Destination: Washington D.C.
Dates: March 2-5, 2019
Reason: Celebrate pregnancies
Day 1 March 2, 2019
Julia and I left the house around 5:15am and headed east. I took the first leg since she had just recently completed two weeks of travel for work. She snoozed and I cruised. The GPS took us a different route than usual so we didn’t have the normal markers that we see when we visit the Muellers.
Somewhere in Maryland we switched driving and I took a nap. I woke up to us in standstill traffic, which we discovered was caused by a semi truck that careened off the road. It only delayed us about 30 minutes. We switched again and I took us into DC while she napped.
We arrived in Arlington with no other trouble. We spotted the visible landmarks on the National Mall and exited the highway next to the Pentagon. By 2:00pm we were in the Mueller’s apartment.
The purpose of our trip was to celebrate Erin and Julia’s pregnancies. Erin was due in July and Julia was due in September, so we figured this would be our last opportunity to party it up without little ones along. For this purpose I brought a bottle of bourbon for Mueller and I, with which he created wonderful Old Fashioneds using a homemade orange syrup.
After catching up and shooting the breeze we walked to a nearby tapas shop for happy hour. The food was very good and filling. We headed back and watched a little tv. Shortly after, the ladies went to bed but Mueller and I stayed up to watch FC Cincinnati’s first professional Major League game, a 4-1 loss to Seattle. We talked philosophy and our impending fatherhood and went to bed around 1:30am.
Day 2 March 3, 2019
Having had a little bit too much to drink the night before, I needed to rest up and take it easy. The four of us watched tv and napped well into the afternoon. We played a board game and then Mueller made a wonderful paella with noodles instead of rice. After dinner we took our places on the couch and talked. I looked at the weather forecast and made the call that we would not be able to go to Shenandoah National Park on Monday due to park road closures. Julia and I decided we could go to Gettysburg instead and stay over in Pittsburgh. She texted her best friend Renee to see if we could stay with her, and we were immediately accepted. As it turned out, Renee had just that day discovered that she was pregnant as well!
Julia was over the moon and our plans were decided. We went to bed around 10:30am.
Day 3 March 4, 2019
We woke up at quarter to 8 and got ready to leave. We said our sad goodbyes to the Muellers and drove the 3 or so miles to Arlington National Cemetery. Julia had never been. Our trip was short but impactful. The Robert E Lee house was closed for renovation so we missed that. However, we did get to see the Changing of the Guard and wreath ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. After that we visited JFK and Taft’s gravesites. In her pregnant condition, Julia was weary so we left after that. The next time we visit we’ll definitely see more.
Speaking of that, I am tremendously excited by the thought that someday soon Julia and I will be able to travel and experience the world with our child! When we return to DC we’ll be bringing our little one, and I can’t wait to see their wonder and awe at the monuments!
Gettysburg was pounded with 8 inches of snow, so we decided just to go to Pittsburgh. We stopped to pick up our traditional crab-seasoned potato chips and zipped across Pennsylvania. We arrived in Pittsburgh a little too early for Renee, at 3:30pm, so we stopped at Primanti Bros for a sandwich.
When we got to Renee’s we caught up for a while. Her husband Steve was out of town for work, so she was super happy that we could keep her company. We went near downtown to have pho for dinner, then talked a bit more at her house before heading to bed.
Day 4 March 5, 2019
Renee made us eggs in the morning and we left at 9:45am. The highways are inexplicably stupid in Pittsburgh, so we got a little turned around. At least we were able to shake our fists at the Steelers stadium.
Not really much to report on the trip back. We encountered some trees covered in ice from condensed fog, which is truly marvelous. We got home around 3:00pm and picked up Skyline. My parents met us at the house with the dogs and chatted a while.
While we were very bummed to miss Shenandoah and Gettysburg, we had a relaxing time. The next time we go to DC we should be toting along a kiddo! Can’t wait!
Robinsons on the Road 