Day 3, Day of the Bicycle.

Another great and full day for us in DC! Not quite as jammed packed as yesterday, but still a lot of adventures were had.

We were a little tired from our grand day yesterday, sleeping in till 10am. We got around and finally out the door about 12-noon. Our first destination was the Mall to take part in the National Day of Service. We arrived just in time to see one of the three programs they had scheduled for this location. A welcome was made, a freshman senator from Illinois spoke, and then they started talking about this piano that was on the stage.... They were about to introduce Ben Folds!! How awesome :) If you knew me in high school you know I was ALWAYS listening to Ben Folds. I was pretty excited to see him take the stage for a few songs. Star Jones was the next speaker and then we went on our way to explore the different opportunities in the tent. Nancy wrote a postcard to active military serving overseas, Barry got a hat, and I was still smiling from seeing Ben Folds.

Our goal for today was to do the Capital Bikeshare. It was a bit of a learning curve to acquire your day pass and learn how to check out/return every 30minutes- but we were a quick study and found this a great way to tour the city. We headed out from the mall to the Jefferson memorial. Great views of the Washington monument over the lake and enjoyed the sights of Jefferson.

Our next stop was the FDR memorial. The guided tour was very informative and we enjoyed it. Quick quiz for all my Emporia friends: What program did FDR establish during the depression to help put people to work that ESU benefited from?? Our very own Welch Stadium was a WPA project that put Americans to work during the depression to help stimulate the economy.

Onto the MLK memorial where I spent a fair amount of time asking strangers if I could take their photos so their whole family could be in the picture. One father visiting with his wife and four daughters was so thankful for my offer. Helping their family document this memory was heart warming.

It was beginning to get chilly as the sun set so we did the express tour of the Korean memorial, Lincoln & the Vietnam memorial. Getting bikes again we road up by the White House backyard and even ventured out onto city streets via bike lanes. Overall a successful day of bike riding!

After such a busy day we were ready for a good meal and found a sports bar to get dinner and watch the end of the WSU game. We also decided to catch a movie and Zero Dark Thirty seemed fitting for our location.

Another long day for these tourists, nigh three of musical beds begins.

Nancy & Barry as we went to the National Day of Service.

Hanging out with Eleanor Roosevelt at the FDR memorial.

Barry, Nancy & me at the base of the Lincoln Memorial.  The Washington Monument is behind us.

Using the bike lanes in DC.  Loved the Capital Bikeshare!