by JE Pettibone » Sun Jul 07, 2019 1:22 pm
Ed: We finally left Virginia last Wednesday after a few days at a campground west of DC near Haymarket Va. On Wednesday we moved 57 miles north and east to College Park Maryland, the home of the University of Maryland. Cherry Hill RV park and Campground which has a Metro Bus station at the entrance, is highly recommended in RV circles, for those looking to visit DC., it does also have tent camping sites. The bus takes us to a transfer point where we catch a train into DC. On Thursday we went into the city to watch the Salute to America Parade from the corner of 7th st and Constitution Avenue, sitting on a retaining wall in front of the Archives building.
We waited over an hour for the parade to start temperature at 99 and humidity 87%. After the parade we found a great eating place Harriet's in the Harrison hotel which looks sort of shabby on the outside, however the restaurant was clean and neat. Not Bad prices considering the location. I had a great cold corned beef sandwich. The sandwich was so large that I could only eat half of it so I took a take home box although I knew I wasn't going to carry it far, back on Pennsylvania Ave I found a homeless man with a shelter set up, using a park bench as the base, he struck up a conversation w/o asking for any thing, I asked if the "tent" was his home, when he replied affirmatively I asked if he could eat half of a corned beef sandwich he excitedly said "I Shure could " I said here you go and he said "God bless you" and we parted.
Outside of the Trump Hotel as a group identifying themselves only as a Christian Ministry of about 12 or 14 with Pictures of Celebrities, both black and white who have died over the past three decades who they claim where murdered and the murders are still on the street. They said they where there to seek President Trump's attention and to seek his help in bringing those responsible to justice. They where drawing no crowd, one man did persist in challenging their claims The woman who seemed to be their leader called the man by name and told him that he knows he is not welcome it was apparent that they have had previous conflicts. She said "the policeman told you to leave us alone, we have a permit to be here and the man replied "he said you have a right to speak, but he can not give you permission to spread lies and you have no right to lie." The apparent leader and others in the group where trying to shout him down and one of the women was told 'to go get that policeman,' she disappeared around the corner of the building returning a few minutes later saying "he called it in, now you get out of here" I could not hear his reply. As he retreated, this Christian woman gave him a one finger salute with each hand.
On friday we took a series of busses and trains for me to get to the VA Hospital for my quarterly blood check. The facility shows some signs of age and use but seemed clean and bright. Thre is a special bus at the end of the Metro line that runs to the VA Hospital and two other area Hospitals which share a medical complex. To get a quck meal we had to go to the canteen ans purchas what we wanted and take it to the buildings atrium to eat, as the cafeteria is closed for renovation. By the time we got back down town the heat was quite bothersome and it was too late to get into the White House visitors center, so we came back to the RV park.
These last two parks have nice swiming pools but you have to stay in the pool or bake I prefer our own air conditioning while reading or whatching TV. This park also has a nice lounge comparable to many hotels, the also have a good snack bar that they call a cafe. The do make great sandwiches the coffe and Iced tea are only ok.