March 25, 2013:

 

            I got up around 8:15 am and got dressed. I looked out the window and saw that there was quite a bit of snow on the ground. I went to IHOP for breakfast. After breakfast, I returned to my hotel for a few minutes before I walked out to catch a bus. The bus came and took me to Addison Road Metro Station. At Addison, I caught a Blue Line train to Capitol South and went back to the US Capitol. This time, I didn't have any food on me.

 

            I cleared security and then had to line up in a huge line up to get a ticket to the Capitol. It took a long time but I finally got in. I first watched a film on the Capitol and the story behind the building. After the film, we were taken on an audio tour. We first stopped in a room of the original 13 states and our guide pointed out various statues. One of which was a bust of President Lincoln by the person who carved Mount Rushmore. I took some photos.

 

 

            We then went to the Rotunda. The Rotunda had several statues as well as various paintings. I took some photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            When an important person dies, they sometimes lie in the Rotunda where the public files by. So far only one woman has gotten that honour: Rosa Parks

 

            We then went into the next room with statues. The reason I had come to the Capitol in the first place was to see the newest statue: Rosa Parks. If you read my Michigan trip, you’ll know why Rosa Parks is significant to me. Needless to say, I photographed the Rosa Parks statue and other statues in the room.

 

 

 

            The tour was now over. I looked in the gift shop before I went back to the Metro and then onto the White House. I photographed the White House.

 

 

 

 

            I then headed to Union Station for lunch. After lunch, I bought two DVDs at a store in the station before I got on the Red Line and rode to Silver Spring. I was once again looking for a WMATA 30 foot Orion 5. I photographed some buses, but a WMATA 30 foot Orion 5 never showed up.

 

 

 

 

 

            I then filmed Amtrak's Westbound Capitol Limited passing through. Afterwards, I decided to get back on the Metro and rode to Greenbelt. I again looked for a 30 foot WMATA Orion 5 without success. I photographed a MARC commuter train before I got back on the Metro.

 

 

            I rode a Green Line train to Fort Totten. I transferred to the route R2 bus. While waiting for my bus, I photographed some buses at the station.

 

 

            I took the R2 bus to the Friendship Heights station. This would be my next shot at a 30 foot Orion 5. I photographed a few WMATA buses including a 30 foot Orion 7 and 40 foot Orion 5s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I saw a 30 foot Orion 5 numbered 5122 running on Ride-On route 29; which is the route I would take if I was going to Glen Echo. I would not be going there on this trip because the PCC which I photographed on my Washington-Cleveland trip and my Washington-Lancaster trip was no longer there. I photographed the bus.

 

 

            As it drove by, I noticed that its interior looked like the interior of a WMATA Orion 5 and I figured it was bought or leased from WMATA. I figured this would be best shot at riding a WMATA 30 foot Orion 5 even if it was being run by Ride On.

 

            I remembered from my Washington-Cleveland that Ride On route 29 serves the next Metro station, so I got on and rode to Bethesda. When I got there, I saw the Orion 5, but it was signed out of service, but there were people waiting so I figured the driver was going to lay over near the station. I waited for a long time. I did check the schedule and see there would be another departure of route 21.

 

            Another Ride On 30 foot Orion 5 pulled in, but it wasn't a WMATA unit. I photographed it anyway.

 

 

            After awhile, Ride On 30 foot Orion 5 #5128 pulled in. It was another WMATA unit. I got on and the bus departed. I was right in my assumption as this bus was formerly #3928. When I got off, I photographed #5128 and filmed it pulling away.

 

 

            I then made my way back to the Metro. After I got back to the station, I rode the Red Line south to Metro Center and transferred to the Orange Line. I wanted to see where the new Silver Line which is to open later this year will connect to the Orange Line.

 

            I rode to East Falls Church station and filmed the train pulling out. I saw no evidence of a switch so I rode one stop further to West Falls Church. The switch appeared to be just east of the station. I got off and waited for a train to take me east. I rode the Orange Line to Foggy Bottom-GWU and waited for a Blue line train.

 

            I rode the Blue line train to Largo Town Center and photographed the subway since I wouldn't pass through Largo again.

 

 

            I then took a bus back to my hotel. I ate dinner at a McDonald's a couple blocks from my hotel before I returned. I did a bit of laundry and watched some TV before I asked for a wake up call at 8:00 am and called it a night.

 

Click here to read about my trip back home: