[SkateDC] Alternate Meeting Locations When the White House Is Blocked Off

[George Marinkovich]

>From time to time the area in front of the White House from which our skates start is closed.  Where do we meet when this happens?

The answer to the question depends on the extent of the closure.  

First, try to get as close to our normal meeting location in front of the White House as possible.  If we aren't allowed on Pennsylvania Ave., try to get into Lafayette Park.  There was a protest today for which both Pennsylvania Ave. and Lafayette Park were closed for a period of time.  Had this occurred before a skate, we would have still been able to meet at the northern border of Lafayette Park along H Street.  The point is to try to get to the closest allowable location to our usual meeting place in front of the White House.  http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3659740 

Second, go to the primary alternate meeting location which is near the concession building on the Ellipse.  http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3659744 

Third, go to the secondary alternate meeting location which is the Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Ave. NW between 9th and 7th.  http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3659745 

If you aren't allowed to get to the White House, Ellipse, or Navy Memorial, well then finding the start location for the skate will probably be the least of your problems.  As far as I can remember we have never had to resort to the Navy Memorial location.

More commonly, when a head of state is staying at Blair House the portion of Pennsylvania Ave. near Blair House may be blocked off.  Under those circumstances it is usually possible to get to our normal start location by way of Lafayette Park.

These disruptions to our normal routine are fairly rare.  For the decade I've been skating with WAR the instances I can recall where we couldn't get to our normal start location could be counted on one hand.  But it's nice to have a contingency plan in place.

Cheers,
George