Monday, July 13, 1998

The Broads have been whittled down.

We just said good-bye to Judy <<<sob!>>> (I hate good-byes :-(

The BB/Ns left are Wym, Nancy, Debby, Sis, Diane, Trace, & moi ...

Our designated time for getting out of the hotel rooms was 10 A.M. After Wym did her professional packing job on Bob the Blazer ... we were set to go.

Nancy was in the lead. OMG! <g>

We headed for the Shady Grove substation (for those of you who want to visit D.C. --- the bestest way is to drive to the sub farthest out & ride that in) ... about a half hour later, we're at what's called The Federal Triangle. Right across the street is The Old Post Office Pavilion ... destination? The bell tower & a wonderful view of D.C.

But before we go up, up, & away ... we refueled @ the deli's ... the MANY MANY deli's! <g>

Did we mention while in the tower we were overrun with kids?! A couple set off the alarm in the elevator! It caused Debby to be stuck up on top for a long time!

We then went outside & waited for the trolley tour. It, too, is one of the best ways to see D.C. --- but I do have to say this. If I had known that the trolley stopped at 4:30, I never would've gotten my buddies on it & forked out a FULL day's cost. :-( I think I'm gonna write their management (we got on in the early afternoon)

After hitting most of the spots --- we debarked at the Lincoln Memorial. I really wanted to see the Korean War Memorial since it's one of the few that I have NOT seen & because my dad served in the Korean War. It was really haunting seeing the guys walking through the field ... they also had a marble wall erected --- it had etchings in it ... very beautiful.

We then attacked Abe. We wanted to crawl up in his lap, but there were too many people around! Damn!

After getting our fill of Abe, we parted company ... Wym, Nancy, Debby, & Trace went to a Smithsonian Museum ... Sis, Diane, & I walked through the Mall area (where the monuments are --- not the mall you shop in ;-) ... back to Fed Triangle Station.

We were able to see the Vietnam Memorial --- always a moving sight --- especially with the flowers, notes, flags, etc. --- in place by names. We saw a fab view of the White House & Jefferson Memorial ... walked past the Washington Penis ... I mean, Washington Monument <ewg> ... they are doing renovations ... it appears as if they are going to put up some sort of wall --- I wonder how that will change its appearance.

Once we reached the Fed Triangle, we headed to Union Station --- the place where you can catch a lot of trains! Inside, they also have a lot of eateries & shops! I already mentioned the B. Daltons that had at least FOUR facings of Nora's Rising Tides throughout the store! <VBG>

We at our group's last meal together in this retro 50 style restaurant ... constantly on the lookout for Alpha males! <g>

Once done, we headed back to Shady Grove. It was a long ride back --- perhaps made longer knowing that we were going to lose Wym, Debby, Diane, & Trace. <sigh>

We were parked on the top <g> ... after many hugs & tears ... we parted company. (did I say that I HATE good-byes?!)

Nancy, Sis, & I headed north, toward Gettysburg. We were tired campers! As we approached Gettysburg, it was nearing 9:30 ... where could we find a place to stay? The hotels along side the highway were FILLED UP! ===:-O

So we continued North. We finally found a place to stay outside of Mechanicsburg. (in hindsight --- shhhhh, Nance, I'm just giving out educational info! --- we should've pulled a Wym & called in advance OR we should've driven into Gettysburg as there were lots & lots of hotels on Business 15).