I walked back to the hotel feeling quite drained! I checked in and then accompanied a young couple from Adelaide (Andrew and Sue) to DuPont Circle where we did our washing. I had a slack day! I stayed with Andrew and Sue until they left for the airport at 4pm. We just sat around talking over coffee and a few nibbles.
At about 6pm I went back to DuPont Circle to an Asian diner I had seen earlier. I had a few beers and a nice spicy dinner of Thai noodles and chicken. I then went for a coffee and had a long and interesting chat to a group of students (one Spanish, one Japanese and one Iranian). It turned out to be an expensive day - I well and truly blew my budget.
I arrived home about 11pm and before going to be I turned on the television to hear the news about Dianna being injured in a car accident. This report said that Dodi was dead but she only had concussion.
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Day 31 - Sunday 31 August
Washington DC
I awoke this morning to the incredible news that Dianna was dead. I turned on the television to see the news about her and just couldn't believe the caption. "The Death of a Princess". I felt very sad. Just last week I was at Kensington Palace hoping for a glimpse of her. Because of all of this, I was very slow to get going this morning.
I went for a short walk and found a nice corner store for breakfast. I then had a quick visit to the National Geographic Headquarters. I saw some great photography.
Hostelling International Washington DC
(The tall brown building!)
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I was not happy with the Allen Lee so I booked into the HI Hostel across town. I eventually checked in at 1pm and spent a while settling in. The hostel had a nice feeling about it and it was nice and central. Later in the afternoon I walked down to the Mall and checked out the Space and Aeronautical Museum. Unfortunately, this being the Labor Day Long Weekend, just about the whole population of America was in the Mall and especially the museum I was in! However, I quite enjoyed what I could see. A bit later I went to the National Art Gallery and again saw many classic art pieces. I wasn't really in the mood and soon became quite bored.
I returned to the hostel and had some baked beans on toast for dinner. They were horrible. For some reason the Americans mix brown sugar in with the beans. Yuk!
Some time before I had come on this trip, I had been corresponding with Suzanne Babb who worked in Washington DC. She has the same name as my wife and I had arranged to meet. For the past few days I had been trying to contact Suzanne but with no luck. I again failed this evening!
White House
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Day 32 - Monday 1 September
Washington DC
After a slow start I caught the Metro to Arlington Cemetery. I was feeling quite low today and my mood matched this solemn place. I spent the morning strolling around, resting quite often because it was very hot. I visited JFK's grave and Robert Kennedy's simple grave site. I watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I visited Arlington House - Robert E Lee's home in the years before the Civil War. I was fascinated as I read the history of the era in the restored house. I also spent quite a while just wandering between some of the many headstones reading the inscriptions.
Arlington House and Grave of JFK
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Arlington Cemetery and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
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Mid-afternoon, I caught the train to Alexandria - a historic town which was home to George Washington and Robert E Lee. Most of the buildings here have been renovated or restored. After walking around for a while I grabbed a late lunch. It was very hot and I was soon feeling quite exhausted. I decided to head back to the hostel. I spent the rest of the day there just relaxing and talking to some of the young people. I went for a short walk to a shop just north of the hostel which turned out to be in rather a bad part of town. I felt quite unsafe as there were large groups of people everywhere, some of them rather drunk.
Still no luck contacting Suzanne!
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Day 33 - Tuesday 2 September
Washington DC
I just had to get out of the city! It was hot again and I couldn't stand the thought of another day walking around in the heat. A backpacker from Brisbane, Joanne, suggested I should go the Harpers Ferry. She was catching the 4pm train to Chicago and was stopping off for the night. I booked my ticket and then had a slack day. I went back to DuPont Circle to an Internet cafe I was told about. I spent a couple of hours there reading and sending emails. I also had to see about one of my visa cards that I had accidental snapped in two. I was able to get a cash advance on it (at a cost of course!). I also tried many times to phone Suzanne Babb.
I left for Union Station at about 3pm and caught the west-bound Amtrak to Harpers Ferry - just over an hour from Washington. The trip was quite scenic as we entered the Appalachian Mountains. The train arrive at historic Harpers Ferry at just after 5pm. Looking across from the station I could see restored buildings, museums, cafes, restaurants, craft shops, etc. Harpers Ferry was a significant place in the Civil War. It lies at the junction of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. The place was really picturesque.
The hostel was about a 2 mile walk along the Appalachian Trail which followed the Potomac River. It took a little while to find the path and Joanne and I followed a few other people across a footbridge.
Appalachian Trail footbridge across the Potomac River!
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I was feeling quite "lifted"! For the first time in quite a while I could "feel" the space around me. The walk along the trail and river was also uplifting. This was Daniel Boone country and I could imagine native Americans living by the river. I stopped off for a swim because it was still quite warm - the water was magnificent. Joanne's pack was really heavy and I offered to carry it since I only had an overnight bag with me.
Sendiri by the Potomac River!
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We arrived at the hostel at about 6pm. It was rustic, set in bush land above the railway line and river. There were only a few people at the hostel so it was really quiet. I was dying for a beer so Joanne and I walked up the road a bit to a diner. On the way I was thrilled to see my first red barn - and fine one at that.
My first red barn!
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Next door to the red barn!
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I had a bought a couple of cans of beer from a gas station across the road from the diner and then went for a meal. The diner was something to behold (even for an Australian!). It had personal jute box machines at every table! It was a really tacky joint and the food was horrible. I had a veal cutlet (shredded, compressed meat in breadcrumbs - oozing fluid!) mashed potatoes and coleslaw (both out of a packet) and gravy. After that meal I needed some more beers!! I bought a six-pack to take back to the hostel (even though alcohol was not permitted). I think we were in Virginia but it could have been West Virginia or Maryland as Harpers Ferry is near the junction of all three. Anyway, the people in and around the diner were all typical "rural" Americans that I had seen in movies and National Geographic. I enjoyed this experience!
Back at the hostel, I sat and talked to various people over a couple of hours. I was feeling good. It was a warm night in a quite, rural setting, and the people were really interesting. I was also feeling a little bit tipsy!
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Day 34 - Wednesday 3 September
Washington DC
I awoke early and walked to the diner to phone Suzanne Babb. This was going to be my last day in Washington so it was now or never! With luck I was able to contact her. The reason I couldn't reach her before this was that she was recuperating from an operation. We arranged to meet at 5pm for a drink and a meal.
It was quite cool out and it was raining. I had a "safe" breakfast of cereal, toast and tea. I then went back to the hostel and back to bed.
At about 10am I went for a walk down to the river. It was very peaceful. I was hoping to see some wildlife. All I saw was a hummingbird (first I had ever seen) and it was a thrill - they are so small! On the way back I ran into Joanne who had also wanted to walk along the river. We walked a short way along the Appalachian Trail passing some walkers and some cyclists.
The train was due to depart at 12:20pm so a taxi was arranged for 11:30am. Two English girls were also heading back to DC and Joanne was going in the opposite direction to Chicago (due to leave about 4pm). We all got a lift to the station in a beat up old station wagon driven by an incredible old man and his smelly dog. He didn't stop talking! I had to sit in the front with the smelly dog. His car was full of junk that he had collected (mainly from the side of the road). It smelt too. his speech was typical back-block American. What a character!
We arrived at the station in plenty of time only to find out that the train was three hours late. It ended up being five hours late! Joanne even caught her train west before us. the delay did allow me to explore Harpers Ferry though and it was really interesting. Two at a time we went to town while the other two looked after the bags at the station.
Harpers Ferry!
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Harpers Ferry!
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I finally arrived in Washington at 6pm. I had re-arranged the time to meet Suzanne Babb in Georgetown (7:30pm) but it was still a bit of a rush. I made it on time. We had a couple of beers at a bar and then went to a restaurant and had "ribs". We talked for ages about the Washington and Perth "Babbs", life in our respective countries, and our own lives. I really enjoyed meeting Suzanne and listening to her talking about her interesting life. After coffee at yet another cafe, we were shocked when we looked at the time - after midnight. Suzanne was very tired after her operation. She dropped me off at the hostel. I phoned my wife Susanne for her birthday.
A long day!
Tomorrow - New Orleans
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