Number one - Ann picked up an injury to her ankle, don't know what, she just said it started hurting and therefore she had to limp to the White House in the evening.
Number two - On one of our many journeys on the Washington metro we had a hilarious episode. We waited for a train to come in, then when it did we moved to the nearest door. A man on a scooter needed to get off so everybody stood back and let him out. Then I proceeded to board said carriage. On entering carriage I looked for where Ann had sat down. Much to my dismay she wasn't on the carriage and nobody else was getting on. I stuck my head out to see if she was on the station and she wasn't so wondered where she was. Checked inside again, no sign. Checked outside again, no sign. Thought oh well and stayed on the train as the doors shut. Decided to look through locked door into next carriage. Spotted Ann looking around very worriedly. Laughed. Started waving furiously at her. Finally she spotted me just as people on her carriage started asking her if everything was ok. Needless to say I got the blame for getting on at the door that we had both been stood at.
Anyway moving on to today.
Woke up late due to lots of sleeping. Slightly worried as by the time of going to sleep the sat nav had only dowloaded 13% of the maps in about 3 hours. Luckily it had finished the job overnight.. Felt more confident. Got ready and checked out of hotel. Caught cab to Reagan Airport to pick up the hire car. Passed the Watergate Hotel and the Pentagon. Went to hire desk, served by grumpy man (The first and only grumpy person we met in Washington). Filled in stuff and went to collect car. Another man said I'll show you over to your car. We walked 50 yards and then he said 'Pick any one of these and drive out'. He then walked off. Wondered if we had heard him correctly. Turned out we had. We had the choice of about ten cars. Picked a Jeep. Got in and drove off. Set off at 11am.
Sat nav started to prove being a good buy as it made driving so easy. Told you which lane to approach junctions in, etc. Thought what an excellent purchase. Got out of Washington and headed North to Niagara. Got stuck in traffic. Remain high spirited despite the delay by playing with the car. Eventually moved again and travelled on a while before stopping for lunch in Hancock. http://www.weaversrestaurant.com/index.html
Also popped in Save-a-lot to get some supplies for the journey. Got back on the road and planned to pretty much go non stop to Niagara. Started well, plugged the ipod in, breezed along. Then uh oh, more traffic. Got moving again and then handed the reins to Ann. All going swimmingly, then we needed some fuel. Pulled over to a garage and stopped. we thought open the petrol cap and it will tell us which fuel to get. Wrong. We thought it will say somewhere on the paperwork. Wrong. We thought it would say in the car handbook. There wasn't one. Oh dear. Stared at petrol pump for a while. Asked man in kiosk what he thought. He made a suggestion, we went with it.
Dying for the loo by now. Asked man where restrooms were, he said in the superstore shop. Went over to shop. Male toilet out of order. Thought bollocks to that so went in the ladies whilst Ann kept guard. Came out to find Ann explaining to some fat miserable woman why she couldn't go in. Ran away.
Got going again, filled up and raring to go. Phoned B and B, told them ETA was 9.30pm. Pootled along nicely until reached Buffalo only a few miles from Niagara. It is a decent sized city. Thought we'll be there in no time.
At this point one of those things that can only happen to you happened. The sat nav turned itself off and wouldn't go back on again. And yes it had been plugged in. We had no map but thought follow the signs to Canada, how hard can it be. Very was the answer as there was only one sign to Canada and that was almost immediately. Then just kept driving making shrewd judgements about where to go. Eventually had to stop as it was impossible to tell where we were. Getting late. Prayed the sat nav would come back on. Eventually it did, but seemed to be rather hungover. It shouted incoherent instructions which made no sense and took us no where worthwhile. Eventually it sobered up and got us to Canada.
Woman Canada Guard asked us if we had any guns. I wanted to shoot the sat nav. Finally arrived at B and B at 10.30pm. Hurrah! Woman who runs it seems nice but mental. Four other guests all from Britain apparently. Don't care! Want to go to sleep! We are in the Ruby Room. It is red.
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| Ruby Ruby Ruby arhhharahhahahha |
