Holiday Inn National Airport/Crystal City, Arlington

... to be and was done in amazing detail. Next we gave our feet a quick rest while we caught the subway to Farragut West, just round the corner from the White House. There we started the second half of our walk, first making a loop around the White House to see it from both front and back. Such a recognisable building, so all the more fun to see "live". And the perimeter fence was not as far away from the House as ...

... of afternoon traffic. I turned around right as I got to Georgetown and headed for the peace and solitude of TR Island. There were a few other exercisers - runners, of course, just to rub it in - but I pretty much had the place to myself. I enjoyed the shade and the sounds made by crickets, frogs, birds, and one squirrel who was trying to crack the shell of a nut).

... 3 pair of golf shoes, sneakers, 2 pair of dress shoes (black and brown). Technically I only packed 5 pairs because one pair of golf shoes are permanently in my truck during the golf season...one never knows when the urge to play a round may strike. I hit the road at 4:30 and started down a familair route Interstate 95 South. Of course traveling this early, I am seeing certain things in a new light. For example, the US Marine Corp ...

... s uncle's house in Falls Church at 5:00. He and his wife were kind enough to put us up for a night, and we sat around talking for hours. Similar routine on Thursday. We headed downtown to the Spy Museum which came recommended by a number of people. As a privately-run museum, it's not free, and is in fact the most expensive museum in DC at $16. The cost put me off a bit, and it starts off feeling more like a ride at Disney World ...

... but wait, there is something missing.. oh yeah, how the hell did i go from being stranded in phily to a first class seat...well it has something to do with the FBI and a certain cousin of mine with the connex. But thats another story... first how did i get first class seats... as i said before, airports are all about lines. lines for his lines for that lines for everything, and believe you me, there are even lines for lines, yeah, i know. as i exited the first plane into ...

... and warming material. Made by North Face) - 1 Fleece Jacket. (lightweight with zipped pockets. Made by Lady Foot Locker) - 6 pairs of Socks (lightweight Coolmax. Packed too many - 3 would have sufficed) - 10 pairs of Underwear (4 later stolen/missing and dwindled down to 6) - 2 Sport Bras (EMS) - 1 Hiking Shoes (Merrel) - 1 Flip-flops (Haviannas) - 2 Bandanas (great as a ...

... it and the rattle rattled it was very cool - we took pictures of that too! The one guy, George, had two Shelties the kids had a blast playing with them. They really miss Bandit! We have seen so many dogs - it's amazing how many people travel with their dogs. Even Lake Powell's Lodge lets people have dogs - there was even a dog at the pool! We decided to stay here 3 nights. It's a really cute campground. It's got only about 20 spaces - the people ...

Before heading into the States I would first like to mention our last night in Canada and the Canadian tradition or maybe more the Whisell tradition of the 'Corn Roast' which we were delighted to attend at the Whissil cottage. Sylvain and family were more than hospitable in making us feel extremely welcome and part of there home life in Sudbury then out their amazing cottage on the lake out back somewhere. The corn roast consisted of 50 Whissell family and ...

Last day in DC. Visited one of the most famous monumens of the nation, Iwo Jima Memorial. This massive memorial (6 times life size) is to commemorate the success of taking control of Iwo Jima. Five marines & 1 Navy corpsmen climbed on top of Mount Suribachi to raise the American flag and the moment was captured by a news photographer. The image photograph was later made into a bronze sculpture that we see today. Unfortunately ...

... Surgery to remove the cancer left him with a lower lip that was thinner at the right end. He replaced the pipe habit with Bloodhound chewing tobacco. I can still retrieve mental images of the family seated facing a fireplace while Daddy spun tales from his past, punctuated by the hiss of tobacco juice hitting the hot embers. I'm sure his stories prompted my enthusiasm for travel in later years. The Great Depression lasted from 1929 until shortly before the United States entered ...