So I move on from New Jersey - the STOC Meeting in particular - and ride 245 miles (394 km) in a broad southwest direction to Washington DC, where at 5:00 pm in the NW District of the City I am greeted by French-Canadian Suzanne [Pelland], Amilie's mother. Amilie, of course, is the partner of Sven with whom I spent such an excellent two days in Canut, near Montreal, at the very beginning of July.
Funny how things turn out sometimes? You see, I also met Suzanne by pure chance: Our respective visits to Amilie and Sven place coincided briefly just before my departure from their Canadian home on the 4th of July.
I shall say more about 'chance meetings' in my next post.
Suzanne lives in Washington DC and works for the World Bank on Pennsylvania Avenue; she kindly made me offers at the time we momentarily met, which were always gonna be hard to refuse, such as (1) a place to stay near the centre of DC; together with (2) some local-knowledge guidance around the City, should I so desire it. And desirous of it I most certainly was ... Well after all, wouldn't you be too?
During the late warm summer evening of my arrival, around an almost deserted City Centre, I am shown some very eminent sights. For instance, Capitol Hill and ...
.. President George Dubya’s front door, even though it’s now purely so on a diminishing temporary tenanted basis*Monday, July-23
The following morning, on yet another perfect bright summer's day, I take a self-guided tour around some of Washington DC’s famous sights. Here’s the Pres’ temporary front door again ...
.. and his back door, through which his personal effects will be spirited away at or shortly after (or maybe even shortly before) the next US Presidential Election*[*Annotation: There's no political 'dig' going on here - it's just that US Presidents are only allowed to serve a maximum of two 4-year terms in office. The current President, therefore, will be forced to leave the White House within the not-too-distant future]
Not so far away from the rear of the White House stands the imposing George Washington MonumentWhat a guiding landmark this proves to be for my footslogging navigational efforts around DC.
Across and south down some well-trodden park grass one encounters the Lincoln Memorial at the other end of the Reflecting Pool
Looking back north from stone steps at the base of the Lincoln Memorial
Just a short distance away, to the west, I come across the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, whereupon are inscribed the names of all the serviceman that were lost during that war which lasted for 16 whole years (1959 - 1975)I think to myself at the time, as I look over the 58,000+ names of the US dead and missing: 'Now I know what the current Gulf War is all about; there's no doubt about this - the motivation for going to war against the Iraqis and invading their sovereign nation was to unquestionably rid the area of WMD, that's for certain sure ...right?'
But I'm DAMNED if I know what this stupid war in South East Asia, which I grew up with throughout my entire childhood, adolescent and teenage years ... was really all about .. ??
What good did it all do .. huh?
[Annotation: There IS a political ‘dig’ going on here ..!!]
Tuesday, July-24
Well, who'd of thought that I would be out and about, sailing around Chesapeake Bay on a Hunter 38´ sloop named "Last Call".Once upon a time, mainly throughout the 1980s, I was a mad-keen sailing enthusiast, but since moved on in 1991 to motorcycle touring.
But it was good to be at the helm again after such a long layoff; close-reaching into a full Force 4 wind .. and doing my very best to edge our speed up to 7 knots ...
.. and in good company too: Joel, the owner-skipper on the left; and Joe, the defence lawyer-litigator, my crewmate there on the wheel 
Thank you Suzanne for organising this maritime indulgence, particularly at such short notice. Wed & Thu, 25 & 26-July
Another 'farewell' [to Suzanne] - but another 'hello', but this time it's to my very longest-time friend, David, who grew up with me, along the very same stretch of road, in the very same village, a long long time ago back in Cornwall, England. A career move brought David to the USA yonks ago, and this together with marriage and family commitments now means that America is his adopted new permanent home.
And what a great bricks-and-mortar home he has made for himself, and his young family, here at Chesapeake, in the southeast region of Virginia, 215 miles (346 km) south of Washington DC. Indeed, inside this place is absolutely cavernous.
A further two whole days of domestic bliss to wash-away and make even more distant the memories of motel woes. Moreover, besides seeing David again, who's still in pretty good shape - mind you, he always did end up with the best lookin’ birds around ... Grrrrrr .. ;o) - I make a new canine friend called "Riley", with whom I had great times, including going 'walkies' during David's daytime absence, due to his work commitments. His daughter, Juliet, is a real cutie too.
All my online stuff dealt with, including all outstanding UK-based bills paid ... more Grrrrrr .. :o(
The only regret I have about this long overdue reunion is that I could not get to meet David's wife, Nancy, or his son Andrew, as she was away in Chicago (with Andrew) on business.
