After a mediocre breakfast at the Holiday Inn, hey it was free, Donna, Sally and I put on our walking shoes. We walked down to the Arlington Memorial Bridge, crossed the Potomac and visited the Lincoln Memorial. Then we did the war memorial tour, Vietnam, Korean and then the Big One, the new WWII Memorial. (Wonder where the WWI Memorial is? Kansas City) We then trooped all around the tidal basin to take in the Jefferson Memorial. Even though we are midway through the 2 week Cherry Blossom Festival, the trees refused to cooperate with the festival scheduler, they peaked a couple days before. Because of last Wednesday’s rain and wind there are very few blossoms left on the trees. It is colder and windier than it should be for this time of the year which made the walk back to our hotel a very uncomfortable one. I bet we covered 5-6 miles.
We took a minor break to let our bodies get back to normal operating temperature and then jumped in the rental car to drive to Sterling, VA. Donna and I convinced Sally to come with us and drive BMWs to benefit the Susan Komen Foundation. From looking at the BMW dealer’s website I knew is was on VA28 north of Dulles Airport. We got on 28 going north and drove and drove and drove until 28 turned into VA7 and disappeared. Donna in the back spotted a couple of the Ultimate Drive cars going the opposite way, so we ambushed one and got on his tail. We hung with him until he ended up at the dealer (even with his wrong turns.) I signed up to drive, Sally was going to drive cars too, while Donna was going to do her usual navigator details. The three of us did a familiarization loop with me at the wheel of a 750, Sally sitting right seat and Donna in the back. Next, I drove a Z4 convertible and Sally drove Donna on a loop in a Z4 coupe. I went back to the rental car to get my camera and as I walked to the front, Donna and Sally went by in the Z4 I had just dropped off, shouting “Catch us if you can.” By the time I got loaded in a 335i convertible, I didn’t see them until I was finishing my loop and they were pulling out of the dealer’s lot in an X3. I hurried and got in a 335i Coupe to try and catch them. No such luck, Sally must be driving like a madwoman, because not only did I not catch them, but by the time I returned the coupe they were long gone in an X5. Deciding that I was just getting further behind, I didn’t even get another car, I just waited for them to return.
After my 4 laps and Sally and Donna’s 5 we decided to take a lunch break. Before we left though we signed up to help them ferry the cars to their next dealer in Arlington where they would be doing it all over again tomorrow. It was a little after 2 PM and they wanted us back at 5 to get prepared for the big caravan. Earlier, while we were searching for the BMW dealer, we had passed a mall and where there is a mall, there is always a variety of restaurants. Trouble was we could remember where it was. It took us about 45 minutes and once even asking directions, before we found someplace called the Dulles Place or something like that Dulles Town Center. Ended up at a Red Robin. What we all had was good, but the bill was like $40 for the three of us, which seems a little high, even for a gourmet burger place.
As if we didn’t walk enough in the morning, after lunch we walked around both floors of the mall to aid in our digestion. We then headed back to BMW of Sterling to wait until it was ferry duty time. I guess we must really be gluttons for punishment because when we got back the three of us loaded up in a 335i sedan and did a loop with me at the wheel. Quickly followed by Sally driving Donna and I around in an X3.
Seeing as we are staying in Arlington, it didn’t make much sense for us to ferry two cars to Arlington, get a bus back to Sterling, only to have to drive back to Arlington in the rental car. So Donna elected to drive the Pontiac G6 and jump in the 19 car BMW caravan and follow us in, saving about an hour and a half or two of DC driving time. Sally drove an X5 and I drove a Z4 Coupe. Donna was originally going to follow me, but when Sally went by first she just hooked up with her. I started about 6 cars back from them, but with all the traffic and stoplights there was no way to keep everyone together. As a matter of fact I got split from their group at the first light and once again never saw the ladies until I got to the end at the next dealer.
It was just a 10 minute drive back to drop of Sally at her place where we said goodbye. A quick circle of the block and we were back at the Holiday Inn. Man that was a long, but very fun day. The only way it could have been better was if it was sixty degrees instead of forty.