Thursday happened to be Paul Williams' birthday so, after ringing, the group headed for Annie's Steakhouse. Here the fods were introduced to American portion sizes!

Our server was very friendly indeed and as she walked to the kitchen swigging the dregs from one of our wine bottles somebody suggested that "My Ear Seems Wet" might make a good title for a Ringing World article.

After discovering that American toilet cubicles have such a huge gap at the hinge that one can see absolutely everything going on inside, it was back to the hotel.

Over drinks in the hotel bar one of the boffods described an encounter he and another fod had in a gay guesthouse with a lorry driver!

For most, Friday started late with a leisurely breakfast. A number of fods went to Woodley Park Guest House in search of Quiche Lorraine only to find him teaching non-ringers about bell ringing. He was required to do this every morning by the owners of the guest house who were used to accommodating "campanologists".

Doug and Phil had already departed to spend the morning looking at graves. After admiring a big bell at Union Station, the rest of the group split into two groups for tours of Washington. Captain Mike's DC Duck's tour was ... well ... what you'd expect really!

After lunch, Kitsch Lorraine said: "darlings, take me to those ruby slippers!" and she was off!