My favorite things of Washington, DC

What I liked about DC is the Lincoln Memorial because I got to stand where Martin Luther King stood when he gave his I Have a Dream speech. I also like the FDR Memorial. It has a lot of fountains. I also like the Jefferson Memorial. It's 19 feet tall. I also liked the World War II Memorial but the fountain was broken. We also went to the Viet Nam Memorial. I did not like it. I also like the Washington Monument. It looked like hay. We also went to the Korean War Memorial. It had statues.

Goodbye, Alastair

In Washington, DC

In Washington, DC what I liked the most was when I was with Max and Delaney. We went to a parade and we had cookies for dessert. The parade was great, there were red coats and blue coats. The red coats played music and the blue coats danced with guns. Then we were catching fireflies on the way to the Metro. When we got on the Metro we sat down. Then we went home. The end.

- Maggie

Molly, if you are reading this, I really miss you. I hope when I get back that we'll have lots of time together. 

Our saint in the city.

This morning, after being roused by an early alarm clock, we had a hurried breakfast and rushed to the Franconia-Springfield Metro stop to meet Andrea "Lehigh" Diehl. Lehigh is a friend of ours from our days at Colorado State University. After college she married Brian Diehl, who had been my roommate at the Beta house and again at the University of Edinburgh. (Kids, the Beta house was at 801 S. Shields in Fort Collins. Swing by there when I'm 70 and let me what is there). We travelled with Lehigh and her daughter, Delaney, to the National Archives so that our clan could visit the Rotunda and see, with our own eyes, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. After visiting so many sites from the Revolutionary War, and especially Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitutions were signed, and Congress Hall, where the Bill of Rights were enacted, it was important to close the loop by seeing the actual documents. I was somewhat shocked to see how faded the Declaration of Independence has become. You could hardly tell there was anything written on the parchment. Jll and Lehigh were constantly hounded by security while we were in the Rotunda. They let about fifty people in at a time, and you mill about without any real order until you've had your fill. Jll and Lehigh left two strollers at the bottom of the stairs where we had been in line to enter the Rotunda. A few minutes after we entered, we heard security calling for the owners of the strollers to retrieve them and bring them up into the Rotunda. They were politely asked to set them aside on top of the stairs. About ten minutes later, we heard security calling again for the owners of the strollers, telling them this time to just keep the strollers with them. The kids and I got a laugh out of the situation by announcing stroller security breaches wherever we went for the next half hour. Lehigh packed a lunch for her family and ours, and we ate together at the café in the National Archives before heading back out onto the streets.

The next stop was the Smithsonian Museum of American History. I wanted to see the newly redisplayed flag which had flown over Fort McHenry and which inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the Defence of Fort McHenry, which was later set to music and became the Star-Spangled Banner. Even though we missed seeing Fort McHenry in Baltimore I wanted to see the flag, and it was impressive. I appreciate that kids spend time reading exhibits. They particularly like the interactive displays. Adelaide informed me after leaving the exhibit that the missing star was actually removed from the flag and given to Abraham Lincoln as a gift. I will have to ask her tomorrow where she read that because in preparing to write this blog, I can't find any information to substantiate that story. Lehigh and Delaney had to leave to go get Lehigh's son, Max, from baseball camp and we were joined by my mother-in-law, Lynne Scates, who flew out from Denver this morning to be part of McLains on the Road. We left the museum and made our way to Arlington National Cemetery. On our way out, the kids found Harry Potter's uniform and asked that I take this picture. Incidentally, Jessica and Amanda, Adelaide wanted me to inform you that she has now finished reading the Harry Potter series.

We took a quick tour of the cemetery, with an extended stop at the Tomb of the Unknowns. After watching the changing of the guard ceremony, watching a little more guarding, and walking around the amphitheater, we realized that the next guard change was only five minutes away, and the kids voted to watch it again. Adelaide, Alastair, and I opted against the central viewing area and stood right next to where the commanding officer inspected the rifle and uniform of the incoming guard. After the ceremony we followed two of the Honor Guard to the flagpole where we watched them retire the colors for the evening. It was truly impressive to watch men perform with such precision and perfection. I admired most the fact that they never leave the post, day or night, rain or shine. As the city evacuated for Hurricane Sandy, the Honor Guard performed their duty. I read on one website that the 24 hour guard start on July 2, 1937. If that is accurate, that means that there has been a soldier pacing back and forth continuously in front of the tomb for the last 76 years and 22 days. That is a lot of pacing back and forth. We knew that the kids were impressed by the changing of the guard also because afterward, they were marching around and Alastair was performing precision drill movements with an empty water bottle. Unfortunately we missed our chance to visit the interior of the Arlington House, but I did enjoy reading about the familial relationship between George Washington and Robert E. Lee.

We left Arlington Cemetery just in time to meet Lehigh, with both Delaney and Max in tow, to walk over to the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial to watch the Sunset Parade. Lehigh was kind enough to pack in a dinner for all of us and we enjoyed a picnic dinner on the grass before the start of the parade.  The parade features the music of "The Commandant's Own," the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, and a precision drill by the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon. This was also an impressive thing to see, and certainly a much more memorable way to see the Iwo Jima Memorial. Afterward we walked back to the entry to the Arlington National Cemetery and parted ways. Adelaide and Lynne jumped into a cab to head in to Lynne's hotel for the evening, the Diehls jumped into their car to head home, and the remaining McLains on the Road headed to the Metro to get back to our car. Jll and I remarked as we drove back to our Pohick campground that it amazes us that every day, we have the greatest intentions of getting our kids to bed at a decent our and every day, we are dragging back to the RV way too late. All in all it was a great day in the city and we owe a huge thanks to Lehigh for shepherding us around safely and feeding the hungry. She is a saint indeed.

- Dave

We see, D.C.

The alarm went off a little early this morning but we knew we had so much to see.  We gathered up Dave's dad, Bill, after saying a quick good morning to his step-mom and her sister, and headed in on the Metro to see the sites.  We started at the Washington Memorial and moved through each of the following Memorials: Jefferson, FDR, MLK, Lincoln, Korean War, Vietnam War, and WWII.  I am very glad I was able to see them all but have to put Jefferson and Lincoln at the top.  Very cool to finally see in person.  The kids did a good job and I think they really enjoyed seeing them as well. 

We made a visit to Ford's Theater.  We have all received a LOT of information about President Lincoln during the past 6 weeks.  I know we all felt like we needed to see the theater to wrap up the history lesson.  It was interesting as well. 

We made plans to meet up with Dave's step-mom, Kris, and her sister, Becky, at the Old Ebbitt Grill.  This is a very interesting restaurant and bar right near the White House.  The food was great and the company was even better.  It is so lovely to have a greater number of adults present at a meal than children; especially adults my children love so much.  Normally when I sit down at a restaurant (or at church, on a train, on a couch, at the doctor's office or anywhere else) there is a battle for who gets to sit down next to me.  It should be lovely, but it gets to be exhausting keeping track of whose turn it is to sit next to me.  Guess how many children wanted to sit next to me at dinner? Zero, nada, none.  I love my in-laws and that my children love them all so much too.  What a gift that we can all be together and that the kids feel such total joy in their presence.

We parted ways with the adults after dinner and the 6 of us walked to the White House.  It is beautiful and we really do wish we could have had a closer and longer view of it.  We are not sure why, but the McLains and all of the visitors near us were very rudely hustled away from the White House from the Secret Service shouting at us "The fence line is closed.  Move to the left or the right."  We all agree it was not the hospitable welcome we were hoping for.  I hope our next stroll past is not so snippy.  After all, don't they know we are the McLains on the Road?

- Jll

Just a bunch of Pohicks.

We had to get up early this morning so we could finish of our time in Pennsylvania in grand style. We made the eight o'clock church service at the Hershey First United Methodist Church. I picked it because it is a beautiful stone church across the street from the Hershey Story Museum, which I saw when we visited the museum. The service was enjoyable, and the church had bright blue, very ornate stained glass all around the sanctuary. What we noticed about our visit to this church was that it was not very welcoming. Every other church we have visited on our stop has had members who will ask us who we are, where we are from, and how we found the church. This usually involves us then telling the story of our three-month trip across the country. In Hershey, however, I don't think anyone from the congregation even said hello to us, much less engage us in any discussion. The kids even noticed this and we talked about it as we drove away. It did make me question how friendly I am to people I don't recognize on Sunday mornings at Wellshire and I am certain to go out of my way to talk with visitors when I get home. I do not want anyone to leave Wellshire how we felt leaving church this morning.

After church we made it to the Hotel Hershey for breakfast. It is an old, grand hotel, and reminded me in certain respects of the Broadmoor or the Hotel Del Coronado. We enjoyed a big spread of a Sunday brunch in the Circular Dining Room. While not as great as the Sunday brunch at the Terrace Dining Room at the Broadmoor, we didn't quite make the full Sunday brunch. This was the hotel's normal breakfast buffet. The buffet shuts down at 10:30, so that the staff can pull out all of the stops for the Sunday brunch, which starts at noon. Given that we had to make the drive to DC today, we couldn't wait that long.

So we enjoyed our delicious, though modest, buffet and walked through the formal gardens. The children were taken by the koi ponds, which I learned were actually reservoirs for the growing town in the early 1900's and were actually 30 feet deep. As it started getting too warm to be comfortable, which we typically gauge by the sweat accumulating on Alastair's head, we returned to the RV park to pack up and leave for DC.

It was an uneventful trip, though the congestion through DC and Virginia was a little interesting at times in a 32' motorhome, towing a mini-van. Changing lanes takes patience. When that doesn't work, it takes the guts to just start changing lanes, knowing that the person next to you doesn't really want to get hit. I haven't had anyone not make room yet. After setting up at the Pohick Bay Campground, we headed to Springfield to meet my dad and step-mom at Kris's sister house.

My dad and Kris arrived today to help Becky pack up her house. We had dinner at Becky's house and the kids remained fully entertained with Nana and Papa's host of iPads, Nooks, Android phones and, for Maggie, a carved wooden bear that she decorated with Jll's sunglasses, a few strings of Mardi Gras beads, some random bits of cardboard, a yogurt container, a grocery store receipt, and whatever else she could find. My dad, Kris, and Becky came back to the campground to get a first hand look at the RV, and Addie gave them the grand tour before walking Nana and Papa through the journal she has been keeping. Papa put it together for her before we left and she has been diligently keeping up to date. When our guests left, we turned in relatively early knowing that there is a lot to see here over the next few days. It is going to be busy in DC, I hope the town is ready for us.

- Dave

The kids will still hold my hands, and that's good enough for me.

We could not hang out in Hershey, PA for as long as we have without making a trip to Hersheypark. After getting up and at 'em this morning, we caught the shuttle to the theme park and made our way in with the throngs. It was a hot and humid day, reaching 89 degrees in the mid-afternoon, and Jll and I were worried that the kids would wilt and wither. We kept them properly hydrated and we had a great day in the park. After the lack of success trying to get the older kids onto big roller coaster and thrill rides at Cedar Point, I adjusted my expectations and stuck with the family, riding a few wooden roller coasters, log rides, and the ride where the kids drive the cars, bouncing back and forth against the metal rail in the center of the lane. Dagny had a hard time staying off of that rail. One highlight of the day was the Tilt-a-Whirl. No matter where we are, or how fabulous the newest attractions may be, I will never turn down an opportunity to ride a Tilt-A-Whirl. Upon reading the sign, Dagny pointed out that she previously believed, incorrectly, that the name of the ride is Tilt-a-World. At one point, we rode it three times in a row, with Jll watching from the nearest bench. We tried different configurations to see which one would produce the fastest spinning. As it turns out, if I was on the right-most seat, we would spin the fastest.

Our day at the park ended with the Jasen Magic show. He picked Alastair to participate in one of the illusions and Alastair did a fine job standing on stage letting the audience stare at his nose. At the end of the show, for his last trick, Jasen asked for a small child to volunteer. Magnolia quickly shot up her hand and was crushed when she was passed over in favor of a blond haired boy. As the boy was laid out on a board between two folding chairs about to be levitated, Jasen made a big show of showing him a thumbs-up, indicating the trick was about to begin. The blond haired boy quickly shook his head, and looked towards his parents. As Jasen let him down on the ground and began to explain that he needed another volunteer, Magnolia ran onto stage without having been invited and without missing a beat. Jasen approved of her can do attitude and rewarded her by levitating her. She is not much of a magician, though, because after getting tucked in for bed tonight, I asked her how she levitated and she informed me that she was actually laying on a small board, and when the big board got pulled away, she was still on the small one. She also relayed the instructions she had been given, to lay on the board very rigidly with her feet slightly lifted.

As we headed out of the park, we stopped by the Tilt-a-Whirl again but the line was just too long. We decided we'd head back to Chocolate World, take the factory tour ride, and end the night with another free sample of Hershey's chocolate.

All in all is was a good day, and I noticed that as we walked through the park, one child or another would walk up and take my hand. I took great pleasure in walking with my children hand in hand. With Adelaide being ten, I don't know how long this will continue, so I will enjoy it as long as I can.

- Dave

Hanging out in Penn's woods.

I continue to count my blessings that things are going so well.  We are past the halfway point and I am so pleased we have yet to have a single cold, flat tire, or any real drama at all.  I feel so fortunate that even the little hiccups are minor. 

Yesterday we left Downigtown, PA (near Philadelphia) after breakfast to drive the 2 hours to Hershey.  It takes about a half hour each time we leave a camp site for us to put the motor home back into driving condition.  I am in charge of interior items like putting plates and coffee pot away, clean up all the counters and move/store all small items that would move around while driving, put the two slides back in place, reinstall car seats, etc.  Dave is in charge of the outside and it is a much more difficult job, mostly because it is dirty, gross, and in the humidity.  It involves unhooking power, water, and sewage (gross) and then reattaching the car dolly to the RV and the Honda to the dolly.  He is really good at these things but I am guessing he doesn't love this chore.

Yesterday we only made it about 2 miles before we made a wrong turn that had us pointing up a steep private drive that dead ended.  Not exactly how we hoped the morning would start and certainly was a bit stressful at the time.  Dave kept his cool as we found a relatively flat portion of the drive to unhook the Honda, then the dolly and drive the car out of the way and push the dolly out of the way.  I am still impressed that Dave was able to find a way to turn the RV 180 degrees around and get it pointed back down the hill.  He is impressive.  I still haven't driven the RV a single mile and I am so grateful he is so capable.  After he hooked the dolly back up and the Honda we were back on our way.

We arrived in Hershey, PA about 1pm and headed straight over to Chocolate World.  We didn't really know what to expect.  It is a giant building dedicated to chocolate, the commercialization of chocolate, and the eating of chocolate.  You have your choice of 5 different ways you can spend your money on activities and about a million ways to spend your money on stuff and eats.  We decided to go with the free factory tour.  I use the phrase "factory tour" loosely as it isn't the factory at all.  It is an automated ride (like the six of us in a plastic brown car that hooks onto the track in the floor) that goes through a simulated chocolate factory to describe the process.  The ride is made complete with 3 singing automated cows.  Needless to say, it was not what Dave and I were hoping for.  The free chocolate sample at the end of the ride was enough to fuel us for the half mile walk in the heat  to the Hershey Story Museum which is a great little museum which outlines the entire life of Milton Hershey and how he struggled to become a great businessman, created a community and not just a company, and then gave all of his millions away at the end of his life to a boys orphanage here in Hershey.  Really a great museum and we all learned a bunch. 

We walked back to Chocolate World to reward the kids with their own chocolate making experience.  It was fun to see us all in our hair nets and aprons and we did get to select our individual ingredients, watch our bars as they were created on the Hershey assembly line, and we were each able to create our own personalized labels.  It was fun for us all and the kids were thrilled with their creations.

It is worth mentioning that we rode the factory tour ride a total of 3 times because it was free, there was a free chocolate sample at the end, and because we wanted to make funny faces at the camera that snaps your picture toward the end of the ride.  Again, another opportunity to spend your money.  We passed on buying the pictures but sure had fun laughing at ourselves on the giant photo screens.

Today, Friday the 19th, we actually set an alarm to get up and get going.  We had a very busy day planned.  We drove the 1 hour to Gettysburg  to visit the Gettysburg National Military Park and Museum.  As part of our visit we watched a film called A New Birth of Freedom which was a really good overview for the kids and we also visited  the cyclorama which is a 360 degree painting/diorama of Gettysburg during the battle.  Also great.

The museum was very comprehensive and had some really great artifacts and interactive tools.  In all I think we were there for 3 hours or more.  The kids have done a great job learning along the way.  I think Alastair has the greatest interest in American history of all the kids.  At museums he and I often hang out together.  Even though he is a very strong reader he wants me to read to him about the exhibits.  I am sure it feels like I am reading him a story.  The stories of these exhibits are perfect for him because they involve battles, weapons, amputated limbs, and the like.  Days later he will say to me, "Mom, remember that story about that guy who was stabbed 7 times but didn't die until 9 days later?"  These are the moments he will remember and so will I.

We rounded out our Gettysburg experience with a trip to the Soldier's National Cemetery.  This cemetery is were about 3,500 of the Union soldiers were finally buried after the 3 days of brutal fighting left thousands of men dead.  Of the 3,500 about 1,000 of those buried there are unknown soldiers.  The cemetery is also the site of President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.  Yep, the McLain family has witnessed some amazing parts of our American history.

At about 1 we had a snack of granola bars and pretzels and headed back across PA another 90 minute drive to Lancaster County.  Dave and I had our hearts set on lunch at the Plain & Fancy Farm.  At about 2:45 we sat down for our Amish Farm Feast.  I won't list all of the items which were placed on the table but let's just say that we managed to eat an entire day's worth of calories (and then some) in a single meal.  We all agreed that the homemade breads were our favorite part of the meal but it was all delicious.  We tried sour cream apple crumb pie and wet bottom shoo-fly pie for dessert.

We visited a multimedia movie called Jacob's Choice regarding rumspringa.  This gave the kids (and me) some understanding of Amish culture.  You might be born into an Amish community but you are not yet Amish.  You take your rumspringa when you are about 16.  This is when you venture out to explore the world and English culture to decide if you want to live in the world or with the Amish.  If you choose to return you are baptized and live in the Amish community for the rest of you life.  If not, well, see ya.  Apparently the Lancaster Amish are about 30,000 and have a 95% return for their kids after they leave on their rumspringa.  Interesting little tidbit.

We had the opportunity to take a buggy ride with an Amish man and visit his neighbors' farm.  Dave and I both found it a bit odd that the plain and humble Amish are willing to commercialize  themselves to the tourists as well, but we did enjoy our experience and it is the American way to try to make a buck, so I guess, good for them.  At the farm the kids had a blast petting horses (Oops, McLains have week DNA when it comes to animals and allergies.  We should never be allowed to pet horses.) seeing a litter or 11 four week-old puppies, 3 day-old calves, milk cows, chickens, pigs, and seeing the parents and 5 Amish kids that live on the farm. It was a great afternoon, and again, I think we learned a ton.

The crew is fast asleep and catching up on their beauty rest in the hope that we will spend the day with them in the Hershey Amusement Park.  Lord help us.

Missing all of you and wishing you could witness this amazing trip of a lifetime with us.

Hugs from PA.

Jll