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So, we did this
train trip with the NC Transportation Museum the year before last when it was only one night and that was far too rushed. We enjoyed it, but 2 nights would have been better. We missed both the spring and fall train trips with the NCTM in 2013 because we had other trips planned before we were notified of their dates. Too bad. They expanded to 2 nights though last year and we were hoping to go this year.
Success! Another improvement from our first trip was that we were able to board in Cary. This seems counterintuitive since Raleigh's station would be closer. But, here's the thing, there is very little parking available at the Raleigh Amtrak Station. So,
boarding at Cary's Amtrak Station was actually a big improvement. There is plenty of parking, lots of buses to complete the public transit link and a nice big waiting room with plenty of seating. The other bonus is that we are the last to board the train with the group and the first to get off the train on the way home. A win all the way around for us.
The train was running between 40 minutes late to 2 hours late by the time it got to DC. It was delayed leaving Charlotte because the
St. Augustine car's brakes failed Amtrak's inspection this morning. It had to be replaced with a standard Amtrak car and those people who had paid the big bucks for that special car were pretty put out, especially when their HVAC failed. We had gone for the cheap seats without meals included in the
Powhatan Arrow vintage car and we were happy with our ride there. We carried a small collapsible cooler with yogurt, cheese, water and soft drinks along with apples, nabs and protein bars. It was overkill really. The volunteers in the car bring around snacks and beverages every couple of hours and there is a café car on the train that you can walk to as well to buy sandwiches, etc. Still it was nice to have what we wanted when we wanted it at our seats. The downside of the Powhatan Arrow is no seat back trays or cup holders! The volunteers were also selling souvenirs in the Men's room lounge area and I got a red long sleeved t-shirt for $20. Clay got a t-shirt the last time we did this trip and since they don't have years on them, he didn't get another.
We stayed at the Eisenhower Ave. Holiday Inn again in Alexandria. It is probably within 3 miles of the Amtrak Station. It is within easy walking distance of a Metro stop. We didn't remember that convenience from the last trip and think it must be new. There was a lot of new construction beyond that from 2012. It is a nice enough place to stay. Outside the Metro, though there is only a Starbucks within walking distance! They bused us to Old Town Alexandria and DC when it was time to sightsee. So, it was fine. The rooms are clean and quiet and comfortable and have coffee makers, fridges, and microwaves. Our TV did not get HBO as advertised. You had to request the wifi password and fitness room access at the front desk.
We had dinner on Friday night at
King St. Blues in Old Town Alexandria. It was within 3 blocks or so of Market Square in Old Town which is where our buses dropped off and picked up. So, it was convenient, reasonably priced, good food and not too crowded at our now late dinner hour. Clay enjoyed his beer, ribs and my collards. I enjoyed half of mine and Clay took the 2nd steak back for breakfast in the morning. I thought it was good, but too much and very salty. We went to Ben & Jerry's a couple of blocks on the other side of Market Square for dessert. We had been given information packets in souvenir sacks onboard the train and there were coupons in there! We got buy one get half off one at King St. Blues and buy one cone get one free at Ben & Jerry's, so score! Clay had chocolate with peanut butter and I had Phish Food!
Phish Food was chocolate with marshmallow swirls and solid chocolate fish. Yummy, despite the improbable name.
After dinner we bused into DC and did a brief night time monuments tour. It is so beautiful lit up at night. It also seems a very popular thing to do. We saw the Lincoln Memorial and the Korean Memorial again. We have yet to see the Korean Memorial in daylight, but it is hard to imagine it being better than the haunting way it looks lit at night. We drove by the Roosevelt, MLK Jr, Jefferson, WWII and Washington memorials as well as the Capitol. And then to a well-deserved late bedtime!
We had received a revised itinerary and in lieu of more free time tomorrow morning, there was another monuments tour. We spoke to John, our Cary host, about skipping this to go to the zoo. We are eager to see Bao Bao, the new baby panda there. We had a few options but he thought we would go to the Jefferson memorial and I hadn't been there yet. So we were thinking of starting out on the bus and then cutting out to the zoo on the Metro before rejoining the bus in front of the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum for the trip out to Mt. Vernon. Clay hasn't been there before.
As luck would have it, I woke up with a severe attack of vertigo on Saturday morning and spent the entire day in bed! Clay finally went on without me, but he had to take the Metro all the way from Alexandria instead since he didn't set out on the bus with the group at 8am. We were waiting to see if I could get my feet under me and manage, but I was a no go. Clay didn't get to see
Bao Bao anyway either! He asked in the panda house and was told that Bao Bao was out this morning, but sniffed around and then turned around and walked back to his bed out of sight! I was so glad I hadn't tried to soldier through!
Clay took the Metro back to the Mall and had
lunch.
Then rejoined the group for the trip to
Mt. Vernon. He really liked it and thought it was very well done.
The next stop on the bus tour was Old Town Alexandria's City Marina. This is where they will meet for a Potomac sightseeing cruise after free time for dinner. Clay went on to the restaurant we had previously chosen,
Bilbo Baggins. He had a beer and a pizza (he brought back half for breakfast tomorrow again). This was the only time he let Bob out of his string pack all day! Bob won't go with Clay again!
After dinner, Clay got on a crowded sightseeing boat for a night-time Potomac sightseeing cruise.
Clay got back to the room after 10pm. It was a long day. There was a lot of belly-aching the next day about the endurance required and the long walk at Mt. Vernon to rejoin the buses. I was sorry to miss the day, but I don't think I'd have made it in the shape I was in.
The good news was that while I am still a little shaky, I was back about 90% on Sunday and made the trip back home just fine. We got on the bus at 8am on Sunday morning. We had a walking tour with free time in Old Town Alexandria. We had a little snack at
La Madeleine. It turned out this is where they got the sandwiches for those onboard who had ordered lunch. Fancy! By 10:30am we were back at the Alexandria Amtrak Station waiting for the train home.
Our Powhatan Arrow was the last car on the Amtrak train on the way home. It was raining in Cary when we got back. We still stopped for
Salvadoran food on the way home and then at
Patel Bros. for some spices. It was good to get back home and in our own bed though.
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