DCAR7 - Day Zero
Day Zero is check in day. We had planned on getting down there the night before, even though it didn’t start until 1pm. Just wanted to have plenty of time and not be rushing around.
Well, we DIDN’T get out of town Tuesday night… Decided to go ahead and leave Wednesday morning. Be on the interstate by 9 am. Well, we hit the interstate at around 11 am.
Got lost in Norfolk trying to find the Scope Arena (bad directions) - just *barely* made it - hit the second to last safety video (first place you have to go during check-in)
This is where I first start to get a little worried. The first 20 minutes is the “message” that we’re gonna save the world. Uh-oh. I’m here for Food and Friends and the Whitman Walker Clinic. They’re the ones saving the world - I’m just pulling a stunt to help raise money…
Get through the whole check in process, get badges, sign up for towel service, turn in over 5k in donations. WOOHOO!!!
Off to check in to the hotel. I had called, told them we would be arriving a day late, but we WOULD be arriving. They cancelled the reservation altogether. Fortunately, they still had rooms.
Then to return the rental car. Due by 7pm - the folks at Thrifty rental assured me that ALL their locations were open until at least 7pm. Get there with 5 minutes to spare, only to find that they closed at 6pm. Several angry phone calls later, we dropped the van off at the airport location, less than a mile away. (The Vienna location advised me to just leave the keys in the van, I DON’T THINK SO!)
For being such a good sport during the road trip from hell, I promised Tim dinner at Hooters. So, the great cab driver we had took us to Waterside - couldn’t believe we were going to RIDE OUR BIKES to Washington, DC, and asked for our rider numbers so he could watch for us on the news. Best quote? “You guys are OK!”
Hooters had to be skipped - no pasta, and the carbo loading was a must. Ended up at a cajun bar next door. Good pasta, and liquid carbs. (I still don’t quite get why there are so many Cajun bars with Guinness on tap.)
Another cab ride back to the hotel - driver is good enough to take us a route that is a few miles longer, but avoids the tunnel, which is totally backed up. Notes as we go through “scenic” Portsmouth, that it’s best that he locks the doors.
Also gives us the phone # to call for the morning cab. Good thing, since the guy at the desk at the hotel had indicated that there would already be a ton of people trying to get a cab in the morning - other riders, and something going on at the Marriott…
Conclusion: Norfolk cabbies are much better than DC cabbies.
Get back to the room and crash for the night.
