Maryland just outside of Washington DC Greenbelt Campground
Our drive from Pennsylvania delivered us in the darkness, “of course” to Greenbelt National Park’s D loop deep inside the park. Greenbelt is a large park in the corner of Maryland above DC offering many trails and day use areas. It is primitive camping at a low price. The entrance road to the campground winds through a thick forest for over a mile and a half providing guaranteed deer sightings. With only a half dozen campers in the park we found a site to accommodate the Windryder.
The third week of November gave us a nearly empty campground delivering cold nights, mild days and no rain or snow in the immediate forecast.
There was one other camper near us, an old guy from Washington state by the last name of Owens. He was a veteran helicopter pilot forced into retirement after thirty years of flying by an accident on the job. He worked primarily as a forest fire pilot after the military where he would scoop water into a large bucket under the helicopter and fly it over the fire where he would drop it to extinguish the flames.
He described his accident where his engine failed causing him to free fall into a shallow pond from some two hundred feet in the air. He said the last thing he remembers before waking up on the edge of the pond was the helicopter rotating over as if it were flipping upside down and all the windows blowing out as it crashed into the shallow pond while the rotor blades dug into the water and broke apart. He suffered extensive injuries and managed to get to the side of the pond where he waited another three hours before a rescue crew got to him and then another six hours until he would be in a hospital. He said his only regret was that he couldn’t pilot a chopper any longer. He was traveling around the country with his faithful dog while he still had his health to do so. He marveled at the fact I left work and were traveling the country as a family. I marveled at the fact he did something he loved for over thirty years and could no longer do it despite his desire to continue. I wish you well wherever you may be Mr. Owens.
The nightly camp fees were cheap but having Kyra’s braces repaired, replacing the house batteries in the coach and a trip to the beauty parlor took a bite out of our budget.
With anticipation of our first trip into DC in the morning we all had trouble getting to sleep. Our New Zealand friends had visited here a couple weeks before and provided valuable information to economically take advantage of all Washington DC has to offer. The National Mall was but a short thirty minute drive from Greenbelt National Park. However the road system around the city is a bit confusing especially with Siri offering a different route with each visit.
Right around the corner from the Jefferson Memorial are several free parking areas. A ten minute bike ride takes you past the Jefferson Memorial, Bureau of Printing and Engraving and Washington Monument which then plants you in the middle of the National Mall with all DC has to offer.
The many views of the Jefferson Memorial
The great thing about not being pressed for time is having flexibility to visit the museums that are lest crowded. We started to walk across to the Smithsonian and before we could get there, three tour buses pulled up and created an instant log jam of people waiting to get in so we opted for the Natural History and walked right in.
We were reminded of our New Zealand friends.
DC is very bike friendly. This allowed us to go where ever we wanted with ease.
The Smithsonian Museum of American History
There is so much Americana to see here. Below are a few of my favorites. The wing displaying the First Lady’s dresses and Presidential memorabilia is definitely one of my favorites however it was to busy to get many good pictures.
Our days were filled with a mix of museums, monuments,war memorials and government buildings.
The statues are made of stainless steel and have a commanding presence.
We are proud that our children have a solid understanding of the price of our freedom. Being immersed in the city invigorated our pride in America and deepens our already deep appreciation of all of the fallen who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Bicycle transport made it easy to take in a couple museums, several memorials and a government building each day.
The Smithsonian Museum of Air and Space
Despite our visits into DC there was still schoolwork to be done.
One of our favorites was the Lincoln Memorial. Our trip has been peppered with the history of Lincoln’s role in the growth of our country.
The Washington Monument seems to always be in view and I couldn’t help but snap off a few pics each time I would get a glimpse.
A few of my favorites.
Laurel was born in DC and grew up in nearby Annandale, Virginia prior to moving west. A trip to her idyllic childhood home was a must. We had last visited in 2007 when the owner welcomed us in for lemonade. When we arrived to show the kids it looked just as beautiful as the last time we visited. A knock on the door and low and behold the same owner remembered us, welcomed us in and gave a tour to the kids. It was a visit we will never forget. It was good to see the special place in my wife’s childhood memories being loved and lived in. The house was beautiful inside and out as the owners prepared for the Thanksgiving holiday.
With Thanksgiving approaching we were heading to Raleigh North Carolina to see some family and then onto the Outer Banks of North Carolina for the holiday and to keep ahead of the cold weather.
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