OBX

We left DC and drove down through Maryland and Delaware to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Some readers may remember that as the area where the Wright Brothers first flew.

At the visitors center there was a monument to the history of flight, from that first one up to the last few years.


It was about lunch time when we got there, so we went and ate lunch. We were not yet to our destination, but the ocean was right there next to the place we ate.





That was pretty much a preview of what we would do for the duration of our stay, play in the 80 degree water of the Atlantic Ocean.

But first, we made a stop at the place where the two brothers first flew.


These markers represent their first flights. What was really cool about going to this place was that we had seen the actual plane they flew at the National Air & Space museum 2 days before. I didn't add any photos of that visit because the camera battery died.

Let me tell you, there is nothing quite like the power of the ocean!




The section of the Outer Banks where we stayed was only about 400 yards wide. We were able to see sunrise and sunset out over the ocean.

We also visited America's tallest lighthouse at Cape Hatteras.


Body surfing can beat you up a bit!

Among the fun stuff at the ocean, Andrew got to do a little bit of 'Boogie Boarding'.



We will definitely go back!

DC part 5

We went to the National Zoo. It was a really good zoo. The cool thing about Washington DC is that all of the museums and the zoo are FREE! Each of these attractions are also better than the ones you pay for anywhere else in the country.


The kids loved watching the otters! They seem so happy and carefree! There are several of them in the enclosure, and they seem to enjoy one another's company. Groups of people might learn something about interaction from watching otters.

This was the vicious, man-eating Panda.

I think this one actually would eat a person if given the opportunity.

Look daddy, a flutterby!

Andrew loved the reptiles and amphibians.


Abigail is going to make a suit of armor out of animal parts and use this pelvis as her mask!


That little kid looks tasty!


Andrew has become a fan of staged photos!

Anything Andrew does, Abigail must do!

When a Tiger looks at you, you know it would kill you. They just have a piercing stare that says, "you are lucky I can't get to you!"


When Andrew gets angry or frustrated, he skowls with his eyebrows, purses his lips, and folds his arms. When we saw this photo, we recognized it as a near ringer for 'angry Andrew'. Brenda came up with the name "An-grilla".


We thoroughly enjoyed DC, and will go back some time!

DC part 4

My main goal in visiting Washington DC was to visit the National Museum of the American Indian. I really appreciated this opportunity, and it was a very personal experience. It affected my thinking on issues of race, religion, and heritage.



I know the guy who carved this totem, he lives and works in my hometown.

Funny.


Native creation mythology tells that Raven brought light to the world.

Both the sun and the moon.

My grandmother told me about this.

Where did the term "Indian Giver" come from? The one's who couldn't keep their word were many of the early presidents of the United States. Theft, exploitation, and genocide...plain and simple.




The first woman sculptor to have permanent work included in Washington DC. A Native American woman whose art will be outside the NMAI.

DC part 3

We visited the Capitol building.




The dome of the Capitol Rotunda is truly impressive.

There are hundreds of sculptures of important American historical figures in the Capitol.

The old senate meeting room.


The corridors in the House of Representatives wing have these cool murals painted on the ceiling.


Many of the great events of US history are captured.
The back side.


The botanical garden is right next to the Capitol.



What beauty in that 'Mona Lisa' smile!






A preview of what is to come...
And a look back at where we have been!

DC part 2

On Brenda's birthday, we did some more exploring.

We went to the Museum of Natural History.

The kids got a kick out of it right away because it reminded them of the movie, "Night At The Museum".




The kids are also really into dinosaurs, so they especially appreciated the significant exhibit on dinosaurs.



It is hard not to appreciate a 45+ carat diamond. The Hope Diamond was donated to the museum!

It was really difficult to pry Abigail away from the magnetic rock/paperclip interactive exhibit. By the way, they have a really cool wing covering geology and minerals.

Andrew snapped this photo as I was correcting his sister! He got a big kick out of capturing the moment.

The cleverly positioned the exhibit on Roman architecture so that one can see it reflected in the structures of DC.

We ate dinner at an upscale-ish brewpub, Gordon Biersch. It was amusing how the waitress made a big deal out of saying ... "and we brew all of our own beer here!" I suppose she is used to people marveling at such a concept. I guess that anywhere outside the Pacific NW, it is a novel thing!


On our way back to the Metro, we stopped by Ford's Theater. This was the place where Abraham Lincoln was shot. We also saw the house across the street where he died.

I wonder what would have happened if he would have been able to serve out his second term...

Day Eighteen

It is really cool that this is something we can look back on months from now and remember our adventures. I hope others are enjoying the vicarious voyage!

We spent our first day in DC doing the 'memorial walk'.

We visited the Washington, World War II, Lincoln, Vietnam, Korea, Jefferson, and Franklin Roosevelt memorials.


The Washington Memorial is impressive, at the same time, it is an obelisk. Also, he was a slave owner. So, I'm not exactly falling over myself to pay homage to the "father of our country". What about the dudes who led for centuries before Washington was here?


The WWII memorial. This picture speaks volumes. Our country played a huge role in liberating people. We owe a debt of gratitude to the average American soldier who paid the price for this end. I love the America that comes to mind when these words are applicable: "to end tyranny... Americans..."


Respect and honor to the men who stormed the beaches of Europe during the war.



This portion of the WWII monument is compelling, each star represents 1,000 Americans who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The inscription says, "Here we mark the price of freedom".


Andrew walking toward the most significant staircase in our nation's history.

What a design consideration with this sculpture of 3 soldiers looking on toward the wall at the Vietnam Memorial.


The wall is inscribed with names of the more than 70,000 men who paid the ultimate price to fight communism on Vietnamese soil.


The Lincoln Memorial is less than 100 yards from the Vietnam Memorial.

The greatest ever?


The Korean War Memorial.

This wall at the Korean War Memorial reads, "Freedom is not free". I am sobered by what that means or has meant for our armed forces.

At the FDR Memorial, "This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny". It was true for the people of FDR's time, what about today? What are we about today?


I appreciate FDR for these words, "I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen the dead in the mud. I have seen cities destroyed...I have seen children starving. I have seen the agony of mothers and wives. I hate war." Is there anyone who wants to see war continue?

This wall says, "They who seek to establish systems of government based on the regimentation of all human beings by a handful of rulers...call this a new order. It is not new and it is not order." Word!



Thomas Jefferson.

The memorial building for him.


Andrew snapped a shot of his parents inside the top of the Washington Monument.



Oh yeah, we visited this place too! I hope they were making wise decisions in there!

Day Seventeen

Arrival in Washington, D.C.

We arrived fairly early in the afternoon, and could not check in to our hotel, so we went on a little excursion to the Iwo Jima Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetary.


The Iwo Jima Memorial.
A great view of the Lincoln and Washington monuments.

The final resting place of president Kennedy.

Andrew standing next to JFK's famous "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country".


The president's brother and attorney general, Robert F. Kennedy.

His profound words following the MLK assassination.



Memorial for the Challenger crew.

Memorial for the special forces team who attempted to liberate the hostages in Iran.

Memorial for the Columbia crew.

The tomb of the unknown soldier. Here we also watched the changing of the guard ceremony.

We covered a lot of ground, and the kids were tired, so I carried both of them for a while.