I Rose to the Occasion...

Well, that time has come again...time to start packing up to head home. While this trip hasn't been all that I had hoped, it's still been a trip to DC and a break from the daily routine. I hate to see this week end because there was so much more to do and see, but there's always a special excitement and anticipation in returning home. Before we actually hit the road, though, I want to tell you about one of my 'adventures.'

Let me tell you about the escalators in the Washington DC Metro system...

I was oblivious on our first visit. We picked up the train in Maryland at a station that was above-ground. I didn't even realize there was an actual 'subway' system. Well, that changed pretty quickly. All in one trip I found out the train mostly travels underground and above-ground is the exception. I also found out that some of the stations are pretty deep underground. To get from train-level to street-level requires the use of escalators...many...long...escalators. This was when I unexpectedly came across the escalator at the Woodley Park-Zoo station. This particular escalator is the 3rd longest in the Metro system at 456' (Bethesda is 2nd at 475'). As someone with a fear of heights I spent an agonizing nearly 3-minute ascent holding on to the handrail with a death grip and praying the Lord's Prayer over and over and over. Did I mention the trembling and sweating???

I have been fascinated by the Metro system's escalators ever since.

Fast-forward to this trip. To my family's surprise, I suggested we get on the Metro and head to the Wheaton station. It has the longest single span uninterrupted escalator in the western hemisphere at 508' (the Washington Monument is 555'). I wanted to see - and hopefully travel - this behemoth. If that went well I planned on a quick stop at the next station, Forest Glen, which is the deepest of the Metro stations and bypasses escalators altogether, using only high-speed elevators to transport passengers.

I am proud and happy to report that I tackled the Wheaton escalator with only a moment's hesitation. In all honesty, I did hold on to my husband's pant leg with one hand while glancing nervously both ahead and behind - Yes! I looked Down! The trip down the escalator was no problem at all. There was a large, flat section prior to the descent and you couldn't even see the angle or length of the escalator at first. (I skipped the elevator ride to the top of the Washington Monument at the last minute because of my fear...I was afraid of being afraid!)

VICTORY! Yes! I even have it on video from my digital camera.

After Wheaton, Forest Glen was a letdown. The experience was that of an average elevator. Yes, it was pretty fast, and yes, I knew the station was very deep - it just didn't seem like a big deal at all. So, for something different, we did make our way to the first (last?) car behind the driver/operator for the ride back to our station. Again, nothing special, but it made for an extra sentence or two here in the blog!

Morning will be here quickly so I better get some sleep. We have a long drive home tomorrow.