I worked a half day today — from home.
Robert arrived around 12:30, and we left for DC just after 1:00.
It took a good half-hour just to get out of Raleigh — up US. 1 N. (Note to self: Next time going North on US 1, take Falls of Neuse to Old Wake Forest Road to US1.)
We arrived in DC in just a little over four hours. Yes, I did speed. Top speed: 90MPH. Average speed: I’d guess 80-85.
I can’t drive to DC without thinking at some points along the way, “I rode through here on my bicycle in 2003.”
We stayed at the
which was conveniently off Interstate 395, and the host hotel for the
We passed on the $30-per-day valet parking service, and parked at a parking meter to unload and register, which went smoothly. In front of us in line, were Gary et. al. from Southern Country Charlotte.
We brought our luggage up to room 655, where we were disappointed to find that there wasn’t a refrigerator in the room. Surprisingly, there wasn’t a safe either.
We went back to the car, and took it over to Union Square, where overnight parking was available for $18 per 24-hour period, and that’s where we left the car until Sunday.
We had a short nap, and then Robert was a dear, and went foraging for supper for us. He had intended to get sandwiches from the deli across the street, but it turned out to be closed, so he walked over to Union Square, where he found another deli.
We had one “Italian Sub” and one egg salad sandwich, both of which came with chips and a pickle. We shared them both, though Robert only ended up eating half of his half of the Italian sub. We saved the other half for later, and I ate it — after dancing.
Robert had also picked up a Godiva White Chocolate bar for dessert. Yum.
We had a couple of cocktails in the room, and headed downstairs to the Stampede Jamboree Dance in the Regency Ballroom.
I started off in jeans and boots, but after two dances, went upstairs to change into my usual outfit of shorts and tennis shoes.
We briefly saw Joe and Jose, but no other folks from the Raleigh-Durham area. We were able to do several of the line dances, but not as many as we would have liked to. So many line dances, so little time.
We did manage a shadow dance and at least one waltz.
We didn’t make it all the way until 2:00AM, but close to it. Back in the room, I ate that leftover half of the half of sub I mentioned earlier. Yum.