Welcome to our blog. We thought this might make it easier for you to share in our adventure and keep track of where we are and where we've been. The most recent pictures are at the top so if you want to start at the beginning, you will need to scroll down to the bottom and work your way up to the top. We will try to update the blog every week, but no promises!!
And for all of you who are wondering how Ted is doing - here's a clue . . .
October 31 - Hallowe'en is a huge thing in the East - we were surprised at how everyone gets into the spirit of Hallowe'en. The people in this trailer pulled in next to us on the 30th of October, put up all these decoration (plus more you can't see) and left on November 1st. We couldn't imagine bringing all this stuff along; who has room??
The Relief Commander oversees the Changing of the Guard from the retiring Sentinel to the relieving Sentinel.
The Changing of the Guard - the Relief Commander gives the white glove test to the gun of the relieving Sentinel.
A Tomb Guard Sentinel standing guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. These sentinels are volunteers from the 3rd US Infantry who have to pass very difficult tests to qualify. The Sentinel takes 21 steps, stops for 21 seconds, takes 21 steps and so on. The Guard changes every 1/2 hour during the summer and every hour during the rest of the year. PS - the tomb is actually empty; they did DNA testing on the soldier originally entombed there, located his family and reinterred him in his hometown.
Arlington Cemetery reminded me of the poem "In Flanders Fields" -- "between the crosses, row on row". We saw the grave sites of John and Jacqueline Kennedy and their two infant children, the Challenger Space Shuttle Memorial, the Canadian Cross of Sacrifice and the grave sites of many American war heroes, service men and their families. 
Here you can see the Washington Monument reflected in the aptly named Reflecting Pool; at the other end is the Lincoln Memorial.
The Lincoln Memorial - inside the memorial is a statue of Abraham Lincoln and two of his speeches - the Gettysburg address and his inaugural speech - are engraved on the wall. The crests of 48 states line the top of the Memorial; when it was dedicated in 1922 Alaska & Hawaii had not yet joined. Their crests were added later. Martin Luther King made his famous "I have a dream . . ." speech was on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall (completed in 1984). The names of everyone killed or reported missing in Vietnam is recorded on this black granite wall in chronological order according to the date they died or were reported missing. The first casuality listed was in 1959 and names are still being added as vets die of war-related injuries. So many names . . .
Can you see the reflections of the soldiers in the wall?
The Korean War Memorial (dedicated in 1995) was amazing. It consists of statues of 19 soldiers and a reflecting wall with 15,000 photographs of soldiers etched into it. When you look into the wall, you can see the reflections of the 19 soldiers making it appear as if there were 38 soldiers. The symbolism of this is that Korea is located on the 38th parallel and the Korean War lasted 38 months. The looks on the faces of these soldiers was heartbreaking.
The Marine Corps (Iwo Jima) Memorial in Arlington (just across the Potomac River from DC. Remind anyone of "Flags of our Fathers"??
October 29 - We made arrangements to meet Don, Cathy, Wayne & Audrey for a bus tour of Embassy Row, the War Memorials and Arlington Cemetery. We were proud to discover that the Canadian Embassy is the only Embassy located in downtown Washington. The others are all in Georgetown. Aren't we special? We also discovered that residents of Washington, DC pay state and municipal taxes, but are only allowed to vote for the president. They do not have a state or Senate representative. Sounds like "taxation without representation" to me and another excuse for a "tea party"!!
We also walked over to the Jefferson Memorial located on the Tidal Basin. Inside is a statue of Thomas Jefferson with several of his most memorable speeches engraved in the wall.
We made the long trek over to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, also known as the White House. Security is tight so you can't get too close but it was worth the walk.
We spent time in the Air & Space Museum (above) and the Natural History Museum. Both had incredible displays and we watched 3-D IMAX movies in both. One was entitled the "Space Station" where we ducked flying debris when the Space Shuttle took off and the other was "Sea Monsters" where we found ourselves dodging and weaving to get out of the way of prehistoric sharks. Gotta love 3D!!! The Air & Space Museum Space Race Gallery included V-2 rockets, a space capsule, a space shuttle, Hubble telescope and a Lunar Module (above). You could spend days at the various museums; there is so much to see and do (and it's all free!!!)
The Smithsonian Castle. This is the Smithsonian Institute's original home and the easiest landmark to find on the National Mall (the large expanse of land on which 10 of the 18 Smithsonian Museums are located). At one end of the Mall is the State Capitol, at the other is the Washington Monument and the museums line both sides of the Mall between the two. We met our friends Don & Cathy and Wayne & Audrey here, toured the Holocaust Museum and had lunch before splitting up and going our separate ways. Touring the Holocaust Museum was a very thought-provoking and haunting experience.
From Union Square we walked to the State Capitol where all the major decisions about the country (both good and bad) are made.
October 28 - After our short rest, we decided to take on Washington, DC. We drove in from our campground in College Park and had no trouble parking as it was a Sunday. It was also the day of the Marine Corps Marathon so we got to run with the marathoners twice while we tried to cross streets. That was quite the experience! We started our day at Union Square, the centre of all public transportation in DC. 
This is definitely the most bizarre parking lot we had ever seen (and it's in front of a laundromat!!). We also discovered that only in Pennsylvania could you visit Bird-in-Hand, Intercourse and Paradise all within 15 minutes - need I say more???
October 27 - After the hectic pace in New York City, we decided to slow things down by visiting Amish country in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This was the rainiest day we had experienced on our trip but that didn't slow us (or the Amish in their horse and buggies) down. The countryside was beautiful and pastoral - a great place to unwind.
Our guide dropped us off at Times Square in the Theatre district so we could people watch, eat fantastic New York cheesecake at Juniors and imagine that we were there on New Year's Eve watching the ball drop.
Our tour was not all about history and tragedy. Our tour guide successfully navigated us through the traffic so we could see the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, the United Nations, Rockefeller Centre, Radio City Music Hall, the NBC Studios and many other famous New York locations.
These steel girders in the shape of a cross were found in the rubble when clean-up began at Ground Zero. It became a symbol of hope, faith and healing for the rescue and recovery workers. It will be returned to the site when the Freedom Tower is completed.
This is the view of the inside of St. Paul's Church which opened on October 30, 1766. It was one of two churches in the immediate vicinity of the WTC that did not suffer any damage when the towers fell on 9/11 - not even a pane of glass was broken even though it was located right across the street. George Washington's Inauguration Day service was held here in 1789 and the church has a special "George Washington Pew Box".
It wouldn't be a trip to New York City without a visit to Ground Zero. It was a very sobering experience to see that large gap in the centre of all the high rises. They have started work at the site on the new Freedom Tower which will eventually stand 1776 feet high. They are currently at work on the 6th floor and haven't even made it to ground level yet.
This is the skyline of New York City as seen from Liberty State Park in New Jersey. It was a dull and dreary day, but the sight was very impressive - if only the World Trade Centre towers were still there!
While we waited to board the ferry to Ellis Island, we watched a fire boat practising a fire drill in the New York Harbour. It was quite a sight!
This is what remains of the train station at Liberty State Park where successful immigrants boarded trains to destinations across the United States. My grandmother took the train to Bemidji, Minnesota where she met and married my grandfather. My grandparents and their four oldest children (including my Mom) moved to Saskatchewan in 1917. Ellis Island was definitely the highlight of my trip to New York City.
After being processed at Ellis Island, immigrants who were granted entry (only 1-2% were denied) sailed to Liberty State Park. This was actually the starting point of our tour. We sailed on a ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty from the New Jersey side.
Behind and below me is the Registration Hall at Ellis Island where inspectors questioned each individual upon their arrival. It was really thrilling for me to know that my grandmother had walked the same hall one hundred years earlier.
How exciting to be a new immigrant arriving in America in the late 1800s and early 1900s! After a long sea voyage, the first thing you see is the welcoming torch of the Statue of Liberty and then you land at Ellis Island where hopefully you will be allowed to remain in your newly-chosen country. This is the journey my grandmother took at the age of 17 when she emigrated from Valdres, Norway. She sailed on the Lucania from Liverpool, England and arrived at Ellis Island on March 31, 1907.
October 25 - We couldn't travel to the east coast and not visit New York City!!! This was one city we didn't want to navigate on our own so we took a bus tour from our campground - much less stress!!! A visit to NYC wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Statue of Liberty. The statue was built in France from 1881 to 1884 and brought over to Bedloe's Island (now Liberty Island) and reassembled in 1886. Although the statue itself is 151 feet tall, she stands 305 feet high from the base to the top of the torch.
This is our tour guide standing in front of the Hudson River. West Point was originally built as a fort by George Washington at this stragetic point on the Hudson River. Ships were forced to slow to a stop in order to make the sharp turn around the curve which made it easy for the Americans to defend against invasion.
Washington Hall and the Parade Grounds at West Point. The military academy at West Point began in 1802 and alumni include presidents, five-star generals, astronauts and business leaders such as Ulysses Grant, Robert E. Lee, Dwight Eisenhower and Buzz Aldrin, to name just a few.
The organ at the Cadet Chapel. It is the largest church organ in the world.
This is the inside of the Cadet Chapel at West Point. The chapel was dedicated in 1910. The stained glass windows at the end and similar windows all along both sides are absolutely beautiful. Each memorial window has been dedicated and paid for by a graduating class (at the original 1910 cost of $300/window). The final window was installed in 1976.
October 24 - The United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Somehow I don't think Ted can cut it as a cadet. At least he's got the right hair cut!
We also walked over to the Jefferson Memorial located on the Tidal Basin. Inside is a statue of Thomas Jefferson with several of his most memorable speeches engraved in the wall.
We made the long trek over to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, also known as the White House. Security is tight so you can't get too close but it was worth the walk.
We spent time in the Air & Space Museum (above) and the Natural History Museum. Both had incredible displays and we watched 3-D IMAX movies in both. One was entitled the "Space Station" where we ducked flying debris when the Space Shuttle took off and the other was "Sea Monsters" where we found ourselves dodging and weaving to get out of the way of prehistoric sharks. Gotta love 3D!!! The Air & Space Museum Space Race Gallery included V-2 rockets, a space capsule, a space shuttle, Hubble telescope and a Lunar Module (above). You could spend days at the various museums; there is so much to see and do (and it's all free!!!)
The Smithsonian Castle. This is the Smithsonian Institute's original home and the easiest landmark to find on the National Mall (the large expanse of land on which 10 of the 18 Smithsonian Museums are located). At one end of the Mall is the State Capitol, at the other is the Washington Monument and the museums line both sides of the Mall between the two. We met our friends Don & Cathy and Wayne & Audrey here, toured the Holocaust Museum and had lunch before splitting up and going our separate ways. Touring the Holocaust Museum was a very thought-provoking and haunting experience.
From Union Square we walked to the State Capitol where all the major decisions about the country (both good and bad) are made.
October 28 - After our short rest, we decided to take on Washington, DC. We drove in from our campground in College Park and had no trouble parking as it was a Sunday. It was also the day of the Marine Corps Marathon so we got to run with the marathoners twice while we tried to cross streets. That was quite the experience! We started our day at Union Square, the centre of all public transportation in DC. 
This is definitely the most bizarre parking lot we had ever seen (and it's in front of a laundromat!!). We also discovered that only in Pennsylvania could you visit Bird-in-Hand, Intercourse and Paradise all within 15 minutes - need I say more???
October 27 - After the hectic pace in New York City, we decided to slow things down by visiting Amish country in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This was the rainiest day we had experienced on our trip but that didn't slow us (or the Amish in their horse and buggies) down. The countryside was beautiful and pastoral - a great place to unwind.
Our guide dropped us off at Times Square in the Theatre district so we could people watch, eat fantastic New York cheesecake at Juniors and imagine that we were there on New Year's Eve watching the ball drop.
Our tour was not all about history and tragedy. Our tour guide successfully navigated us through the traffic so we could see the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, the United Nations, Rockefeller Centre, Radio City Music Hall, the NBC Studios and many other famous New York locations.
These steel girders in the shape of a cross were found in the rubble when clean-up began at Ground Zero. It became a symbol of hope, faith and healing for the rescue and recovery workers. It will be returned to the site when the Freedom Tower is completed.
This is the view of the inside of St. Paul's Church which opened on October 30, 1766. It was one of two churches in the immediate vicinity of the WTC that did not suffer any damage when the towers fell on 9/11 - not even a pane of glass was broken even though it was located right across the street. George Washington's Inauguration Day service was held here in 1789 and the church has a special "George Washington Pew Box".
It wouldn't be a trip to New York City without a visit to Ground Zero. It was a very sobering experience to see that large gap in the centre of all the high rises. They have started work at the site on the new Freedom Tower which will eventually stand 1776 feet high. They are currently at work on the 6th floor and haven't even made it to ground level yet.
This is the skyline of New York City as seen from Liberty State Park in New Jersey. It was a dull and dreary day, but the sight was very impressive - if only the World Trade Centre towers were still there!
While we waited to board the ferry to Ellis Island, we watched a fire boat practising a fire drill in the New York Harbour. It was quite a sight!
This is what remains of the train station at Liberty State Park where successful immigrants boarded trains to destinations across the United States. My grandmother took the train to Bemidji, Minnesota where she met and married my grandfather. My grandparents and their four oldest children (including my Mom) moved to Saskatchewan in 1917. Ellis Island was definitely the highlight of my trip to New York City.
After being processed at Ellis Island, immigrants who were granted entry (only 1-2% were denied) sailed to Liberty State Park. This was actually the starting point of our tour. We sailed on a ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty from the New Jersey side.
Behind and below me is the Registration Hall at Ellis Island where inspectors questioned each individual upon their arrival. It was really thrilling for me to know that my grandmother had walked the same hall one hundred years earlier.
How exciting to be a new immigrant arriving in America in the late 1800s and early 1900s! After a long sea voyage, the first thing you see is the welcoming torch of the Statue of Liberty and then you land at Ellis Island where hopefully you will be allowed to remain in your newly-chosen country. This is the journey my grandmother took at the age of 17 when she emigrated from Valdres, Norway. She sailed on the Lucania from Liverpool, England and arrived at Ellis Island on March 31, 1907.
October 25 - We couldn't travel to the east coast and not visit New York City!!! This was one city we didn't want to navigate on our own so we took a bus tour from our campground - much less stress!!! A visit to NYC wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Statue of Liberty. The statue was built in France from 1881 to 1884 and brought over to Bedloe's Island (now Liberty Island) and reassembled in 1886. Although the statue itself is 151 feet tall, she stands 305 feet high from the base to the top of the torch.
This is our tour guide standing in front of the Hudson River. West Point was originally built as a fort by George Washington at this stragetic point on the Hudson River. Ships were forced to slow to a stop in order to make the sharp turn around the curve which made it easy for the Americans to defend against invasion.
Washington Hall and the Parade Grounds at West Point. The military academy at West Point began in 1802 and alumni include presidents, five-star generals, astronauts and business leaders such as Ulysses Grant, Robert E. Lee, Dwight Eisenhower and Buzz Aldrin, to name just a few.
The organ at the Cadet Chapel. It is the largest church organ in the world.
This is the inside of the Cadet Chapel at West Point. The chapel was dedicated in 1910. The stained glass windows at the end and similar windows all along both sides are absolutely beautiful. Each memorial window has been dedicated and paid for by a graduating class (at the original 1910 cost of $300/window). The final window was installed in 1976.
October 24 - The United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Somehow I don't think Ted can cut it as a cadet. At least he's got the right hair cut!
