NY/DC/Harmony trip (Day 1 and 2) July 2-3, 2018

New York/DC/ Harmony Trip: July 2- July 14, 2018

As part of Amy’s graduation celebration, Laura planned a 12 day long family outing and we were invited to tag along.  Janna, Taylor, Andrew and Caden joined us for the whole event.  Scott, Abby, Ammon and Sam flew in for the western N.Y. events.  Caden was still in a wheel chair from the arch surgery on his feet.  That complicated some things, but it offered some sweet benefits as well. 

July 2:  (11, 678 steps) We used the morning doing all possible to leave Bethany in good shape while we were gone.  She and the kids took us to the airport.  The Mitchells had a lay-over in SLC that had us flying out on the same plane.  We were so excited about that until they missed the plane!  They sat on the tarmac for 40 minutes waiting to unload.  We let the desk know they were coming and what the situation was.  They arrived just before departure time and literally watched the plane sit on the tarmac for 10 minutes before leaving and yet they were not allowed to get on.  It made a long night for them and a tense situation for us.  We had no idea where we were going or how to get there because Laura had made all the arrangements.  With the help of a GPS, we found the house and got a little bit of sleep.  It was far more than the Mitchells got.  

 Over night in the airport

 Mitchells and the sweet couple who also missed the connecting flight.  Of course they made a "connection" with them and made some good friends.

July 3: (16, 138 steps) The next morning Dad and I planned some meals for the week and did some shopping.  The Mitchell finally arrived around lunch time.  We had a quick lunch and took a bus to downtown DC.  There we visited the U.S. Archives.  We had a few minutes of torrential rain while waiting in line.  I had a small umbrella and we used it to our best advantage.  We visited some gardens and then strolled to the Washington, WWII,  and Lincoln Memorials.   It was hot and muggy.  Most were running on sleep deprivation so Jason and Janna decided to rent bikes and ride back to the Smith’s house to pick up the vans while the rest of us enjoyed a military parade at the Lincoln Memorial.  Because Caden was in a wheelchair, he, Ethan and I were invited to sit on the front row.  It was a precision, impressive performance.  Following the performance we walked and walked and walked like pioneer children until Jason and Janna found us in the vans and took us home.  We had a late taco dinner that night.

 Not certain who this is, but he looked old and wise.

 This is after the rain storm and before we got inside the Archives.

 We are making our way into one of the gardens.

 

 How safe is an aluminum tree in a lightening storm?

 

 Smithsonian Castle

Washington Memorial

Picture taken from the Lincoln Memorial.

 WWII Memorial

 We happened upon a HS band giving a concert.

 

 There were soldiers depicted from every country who fought.

Don't miss the shadowed wall along the statue gathering.

 Lincoln Memorial

The death mask used by the sculptor. 

 This is a pow wow to determine how 

to get Caden up into the Memorial.

Up...........................................And back down.

 Did you know that every state is engraving 

in the outside of the Lincoln Memorial?

 This group was gathering for a patriotic military parade.

 

We gathered to make a plan.  Janna and Jason volunteered to rent bikes and bike back to the Smith's house to get her van and then drive Jason to the Mitchell house to get his.  The rest of us volunteered to watch the parade.  Because of Caden, Ethan and I got a front row seat.  Biking was a great plan, but it took far longer than they had imagined with all the stop lights and people.

Parade from the front row:

These are officers who gathered to see the parade.

 This marching band was phenomenal.

 Can you tell it was hot and muggy there?

 This was a precision marching weapons battalion.

The ribbons around the flag are honors and awards earned by this group.

We began our search for the vans just as the sun was setting.