No. More. Walking.
I don’t think I walked as much yesterday as the day before… but I started the day off with sore legs. Oddly enough, it’s not my claves that are aching, but the muscles on the front of my shins. (What are they called?) It feels like the muscles are separating from the bone… damn, I need to get into better shape.
So yesterday began with zipping off to the National Cathedrial. I’ve really been enjoying the archetecture here so I couldn’t pass that up. After that we went to the Marines “Iwo Jima” Memorial passing the Netherlands Carillion to get there. Since we were close by I thought I’d try to get better photos of the Pentagon but was told in no uncertain terms that there would be no photography permitted and that they would confiscate my camera if I did so. I was only able to get two shots as we were passing by.
Next stop… the Smithsonian. Since the day was already half over there wasn’t nearly as much time as I would have wanted. As it happened there was only enough time to hit the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of American History. Hopefully there will be enough time to visit Air and Space Museum before leaving town.
Once the museums closed, all that was left were more monuments and memorials. The Washington Monument was en route to the Vietnam Memorial so that was first. The Vietnam memorial was moving and at a booth around the corner I picked up two P.O.W. bracelets… one for Donald Lee Sparks (MIA: 17 June 1969 im South Vietnam) and one for Michael Scott Speicher (MIA: 17 January 1991 in Iraq). Take a moment to stop and think about the fact that there are still many soldiers unaccounted for who’s family’s are still wondering what happened.
After that we rounded out the day by hitting the Lincoln Memorial and swinging by the White House. Popping off a few other shots that were at locations along the way we finished up at the Japanese-American WWII Memorial for those who were put into internment camps and to honor the 442nd. That being the last stop, it was time for recooperation back at the hotel.
The cicadas were out in force and screeching last night. I could hear them buzzing and flying into my outside window. For those who’ve never heard cicadas before, let me paint you a picture: In the background there is a high pitched whine… very similar to that of loud power lines. The fourground audio features the frequent “wind-up whine.” That one pitches up and holds, then suddenly drops off. Add in the buzzing wings of large insects and the intermittant smack of them hitting my window. Originally they were an interesting novelty… now I just wish that they would shut the hell up. I guess Friday night they weren’t as active because a quick storm blew through and sent them into cover.
Also… I’ve added more photos to the gallery to cover day two. When this trip is all over with I’ll go through and sort them better.
This is a historical post from the Cult of Darian archives. Archive links will attempt to open via the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
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