Summer Road Trip

It has been awhile since I've posted, even though I tell myself I should do a better job here. Anyway, we left Kentucky Tuesday on I-64 W. Yes, we made it beyond St. Louis this time. I found a very nice place to stay overnight just off I-70, Lazy Day Campground. If we are ever travelling this way again, I will remember to stay with the friendly folks there.

We continued west to Kansas City then turned north. In Iowa the farmers were all out working along I-29. The highway follows the trail blazed by Lewis & Clark and we noticed a couple of communities advertising festivals in their honor. Our stay in Iowa was at another friendly campground called On-Ur-Wa, where we met a couple brand new to RVing from Alaska.

Today we are still heading north and plan to land in Oakes, North Dakota. We decided to begin the summer adventure with North Dakota because we've never been there and our friends, Terry & Vicki live there. What better reason could there be for visiting North Dakota? Maybe I'll to go on a field trip to the farm while there.

Arlington National Cemetery

The Eternal Flame at John F. Kennedy gravesite.

At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Mt. Vernon

Another early morning bus ride to Union Station with Tony. This time we were passengers on his comfortable bus for the entire day. We stopped in Alexandria to photograph Christ Church Episcopal before heading out to Mt. Vernon.

 

Lunch was at the Mt. Vernon Inn

 

Of course, dessert was cherry pie!

D.C After Dark

We had an early dinner then returned D.C. to photograph one evening.

 

 

The streets were empty, with the exception of the tourists.

 



D.C. in a Day!

Wow! What a day is was! Beginning at 6:50a.m. we boarded the Gray Line bus that would transport 18 of us to Union Station. Our driver, Tony, was a friendly fellow who told us to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. As you can imagine, the traffic was very heavy but Tony took it all in stride. He  has been driving the bus for 31 years and allows the other drivers who weave in and out or cut in front of him to just go on about their business. He says that he has no worries as he is already at work and they are just trying to get there.

Upon arriving at Union Station, Tony told us he would meet us at 5:00 p.m. for our return trip to Cherry Hill. We disembarked his bus and were guided to an open top tour bus and a new driver. It was quite cool that morning and our new driver was very considerate. He altered his normal routine to take us a short drive to Capitol Hill for a tour there. By the time we returned to the bus it was warmer.

Our Capitol chaperon has been on the job 36 years and loves her job. She did a great job directing us and sharing her wealth of knowledge with us. At the conclusion of that tour, Ray and I took the tunnel over to the Library of Congress, a slight detour on our way to meet the bus.  We were on and off the bus many, many times during the day. Lunch was at the Ronald Reagan Building food court.

I was able to photograph the White House, Intercontinental The Willard Hotel, multiple national monuments and buildings as well as the Pentagon. The pace was quick and exhausting, but we had a great day in D.C.!

On Our Own in Washington D.C.

We took advantage of free parking at the Metro station Sunday to take the train into the District. With a Metro map and a tourist map in hand we set off. The trip was easy including a transfer at L'Enfant Plaza. We didn't get lost even once. A young man greeted us as we emerged onto Jefferson Dr. SW with another tourist map. He was full of information, pointing out landmarks, telling us the distance and recommending places to have lunch. We knew he zeroed in on the tourists he spotted, but we appreciated his help.

 

We made our way across the National Mall, which is undergoing renovation, and walked directly to Hotel Harrington where we had lunch at Harry's. We enjoyed our meal and decided what to do for the afternoon.

We photographed the W.J. Clinton and Ronald Reagan buildings and the old Post Office, which Donald Trump is transforming into a hotel, as we strolled along 12th St., NW.  The rest of our day was spent at the National Museum of American History.

A Day in Gettysburg

The day began at the visitor center where we saw a short film, "A New Birth of Freedom" and the Gettysburg Cyclorama, a 360 degree painting depicting "Pickett's Charge". The photo is only a  small section of the cyclorama.

Our first tour was at President & Mrs. Dwight Eisenhower's home in Gettysburg. I found it interesting that Mrs. Eisenhower had curio cabinets chock-full of trinkets they received as gifts. There were portraits, family photos and even drawings and paintings done by Ike after they left the White House. The home was not grand at all, but was very comfortable. I found it fascinating that Mamie kept a guest book out at the entrance and everyone was required to sign it, even the grandchildren.

The farm was a short helicopter ride from Washington, so the President would go there as a retreat and even took dignitaries there to spend a more relaxed time with them. It seems to me Eisenhower was a very practical man and the impression I have of them is they were very gracious and loved family.

The rest of the day was spent touring the battlefield. Imagining the thousands of men and boys who marched into battle there delivers an air of sadness and realization that they were so dedicated to their beliefs.