D.C. - Day 2

Having had a lovely relaxing sleep I awoke recharged and ready to tackle The Smithsonian – well part of it at least.

I got up at 8:00 and headed for the shower, relishing the fact that I would get one without having to wait three hours. As it happened it took me about an hour to get in it because I was chatting to Stephen about his battles with The Red Tape of America – which would obviously be bigger redder and “tapier” than anywhere else in the world! He is trying to get a driver’s licence sorted out before his temporary tags expire on his car – he doesn’t seem too hopeful. In the USA the tags (or plates) stay with the driver as opposed to in the UK – or New Zealand – where they stay with the vehicle. After commiserating with him on his plight I had a shave and a shower and returned to the dorm. This was when I re-met Eric, a nice guy from Mexico City, as we had met in the shower earlier whilst I was talking to Stephen.

We were both heading for The Smithsonian so we agreed to walk there together. Eric was heading for the Natural History Museum and I was aiming for the Space and Flight Museum. We were chatting happily away and in sight of the Natural History Museum (The Smithsonian consists of several museums – all free to enter) when I suddenly had a thought that I had forgotten something and, on checking all my pockets, realised I had forgotten my wallet. Bugger! I apologised to Eric, wished him a good day and set off back to the hostel. Damn!
Having retrieved my wallet I then retraced my steps back to Pennsylvania Avenue.

The Smithsonian consists of about five (or maybe more) museums. One was shut for renovation, so that narrowed my choice a little, and I opted for the National Air & Space Museum.

When I got there, as one can imagine, I was in my element – that’s it for the day (until closing time). The place is vast, as it would have to be to house whole aircraft – and quite a few of them, so I was made up just walking through the door when I saw what was in the entrance gallery – the Apollo 11 Command Module! Either side of it were Mercury and Gemini capsules – all of these were enclosed in plastic cases which afforded an excellent view for the naked eye but was a bitch to try and photograph even with flash turned off as the interiors were not terribly well lit. Not all that surprising really seeing as how bloody small they were. I am sure any feeling of claustrophobia would be amply offset by the feeling of agoraphobia when looking out of the window into open space! I tried to imagine what it would be like to sit in (well be strapped into) a chair for a week and not being able to get up or move very much at all! At least the moon walkers got a chance to get out and stretch their legs for a while. Mind you when I got to see the suiting up procedure for the flight – let alone moon walking which was even more intense – I will never complain about specialist clothing again.

I could bore everyone with loads of details about what I saw but I will just give a few highlights and let you know I left when the museum closed.

There was an interesting exhibit on Space Ship One – the first privately produced space vehicle – which is effectively made of epoxy coated fabric and folds itself in half for re-entry! Ingenious. There was a section of moon rock mounted in a stand and one can touch it, so I can now say I have touched the moon with my own hands (as opposed to just in my dreams)! I was very thrilled anyway.

One of the star attractions they have is the original Wright Flyer; yes, that is the Wright brother’s plane which made the first flight. It had been recovered (part of the original covering was in a display case) and one of the propellers had been replaced (the original broken one was in a display case too – it broke when the plane crash landed after its flight) but the structure was all there and intact. Needless to say I was enthralled with it – we seem to have come a very long way in 100 years.

I have tried to keep the photo examples down to a minimum as I could have included pictures of; Skylab, Hubble Telescope, Breitling Orbiter 3, the Mars Lander, Voyager (the first aircraft to fly around the world without stopping or refuelling – designed by Burt Rutan who designed Space Ship One), and LM2.
LM2 is the Lunar Module used for drop testing on Earth, LM’s 3 & 4 where sent into orbit unmanned and used for docking & deployment practice and LM5 actually landed on the moon – so it obviously isn’t on display!

Also on display is a cutaway model of Skylab – the one they used underwater for training – which one can walk through and see just what it was like in the living quarters, including the space toilet and the space shower – very clever things in zero gravity!

If one likes, or is interested in, flight and space flight then this is a must visit place. If not stay away, although you won’t waste your money because all the Smithsonian museums are free to enter. The only thing I found disappointing about it was a McMurders (but I avoided it like the plague it is so I was alright).

I returned to the now dark streets of DC and it was only when I started walking down the road that I realised how much my feet ached.
I headed off for something to eat but did stop to get a rather good picture of the Washington Monument at sunset (even if I do say so myself).

When I got back to the hostel I ran into Eric and we exchanged observations on the Smithsonian. Well, I should say I found out what he was really going there for – I assumed to visit, but I was wrong – and that is measuring specimens of Mexican woodpeckers for his dissertation. Apparently the Smithsonian has the largest collection in the world, so where better to go? He was fascinated with my run down on the things I had seen and was really taken with some of my photographs. He put the Space & Flight Museum on his “must do” list before returning to Mexico City.

We both set off to check emails, etc. before turning in for the night. I had received another email from Masa, who is trying to readjust to life in Japan after “travelling and being free” as he put it. Hmmm, it stirred a few reservations in my mind too. I wonder how I will feel when/if I return to the UK. I put aside any further thought about that, I am not going to let it taint my experiences. I replied to his email and wished him well.

Having caught up with everything “Interweb” I went to bed. I wanted to be rested for the monument walking tour tomorrow.