Grist Mill

WASHINGTON DC

May 26th Fri.  Wed decided to try the cafe at the park this morning and started off with a good breakfast before heading to the bus stop right inside the park.  The 83 bus goes to the College Park metro stop on the green line and we got very well acquainted with this stop over the next 12 days.  I have to say, this sounds so strange, but we bought 2 señor pass cards for the Washington Metro system and though the cards were basically empty, we were able to board the bus, where the scanner debited our cards and when we arrived at the metro stop we simply did an add fare and it immediately deducted the bus fare.... Well having gotten over the first hurdle and added $20 to each of our cards we began our big adventure.  We got to the Archives stop and up the escalator to DC.  Right in front of the National Archives building, this is just so cool.  We didn't stop for more then 10 seconds to get our bearings before someone came up and offered direction.  But first a picture, then we walked south to "the mall"  Danny didn't quite get it, until we stepped out on the grass and I spun him around to see the Capital, the Smithsonian Castle, The Washington Monument, all just standing in one place.  But we had a museum or 2 to walk through, and off we went to the Museum of Natural History, which we only stopped walking through because we had to find lunch.  Then we decided to walk next door, that being a Washington block(really big blocks) the the Museum of American History and the Star Spangled Banner.  When I was here last time it was being restored, its done and the display is amazing and I just teared up to see it, and here the National Anthem playing.  The list of things we saw could just fill a book and as our heads were spinning and our feet were hurting by 430 it was time to get headed home.  We caught a different metro and changed down the line, got back to College Park and found our 83 bus and were on our way.  It took a full hour plus some with the waiting and Butter was ready for dinner by the time we got to our door.  We decided to skip dinner, just still too tired and a little overwhelmed with the day.

May 27th Sat.  Keeping in mind that we managed to arrive in Washington just in time for Memorial Day weekend we thought through the plan and figured we would do the Air and Space museum today, then the American Indian museum tomorrow and stay in the Capital for the Concert on the West Lawn Sunday night.  Well you know what they say about plans.  First off we decided to take the truck to the Metro stop which saved about 20 minutes of bus stops.  And on weekends the parking is free at the metro.  Free parking is always good.  And we went to a different Stop to be closer to the air and space museum.....There was rain falling, but it wasn't too bad, and as we approached the Museum what we thought were just crowds milling around was actually the line to get in the door.
yikes!  So we figured maybe we could try the American Indian Museum, and a block up the street, we were inside with no lines and a beautiful space, and a motorcycle.  You have to figure out what motorcycle on your own.  The museum had a display which explained the spiritual beliefs of many of the different tribes, including the Incas in South American.  It was very interesting and informative.  We spent the better part of the day here and even had lunch with a native american theme, sort of, Danny had a Buffalo burger, I just had a chicken wrap, they were edible and set us back about $40 with drinks.  Time to start packing lunch.  On our way back to the metro we walked by the Air and Space Museum and the line was still half a block long!  there was only 90 minutes till closing so we couldn't see the point and decided to come back after the holiday crowds thinned out, hopefully.

May 28th Sun.  We decided to skip downtown today and I packed a nice big lunch as we took a trip out to Mt Vernon.  This one required that we take a Yellow train.  That could have been very simple, but it wasn't a workday during commute hours, so we finally figured it out, and made it to the Huntington Stop to find a bus.  Now this bus only runs on the hr. and we missed it by 10 minutes.  We weren't alone missing it, and so we teamed up with another couple and took a taxi.  It was better then waiting that long.  After we paid our admissions and got a ticket to tour the mansion, at 4:40, that was a long time out, but we'd see.  First we decided to have lunch, but the only place you can eat is in the food court, so we found our way back and fueled up for the walk, and decided we really wanted to see the Grist Mill and Distillery.  They took us on a shuttle about 3 miles up the road to a fully restored grist Mill.  It really was great!  I am going to upload the video so be sure and check the post "Grist Mill".  It is all wood and stone and leather.  The guide told us we might get to see the mill working, all the earlier tours didn't.  It all depends on the water.  After the Mill we walked over to the distillery and saw how whiskey was made in the late 1700's.  George Washington was once the largest producer of Whiskey in America.  And he had to be convinced to go into production, it didn't take him long to see the financial advantage of this endeavor.  Yes we bought a bottle, and I won't discuss the price, just know that it is the official State Liquor of Virginia.  We are thinking that the Bourbon Trail might be in our future.

The view of the Potomac

We got back to the main plantation with time to walk around the grounds and we made our way to the back, or maybe it was the front, it was the river view and there are great chairs on the porch to just sit and watch the river go by, and we did!  We chatted with the volunteer that was monitoring the line of people touring the inside of the house.  I asked one lady how long it had been since she got in line?  90 minutes, waiting and touring, by now it is 4, and we aren't supposed to get in line until 4:40.  We decide the outside of the house is beautiful, and the Mill and some of the grounds, so it's time to head back, besides if we decide to stay in town for the concert we will want to get there before 6.  Thinking about the bus and the wait, we just grab a Taxi and head to the Huntington Station.  I am checking the internet for info on the concert and they say the Mall is very crowded, Very crowded.  So we talk and decide we need rest and will watch the concert on the TV from the comfort of our home.  Well, I find the Nascar Race first and that was how we finished our day.

The porch where we sat.

May 29th Mon.  After witnessing the crowds, we decide today is laundry day and chore day.  I load up and head to the laundromat, Danny has a couple of projects he wants to tackle.  So while he was replacing the return air filters and bluffing some marks out of the shower walls, I was scrubbing the cloths on rocks down by the stream, and laying them to dry over bushes.  Some days you just need to deal with life.

May 30th Tues.  The Holiday weekend is over and we are going to the Air and Space museum.  I pack such and we are off.  This is the first time we have to pay to park, but really $5 for the whole day isn't bad at all.  The Museum lines aren't bad at all, but the security guard aho checks my bags tells me we are not allowed to eat inside the museum....well okay, we won't.  It takes about 3 hours of overload to set in and everything starts to look alike.  We do take in a 3D movie on Aircraft Carriers.  This is the first 3D movie that actually gave me vertigo!  When then split open a Carrier and dive down through the decks my stomach stayed topside.  After that whenever the effect started I just closed my eyes.  We headed over to the food court area to find a sign that says, "no outside food"  I ask the guard where we can sit down to eat our lunch and he tells me to go on in, we can sit in there and eat.  The only thing they care about is people trying to bring food and drinks out of the McDonalds.  Well okay, we have a break and enjoy our food.  After that we decide to head out and check in at the Hirshhorn Museum.  The sculptures in the garden are very interesting, especially the smashed car.  Inside is different, but we need to explore different sometimes.  Just not on tired feet.  So home we go.

May 31st Wed.  Haircuts.  Yep we need to relax, we need to get the hair cut.  That is the sum total of what we accomplish today, aside from a quick stop at the local grocery store for salad makings and a very good chicken salad for dinner.

Jun 1st Thur.  We had made reservations for the evening Monuments tour and today is the day, or evening as it were, so we hang around the house, and I do make a run to Joanns for a few skeins of yarn.  Seems my new project will need 2 more skeins then I thought and I'm glad to figure this out early.  I plan to sit in camp and crochet an afghan while we stay in New Foundland later this summer.  This tour was terrific.  Even with a full bus everyone was considerate  We never had to sit and wait for that one person who can't watch the time and leaves the whole tour waiting.  It was exhausting and by the time we got to the Marine Corp Memorial Danny was content to see it from the bus window.  We pulled back into the park about 11p.m. And thought we might sleep all day.

Jun 2nd Fri.  After yesterdays long walks we still decided there was much to see and our time here was nearing a close so we were off to Ft. McHenry today to see we The Star Spangled Banner actually flew.  And to examine the old fort and guns.  We moved real slow today and when we started asking questions of the park staff they sent the resident authentication expert over to find us.  There was a real fancy name for what this guy does but I can't remember what it was.  He builds the furniture and accessories around the park to the same specs used back in the 18th century.  They had these bunk beds in the sleeping quarters all done with pegs, they were beautiful, but there were beds for 12 and rifle stocks for 24....I asked, and he answered, yes they double bunked, usually head to feet.   We were headed on home early enough to beat the traffic out of Baltimore and thinking we may have to come back this way again in the future.

Jun 3rd Sat.  Today was another day for a drive and we headed to the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum out near Dulles airport.  This is an extension of the Smithsonian museum on the Mall.   This is were they house all the exhibit that need space.  An SR-71 sits here and a Space Shuttle.  Enola Gay is here and lots of other plans, amazing planes.  We take our time and catch one more movie related to the museum.  And since this is the weekend premier of Wonder Woman and they have the largest 3D screen in Virginia, and really great glasses, we buy tickets and stay past closing to see the new movie.  That was a real fun movie.




Jun 4th Sun.  Lunch with Anne, and a special surprise guest.  We had been in touch with a friend from High School and managed to work out a lunch day, so Danny and I were off on the Metro to find our way across town to meet up with Anne.  We took the stop she recommended and it wasn't long before she pulled up and surprised me with another old friend.  There is a long story here but suffice it to say, on a trip to Africa I roomed with Mary Rossman, and she and Anne end up being friends, it was a great surprise.  Anne took us to a great little pizza place in Georgetown and after much laughter and good food she headed us off to see some of the University, but she had a goal in mind and after in and out and up and down she found what she was looking for.  Our favorite High school History teacher was a swimmer during his college years and there is a plague with his name on it at the university, it was very nice to remember Richard Tietje who made a difference in all out lives.

 On the way back to the metro stop we found a great statue of General Sheridan....that required a picture.  And the girls pic with Anne and Mary and me.   Good Day.

Jun 5th Mon.  We had planned on staying home today and prep for getting on the road, but we just had to make one more run into DC to go to the Art Museum.  And from we slowly walked our feet off one more time as we wandered from da Vinci to Dega and some Monet and Rubin....another great day in DC and still time this evening to prep for departure.


Jun 6th Tues.  It is a travel day.  While we have really enjoyed the time here at Cherry Hill Park and believe we will make a return here in the years ahead we are ready to head u to Pennsylvania.  So off we go.  And it isn't too far up the road we cross into another new state and then we are looking for our new home at Elizabethtown/Hershey KOA.

May 15th  Mon.  We had a few hick-ups getting started, but we did have a nice breakfast and Dan got the truck tires aired up.  We left a few items stored at Gold Rock and we are on the road!  It isn't very far up the road when we cross into our first new state.

We pulled into Brunswick, GA and Golden Isles RV Park early only 29 miles into Georgia.  We met our new neighbors, beat off the insects and decided to head out for an early dinner, and we found a nice place and I had a shrimp po-boy while Danny indulged in onion rings and ribs.

  

May 16th Tues.  We headed out to St. Simons Island and wandered around Ft Frederica, very interesting history and beautiful grounds.  The wild grapes that grow up into the Oaks and are as covered with spanish moss as the trees are incredible.  They tell us, when the Fort was active and the small settlement was being built the whole area was bare of trees, the local natives had used the place for cultivating crops, so all these trees grew since the war between the English and Spanish.  After the Ft we stop at Christ Episcopal Church and admire the beautiful stained glass.  The best story is about the main glass window that came from Germany.  The piece is title The confession of St. Peter by Mayer & Company of Munich.  Not too many years ago the Church sent the window back to The German Company to have it reworked and stabilized.  They also requested that a piece of leading across Christs face be removed.  The company replied that the "bar" was temporary, and used to stabilize the window in shipping.  The "bar" had been left in place all the years it was in the Church, but now it is gone and the only testament to it is in old pictures of the windows.

May 17th Wed.  We decided on Jeckyl Island today and went to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.  They have a skeleton of an Archelon overhead in the entrance and it seems pretty enormous at about 13 feet but then we learn leatherback sea turtles can reach 6 ft and weigh up to 2000lbs.  So we have turtles today that are about half the size of the prehistoric turtles, and thats impressive.

While we are at the center we overhear a conversation about the best bar b q in the area.  So we head back t St. Simons Island and Southern Soul for a late lunch.  Perfect timing as we understand the line is out the door most of the time.  Really good food and we have enough for another meal.








May 18th Thur.  Today is another travel day and we are on the road by 9:30 ad heading for South Carolina.  The drive is easy, but the surface of I-95 is terrible! 250 miles up the road and we pull into Swamp Fox Rv Park.   One thing about today, I got in the truck without my phone!  That just doesn't happen. So as we crossed into South Carolina I have no picture.

May 19th Fri.  The weather has been getting just a little bit cooler and I am starting to believe we might get to sleep without the AC running before to long.   While enroute I touched bases with a cousin in South Carolina and Catherine and I have made arrangements to meet.  She is a 1st cousin once removed and as I reflect back, I believe I last saw her mother at FT. Lewis Washington in the late 50's.  Yes 1950's or early 60's  I was 8-10 yrs old and my family took a trip up to Washington to visit.  Today we just hang out at home and make a trip to Sam's Club and go to the movies.  Alien Covenant is not that good, at all, and we decide it is not recommendation worthy except for some of the effects...Too bad.








May 20th Sat.  We are slow moving today and so it is about 10:30 when we get heading to Camp Agape, SC and a small family reunion.  The one thing I regret is no pictures.  How could we forget pictures.  My cousin Cathy moved to South Carolina many years ago and raised her kids here.   Cat met us out front and we felt , well like family, as we should.  We had a nice visit and met her daughter Lindsey and her son Jared.  And James, Catherines husband.   Its always interesting to meet someone for the first time and yet they are family and we made very loose plans to come back through SC and share a "camping" weekend with Cat and James. And any of their family that joins in.  Sounds like fun.  AND they know some places to hunt for Megaladon teeth, and James wants to find one also, so Danny really wants to come back and do this.

On the way home we had to stop for gas and found a Sam's club with diesel for $2.08, last time it was that low was back in Mississippi, last year.  Then we found this place called Maurices bar-b-q piggy park.  Well that sounds different and it was.  I had a meal that included stew, served over rice.  It was delicious.  Their bar b q is very mustard based and we did enjoy it, and the leftovers for later.

May 21st Sun. just a hang out sort of day.  Take it easy and get ready to move again.

May 22nd Mon.  Travel day!  211 miles today and I-95 is even worse.  I will make plans to skirt the highway anytime in the future we transit the east coast.  We pull into Carolina Crossroads and after setting up the Lake House it is time to go find Dinner.  The manager recommends a Steak House place one exit up.  This seems to be a pretty common thing,  the parks are all one exit away from all the hubbub.  We head on over to Logans Roadhouse and peanuts.  IT's one of those places with a bucket of peanuts on the table and peanut shells all over the floor.  Dan had a rib-eye and I had pork chops, and we got a half rack of ribs....because we could, and they have a special offer.  It means leftovers again, yeah.


May 23rd Tues.  We hung around home today, made a short trip in to Walmart and just took it easy, after all we are retired and we can do nothing very well.  I was sitting and watching the dogs over at the dog park and told Danny there were a couple of dogs over there that reminded me of the giant schnauzers that travel with Dick and Betty from New Smyrna.  So he headed over to let Butter play with some big dogs, and guess what....they were Mishka and Jackson.  And Dick was there too.  They had returned to Connecticut to finish up a house sale and he said it was terrible and they were very happy to be heading back to New Smyrna.  We missed getting time for a visit the next morning while I was in the shower they stopped by on their way out of the park and Danny didn't get dressed fast enough to get outside to invite them in.  We will see them again in November I'm sure.  Dick did make a point of telling Dan we needed to go to the Sylvan Bird Park.

May 24th Wed.  Sylvan Bird Park and Danny makes a friend.  We no sooner enter the park then a South American vulture named Nefretiti is brought out and we stay to talk with the handler and she, the bird decides that Dan is a better perch then the carpeted board they had her standing on.  He can have the vulture on his shoulder, I would prefer not to.  She has to check him out thoroughly before she is willing to be coaxed back to her perch.

We had a really good day walking the park and seeing all the great displays.  The parakeet habitat was very interesting after we each bought a stick with bird seeds stuck to it.  Those little guys just swarmed us.  When the seeds got dropped on our arms and hands they just kept pecking away.

We had bought bags of bird feed and Danny even got a flamingo to eat from his hands, I think the bird was more interested in the hair on his arms.

 

May 25th Thurs.  Traveling day.  We were off early today and while we only had about 200 miles to travel it was the worst traveling day.  Now we know what people mean about I-95.  The chucking every time we cross a over pass was really obnoxious!!  I should have had 2 state line pictures to post today, but I was bouncing so bad, Maryland got lost in the bouncing and jouncing.

We arrived at Cherry Hill park about 2 and got settled in to our spot just as the flood gates opened and within 10 minutes we had 12 more RVers all around us.  Good timing.  We will settle in here in College Park for 10 days to take time to see the capital.  One of the best features here is a daily talk about using the Metro and how to get around DC.  The local 83 bus stops right here in the park making it even easier to get around.  So we buy our Senor metro passes and make reservations for a nighttime bus tour of the monuments on June 1.