Day 21

Memorial Day

May 27, 2013, 10:02 PM

This morning started out like any other day, I was getting dressed after my shower and the phone rang, Kim was calling to tell me the foxes were out front. She has a family of foxes that have been around for the last couple years. The mother fox and her babies play in Kim's front yard. Kim got some video of them and they are just like dogs at play, they run around and rumble over one another. It is the most adorable thing. So I have really been looking forward to seeing the foxes. When she called I flew into the bedroom to finish getting dressed. Of course Steve who was still in bed, trying to sleep, was woken up rather abruptly. Poor man thought the RV was on fire or something. Well there was an emergency!! Foxes in the front yard, come on man, get with the program. Really! 

So I grab my camera, after finishing dressing, and I open the door as quietly as possible, which really isn't quiet at all in an RV, and I creep open the door, step out onto the first step, the foxes take off (OK, who didn't see that coming?). So I was bummed, but what are you going to do? So back inside I go. It's still pretty early and quite chilly. 

About a half hour later Alex sends me an instant message that they are out again. I go to the door, this time I try to be even more quite. I creep open the door, I stop, momma fox is alerted, I wait. I step on the first step, momma fox is on all fours and looking my way, I wait. I step down onto the grass, the foxes take off. Come on guys, the only thing I'm going to shoot is my camera. You can trust me, but sadly NO. 

Later Kim and I take a walk up her street. There is a foundation and stone walls from an old house right next to her. It is so cool. The weeds have grown all over it and it looks like something lost in time. So I wanted to get some photos of it and one of Kim's neighbors has a light by the street with the most beautiful flowers all around it and I wanted to get some photos of that too. The neighbor, Marie came down to say hello. She was a really nice woman. Se and her husband had just celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, and we got taking about the next Star Trek movie that has just been released. She is a huge Trekkie. How fun, live long and prosper!!

When we got back that darling husband of mine took his BFF and his wife out to lunch in Amish country. He really is a doll, and I'm awfully lucky to have him. We had a great lunch, pick up a request for a hex sign, then back to the house to get ready to BBQ with Catherine and her family. The kids were so darn cute, they could almost make you like kids. We laughed, ate, and laughed some more. Always a good time. 

Tomorrow we are going to go Downtown and check out Reading Market Terminal. 

Day 20

Missing The Sounds Of Home

May 26, 2013, 9:13 AM

It's funny, at home in the morning the sounds are so very different and I didn't realize it till it was gone. Every morning at home the birds are so loud. Sometimes I get impatient because I might have wanted to sleep in and it's nearly impossible when the birds get started, but mostly I'm charmed. I love to listen to the birds singing. They are such happy sounds of life. There are night sounds that are missing too. Who knew that by traveling a few hundred miles north things would change so much. I guess I didn't notice this before because vacations had been so short before, but I am missing my sounds from home today. Steve is still asleep and typically I would be up and keeping quiet and although I didn't realize it listening to birds. So to all my friends in the Happy Zone at home make sure you are appreciating our sounds, cause I'm missing them and you this morning.

May 26, 2013, 10:10 PM

Today was a real treat. We spent the day doing nothing special. Kim and I went to the store in the morning. We happened to pass a Kohls and just had to go in. We did some interesting people watching while we were in there. That I will have to go into later, then picked up a few items at the food store and back home. Steve in the mean time had gone to get his prescription checked at Walmart. The pills they gave him didn't look like his old pills and he was leery about taking them. He also washed the car, and I'm so glad. The car really takes the brunt of the road debris when we travel, towing it behind the RV, and it was a mess. So now she is beautiful again. 

Before Kim and I went out I put a chicken in the crockpot. Kim's father-in-law has dinner with them on Sunday's so we wanted a nice meal. Oh and we had a nice meal. We had roasted chicken that just fell apart when I tried to lift it out of the crockpot, corn casserole, and green beans. It was wonderful. 

After a good meal a walk is pretty much a necessity. Of course by this time the race was on and Steve wasn't going to budge from in front of the TV, but nothing new there. Alex was on his bike, Kim and I were walking and we ran into Catherine and her family. Catherine is Kim's neighbor and they are just the best of friends. I liked Catherine, even though I'd never met her, just from all the exploits Kim has retold over the years, but after meeting her, I just adore her!! She is just one of those people you instantly like, very friendly and a wonderful sense of fun and lots of laughter. My kind of person! Then there are her two absolutely adorable, charming, well behaved, and totally cute kids. The baby, Azure, isn't quite a year but he is full of giggles and smiles and he's so pleasant. Then we get to Geo, and he steals your heart at the word go. I think he's going on three or just three, but in that area, and he's just Mr. Personality. I am in love with this whole group, even Catherine's husband is very nice and great to be around, typically there is one bad apple, but not in this group. Hopefully we will get to spend lots of time with them while we are here. 

So ends another day on the road. I can't wait to see what tomorrow has in store!!

Day 19

WE HAVE TV

May 25, 2013, 10:57 PM

Well it was an all day task and we wouldn't have been able to do it without my brother-in-law, but we now have TV. I didn't think it would happen. Robert heard that our set up wasn't working and he came over and about six hours later he and Steve and Alex had completely reconfigured all of our TV hook ups. It is working just great. Much better then it was from the manufacturer and now things are labeled and neat and working so well. Thanks Robert!!!!! 

While all that was going on my father and step-mother came up for a visit. It's always so good to see them. Steve and I don't get to often enough. Sandy and I were crocheting, that was lots of fun, then Catherine stopped by with the boys and they were just the cutest things. We had a great afternoon!!!!!!!

I'm exhausted once again, but to night I'll be able to watch TV in bed!!!!!!! Robert, did I say thank you, cause this just makes my day, oh and by the way, Steve has already announced that tomorrow at 5:30 he will be in his chair with the race on. He is one happy camper!!!!!!!!

Day 18

In PA

May 24, 2013, 8:04 PM

Well after a touchy start this morning we finally made it to my sister Kim's in Coatesville, PA. We had mechanical troubles, the jacks are giving us fits again, so typical with this RV. Then the high winds, the winds were so bad today on the road. The only thing worse was the traffic. We went over one bridge and Steve was holding on for dear life. I watched a dump truck a little way in front of us just jerk over to the right suddenly and I knew we were going to be in trouble. Damned if we didn't get hit by the same gust when we got up there. I kept thinking, boy if these people in the lane next to us had any idea, they'd move. But hey, I did suggest that we stay another day and that was poo poo'd so I was not giving any sympathy. 

So anyway, there was lots of excitement and laughs and good eats when we finally arrived. I just wish someone would do SOMETHING/ANYTHING about this weather. This is just crazy!!!!!! It is going to be in the 40's tonight, the 40's. Come on!!!!!! Oh and my darling little Alex has turned into a man on me. It wasn't that long ago that I saw him last. He's lost all the little boy and he's becoming a man. My heart is broken. He's growing up, or maybe I'm just getting old. I don't know. Actually it might be a bit of both. 

No plans have been set yet so I can't let you know what we are doing. But never fear dear readers, I will fill you in soon (providing we don't freeze to death tonight, did I mention it's going to be in the 40's tonight). 

Well I'm off to bed, I'm sure tomorrow will be full of lots of adventures and we have had a big day. Good night all!!!!!

Day 17

Day Of Rest

May 23, 2013, 6:31 PM

Well because of weather concerns at our intended location we decided to take a day of rest. Oh my gosh we needed it. We have been going and going, at least that's the way it felt. So today we slept in, we took our time this morning, and ran just a few errands this afternoon. It was just the thing we needed, but of course it doesn't give me a whole lot to blog about. So until tomorrow I guess you guys will just have to find something else to fill your lonely days. 

Tomorrow I'm sure I will be able to regale everyone with pithy comments and stories about our travel exploits once again. Until then . . . 

Day 16

Air And Space, Botanical Gardens, And A Little Bit Of The American Indians

May 22, 2013, 6:39 PM

What a day we had today. We went into DC and went to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. Oh my gosh, it was so full of school groups and foreign visitors and just visitors. Amazing mass of humanity viewing all thing air and space. It was a fascinating collection of flying things. It was really cool to look at some of the items on display from the hayday of aviation. The stewardess uniforms were a riot of color in the sixty's. I had to giggle at that. We looked in EVERY room and at every exhibit. It was fun and interesting. 

I think the most amazing part of the day was getting lunch. There was a food court that served Donatos Pizza, Boston Market, and of course the ever present McDonald's. There were so many people, I can't find the words to express the mass confusion and just the sheer numbers. There were about fifteen lines where they took your order, then you moved further down the line to pay and the further still you collected your food. We were told our food would be ready at #18. It was loud and crowded and crazy, but much to my surprise it wasn't bad. Of course we didn't eat McDonald's, that doesn't qualify as food in my opinion, but the Boston Market meal we had was good. The seats that Steve found were at a long line of tables that were all pushed together. There were two people sitting at the near end and a school group sitting at the far end. We were sort of in the middle. I got the drinks and Steve got the food and when I got to the table I took the seat across from Steve. The seat to my left was empty but there was a back pack under it. I assumed that someone had gone off and would be returning. The entire time we were there that backpack sat on the floor. The people that were sitting across from it got up to leave and no one collected this backpack. A family came to take the seats that were just emptied and still no one came. Of course in the back of my mind was the Boston Marathon bombing. I did try to tell personnel about it but they could care less. Unbelievable!!!!!!!

After lunch we finished up with Air and Space, then we walked a few blocks down the mall (There was a group of mainly kids and they were teenagers, and someone's mother said something about going out to the mall, well the girls got all excited. "The mall, there's a mall, we are going to the mall?" one of the girls was peppering mom for clarification. mom is saying "yea, the national mall." the girls were so excited, then mom caught on and told them it was just a grass area in front of the capital. That got a chuckle out of Steve and me) to the Botanical Gardens. 

The gardens were so pretty. We just walked from hot house to hot house. I could have sat there for a day! It was so pretty and peaceful I loved it. I took plenty of photos, but then did you think I wouldn't? 

After the botanical gardens we were so tired but we wanted to go to the American Indian museum and we had to walk right past it to get back to the Metro, but we really had nothing left by this time. It's a shame too, we could have spent a lot more time there I think. Oh well something for another trip. 

Now today we were patting ourselves on the back cause we had the Metro thing down. I mean we figured out the signs and the directions, we were seasoned travelers, yea right. We go down to the Metro platform, we're cool!! We get on the right train, we're natives, we get off at our stop, steve pulls the tickets out we put them in then gate thing that lets you out and nothing, the gate doesn't open. Rubes!!!!! We didn't have enough money on our ticket. So now we have to find a Metro person and get them to tell us what to do. We hung our heads low, we are nothing more than tourists!!!!!!!!!

Not sure about tomorrow yet. We may be staying another day here because of weather. I'm not disappointed. I haven't vacuumed since we left and we could use a day to relax, being retired is hard work!!!!!!! Tell'm Rich. 

Day 15

National Zoo

May 21, 2013, 8:25 PM

Well this is going to be a tough one to write tonight. We were so looking forward to going to the National Zoo and it was a huge disappointment. Oh my gosh and what a mess even trying to get there. Steve was very diligent and he researched the parking situation, it's not good. If you aren't there early, and I do mean early, forget being able to park in the lot. So we decided we aren't going to take a chance, we are going to take the Metro. I have heard for years that the Metro is the way to go if you're going into DC. It is supposed to be much better then trying to drive into the DC area. Well let me tell you what, you better know what you are doing before you try going down that road. First we had to make a call to the Metro people to even figure out what line to take and what stop to get off. Then we had to figure out where to get the Metro. Well we drive to the stop where we want to get on and there is a parking lot, nice of them, well you have to pay to park to pay to ride, sounds like a Disney deal. Anyway, we drive around this lot and there are NO parking spots, none, nada, zip, zero, zilch, nuttin honey!!!!! 

So we leave, you have to pay to get out, oh that is not happening. Hell No!!!! So there is an intercom button on the automated machine to take your money, we pushed that and told the guy we aren't paying, there are no spots. There is no one on the premises to see that the lot is full and put a closed sign, nothing. So we drive to the next stop on the Metro line. There is a parking garage there. I think we got the LAST spot. Ok, whatever, we are parked now let's get on the train. Oh that's easier said than done. On my gosh, you can't just buy a ticket and get on the train, you have to buy a pass and put money on it and figure out how much you're going to need. The ride is a different fee if you are riding peak or off peak. Oh my gosh we were so confused and again no one to ask, just a wall of machines. WELCOME TO THE NATIONS CAPITOL!!!!!!!!!

We finally got on a train, we weren't sure how to know what stop you're at and we were talking and a very nice little girl sitting across from us said she was going to the zoo too and she pulled up the map on her iPhone. She was really a doll, she came with her husband, from Guatemala, her husband works at the embassy and he was doing training and she was taking in sights. We walked a few blocks with her and chatted with her. She was very sweet. 

OK so FINALLY we are at the zoo, not so bad, we made it. The zoo is free, it is considered one of the Smithsonian museums, yeah well that's good cause it just cost us about $33 to get here on the freaking train. Oh and by the way, the map, you have to pay for it. WHATEVER!!!!!!! Actually the man at the kiosk with the maps as you walk in was very nice and very helpful. He told us the route to take, and then ride the free shuttle bus back to the entrance when we are done. Nice tip too cause the zoo is on a hill and you start at the top, that sounds good right you are going down hill to see all the animals. But you have to get back UP!!!!!!

All of this, I'm so ready to see some animals. I almost shreaked, there was a chipmunk right in the middle of the path, we are barely inside the gate, and there is a chipmunk. I haven't seen a chipmunk in years, since I left Pennsylvania, 20+ years ago now. I'm thrilled!!!! Chipmunks are so sweet and adorable, who knew that would be almost the last animal we'd see at the zoo. I think they just have cages and habitats and they put signs up, but they don't really have the animals in there. We saw almost no animals. It is pretty, it is a beautiful park, but the animals aren't displayed well at all. 

Oh well, it had to happen, there had to be at least one zoo that wouldn't live up to the hype. So let's hope this is the first and the LAST zoo that just ain't that great. Trust me people, don't bother with this one.