WillCAD
07-31-2006, 12:53 PM
When I woke up Sunday morning, I was feeling pretty good. I felt so good, in fact, that I decided on the spur of the moment to drive to Washington DC and walk around the National Mall for a photo expedition.
After hurredly putting together my camera gear, utility belt, and a bottle of ice water, and checking my route and potential parking areas online, I was off.
I arrived in DC a little before noon and parked at one of the lettered (A, B, C) lots near the Jefferson Memorial.
My walk started out okay, even though it was insanely hot. I went from Tommy's Place over to the Washington Monument, then around the Mall with a quick visit to the Museum of American History, the Sculpture Garden outside the National Museum of Art, and a long visit to the Air and Space Museum. After lunch at the A&S museum's greenhouse food court (it must have been 85 degrees in there), I left the comfort of totally inadequate air conditioning to trek back across the length of the Mall.
As I passed the Washington Monument, Marine One flew over - very low and very close - on approach to W's pad. I got a couple of good shots as it passed and as it landed.
My next stop was the WWII Memorial, which I really liked both for its design and for its prominent placement within the Mall.
Lastly, I walked the length of the Reflecting Pool to visit Abe's Place, and got a single pic of the Korean War memorial on my way back to Ohio Avenue for the mile-long trek back to my truck.
Having been to WDW in June, August, and September several times, I took precautions against the heat (wearing light clothes, drinking lots of water, splashing water on my face and arms, and eating light), but the heat hit me like a sledge hammer. I stuck to the shade as much as possible, and walked on the lawns instead of the pavement, but any time I was in direct sunlight I felt like I was being roasted alive.
To make matters worse, I was recently afliceted with heel spurs (planar fasciitis, I think it's called), which can make walking uncomfortable, and it did, but not too badly. However, in favoring my right heel, I somehow put too much strain on my left foot, so that by the time I got to Abe's Place my foot was aching constantly. And by the time I got back to my truck, I was in agony.
After pouring the last of my water bottle over my head, I cranked up the A/C and headed home at about 7pm.
Heat, pain, and exhaustion aside, it was a great visit. I have not been to the Mall since 1987, and even then I only visited the Air and Space Museum. I haven't been to the other monument since I was about 5 years old. I got some nice pictures, all of which might have been better if I hadn't been so distracted by the heat, and got to see some of the greatest monuments in our country.
Pics to follow (they will take some time to upload).
Inceidentally, I also used a new camera accessory - a harness instead of a neck strap. I made it myself, by crossing two old camera straps to form an X, then linking the ends together to form a sort of figure 8. This weird-looking getup worked like a charm! Kept my camera secure with almost no bouncing, and took the weight completely off my neck. I didn't get even a little uncomfortable with the camera all day. Pics of the harness to follow later, as well.
After hurredly putting together my camera gear, utility belt, and a bottle of ice water, and checking my route and potential parking areas online, I was off.
I arrived in DC a little before noon and parked at one of the lettered (A, B, C) lots near the Jefferson Memorial.
My walk started out okay, even though it was insanely hot. I went from Tommy's Place over to the Washington Monument, then around the Mall with a quick visit to the Museum of American History, the Sculpture Garden outside the National Museum of Art, and a long visit to the Air and Space Museum. After lunch at the A&S museum's greenhouse food court (it must have been 85 degrees in there), I left the comfort of totally inadequate air conditioning to trek back across the length of the Mall.
As I passed the Washington Monument, Marine One flew over - very low and very close - on approach to W's pad. I got a couple of good shots as it passed and as it landed.
My next stop was the WWII Memorial, which I really liked both for its design and for its prominent placement within the Mall.
Lastly, I walked the length of the Reflecting Pool to visit Abe's Place, and got a single pic of the Korean War memorial on my way back to Ohio Avenue for the mile-long trek back to my truck.
Having been to WDW in June, August, and September several times, I took precautions against the heat (wearing light clothes, drinking lots of water, splashing water on my face and arms, and eating light), but the heat hit me like a sledge hammer. I stuck to the shade as much as possible, and walked on the lawns instead of the pavement, but any time I was in direct sunlight I felt like I was being roasted alive.
To make matters worse, I was recently afliceted with heel spurs (planar fasciitis, I think it's called), which can make walking uncomfortable, and it did, but not too badly. However, in favoring my right heel, I somehow put too much strain on my left foot, so that by the time I got to Abe's Place my foot was aching constantly. And by the time I got back to my truck, I was in agony.
After pouring the last of my water bottle over my head, I cranked up the A/C and headed home at about 7pm.
Heat, pain, and exhaustion aside, it was a great visit. I have not been to the Mall since 1987, and even then I only visited the Air and Space Museum. I haven't been to the other monument since I was about 5 years old. I got some nice pictures, all of which might have been better if I hadn't been so distracted by the heat, and got to see some of the greatest monuments in our country.
Pics to follow (they will take some time to upload).
Inceidentally, I also used a new camera accessory - a harness instead of a neck strap. I made it myself, by crossing two old camera straps to form an X, then linking the ends together to form a sort of figure 8. This weird-looking getup worked like a charm! Kept my camera secure with almost no bouncing, and took the weight completely off my neck. I didn't get even a little uncomfortable with the camera all day. Pics of the harness to follow later, as well.