Appalachian Adventure Day 3: Day in D.C.

A Day in DC

We wanted to get a jump on the day and beat the heat and the tourists so we rolled into Washington, DC around 7:30 am. We found a perfect parking place next to the Mall and started our own tour of D.C.

Surprisingly, Sean had never been to our nation's capital and he was like a kid in a candy store at the mere thought of visiting these historical places. 

Our first monument we came across on our walk was the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall. From a distance, we could see what we thought were maintenance crews out washing the granite.

As we got closer we realized it was a group of veterans with scrub brushes and hoses.

As we approached, we were at a loss. We didn't want to push our way passed the volunteers or be disrespectful, so we just stood at the edge of the wall and watched.

It was so moving to see this large group pay their respects to their fallen brethren. As we watched a woman came up to us and explained that the Wall is cleaned every Saturday morning by a different group of volunteers. This week was a local Vietnam Vets group...and then she asked "would you like to help?".

Sean and I just looked at each other, and said in unison "it would be an honor".

Sean described the experience best: As the soap from the brushes filled the engraved names they stood out and came to life against the black granite, bringing back to life these men and boys, just for a moment, before they faded back to black as the soap was washed away. 

It was an incredibly emotional and humbling experience for both of us. I knew that seeing the wall would be touching, but had no idea it would touch us the way it did.

By the way, if you are ever in Washington, D.C. at 6:30 on a Saturday morning, go by the Wall and help out. it will be an experience you will never forget.

We headed out to see the other sites, knowing that nothing would compare to our experience at the Wall. Still, it was a wonderful day.

First we stopped at the Lincoln Monument.

The Korean War Memorial.

 The World War II Monument.

The country's tribute to Jefferson.

Franklin D Roosevelt

and Martin Luther King Jr.

Then we road over to the White House.

The Capital building. 

And headed out to Arlington Cemetery, and watched the changing of the guard for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. By then the crowds and the heat had grown so we headed out to our next stop, Harper's Ferry, West Virginia.

A special thanks to Andy for telling us the best way to see the monuments by bike and on foot!

Fun facts:

Low gas price so far:$3.15 in West Virginia
High gas price so far: $3.69 in Virginia
Hot. Hot. Hot. Oh and sunny, too.
Miles day .5: 303
Miles day 1: 566
Miles day 2: 518
Miles day 3: still in progress