Washington, D.C. & the mountains

Drove up to D.C. (as it's affectionately known) on a Saturday, ate dinner out with Robert & Allison and then spent part of the day Sunday at a shower for the baby Allison is expecting at the end of June. Nice to meet all those people but tough to keep names and faces and relationships straight.

The sad note was late in the afternoon both Allison and Robert had to rush one of their cats to the emergency vet where, eventually, they had to have him put down. He'd developed a blood clot and his whole rear and back legs had been paralyzed. It was a heart-wrenching decision for them. Comet was Rob's pal.

On Monday, after the kids had gone to work, we headed into D.C. and parked out at Arlington National Cemetery and took the tour-mobile 'tram' into the Mall and travelled around seeing the points of interest along the way. Got out at the US Capitol and did a tour of that building and had lunch there. Back on the tour mobile to see the rest of the loop of buildings on the tour and stepped out at the Lincoln Memorial. Took the prescribed photos and hopped the 'tram' back to Arlington and home. The next day we started off at Arlington and toured the cemetery and saw the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the ceremony that goes on with the changing of the guard.

(Van pretended to have a sinus condition and cough so he sat in the visitor's center while we toured the cemetery and also did the same thing when we went to Mount Vernon. He's getting better but still spends the day clearing his throat and coughing phlegm - love that word! Getting better every day!)

M. Nietz at the U.S. Capitol

Abe and Margaret - he's the one sitting

A small part of Arlington - it covers a huge amount of territory

Impressive ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns

JFK and his missus & the Eternal Flame

This time I'm the one sitting - time for a nap on the front porch at Mt. Vernon

On Wednesday we headed out of D.C. to the mountains. Ended up on the Skyline Drive and spent the night in a cabin at Skyland Resort. Quite cold in the mountains and we were glad of the heater in the room - no fire in the main dining room but stood and warmed ourselves at the check-in counter at the fire they had there.

Next day we headed down to Charlottesville, VA and toured Thomas Jefferson's home - Monticello. Quite interesting innovations he incorporated into his house over the years and the vegetable gardens were very extensive. Even had a chance to visit the gravesite and walk the grounds a little. Then a drive home to the beach with another stop in the nasty little outlet mall we had been to before.

(Haven't had a chance to download more photos from Margaret's camera for a while.)