N O V A

[rmgill]

[Harold Jones]

 

This might make for an interesting destination.

http://www.monitorcenter.org

 

Looks like the route from Reston would pass close to a fair number of civil war sites.

The whole area, all the way down to Fredricksburg and others is full of various ACW battle fields. Manassas (Bull Run) and Second Manassas being very close to Reston.

 

I checked out the Fredricksburg Battlefield park, you could plan a weekend just for it since it includes 4 battles Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania and The Wilderness.

[Allan W]

Is the Washington Navy Yard worth a visit? I know it's not in the nicest part of town...

[CT96]

 

July and August are hot humid horror shows in DC, although a good hat to keep the sun off, decent hydration and doing outdoor activities in the morning can mitigate the misery.

 

About that hot, at least!!

 

 

It's not so bad if you keep an ice-packed camel-back on your person at all times.... /sarc

At least we have AC.

[Allan W]

Axel, are you any closer to nailing down dates?

[BansheeOne]

Let's say no different dates from the last full week of August have emerged. Give me until next weekend to talk to some people about their disposition.

[Allan W]

No worries.

[Fritz]

Let's say no different dates from the last full week of August have emerged. Give me until next weekend to talk to some people about their disposition.

 

This sat I went to a local range that offers rentals and it got me thinking if PFT is not on the menu, something like this is an option for euro visitors - a quick visit (shouldn't take more than say 2 hours) to any range in the AO that offers rentals. Nothing like PFT but you can still try various rifles and pistols. Just an idea.

[sunday]

 

Let's say no different dates from the last full week of August have emerged. Give me until next weekend to talk to some people about their disposition.

This sat I went to a local range that offers rentals and it got me thinking if PFT is not on the menu, something like this is an option for euro visitors - a quick visit (shouldn't take more than say 2 hours) to any range in the AO that offers rentals. Nothing like PFT but you can still try various rifles and pistols. Just an idea.

 

Being from a hoplophobic country myself, that seems a capital idea.

[BansheeOne]

That's what I thought of when I said something private might be arranged. I'm sure someone local knows a convenient range or other were anybody interested could spend an evening with rentals or bring-alongs.

[CT96]

I know of a few local*. Let me put together a list of options.

 

*close-ish to Dulles

[CT96]

In no particular order:

 

Blue Ridge Arsenal http://blueridgearsenal.com/location/

Silver Eagle Group http://silvereaglegroup.com/range-use/

Elite Shooting Sports http://eliteshootingsports.com/t-elite-shooting-sports-facilities.aspx

 

There is also the NRA Range at the NRA Headquarters, with the conveniently located NRA Museum...

http://www.nramuseum.org/

 

My usual range is not on the list provided, as it is a bit further afield - well west into WV, and as they have closed the 400yd range that I was a member there to use (apparently permanently), I am looking for a new one of equal or greater distances. The above list is indoor, and I think max out at 75 or 100yds. I am not a fan of indoor ranges due to air quality, but they are all close to the Dulles area. I can look further afield as well (I know of some private property ranges that I have used by invitation, but I have not inquired about hosting an international shoot).

[BansheeOne]

After a check with the local cell, the late August timeframe seems a go. The exact duration remains to be determined - one party opined that it should be more than one week to make it worthwhile - but the two essential dates are that I want to be back home by 28 August, and that for the benefit of any USians or Canadians who want to latch on without too much fuss, there should be a Schwerpunkt on the previous weekend, 19-21, while we will do pretty much whatever strikes our fancy the rest of the time.

 

This weekend would include activities which prospective participants are most interested in, which I guess would include the VMMV, USMC Museum, maybe the Udvar Hazy Center and suggested range event. But based upon prior experience, we're not going to overload and get into an unseemly rush; so maybe a show of hands is in order about who is interested in what most.

[Allan W]

Put me down as a definite probability!

[Allan W]

I'm interested in Udvar Hazy Centre, and I would love to do a trip to Gettysburg. I'm even prepared to rent a car for the driving. I'd also like to try to get access to the Washington Navy Yard museum.

[CT96]

I'm interested in VMMV, and I'd be willing to do Udvar again (they had Enterprise there the last time I went, and Discovery has been there for a few years now), as well as going along for the Manassas Battlefield if that's still in the cards. Further distance activities such as Quantico or Gettysburg are going to have to be a little more plotted before I can commit. It has been quite a while since I've been to either of those, and I could have my arm twisted for such.

[Allan W]

According to Google Maps, Gettysburg is a 90min drive from Reston, if that's were we are going to base ourselves.

[Fritz]

DC is 4 hour drive from home, so I would attend DC activities but they aren't a priority, since I can do them any time. I'm more interested in the NC events.

 

Btw one thing I haven't seen in DC and would like to see is the CIA museum.

[Allan W]

I think the CIA museum is difficult if not impossible for non-US citizens to access. There is the spy museum that is supposed to be pretty good.

 

Those traveling from afar may want to do some of the non-military places as well like the Smithsonians, Washingtonmonument, Lincoln Memorial etc.

[Allan W]

Just checked. CIA museum is not accessible to the public.

[Fritz]

I was thinking about this one, sorry

 

http://www.nationalelectronicsmuseum.org/

 

There is also this

 

https://www.nsa.gov/about/cryptologic-heritage/museum/

[Allan W]

Those look good.

[BansheeOne]

I'll just start a running list with possible participants and their chief interests.

 

Berlin Cell [+] - will do about everything anyway

 

Allan - Udvar-Hazy Center, Washington Navy Yard Museum, Gettysburg (may rent car)

 

CT96 - Udvar-Hazy Center, VMMV, Manassas, range event (may organize)

 

Fritz - National Electronics/Cryptology Museums, range event

 

Harold - USS Monitor Center, ACW battlefields

 

Ryan - VMMV (may organize), ACW battlefields; knowing him, range event

 

Sunday - range event; knowing him, Udvar-Hazy Center

 

The conveniently-situated hotel I'm looking at is the Sheraton Reston.

[Fritz]

Washington Navy Yard Museum

 

Gettysburg

 

VMMV

 

Manassas

 

USS Monitor Center

 

ACW battlefields

All these interest me but my final selection will depend on the final schedule.

[Harold Jones]

Same, I checked out the Navy Yard Museum and we would need either someone on active duty or a retiree with us to access the museum. Also if you all want to tour the capitol we will need a firm head count a few weeks in advance, my or any other USIAN's Congressman can arrange tour tickets but there is some lead time and no guarantee of availability. Non-Citizens cannot tour the White House.

Edited May 9, 2016 by Harold Jones