March

 After a quieter February, we geared up for a travel heavy March for cheer competitions.

Our first stop was in Lancaster, Philadelphia, about two and a half hours north east of Arlington. 


The team - 4th Gear. Laura middle front.

Lancaster is smack bang in the middle of Amish country. We went for a drive around the area and came across lots of horse-drawn carts.


Hazard sign and tail lights.

The following weekend we headed to Virginia Beach, about three and a half hours south east of Arlington on the Atlantic Ocean. 


Laura had hoped to swim in the ocean, but with the water temp in the single digits she quickly realised that would not be an option.

Not my pic, but it gives you an idea of the beach.

How the beach looked when we were there!

Sand replenishment under way,

Boardwalk statue.

Comp shot. Laura is in the group holding up the middle flyer.

The middle weekend in March we only had a short distance to travel for the competition, this time to Fredericksburg, a little over an hour south of us. Just a day trip, leaving home at midday and returning about 10pm. Ben opted out of this trip. 


Apparently we took absolutely zero photos at this competition!

The second to last weekend in March, Lynell and Mike who featured in the January blog came up to visit us from South Carolina, arriving on Thursday evening and staying until Sunday morning. Lynell had been hoping to see the infamous DC cherry blossoms in full bloom, but was unfortunately about a week early.

On the Friday Lynell, Mike and I met Russ in DC for lunch, visiting The Parterre, part of the Enid A Haupt Gardens, next to the Smithsonian Castle on the way https://gardens.si.edu/gardens/haupt-garden/. While we were too early for the cherry blossoms, the magnolias were spectacular.

Smithsonian Castle

The Parterre


After lunch at an Irish pub, we found a rum bar where Mike and Lynell introduced Russ and me to "painkillers". 

First drink. Won't show the last drink photo!

The following day Mike, Lynell, Russ and I headed to Stone Tower Winery, a stunning winery about an hour away from Arlington, just outside Leesburg. What a beautiful place! A delicious lunch and wine was enjoyed by all.

Not my pic.


It was sad to say goodbye to Mike and Lynell when they left on the Sunday, goodness knows when we will meet up again, but we were so thrilled to have the chance to reconnect after all these years.

On March 24th Russ visited the US Capitol Building and the US Supreme Court as part of his War College studies. The aim of the visit was to gain an understanding of the key US institutions that influence the development and in-limitation of National Security Strategies and Policy. The highlight of the visit was the US Supreme Court, where they got to hear from the US Chief Justice, John Roberts, and participate in a frank question and answer session. 

A very wet Capitol Building.

Office of Nancy Pelosi, California.

On March 28th Russ and I had a special trip into the Australian Embassy where Russ was presented with a National Emergency Medal by the Defence Attache in DC, Rear Admiral Ian Murray. The medal recognises significant service during bushfire events. Specifically, Russ' medal was in relation to the amazing work HMAS Choules did in Mallacoota on the Gippsland Peninsula in January 2020.


Our final cheer trip for March was a girls only trip to Ocean City, about three hours east of Arlington.


The Ocean City peninsula.

Last competition.

Proof of life for Ben for March (taken in Laura's bedroom while we were in Ocean City, as dads/brothers are want to do!).


Thought I'd also include a picture taken in our neighbourhood, to show how pretty it is at this time of year.





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