Memorial Day Parade...

***Miles travelled today: Once again the car stayed in the garage... but we did what seemed like a few miles on foot!!!

***Total Miles:

***States travelled through: Still in Washington DC...

We had already researched where and when the Parade was to be... the joys of wireless and laptops!!! So, after breakfast... I'm sorry to say, we are creatures of habit, we stay in a place for more than a day and we end up going to the same place for breakfast!!! We then got our bus into the centre and walked down to Constitution Avenue... last year there were over 250 000 spectators to the Parade, so at 11h00 we got our little patch on the grass under the shade, together with everyone else who was already gathering... we had decided to find ourselves a spot near the beginning of the Parade and as we were in good time we were able to do that... The parade was due to start at 14h00... and the fact that we had found our spots in good time, didn't seem to affect those who arrived with five minutes to spare and promptly attempted to settle themselves in front of us... a nice word from Jay, sent them packing... Anyway, we had a pretty good spot - and watched the Parade...

They represented the wars that America has been in since 1812... obviously with attention paid to all of the veterans... (although not from way back in 1812...) No seriously, once again, an event that made us stop and think... not just about the military aspect of the Parade, but there were numerous school marching bands and drum majorettes... in talking to the Americans sitting next to us, they were saying that most high schools will have these and that they have inter school competitions, and that it is something that in-stills routine and discipline...

The parade lasted for two hours - even though we had not planned to be here today, we're glad that we stayed...

We had planned to go down to the tidal basin and go on the peddle boats... however as we had not eaten since breakfast, Jay decided that she needed sustenance... and although I wanted to go on the paddle boats, I joked to Jay that if she had no energy, she would not be able to paddle the boat!!! Anyway, we got on the bus, as it was too far to walk... and actually got to go past the paddle boats, and get our first glimpse of the Jefferson Memorial... that's right - we hadn't even seen it yet!!!

We have decided that even though we have done a great deal in Washington, there is still a lot left for us to do - and we cannot do it all!!!

So, after a bite to eat, we caught the bus back to Georgetown... where we are having an early night - as we are on our way again tomorrow!!!

It's already four weeks since we arrived in Boston, we are a third of the way into our trip... we can't quite believe it - but when we stop and look at the pictures and think about all that we have done so far... that too is unbelievable!!!