Frederick, MD (USA)

[Rano and Mollie were awake by 0720 and they made breakfast (pancakes) together - we packed up the car and left my apartment (0805), bound for Frederick, Maryland - we arrived at Monocacy National Battlefield at 0905 and spent the next few hours helping to set up a 26x100 flag grid - Mollie was able to get two more hours of community service for the NHS Volunteer requirement and had fun with Rano - when we left, we all got drawstring bags and a commemorative coin - I asked if the girls wanted to go to the National Zoo on the way home and they said they did - traffic was nasty but we made it to the FoNZ parking area by noon - I told the girls that I wanted to get some exercise (walking) and asked them to meet me two hours later - they ate lunch at the Mane Grill and then had a great time together (Rano’s first time ever at the Zoo) - Mollie texted and called me a few times and I even ran into them once - I gave them suggestions of things to see and they maximized the time we had (and even asked for an extra 30 minutes, which they partially used) - we then got on the road and made our way back to my apartment (more traffic), arriving at 1515]