Monday, August 29, 2011

We're in DC!

After three+ days sailing down the Chesapeake and up the Potomac, we arrived in DC Tuesday morning, August 23, just ahead of the earthquake. The docks shook and bounced  and the water was filled with tiny bubbles -like champagne. But that was all. We learned about the hurricane from the radio.
While damage to the area buildings and the Monuments was being assessed from the earthquake, NOAA was forecasting Irene as a Category 1 hurricane. Later changed to a Tropical Storm, Irene brought heavy rain and wind. With Lapidus secured with extra lines and canvass down, we rode out the storm.
Larry began working on the National Gallery of Art project in June.  The exterior wall is 3 by 5 foot, three inch wide marble pieces. In the shop built for the renovation, they are re-gauged, mended, re-anchored, and then  reinstalled. Larry is a foreman and operating equipment in the shop. Smithsonian buildings are considered works of art; you can imagine the directors, architects and project managers all over the place.  
We're in a marina on the Waterfront of the Washington Channel.  We can walk, or take a bus or metro everywhere.  Larry walks about a mile to the job. In Mayo, driving, riding the commuter bus and waiting added up to nearly five hours a day.
No earthquake or hurricane now, just 80 degrees of gorgeous weather.