By; Walt & Marilyn Sandy WBCCI # 4159

We took the route less traveled to Washington, DC and feeling a little laid back we opted for US 301 though Delaware and Maryland. Stopped just short of the Bay Bridge at "Chesapeake Chicken" for lunch. Food was excellent, portions generous, we had enough "prisoners" for Supper in D. C. Continued on and arrived in DC about 12:30 PM on Thursday. We had a little confusion finding the Rally Site, all we knew was it was in a parking lot at R.F.K. Memorial Stadium. After circling the stadium once, we found an employee who said "Y’all looking for the rest of them Silver Trailers?" He was kind enough to escort us right into the proper parking lot! Everyone wanted to know how we rated an escort.

Thursday afternoon we bought tickets for Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus, which was appearing at the Armory, right next door. Later, we had our first " friendship circle" and Dinner on our own. By nightfall we had 16 rigs and more expected Friday. We even had one trailer in transit, the owner had brought it almost halfway to it’s final destination for the new owner to tow it the rest of the way to Alabama. The trailer was a 1955, about 26 feet long and gutted. This was OK with the new owner- (can’t remember his name, we all just called him ‘Bama) as he was turning it into a recording studio. More proof that old Airstreams don’t die- they get re-cycled!

Later that night, ‘Bama favored us with some flute solos starting with a C Flute, then progressing to an Alto Flute, on to a Bass Flute (The first time I ever knowingly heard one) and finished up with a Penny Whistle. Great Fun.

Friday Dawned with clear and windy weather and we checked out the other Trailers and their owners. We had people from Texas, Wisconsin, Buffalo, NY area, Ontario Canada, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and New Hampshire. The long distance prize, however has to go to Mr. Anthony Slocock from London, England, U.K. Anthony had purchased a 1959 Pacer, sight unseen and flew in on the Sunday prior to the rally and had worked continuously to get the rig road worthy for the rally. With the help of Tom Howarth, President of the W. D.C.U. who is letting Anthony keep the trailer at his farm in Maryland, Anthony got his Pacer to the Rally.

We toured D. C. and checked out the impressive monuments and Government Buildings, but alas, NO Cherry Blossoms, as the warm weather earlier had triggered an early bloom. The Flowering Pear, Plum and the Azaleas and Dogwoods did a lot to make up for the lack of Cherry Blossoms.

Friday night our rally hosts provided a Deli Dinner with all the fixin’s and then we all trooped up to see the Circus. What can I say, it is, as advertised, "The Greatest Show on Earth".

Saturday the weather was warm and humid as we lingered over our continental breakfast. Ruth Baldwin’s Smoked Salmon Spread is to die for! We’ll share the recipe when we get it.. Spoke with a reporter from the Washington Post newspaper who was writing a story about the Rally.

More touring, this time to Georgetown and Arlington National Cemetery.

Later in the day, the weather started to deteriorate and we got back to the rally site just as it started to sprinkle. The temperature had dropped at least thirty degrees in the next hour and it was pouring. This did not deter our intrepid W. D. C. U. Hosts, as Ruth Baldwin and her Husband managed to furnish everyone with a complete Spaghetti & Meatball dinner from salad to dessert. In the Rain. With NO electric or water hook- ups .

Sunday A. M. was cold and windy with SNOW on every ones rigs. At 8:30 we got the word to Move Out. W. D. C. U. member Harley Muse had managed to get permission to park on 3^rd street between the Capitol Building and the Mall for pictures. We caravanned down to 3^rd Street and people were waving and smiling at us, I guess they thought it was a parade. When we arrived at the Capitol, we Parked in two lines and W. D. C. U. member Kara Rice took group photos with the Capitol and the Washington Monument in the background. This marked the end of the Rally and we took our leave of friends both old and new and went our separate ways.

This Rally had several firsts; The W. D. C. U.’s first ever Rally, the first time a Rally was held IN D.C itself and as far as our Archivists can tell, the first group parking and pictures at the Capitol.

We had a great time and extend our thanks to ALL the members of the W. D. C. U. for making this Rally an event to remember.