Mt. Vernon & Arlington - Day Two

Saturday we decided to provide our own transportation and took the Beltway in our Jeep looking for Mt. Vernon. We went East around to Alexandria and missed the off ramp to the Mt. Vernon Parkway, but finally found it - arriving at the home of our first President ready to enjoy our visit. But by then the line going into the mansion was half a mile long, or so it seemed. So we skipped that part and began walking the rest of the grounds. Actually we saw so much and enjoyed the scenary of the park and the Potomac enough to satisfy our interest. With lunch at the visitor center we were ready to find Arlington. This was a breeze compared to our earlier drive, taking the highway along the bank up to Alexandria then cutting over to Jefferson Davis Highway on up to the cemetary. After considerably more walking we made it to the Tomb of the Unknowns, then watched the army sentinel making his vigil of 21 steps in each direction followed by the ritual changing of the guard. It is a very moving and impressive display of military honor to unkown casualties from WW I, WW II and Korea. But again our feet and Nelda's knees were begging relief so that ended our visit and we returned to the campground for a swim and and jacuzzi bath.