Washington, DC - Day 7 - Thursday, July 8th

Today was nothing like yesterday. WE got up, had breakfast, shopped a little bit, had lunch at an Italian restaurant, and then left for Julie’s. No frolicking with early settlers or Indians. No pecking in open fields. No sightseeing. John sure is slacking off in his old age. Either that or the heat is getting to him. Probably both. We left for Julie’s in the mid-afternoon and got there in time for dinner. Of course, we got nothing. They even feed me popcorn when we watched the movie “UP”. That Doug is hilarious! Well, bedtime was early because tomorrow is our last day in DC and we have to see the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials, and the American History Museum. Where has the week gone?

Washington, DC - Day 6 - Wednesday, July 7th

Today we leave the comfort of Julie’s place and head to Williamsburg, VA. We’ll be staying in a hotel, so I hope they have enough room for 3 humans and 3 animals! The drive took about 4 hours, and by the time we found our hotel and checked in, it was afternoon. Still hot. Still humid. Still hazy. A bird could get used to this weather! Polly and Lucky enjoyed it, too. Although Polly never sweated – what’s that all about? Apparently today will be spent at Jamestown. We headed to the museum/reenactment area and paid admittance. (Animals free with adult admission. It good to be a chicken!) After trying to decipher the human placards inside the museum (I only could read chicken scratches), we headed outside. That’s where I had the most fun.

First, I donned armor. It was a little big.

Then, I gave a rousing sermon in the pulpit (“Be sure to take care of your animal friends”, etc.)

Someone (probably John) tried to be put in a barrel. I didn’t fit because it was full of monkeys.

I then exchanged recipes with Rocky the Rooster. Apparently he makes a killer cornbread!

The dugout canoe didn’t go anywhere. Probably would’ve helped if I had an oar. And if it was in water. Like the replica boats in the bay. I tested out the sleeping quarters, was almost forced to walk the plank, and hoisted the main sail. I was exhausted when we got to the Indian village. Home, John! I need my rest! Instead of a nice, cool hotel room, he stuck me in his smelly bag and lugged it through Colonial Williamsburg. I was so tired I didn’t even squawk when they had dinner without me. If the fifer and drummer wouldn’t have done a dinner show, I might’ve slept through it. As it was, I didn’t even notice when we got back to the hotel room. I enjoyed today. I finally got to do something fun! I guess John is too bad. What’s on the agenda for tomorrow, I wonder?

Washington, DC - Day 5 - Tuesday, July 6th

Tuesday was just like the other days: hot, humid and hazy. Yay! Today we get to look at a big, open field. Oh, and maybe learn something about Abraham Lincoln. Show me the field!

First, we had to make a Waffle House stop for Ellen. Did they feed Polly, Lucky, and me? Of course not. That would be too nice.

After breakfast, we headed north to Pennsylvania. We spent some time at the Gettysburg Museum, and then we took the auto tour. John and the girls were very content to stay in the air-conditioned car since it was 100 degrees outside. Me – I wanted to soar free! But they never rolled down the windows (couldn’t waste the air conditioning). I was stuck in a rolling cage. This heat is making me woozy – I think I’m having a heat stroke! I need air! Nothing. They didn’t fall for my ruse. They smarter than they look! I had almost made it to the window when John put me in his bag. Not the bag! It got silent as they left us for dinner. I spent the next three hours plotting my revenge. However, by the time we got back to Julie’s, I was too exhausted to peck out their eyes. Maybe tomorrow …

Washington, DC - Day 4 - Monday, July 5th

I arose early this morning. I spent my time before the humans got up avoiding Julie’s cat. She looks scary! Thankfully, John put us (me, Polly, Lucky) in his bag. We were out of harm’s way. Of course, that also meant we couldn’t see anything on the way to DC. If it were for the John’s water jug, we might’ve gotten heat exhaustion. Talk about hot!

Julie decided to do the hills of Arlington cemetery first. No one wants to hike up hills in heat, she figured. Me – I could’ve flown to the top of the hills, if John would let me out of this bag! But he didn’t. I heard about the eternal flame at JFK’s grave and I also heard the changing of the guard. But mainly I heard silence. Solemn silence. Everyone was paying their respects for those who fought for our freedom.

Well, we didn’t’ want the entire day to be a downer, so we caught a train to the stop near The National Archives. Julie got us tickets for the 1 PM showing. That gave us plenty of the time to eat lunch. Well, plenty of time FOR THEM! We got nothing. Bupkus. Nada. Zilch. I tried begging from bystanders, but no one understood me. I guess I have to speak Pidgin. (Pause for groan at the terrible pun. It was John’s fault – Honest!)

After lunch, we walked to the National Archives. I got to see the façade, but not the inside. Apparently “No Cameras” = “No Free Range Chickens”. So much for The Emancipation Proclamation! The tour of the Archives took about an hour, so we had two more hours until our tickets for The Washington Monument. We found a really cool sculpture garden where my comb was HUGE and trees were metallic. We wandered through the Smithsonian “Castle” and meandered our way to the Monument. We even stopped for popsicles (none for us, of course). Not too many people were wandering around the mall. It was REALLY hot! I was broiling!

Thankfully, 4 PM came quickly. We were ushered into an elevator that took us to the top. It was a very cramped area, but the views from up there were AWESOME! You could see The White House, The Capital Building, and everything in between. Amazing views. I even met some nice Japanese tourists who took my picture. I am an international celebrity, baby! I bet they would’ve fed me.

Soon our tour of the monument was over. As we descended, I realized it was almost dinner time. Wonder what’s for dinner? Well, Julie decided we should have seafood in the dockland area. We hailed a taxi that took us to an area with seafood galore! I even got some dinner, as John was generous with his crabcakes. But he didn’t give me any of his strawberry lemonade. Oh well – at least he fed me!

By the time we got on the train, found Julie’s car in the parking garage, and drove home, I was exhausted. Where’s my bed? What? Yes, yes … I’ll be ready to leave in the morning for Gettysburg. It’s a huge open field – of course I’ll be ready! I can hardly wait!

Washington, DC - Day 3 - Sunday, July 4th

Stupid internal clock! I could’ve slept in today, since we’re not going to DC until late afternoon. Say what? Julie insisted on a relaxing day at her place before heading to the craziness of DC for fireworks. We had an awesome menu for lunch: hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, potato salad, deviled eggs, chips. And by “we”, I mean “not us”. Only the humans ate. How rude! But it could’ve been worse – they could’ve eaten us!

After they finished the meal, they chilled out in the living room. Julie researched museum closing times and saw that The Natural History Museum was open until 7 PM. Which was perfect, since the fireworks started at 9 PM and we could visit the museum until it closed and then find a spot for the fireworks. I can’t wait!

It was our first on the train today. We were going to take it all the way to the mall in DC. I didn’t know we were going to shop. I forget my money at home. I was told this was an all-expense-paid trip to DC. No one told me I had to buy my own souvenirs. OK, Lucky, Polly – which train do we take home? What, John? There’s fireworks tonight? On the mall? Sounds dangerous. I’m in!

Turns out the “mall” was a big open grassy area in the middle of DC. If I had known that, I wouldn’t have whined. No, really … I wouldn’t have! We headed to the museum like we planned. There were LOTS of friends for me to play with. I met a polar bear, and a jelly fish, and some butterflies. We even got to be part of a totem pole! The humans wanted to look at the rocks. Me? I could’ve hung out with the woolly mammoth all night. What? The fireworks start in an hour? Let’s find a spot on the field .. I mean mall. I wanna peck!

We wandered in the twilight, looking for a patch of earth to call our own. We eventually found one near the Capital Building and sprawled out. There were quite a few people waiting for the show. Not as many as John was predicting, but still more than I’ve ever seen in one spot before. Many were playing hacky-sack, most were relaxing, some were with the Hare Krishna’s. Everyone an American. I was so proud I waved a flag. American, of course. I’m not a turkey; otherwise, I might’ve flown that one!

BOOM! That’s how the show started. Fireworks of every color exploded over the Washington Monument. Rockets red glare. And blue. And green. And purple! The display was spectacular. Everyone was cheering, John was flashing everyone (with his camera), and smoke hung in the air. And then it was over. That’s it? I want more! I can still hear! Where are we going? I don’t want to leave! Wait? Where’d all these people come from? We have to all get through that tiny door? Help! I’m being squished! Or is it squashed? SQUAWK!

Well, that was fun. NOT! Thankfully, the train platform was not too crowded. Talk about claustrophobic. And we get off at the end of the line. Awesome! Maybe I can get some sleep in John’s bag. Nope! First, he got a band-aid for a girl next to him. Then he got the fan out for the mom. What does a bird have to do to get sleep around here? Apparently nothing, because I didn’t even notice when we got to Julie’s house. No matter. I need my rest for tomorrow. Itinerary for tomorrow: Arlington Cemetery, National Archives, top of Washington Monument. In 100 degree heat. YAY!