WinKing: March 2013

WASHINGTON DC part 2 - UPDATED

14 March 2013: we arrived in Washington DC area to find it unseasonably cold. The temperatures ten degrees lower than they normally should be; we hunkered down to stay warm, catch up, and relax. We ventured out occasionally:

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American Indians

The display cases are chock full of wonderful artifacts, so you can take it all in at once.

The Museum is fairly new, and is located next to the famous Aero/Space Museum.

Well worth a visit.

We also visited the Museum of American History, where Julia Child's kitchen was a big draw.
We saw the new display of the large flag that inspired Francis Scott Key's Star Spangled Banner.

A complex of museums are accessible from this rotunda by the Smithsonian "castle" Visitors' Center.

We were fortunate to be in Washington DC for the lengthy Cherry Blossom Festival,

and 30 March was kite flying on the national mall!

We stayed an extra week after what was said to be peak time for the cherry blossoms,

but very few blossoms were out. Note the scaffolding around the Washington Monument.

Martin Luther King Memorial

We toured the Roosevelt Memorial

Thom at the busy Jefferson Memorial. Everywhere was busy!

It may not be in full bloom around the basin...

but we found Spring in the National Museum of Art!

Great Falls of the Potomac River

The usually wide river surges through the narrow gauge.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue practice their skills.

We say goodbye to our grand little niece...

and our grand nephew (center) who is learning Lacrosse.

HEADING NORTH

13 March 2013: we left home in Florida for the second time, nearly 11 months after the start of our first journey. We made some stops on our way to McLean, Virginia, just outside Washington DC.

Leaving home for Round 2 of our extensive retirement trip.

Our first stop was just south of St. Augustine at the Spanish Ft. Matanza,

which once guarded the south inlet to St. Augustine.

We sallied into Raleigh, North Carolina; this is the state capitol building.

Some lovely old homes in the surrounding streets.

A FEW DAYS IN FLORIDA

3 March 2013: we arrived back in Florida and spent a few days at home. We did a lot of yard work, saw Skye, Thom helped Bob Pierce build his boat dock on the Indian River Lagoon, and we played in two shuffleboard tournaments, and we learned to play pickle-ball.

The result of our trimming the bushes!

Skye at the bookstore. She still loves to read.

Sheila, Skye and Thom, March 2013

Thom and Bob Pierce work on Bob's new dock on Indian River Lagoon.

Thom and Bob at the dock.

Thom relaxes for a few minutes.

Cold in Florida! Sheila took first place in consolation in a mixed doubles No Two Pros tournament; she went to watch Thom play, but Greg needed a partner so played for the first time in months!

Thom playing pickle ball.

CRUISE TO ST MARTIN, ST THOMAS AND THE BAHAMAS

23 February 2013: We shipped out from Ft. Lauderdale on Italian ship Poesia with the MSC cruise line to cruise to St. Martin, St. Thomas and the Bahamas. We chose the cruise for the date, destination, and price, not knowing it was a theme cruise. Thank goodness it wasn't Star Trek or something overwhelming. Luckily it was low key, featuring only five former major league baseball players.

We went prepared with a dozen baseballs and with the help of our fellow diners we got them signed by Cookie Rojas who played for Philadelphia, and hall of famer Juan Marichal. A couple are for gifts and the others are going on e-bay unless someone let's us know they are interested.