We've come to realize that when the kids are happy, we're happy too. Funny hey, took a Masters Degree in Education to figure that out!!! Regardless, we now do serious and outright planning for "car based" travel time. We make sure there is plenty of healthy snack and drink available, that the handheld video games are in a charged and ready state, and a variety of DVD's are available for our little movie buffs!!! It makes a huge difference in "state of mind" upon arrival when this type of entertainment is in place. We've found it pays huge dividends in the success of the overall trip.

Our first day's driving took us from Antigonish to Portland, Maine. It was a run of approximately 9 hrs... the weather held and it was uneventful with minimal stop beyond essentials. We hunkered down at a Days Inn for the night, enjoyed a great breakfast and hit the road by 7:00am on Day Two. We locked in our newest traveller, Automated Angie the trusty GPS, and put our faith in her to assist us in making it through "Soprano Land" and hitting our target of Washington by suppertime. It's a glorious American excursion, to pile into the car and head for vacation via thruway, freeway or turnpike. In Canada, however, we're used to miles of highway delicately speckled with a car every several kilometers. New Jersey is not so kind!!!

So onward we plunge through Manhattan and across to Jersey via the George Washington. Without incident we make our way to the I-95 and across the megapolis to Philly, Baltimore and eventually, downtown DC and the tunnel which runs under Capitol Hill. We had fun, it all worked out fine, but I'd hate with all my Irish fervor to have to run that guantlet on a daily basis. Thanks to Angie for getting us there safe and sound... a lot of black top in that part of the world to get lost on!!!

We checked into our hotel (Hampton Inn & Suites) in Arlington, Virginia shortly after supper. Jane took the kids for a refreshing dip in the pool and I got us organized for the first day on foot in Washington. After a huge pizza dinner we snuggled into some mindless television and a much deserved rest. All hands were expected to be on deck early for Monday and the subway ride into the National Mall.