To DC and Back

We are absolutely thankful that we're able to go on this trip. When COVID-19 broke out, we were concerned that we wouldn't even be able to get Dumbledore in the water. But there have been some disappointments. Our original plan for this trip was to take Dumbledore through the Erie Canal as soon as it opened in May and spend the entire month of August at a marina on the Potomac in Washington DC. Obviously, that's not what happened. The Erie Canal delayed reopening by two months, the museums in Washington DC are closed, and we decided it was more important to enjoy the journey more than the destination. However, the two-legged crew members were all pretty disappointed they would be missing Washington DC, particularly the younger crew members who had never been there before. (The four-legged crew members only cared about being in places with dark cabinets and wet food.)

We decided to make the most out of the situation presented to us. Lock 19 was seriously delayed in reopening due to COVID-19 and construction, so we were unable to progress with the boat much past Syracuse. Instead, we took the boat on a detour down Cayuga Lake to Ithaca and rented a slip. Since Ithaca was a mere 5.5 hour drive by car from Washington DC, and we had a few extra weeks to kill waiting for Lock 19 to open, we decided to take a short break from the boat and visit the capitol. 

We filled up water and food bowls for our furry crew members, triple checked that the boat was plugged in so they would have plenty of air conditioning, and jumped in the car Monday morning. 

We let Dumbledore hang out at a marina and make some new trawler friends.

It was a pretty long ride, but our younger crew members are pretty talented car-nappers. 

We could have driven over a minefield and she wouldn't have woken up.

Both Shianne and Makenna had been hoping for a visit to DC, but not really expecting it, so we decided to make it a surprise. When we had them look on a map and discover where we were, they were pretty shocked. 

Once the shock wore away, we all dissolved into happy tears. 

When we reached the city it was a little jarring to have to remind everyone to grab a mask before running out and exploring the mall. But I really shouldn't complain. With very few people traveling, we were able to get a hotel a few blocks from the White House without paying an arm and a leg. (It was just an arm this time.)

Our first stop was the White House. We weren't able to get too close, but we still managed to get a good look and take some pictures.

The building is pretty cool even if the guy living there isn't.

The next morning was bright and sunny; perfect weather for unicycling around the National Mall. Okay, okay, I don't ride a unicycle, but we have one crew member who does!

Most clowns in Washington DC don't ride unicycles; they ride in motorcades. 

One of the first stops we made was the Washington Monument. We weren't allowed to go inside, but it was still pretty neat to check out. 

One of the few things in the world that's taller than Shianne, even on a unicycle.

This was a monumental moment.

Next we explored the World War II Memorial and were not unpatriotic heathens and did not dip our toes in the fountain, even though it was 92 degrees outside. 

Shianne did not fall off her unicycle into the basin...but it was close. 

Of course, we had to find our home state!

"New York, New York" automatically plays in the background when you stand here. 

Next we went to an old Washington DC favorite for lunch, Old Ebbitt Grill. This was one of the many places we went on our last trip, where we met up with my cousin and her family. Unfortunately, we weren't able to meet them this time, but we hope some day when we have more time and fewer pandemics to see them there again. 

After lunch, we wandered around the Capital Building. 

Shianne did not try to take the unicycle up those steps. 

The sun was getting pretty hot and everyone was starting to poop out. Justin left to move the car and avoid another day of insanely expensive parking fees. Meanwhile, Shianne and Makenna and I set off to walk the length of the mall and get to the Lincoln Memorial. We got about a quarter of the way there. 

The heat was oppressive and the snacks I had stolen from the motel were too tempting, so we plopped down under a tree and waited for Justin to pick us up with the car. 

After rejuvinating in the air conditioning for a while, we were ready to check out Mr. Lincoln. 

I wonder if he ever has to get up to go to the bathroom.

We did some reading and learning about Lincoln too, but not too much. It is summer vacation after all!

An expert speech for our expert reader.

Justin met back up with us and we visited the Vietnam War and Korean War Memorials, explored the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial, and then moved on to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. 

The one stranger we can get within six feet of. (As long as we sanitize right after!)

By this point, everyone was getting hot and tired again. We didn't expect many things to be open in Washington DC, but we did manage to stumble across one in-tact relic of our lost world: a gift shop! And an air conditioned one at that! We all spent an hour wandering around the tiny store picking out trinkets, many of which were on sale because so few tourists were stopping by this year. 

Cooled off and weighed down with Washington DC paraphernalia, we continued learning about FDR.

I stopped her before she actually licked him. 

 

Eleanor's fashion choice received the tween stamp of approval. 

And finally we made our way to the Jefferson Memorial. I have mixed feelings about TJ, personally. On the one hand, being a slave owner was not cool. On the other hand, he does have the same birthday as me. 

I bet nobody ever gave the writer of the Declaration of the Independence bunny ears...

We decided to reward ourselves for a long, hot day of sightseeing with some ice cream before piling in the car for the long drive back. Naturally, Makenna chose unicorn flavored ice cream. 

No unicorns were harmed in the making of this picture. 

After learning so much about the founding fathers and American history walking around Washington DC, our five-hour car ride home was the perfect time to watch the newly-released Hamilton and jam out. I have officially converted our younger crew members to the Hamilton religion. "Work!" 

The Schuyler Sisters!

Tuesday night we got back to the boat around 2:00 in the morning. Everyone was exhausted and happy to sleep in the next day. We decided to relax a bit in Ithaca on Wednesday. Instead of hiking all the way to Buttermilk Falls, we rode our bikes from the boat to the swimming hole at the bottom of the gorge and had some fun in the cold river water. 

No, we couldn't slide down the waterfall...yes, I wanted to. 

We ended the evening with a swim in Cayuga Lake, and our youngest crew member decided to jump off the side of the boat for the first time!

For this week in Ithaca we were lucky to enjoy the luxury of a car, so we decided to check out nearby Watkins Glen. Justin and I had visited the Watkins Glen gorge on one of our first dates somewhere between ten and fifty million years ago, and we were excited to see if we remembered any of it. Apparently we had been busy gazing longingly into each other's eyes because I recognized nothing. 

I like Watkins Glen better with this crew. 

We got to climb in and around stunning waterfalls and hike among lush greenery. It was so pretty that I'll leave off my flowery words and let you see for yourself!

Don't go chasing waterfalls...especially this one. It's wanted in six states. 

Mask beards are the latest fashion trend. 

Justin wants this for our backyard.

Remember that scene in the Disney version of Robin Hood with the foxes behind the waterfall? No? Then you weren't a 90s kid. 

Hiking Watkins Glen was lovely, but hot and tiring, and when we discovered an olympic-sized swimming pool in the park, we weren't able to resist. 

I was almost lucky enough to forget what chlorine tastes like. 

The next morning, I thought everyone would want to sleep in, but our younger crew members were itching for one last swim before the weekend. While I packed everything up for the car ride home, Justin agreed to take them on the final tow of the week. 

If you're not swimming, why are you even existing?

I'm thrilled we got our opportunity to go to Washington DC, but after a long week completely filled with activities, I was looking forward to a week with a little more relaxing.... We'll see if that happnes!

tl;dr: We drove the car down to Washington DC for some sightseeing and then did some hiking and swimming Ithaca and Watkins Glen.