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USA 
Days
134-138
Washington,
D.C. Layover Days
That
went fast! Five days seemed a great plenty but they were too few. This is a
beautiful city with much to see and do. Washington, D.C. compares favorably with
any of the great cities we’ve seen, and here the museums are free! I am glad
to see my tax dollars being used to support the museums which are without equal
in the world, I am sure.
I
enjoyed a visit to the Natural History Museum, one of the museums in the
Smithsonian group. Highlights there included a 3-D IMAX film of the animals of
the Galapagos Islands, and a special Viking exhibit. The Vikings had an unusual
use for fleas. Knowing that fleas always hop or crawl toward the north they used
them on voyages to determine which way their ships were headed. (I’m not sure
I can believe that.) Another day I visited the Holocaust exhibit which
overwhelms with information and requires several hours for even a minimal tour.
I
was on the mall for the Million Mom’s March, an impressive event. Another day
I walked for miles visiting monuments and memorials: the Vietnam Memorial, the
Korean War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the White House. It’s a long
walk to see them all in one day.
One
highlight of my visit to this beautiful capitol city was attending a musical,
Reunion, performed in Ford’s Theatre, the theatre where Abraham Lincoln was
assassinated. The play told the story of his election, his struggle to find a
capable commander for the Army during the Civil War, his decision to abolish
slavery, and finally the circumstances of his death. It was very special for me
to be in that theatre reliving that period of time through this musical
production. Twenty-eight songs of that period were part of the performance. It
was the perfect setting for Reunion, which in fact was written to be performed
in Ford’s Theatre.
At
long last, after 10 years, I enjoyed a reunion with friends from Saudi Arabia,
Mars, Thuy and Frances Adkins. They treated me to lunch and a successful
shopping trip. It was so good to see them again after all those years. Frances
had been one of my second graders and is now graduating with a Master’s
Degree.
Our
visit in Washington, D.C. is over all too soon. One of the benefits for me was
realizing that staying in a hostel is a viable alternative. It’s a more
comfortable place to be than I thought it would be, and the price is right, $25
a night for each person. Space is available in the refrigerator and on shelves
for food so that you can eat some meals in if you choose to do so. There’s a
laundromat in the basement and plenty of hot water and paper in the bathrooms.
We will be staying in another hostel in New York City. I’ll be able to compare
to see whether this first experience was the norm or atypical. I am looking
forward to being back on my bike again tomorrow. Having the time of my life!
Goodbye,
Alice
DAY
139
Washington,
D.C. to Freeland, Maryland
Our
route out of Washington was easy, almost a straight shot, but there were dozens
of traffic lights, nearly every one of them red, so it took awhile. We saw a
different side of Washington, D.C., a poorer side, but the people were friendly
and called greetings to us. I noticed that the black people in particular were
friendly and truly amazed when we told them what we were doing.
We
rode all day on country roads through the beautiful countryside of Northern
Maryland. There were areas where the homes were palatial and the yards
surrounding them could have been golf courses they were so immense and well
groomed. Even more modest homes had enormous lawns, all green, weed free, and
newly mowed. How do they do that? And why? Although they do look beautiful it
seems like a colossal waste of time, energy, and money to me for there is much
more lawn than anyone needs for playing.
The
best part of the day was the fragrant wild blackberries that bloomed along the
roadsides for miles and miles, nearly the whole way. I couldn’t believe it was
the blackberry blossoms that were so fragrant so I stopped for a closer look.
Sure enough! The petals are white with yellow centers and they have a lovely
gentle fragrance. I think the blossoms smell better than the berries taste. I
love blackberries, but it’s the littler ones I like, not these big ones. The
roadsides had been mowed so there were no wildflowers; the blackberries escaped
the mower because they have climbed fences and are high in the trees. The worst
part of the day was wasting time and cycling extra miles trying to find a road
that didn’t exist. It was hot and humid, which increased our irritation, but
eventually with the help of game wardens who described the route we should take,
we arrived at our campground, which is the ballfield of a school. I wanted
to have my bike fixed so I stood in line for an hour waiting my turn for the
mechanic. We have two new mechanics, Mac and Jason, but two plus two does not
equal four. The line of riders was very long, but our other two mechanics did
not help. I was the last one to be served, quitting time is 6:00. My bike now
has a new rear cassette, new middle chain ring, and a new chain. I am looking
forward to a trouble free ride tomorrow.
The scariest part of the day happened on a bridge. I was going very fast having just come down a wonderful hill. I could see some teenagers in my lane but they were on the sidewalk of the bridge ready to watch a girl who was standing on the railing jump into the water far below. I was really amazed to see that she was going to jump because it was a very long way down and there didn’t appear to be a way out of the water. Also it was posted for no swimming and only minutes earlier we had watched the game wardens citing a group of teenagers for swimming in another part of the City of Baltimore’s water supply. I don’t know whether these were the same teenagers who had just moved down the road a few miles or whether it was another group. Stopped on the bridge opposite the teenagers and in the other lane was a red pickup truck with the door open. As long as the kids remained on the edge of the bridge I had a clear lane. I didn’t see anyone in the truck but when I was only yards away and going fast a man suddenly jumped out the open door of the truck and directly into my path. He had a look of glee on his face and was in a rush, trying to reach the rail in time to see the girl hit the water. Instead his timing was perfect for a collision with me. I yelled “Hey! Hey! HEEEY!!!’ and finally at the last second he leapt backwards out of my path. Whew!
Goodbye, Alice
France
Odyssey Riders
Today's Music
"Take 5", by Dave Brubeck