Billboard on the back of a Washington, D.C. bus

Washington, D.C. to Tampa

This is our final day in Washington, D.C., but should we have come?

The Hotel Harrington, Washington's Tourist Hotel, -  we would stay again.  We were here in 1991 and now in 2016.  Hasn't changed much.  Good location, good price, and lots of tourists from all over.  A big group from Ireland.

We have all this stuff that must fit into a roomette on the train, plus the both of us!

Breakfast at Pret A Manger - dish of oatmeal and a latte.  We arranged for a late checkout (1:00).  Then we will walk with bags and bike, 1.2 miles to Union Station to catch the 3:05 Silver Star train to Tampa.

Went back to a Smithsonian before walking to Union Station. 

 

A rock from the Sweet Home mine in Alma, CO close to our house in Colorado 

In the Acela Lounge at Union Station waiting for our train - the Silver Star

 

All aboard Amtrak - 3:05 PM on time departure.

I'm good - wine and lunch in our spacious roomette 

My bike is in the baggage car, I hope. The main ticket desk agent and the Acela Lounge attendant told me to give the bike to the baggage guy.  Baggage guy says - talk to the conductor, conductor says talk to the baggage guy. I ended up giving bike to baggage guy. 

Will I see my bike again?  Amy, our sleeper car attendant is on the case.

Departing views of the Capitol

Washington Monument 

Adios DC. Lots of margaritas tonight, 5 state lines in the next 15 hours.

Next stop Tampa - 12:23 PM, Tuesday, May 24.

We do have a 10 minute stop to stretch our legs and smoke in Richmond, VA at 5:07 PM - that's in 30 minutes.

Washington, D.C.

A bowl of oatmeal to start the day. Then we went to the 9:30 service at All Souls Unitarian Universalist at 16th Steet and Harvard.  

Next was the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. 

Waiting in the rain to get inside

We spent most of out time on the 3rd floor.

Then it was time for lunch - Mare had the Buffalo Navajo Taco and I had the Chipotle Chicken Taco - both very good. We split a piece of blue corn bread.

On the way back to the Hotel Harrington we visited the Museum of Natural History

 

Walked by the House where Lincoln died

Whitehouse

Washington Monument 

Whew! Another busy day.

Tomorrow - the train to Tampa and home.

Washington, D.C.

Heavy rain in the morning and light rain later in the day.

David, Janet and Mare at the Renwick Gallery.  Friends from our Alaska trip.

 An interesting exhibit at the Renwick.

Willow branches

Stacks of index cards

Nets hung from the ceiling

LED light fixture - non repeating light sequence 

After a light lunch we all went to the National Art Gallery - toured a small section of Impressionism.

Tomorrow - the American Indian Museum.

Washington, D.C.

Busy day - breakfast at Harriet's Cafe - oatmeal.  Then we went to Peet's Coffee for Mare's tea, my latte and a scone.

Then off to the Capitol for our 10:00 tour.

Lunch at the Capitol - Mexican

Then another tour - Extraordinary Ordinary People Tour.  

 

We got to see the Old Senate Chamber

 

Next was the Library of Congress Tour.  While looking down on the reading room, only open to card carrying members, we decided we wanted to get in there.

So off to the James Madison Library to get our cards - the application process

With cards in hand we went back to the Library of Congress and into the reading room

On our way back to hotel we walked by the botanic gardens

Hung out for a bit

Dinner - metro to Willie T's for lobster rolls, over by Dupont Circle. Street music at Metro station

Lobster roll 

Metro home!

Another great day in Washington, D.C.

Tomorrow the Renwick Gallery.  Check out events on embassy row, around Dupont Circle, and Trader Joes (snacks and wine for the train ride home).

Getting from Alexandria, VA to Washington, D.C.

Mary, Jude, Suzanne and I went out for breakfast - Cafe Perk- great ham and egg sandwich with a latte. A nice start to the day. 

Then Suzanne and I schlepped my bike and luggage to the Hotel Harrington in Washington, D.C.  

On the Metro

The adventure - We boarded the hotel shuttle to National Airport where we then caught the Metro to downtown DC, then we walked 2 blocks to the hotel.  Whew!  

Thank you Suzanne.  I couldn't have done it alone.

The Hotel Harrington - Washington's Tourist Hotel - 2 star but ok, location, location, location.  And the price was right.  It's just like I remember it, Mare and I stayed here 20+ years ago!

The ground floor houses Harry's bar and Harriet's Family Restaurant.  

And a Peet's Coffee is across the street. What more can you ask for?

Union Station is 1.2 miles away - will we walk 2 blocks to the Metro Station on May 23 to catch the train or walk with bike and luggage?  To be decided later. 

I went to the Museum of Natural History today.

  

Finally it was time to walk to Union Station to meet Mare's train. Stopped at a farmer's market on the way

Purchased two empanadas, 1 for Mare and 1 for me.

Union Station

 

Mare's train was on time and we took the Metro back to our hotel - easy and fast.

Tomorrow we tour the Capitol.

Great day!

 

Fredericksburg, VA to Alexandria, VA - Done

Breakfast at the Quality Inn -Raisin Bran

Mulch bike path - walked it, very wet and uneven.

Paved bike path

Hills, Traffic, Road Construction, Sore Knee

  Ride as much or as little, or as long or as short as you feel. But ride. ~ Eddy Merckx,

I only rode part of the day, hills were not friendly to my left knee. So I was an Assistant to today's SAG, Lorna.  Lots of fun but I'm not very good at it.  Rookie mistakes, good thing I was in the passenger seat.

So I appointed myself SAG Photographer for the day  

I may have found my calling.

Arrived in Alexandria at 4:30 and checked into the hotel.

Alas, no more riding for me.  Tomorrow, my bike, luggage and I must make our way to Washington, D.C. 

TAXI!  TAXI!  TAXI!  

I have all day to get to DC and check into the Hotel Harrington aka the "Tourist Hotel".  I'm meeting Mare's train at Union Station at 6:51 pm