More Highlights from Washington, D.C. April 16-18, 2011

Easter week has been lovely in our nation’s capital city. On Palm Sunday it was special to have Cousin Jane join us at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception with Archbishop Pietro Sambi from Rome presiding at High Mass. The Basilica’s beautiful gothic architecture, colorful mosaic ceilings, and sixty-three small side prayer chapels adorned with altars each reflecting various world cultures were indeed breathtaking. What a surprise we had bumping into former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in church. 

Basilica of the National Shrine ... One of many ceilings

A Hello with Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich after mass

The Smithsonian Natural History Museum is a happening place full of National Treasures and Ancient Civilization artifacts. Exhibits of rare orchids, minerals and gemstones, insects, butterflies, mammals, and skeletons of extinct organisms are fascinating. 

Rotunda at the Smithsonian Natural History museum

Giraffe tongue in action

Orchids Galore

A visit to President Lincoln’s Cottage known as the Soldier’s Home gave us a glimpse into his family’s private summer retreat during the Civil War located three miles northwest from the White House. We learn Lincoln commuted by horseback from the Cottage to the White House and back daily without guards, mingled with Union soldiers and the wounded, and drafted the Emancipation Proclamation at this refuge. We enjoyed Cousin Mary visiting us at the motor home for lunch one afternoon as well. 

The Soldier's Home (alias Lincoln Cottage) in D.C.

The flag placed under President Lincoln's head the night he was assasinated

Visiting Our Nation’s Capital City April 4-19, 2011

Washington Monument and Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Nat'l Cemeter

Washington, D.C. is been quite a vibrant and active place during cherry blossom season. Cherry Hill RV Park in Maryland about 30 minutes outside the city has provided us an excellent home base for the two weeks while we’ve been out and about busily doing the tourist scene. The possibility of a government shut down loomed during our first week’s arrival, but fortunately that never materialized. Spending the first few days on a double decker OTS Hop On and Off tour bus to scope out the lay of the land in D.C was worthwhile. We’ve tackled the Metrorail system with our Smartcards and walked what feels like miles on end to visit the national monuments, Smithsonian museums, and other top attractions. Oh boy, have our feet become ever sore. A lovely home cooked dinner at Christa’s cousin Jane’s home enabled us a chance to see other relatives too. Having obtained House of Representative gallery passes from Senator Feinstein’s office provided us the opportunity to observe some of the Congressional debates about the budget crisis live on the House floor. What an exciting thrill it was to see and hear legislative representatives banter in the circus of the political arena.

Arlington National Cemetery honors 250,000 soldiers buried

Gotta love April's cherry blossoms around the Capital

Statuary Hall in the Capital Rotunda

Ford's Theater and the President Lincoln's assassination booth

George Washington's Home at Mt. Vernon

Jefferson Memorial at the Tidal Basin near the Potomac River

On The Road From Tennessee to Washington, D.C. March 28-April 4

We flew to Tennessee to pick up our motor home and Jeep stored at Cousin Janice and Roy’s place during the winter. Our first stop out found us at Mammoth Caves National Park in Kentucky. Two underground tours with a 300-500ft elevation change down and up 940 steep cave stairs for three miles was quiet an adventure. Whew, did some upper thigh muscles ever burn afterwards for several days. 

This was just one of numerous stairwells we climbed in the cave.

 We discovered Abe Lincoln’s birthplace cabin and boyhood homesteads as well in Kentucky. 

In West Virginia we were caught in a heavy snow storm at the 2780 ft elevation level. While JR was attempting to pass a big rig truck in the snow a woman driver tagged the left rear corner of our Jeep causing a dent to the bumper plus damage to the tail light and license plate. Thankfully no one was hurt in the poor road conditions. Drivers coming off side entrances along busy highways are often impatient trying to speed up to get around us, so twice we’ve almost been side swiped.

Arriving in Virginia we visited Woodrow Wilson’s Presidential Library, Museum, and Birthplace in Staunton on a private tour.

 Took in the New Market Civil War National Historic Site (NHS) and Harper’s Ferry NHP where John Brown the abolitionist and twenty-one men did a raid on the Federal Arsenal in 1859.

Christa chats with a Union officer at Harpers Ferry

Monday April 4 we survived the interstate lane changes getting in to Washington, D.C. and are settled in at Cherry Hill RV Park for the next 15 days to see the attractions in our nation’s capitol.

Aloha from Maui, Hawaii March 16-23, 2011

After crossing Canada last year we flew back home from Tennessee to California from November- March. It was a chance to enjoy spending time with family and friends before starting our next big RV adventure for the rest of this year out discovering America. The end of March found us on the island of Maui attending the wedding of Christa’s former student teacher Danielle Wright and Tom Kleffman. What a grand affair it was celebrating on the Olowalu Plantation House grounds near the beach at sunset and under the evening’s full moon.

Wedding Party Jumps for Joy

We were able to stay at our good friends Tom and Susan Luten’s lovely home while on Maui. They went whale watching and dined out for some scrumptious meals with us. We enjoyed warm weather in the 80s, snorkeled a bit, hung out to relax and read, attended a Hawaiian Sunday church service , and drove the Road to Hana part way catching a hike at Twin Falls. Returning to chilly 50 degree weather back home gave us a better perspective why folks head south for the winter as snowbirds. Life in retirement is good to us.

Rainbow bids us farewell heading to the Kahului Airport

Our 2010 Trip Wraps Up in the South

It has been a blast the past several weeks down in the South. After Cousin Carolyn and Kent traveled with us along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina, we headed into the Great Smoky Mts and dropped down into Alabama. Our new friends Chuck and Audrey whom we had met in Alberta, Canada drove up from their home in Birmingham. They met us at DeSoto State Park for a few days at a campsite next to ours with their motor home. We had a great time with them sharing meals and swapping RV tales. 

Picnicking with Chuck, Dog Daisy, and Audrey

Desoto State Park Falls

Crow calling from the tree top in Alabama

Back on the road we drove north for a quick stop at the Unclaimed Baggage Center Store in Scottsdale, AL to check it out. From there it was a short drive up to Nashville. Country cousins Janice, Brenda, and Shelly greeted us in town for supper. 

Willie Nelson and Christa "Can I sit in your lap?"

JR checking out the country boots in Nashville

The King of Rock 'n Roll

The next several days were checking out the downtown country music scene, enjoying a show at the Grand Ole Opry House, and visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame. When the nightlights of Music City are calling, you've just got to pull on your boots and hit the streets. They don't call it Music City for nothing. Nashville is teeming with honky tonks and juke box joints... many within walking distance of the CMA Convention Center. Since we are flying home for a few months that must mean we are becoming snowbirds. JR got oil changes and tires rotated on the vehicles plus items to winterize the motor home for storage at the kinfolks here.

Roy, Grandson Ross, Miss Priss, and Cousin Janice

Kicking off the holidays at Patty's Restaurant in Grand River, Kentucky

 Thank you cousin Janice and Roy for all the great southern hospitality at your lovely home and for providing the rig a safe haven until we return. 

 So this is the last postcard from us for a while until the next big RV Adventure starting with cherry blossom season in Washington, D.C. come early spring. 

We truly treasure your friendship and hope to see you for a visit back home after November 21st. Blessings and Happy Holidays to you and your family.