The dense fog delayed our departure from the anchorage at Mattawoman Creek. It also delayed the start of the Bass Fishing tournament. But when those Bass boats took off it was a constant zooming of the boats for almost 30 minutes--racing off to that elusive hot fishing spot. About 10:30 a.m. the fog lifted and we were on our way to Washington DC about 30 miles away. Soon the Washington Monument and the Capitol building came into view as we cruised up the Potomac on this very warm day. Gangplank Marina will be our home for the next week. It is old, but very functional, and the price to stay here is very reasonable. We will stay here for a whole week for what one night in a not so nice hotel downtown would cost. It is very convenient to everything DC. A little noisy in a nice way as Regan Airport is pretty close and all the dignitaries and Coast guard security helicopters fly overhead as they arrive, depart, or fly over the City. Dave and I travel to the liquor store via taxi to stock up. The taxi dropped Dave at the grocery and as I am unloading the goodies from the trunk of the Taxi I forget a sack with the wine inside. It is amazing, as the night progressed the stories told was that the sack contained $10 bottles of wine which eventually morphed into $50 bottles of Scotch. Taxi driver is probably having a good party. Actually after the truth was known it was some cheap wine. Tonight we have dinner at the nearby Channel Inn Hotel with Gail, John, Dave and Pam. Watched Big Brown as a no show in the Belmont Race.
Sunday all of us walk to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. It is 99 degrees outside. Spent the day touring this exhibit. I am in awe of all the buildings and the Smithsonian buildings and exhibits and they are all free. Tonight John, Dave, and I walk a couple of blocks to Seafood City pictured above. Any kind of fresh fish you can imagine. We buy Shrimp, Tuna and crab cakes. I cook the Tuna steaks on our grill and we all retire to our boat for dinner. It is 85 degrees in the boat but it feels great compared to the outside. Everything for dinner was graded an A+ and it turned out to be a late evening for everyone.
Monday, the next day, John and Gail rented a car to take their friends, Pam & Dave back to their Cessna 170 in Portsmouth so they could fly home. Judy and I took a taxi to the Capitol Building to get a ticket for a tour of the building. Our scheduled time was 2:30 pm so we went across the street to tour the Botanical guardians and it so happened we got a private tour of the Gardens. After touring the Botanical Gardens we went across the street to the Sam Rayburn Building for lunch. This is one of the buildings that house the office of the House Members. We ate amongst the "suits". Not too many tourists in this building but we certainly stood out. I needed a haircut so I got one at the Rayburn Barber Shop. I didn't see any dignitaries at the barber shop, but there were lots of pictures on the wall of those that had been trimmed before me. Later Judy and I toured the Capitol. Security was tight. The tour was good but we were disappointed we didn't get to see the House in session. For that matter we were not able to even go to the House chamber . Apparently you must go to your House or Senate member to see if you can get a pass to view the proceedings. The picture above was taken from the Capitol Building looking towards the Washington Monument. Still very very hot but the AC on the boat is pleasant after a day of walking the City.
Today, Tuesday, the four of us toured the City via the Tourmobile bus. It was not air conditioned but as long as we kept moving it was bearable. The bus took us to Arlington Cemetery. As all know that have been here, it is a very sobering experience. We visited the Vietnam Memorial. I found the name of my first cousin, Dick Scheiber, that was a casualty of the war. A stop at the White House grounds and the White House Visitors Center concluded the day. The heat does you in very quickly. We retired to the boat for a quick meal of hotdogs and Judy's award winning baked beans
Wednesday, saw the four of us heading off to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. We are getting savvy. 1$ to ride the bus there. Thousands of kids here today. The most visited museum in the City but nevertheless very interesting. A storm came through last night and cooled things down to 85 but a little more pleasant.
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