No parking in Washington DC
We got up early in the morning to go out to see our national treasures in Washington DC. Our first objective was to see the Vietnam war Memorial. If anyone knows me I want great light for my photography. I call it the golden hour of the gods. Nothing drives me more crazy than trying to create great photography during the flat hours of the mid day sun.
Our motorcycle ride to the Memorial was less than 20 minutes. We discovered quickly that there was no parking anywhere in all of DC. We finally found a parking spot amongst dozens of other motorcycles at the Pentagon. Of course I took my camera out and started taking a few pictures. We were approached by a very nice man fully decked out in his Military uniform. He told us to be careful and not take any photos as my photography gear may have been confiscated. He also told us we could not park there nor almost any place in DC. We decided to drive the motorcycle clear back to our hotel.
DC Metro rail
We then took the metro rail which was a great experience for both of us. Clean, fast, efficient, and very affordable. Our rides each way was less than four dollars.
Now, we are off with Nikon and GoPro hand. Some of the national treasures we saw and photographed are: The Washington Memorial, The Lincoln Memorial, World War 2 Memorial, World War 1 Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, and many others. We walked well over 5 miles with my heavy photography gear, bad knees and bad feet. I took at least 400 photographs with my Nikon and many beautiful video clips with my GoPro. Unfortunately many of those photos will not be available until we gat back to Florida.
We met an older lady at the Vietnam War Memorial wall. She asked us to take a photograph of her with her camera. She told us about her son and pointed to his name. She started to cry, 55 years later she is still crying. Alice teared up. It was a very touching moment. Such a senseless and worthless war. Did you know that my generation was the first generation without a mandatory war draft. I think my older brother Randy just missed the draft to the Vietnam war.
The security at the White House.
I was saddened and disappointed to see the massive fences and guards preventing even a "looksy" at the White House. I took a few photos of the one glance I could get over the massive solid white 15' plus wall. Mr President: "Tear down these walls!". I wonder what the world will look like for my grandkids.
We had a late lunch at a place called the Corner Office. Alice had a veggie burger which she said was the best she ever had. I was struggling to make it back to metro station where's my bad knees and feet.
With a big grin on her face we took the metro back to the hotel.
After resting in the hotel room we decided to venture back out on the motorcycle to have dinner by the Potomac River. Alice was on a quest to find her soft shell crabs. I never heard of soft shell crabs. I guess they molt once a year. The females have sex right after molting. From what I understand it is one and done for them. We found the soft shell crabs and we were both under impressed by the presentation.
It was a great and memorable day. We will never forget!
Rain storms scheduled in DC all day tomorrow. Means our plans to hit the mountains on the Harley will be delayed. Maybe another day on the Metro rail. Museums I hope.
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