Washington DC - What did she have in store for us today!

For a start it wasn't a too early one. Judy and I got out of bed at around 8.00am, showered and arranged to meet Woody in the Lobby where we would decide what we would do today: first up was to find somewhere for breakfast.

We saw Steve, Mike and Sandy in the Lobby; Steve suggested a place they had seen last night so we thought it a good idea so headed off to find it. We got as far as L'Enfant Plaza when we saw the Hop on Hop Off bus so decided to use it to get around the city sights; it was the best decision and saved a lot of walking. We had a few minutes so grabbed a coffee from the only place open while we waited; it didn't take long before we headed out: first stop, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History; the very same one in the movie, Night At The Museum.

The museum was great! Lots to see and do interactively: I know our grand daughters would have loved it! Again a very busy place but as always Americans are very polite so the was no pushing and shoving. Enjoy the photos.

From here it was back onto the bus to be taken past the Harrington Hotel, which was DC's first air-conditioned hotel and the first to offer running water and seperate baths in each room, and the Ford's Theatre, where Lincoln was shot. The house where he was taken to is still there and just across the road.

The Ford's Theatre

The House.

Next stop the White House Information Centre. This centre was really good in two ways: 1, It is very informative and it was cool. The temps outside had climbed to the late 30's or early 40's; it was hot. We had a look around and bought a couple of things then headed off across the road to have one last look at the White House. In the daylight it looked better.

Then it was back on the bus again but this time we were getting a little tired so stayed on past all the monuments we had seen last night which was again a good decision as we got to see more areas not already covered such as DC Wharf; we even got a glimpse of the Pentagon! We were also going to go out to Arlington Cemetery but we were running out of time. After DC Wharf it was back to stop one and the Spy Museum which Woody wanted to see.

From the Spy Museum Judy and I decided to walk back to the hotel where we met up in Craig and Stacey's room with a few of the other for a bit  of a debrief and a laugh. Once Woody had returned we met him, Kathy and Robert in the bar for a beer before going to dinner and an early night due to an early start tomorrow. Here is some more shots to finish with.

First submarine.

First drone.

FBI Building.

You know that J Edgar Hoover became the first Director of the FBI at 29 and remained its Director until his death in 1972 at the age of 77; the longest serving FBI Director: the second longest serving Director? Robert S Mueller. After The 48 or so year reign of Hoover a law was passed limiting the FBI Director to a single term of no longer than 10 years. Mueller did 12 years after Clinton asked him to stay on until he could find a replacement, another law was passed to allow the 2 year extension.

Tomorrow we visit a HD assembly line.

Front Royal to Washington DC!

Not such an early start today as we didn't have too far to go, a couple of hundred k's at the most.

Besides fuel our first stop was to a Confederate museum then a general store in Front Royal. The museum was very good but smallness packed with American Civil War and the battle of Front Royal; very good it was. In the same area we saw the house where Warren Beatty and his sister Shirley Maclaine were raised as their father was the principal of the local Elementary School.

Once finished here it was around the corner to a quaint General Store that had pretty much everything. A few of the guys picked up leather jackets, a leather bag for the back of the bike, belts, bibbed jeans; I got a Confederate cap. Great shopping was had by most.

Once Jo was able to jimmy all away we headed for Washington proper. Apparently Washington was experiencing a heat wave and it didn't take long for us to prove this correct. Hitting the outskirts the temp was already in the high 30's; but the time we arrived at Capitol Hill it was 44C. Just outside the actual building there is a fountain and everybody, except a few, made a bee-line for it; I was able to use my hat to scoop water out and poor over those who were feeling it, boy it was refreshing.

Next our hotel but first we had to get back onto the HD which was still bloody hot. Parking was underground at the hotel so once this was done we were up to the lobby to await our rooms; we got ours pretty quickly and adjourned to it for a shower and change.

Jo had arranged for us to have a tour of the monuments at 7.00pm so we had 3-4 hours to kill so off we went with Woody to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum; this was really good but very very busy, we managed to see everything we wanted to so went back to the hotel to put our feet up for half an hour. Here is some photos;

Brian picked us up at 7.00pm and the tour commenced; I will let the photos do the talking.

World War Two Memorial.

Lincoln Memorial

Washington Monument

All four above are different views of the US Marine Corps War Memorial

White House

Church where newly elected Presidents have a church service either before or after being sworn into office: I can't remember which it is.

The hotel where they stay the day before.

The tour finished at 11.30pm so it was a good one!

Haven't decided what we will do tomorrow but a sleep in is on the cards then maybe an art gallery or something.