large Pizza and two litre soda $21. It was really good. The first carbs I've had since May second. Two slices and I was stuffed.
We are going to do the Smithsonian Museums tomorrow and the White House.
It was an eventful day that took me through a range of emotions I did not expect to have. I'm glad I did it. I paid my respects to those who gave so much, and I feel better for it. I go to bed tonight with a sadness deep inside me. Tomorrow morning I will get up and do my workout. Life goes on. When will we ever learn!
That's all I got.
Till next time
Peace Out Ya'll
Laura dropped us at the car rental at about 10:30 and we were on the road by 11. We always put the car in Lisa's name because I don't really like to drive and she's a teamster.
 |
| The Rental Rocket. |
Nuff said. We stopped for coffee at Dunkin Donuts, it's no Timmy Ho's!
At 11:45 we stopped at Edisons, a Jersey Diner for lunch. I had a half pound burger, no bun and a monstrous salad. Lisa had an omelet with two pounds of home fried potatoes. I was so jealous!
 |
| Oil and Vinegar? Don't mind if I do! |
 |
| Buried under there is a half lb of beef. |
 |
| Lisa left half her potatoes. |
We came down through Philadelphia. It's a beautiful drive through rolling hills and so green. So many rivers as well. We're going back to Philly on Friday to have dinner with Rob, Lisa's cousin.
 |
| Philadelphia Skyline |
Unloaded the bags, loaded up the backpack and hit the Metro. The ticket buying process befuddled me. And I started out fuddled! We had to get the attendant out of his booth to help us. He was a nice guy and very helpful. We were on our way to the Mall. Half an hour and one transfer later we walked out of the Smithsonian Metro Station.
Which way to go. To the left was the Rotunda on Capitol Hill.
 |
| I just like to say "Rotunda" |
To the right, the Washington Monument.
 |
| The Washington Monument |
If you have never been to the Mall in DC there are grass fields everywhere. Every field had a softball or kickball game going on. Real teams, uniforms and everything! What a rush, playing softball with Abraham Lincoln watching. How cool is that.
 |
| Lincoln is in the house! |
We walked down to the Washington Monument. You can actually go up inside it. You have to be at the place where they give out the tickets ( all the attractions are free ) at 7:30am, and the Park Ranger I was talking to said they are gone by 8am. Not happening!
We kept walking along the Mall and came to the Second World War Memorial.
 |
| World War Two Memorial |
From there we went to the Lincoln Memorial. There is a feeling of reverence, almost like being in church when you stand in front of that statue. Looking up at the Great man, the Gettysburg address etched into the wall on your left. His second inauguration speech on the right. I was amazed how the kids who had been horsing around everywhere else seemed awe struck by the moment. I know I was.
 |
| Lincoln and I |
 |
| Lincoln |
Next up was the Vietnam Memorial, I spent a summer in Detroit with relatives when I was twelve. Their oldest son Roger was already in the army. That was 1969. I never met him. He was killed in Vietnam in 1970. We found his name on the wall and I cried. Such a fucking waste. Lisa did a pencil Rub of his name, I tried, but I couldn't stop shaking.
With heavy hearts we made our way slowly back towards the Metro. Past the Reflection Pool and the monuments, lost in our own thoughts.
I must have done something right, because I found an umbrella on a wall. There was no one around. I assumed it was a runaway! It came in handy, because two minutes later the skies opened up and the rain came. It pounded for fifteen minutes. Then stopped. I should have told you it was 28 degrees and 90% humidity. That will makes it rain pretty much every day.
I managed to get our Metro tickets on the fourth try and headed for the Hyatt, which, by the way is a really nice hotel. Hotwire.com Secret Deals is the way to go. You don't know the name of the hotel only the star rating and general area until you pay. We got our room for 70% off. Warmed my Scottish Cockles!
Any way let's get to the good stuff. Pizza! Mariam the concierge told us we would have to go back to DC if we wanted to go out for Pizza at ten o'clock on a Wednesday. She gave us a brochure for a joint that delivers that she says is the best. Hot wings, large Pizza and two litre soda $21. It was really good. The first carbs I've had since May second. Two slices and I was stuffed.
We are going to do the Smithsonian Museums tomorrow and the White House.
It was an eventful day that took me through a range of emotions I did not expect to have. I'm glad I did it. I paid my respects to those who gave so much, and I feel better for it. I go to bed tonight with a sadness deep inside me. Tomorrow morning I will get up and do my workout. Life goes on. When will we ever learn!
That's all I got.
Till next time
Peace Out Ya'll
©2014 Dave Squatch Ward
Great post. I feel like I'm right there with you.
ReplyDeleteAwesomee Good Blogging ! waggwagg wiggle wiglle thanx for sharing !
ReplyDeleteOh Angiee sais wag wag !
ReplyDelete