Day Tripping

Yesterday we took a day trip to Washington, D.C.  We took the kids to the Air & Space Museum and the American History Museum, as well as a stroll along the mall and a sightseeing tour.  It was quite the trip.  We began our adventure at the Air & Space Museum.

We went for a stroll along the mall.  They were setting up for a folk arts festival.

Then we decided to hop on an open air bus for a sightseeing tour.  

That was a fun way to see D.C. with kids.  Then we took another stroll past the Washington monument.

Then we went to the American History Museum.  We saw C3PO, much to the boys' delight.

Then the trains, oh my!  The trains!  We saw one that looked like Uncle Kurt.

After all that walking and "museum-ing" the kids needed a snack.  Sponge Bob fit the bill wonderfully.

Then the long stroll back to our rental car.  On the way we saw the carousel.  We took a ride.

We got back to the boat and relaxed on the bow for a bit.  Notice how close the restaurant is across the way?  

After this picture was taken we walked up to our favorite crab restaurant for dinner.  Along the bulkhead, we are tied up in a slip, we are a good 10 feet longer than all the other boats.  We stick out into the waterway a good bit.  That has made us a bit nervous, so we've had our running lights on in the evening and at night.  Annapolis is a happening place on the weekend, there are lots of boats coming and going, and most of them are drinking.

When we returned from dinner we discovered, via a note left, that someone had run into the bow and smashed the running lights.  I was pissed.  Ryan was calm and cool, as usual.  The note was left by an embarrassed boat taxi captain.  Fortunately it was just the crystal and bulb that were smashed, and those are (hopefully) easily replaceable.  The water taxi captain promised to go to West Marine for replacement parts today.  Hopefully.  It did, however, make for a good conversation with our neighbors.

This place is so fun, I cannot emphasize that enough.  Last night was like a frat party with boats, but not quite out of control.  This morning when I got up most of the boats were gone.  I didn't hear any of them leave last night.  Tonight Lew and Teresa are driving up from Virginia Beach to hang with us here.  More excitement and fun to be had tonight, but hopefully no more boat collisions!