Purple Is Not Real

Driving into Washington was hairy. It was 7:30 pm, raining, and dark, and the freeways were packed with traffic. We lucked out exiting just before the total gridlock began. We pulled into the motel in total torrential downpour. The clerk inside said that the town just south of our place was being evacuated due to flash floods. We were stoked to be on the third floor but nervous the Truckster might be washed away by the time we awoke. We watched the news that night as gasped as it showed water up to the stop signs in the town we had just been in the previous day. We began to slowly realize just how lucky we were to have made it through PA. 

The next morning, we took the metro into the city to meet Brandon and Lindsay to begin our grudge#$%& day of museums.  Several Smithsonian museums later, we walked back to the metro station in the humid sun. Jeans were a poor choice, as was the gortex rain coat I had worn when we left the stormy hotel in Alexandria, Virginia that morning. At a certain point in the day I couldn't tell if my pants were wet still with the rain from early in the day or my own sweat. We split for a while to shower away the stink and re-grouped later for dinner. 

Urbanspoon directed us to a great kabob joint in Arlington. While the Russian waitress didn't seem to get Brandon's sarcasm, she did get our order. For a minimal amount of money she filled the entire table with lamb and chicken karahi, a thick curry like stew, spinach, flat bread and garbanzo beans. It was fast and flavorful and appeared to be a favorite with local Middle Easterners. We toured Arlington by foot and found a loud packed bar and stopped for a drink. It didn't take very long to determine that this was a gay bar, as evidenced by the well groomed bouncer, drag queen MC posters, karaoke, frou frou drinks, and tiki bar decor. We stayed for several drinks, danced and sang along with the local karaoke singers and one super crazy, double fisting birthday-girl before the boys were ready to hit the road. I think Lindsay and I could've stayed there for most of the night and I likely would've gotten on stage for a little nostalgic Michael Jackson performance. 

Birthday Bitch

We headed into DC to walk the National Mall at night, something that had been recommended to us by several people on this trip. While most of the mall is relatively dim, the monuments and white stone buildings shine at night. We must have walked several miles by the time we came to sit on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial to take a break. Eventually we boarded the train for our hotels in Arlington and Alexandria around 2:00 am. Our feet exhausted from the heat and walking, we slept well at the Red Roof Inn, a new favorite as their rooms are not only incredibly cheap, but dogs always stay for free. 

 There was still so much more to do and see in Washington, DC but we had to get to Jason's parents house where he and Pam were meeting us in Roanoke, Virginia. We stopped on the way at Mount Vernon, George Washington's estate and farm. The Mt. Vernon Women's organization that runs the estate has done an excellent job preserving the land, home, and farm and were incredibly knowledgeable. Although we were sort of quickly shuffled through the actual mansion in groups of 20, it was still an educational experience complete with live re-enactments and actors. Imagine a renaissance fair on steroids and that is the Mt. Vernon experience plus roughly 400 years. I couldn't help but think who would take the top nerd award, those people who dress up at renaissance fairs with turkey legs and swords, or these revolutionaries dressed in traditional coats, socks, and hats in the sweltering heat. As we left the DC area, it dawned on me that we never even saw the White House... but we met locals, we learned a lot at the museums, we danced, we sang, we ate good food, and learned from one particular homeless man that "God was not purple". And, that, is a lot to take in.