Annapolis, Baltimore and following the Rays!

Orioles Park at Camden Yards........plus evidence that we do occasionally stay out past dark!

One of the things we knew before starting our month stay in Sharpsburg was that there was going to be plenty to see and do here.  What we underestimated was just how much. Many Civil War historic sites, the Pennsylvania Amish Country (Lancaster County) and places like Washington and Baltimore are easily reachable for day trips.  We try to mix in a few outings with making sure that we leave plenty of time to relax and enjoy our time here along the Potomac River.  After a sedate Friday that consisted of a hike along the towpath canal (there will be a blog about the towpath soon), Beth sitting by the river while I fished, and visiting what has become our favorite winery, Saturday was adventure day.

We headed out around 9:00 AM, completely unsure of when we would be getting back to the Lock Keepers Cottage.  We left with a change of clothes, toothbrushes, etc. which gave us a couple of options, either to return late in the evening or stay overnight and return Sunday.  You'll have to read on to learn which option we took and what was the deciding factor.

Our first destination was the city that's known as "America's Sailing Capital" and the "Sailing Capital of the World", Annapolis, Maryland.  In addition to the accolades related to sailing, Annapolis is the home to the U.S. Naval Academy, which seems to keep with the nautical theme.  

It's hard to argue that this isn't the sailing capital of the US or the world!

It was an hour and a half to drive from Sharpsburg to Annapolis.  When we arrived it was overcast with a little bit of a drizzle and a very comfortable temperature in the low 70's...........it felt great!  In spite of the drizzle, the historic downtown was bustling with what seemed to be a mix of locals and tourists.  There were several "pay to park" options along the way, but we're cheap so we drove on, looking for street parking that was either cheaper or free.  We crossed the Spa Creek Bridge which took us into the Eastport section of the city.  We quickly found a free place to park on a side street and were pleasantly surprised to learn that it was actually less than a block from where I had scoped out for us to have lunch.

Lunch was still a few hours away, which gave us plenty of time to make the short walk back across the Spa Creek Bridge and along Annapolis's Main Street and the surrounding area.  Main Street was a nice blend of mostly local shops and restaurants with a few national chains that have made their way into the mix.  Thankfully, and I'm sure due to strict local ordinances, the historic look and feel has been well preserved.

Main Street Annapolis

Further up Main Street.  The Capital is on the right and the steeple of St. Anne's Church (built in 1858) is on the left,

Annapolis

At the far end (from where we parked) of Main Street is the Maryland State Capital.  It's surprisingly small in stature, but with a big history.  It has the distinction of being the oldest state capital in continuous use and is the only state capital to have ever served as the nation's capital.  George Washington appeared here before the Continental Congress to resign as Commander in Chief and the Treaty of Paris was signed here, which marked the end of the Revolutionary War.  The very impressive looking Governor's Mansion is just across the street, making the commute to work less than a minute, which I assume also makes sneaking away for an afternoon nap quite easy.

The Maryland State House (Capital)

Maryland State House

Just a few blocks off Main Street and running parallel to the historic district is the U.S. Naval Academy.  The school opened on ten acres in 1845 as the Naval School at Fort Severn in Annapolis.  In 1850 it became the U.S. Naval Academy.  Today the campus is 338 acres in size with over 4,400 midshipmen and 600 faculty members.  The campus has been closed to the public due to covid, but has reopened recently.  Entrance to the campus is through the visitors center which is near the city dock end of the campus.  There is no entrance fee and it is my understanding that you can explore the grounds on your own or take a guided tour (photo ID is required for adults).  

Naval Academy Visitors Center.  We didn't have time to do a tour or walk around the campus..........it gives us something to look forward to on our next visit.

US Naval Academy

After roaming around and enjoying the historic district it was time for lunch. We headed back across the Spa Creek Bridge and made sure we hadn't messed up and parked in a "no parking zone".  Being quite pleased that the Silver Bullet was still there and there was no ticket on the window we headed for The Boatyard Bar and Grill.

The Boatyard is top rated on trip advisor for Annapolis and has made it's mark serving up its Maryland "All Killer-No Filler crab cake".  When we arrived we were told that the wait time would be around forty minutes.  We figured a forty minute investment in our time was a small price to pay for something with such an outstanding reputation.  We were really pleased when the forty minute wait was actually less than 15 minutes.  Soon we were nibbling on an appetizer of crab and spinach dip, which was followed by an excellent crab sandwich and salad which we split.  

Michelle Obama, Jimmy Buffett and Kevin Bacon have eaten at the Boatyard Bar and Grill.  I'm not sure what they ordered, but we'd recommend the lump crab sandwich!

Boatyard Bar and Grill

With full bellies and a desire to revisit it sometime down the line, we said goodbye to Annapolis and made the short thirty minute drive to Baltimore.  We had visited Baltimore years back when the kids were still young.  That visit was one of our "baseball trips" that took us to games in Washington, Philadelphia and Baltimore.  Baseball was on the agenda for the day, but we had a few hours to explore the Inner Harbor area before the game.

The Inner Harbor is the tourist hub of the city.  It features the National Aquarium, Port Discovery Children's Museum and a number of other attractions, as well as plenty of places to shop and dine.  We spent several hours wandering around and of course stopping occasionally for one of our favorite pastimes, bench sitting.  Like many large cities, Baltimore has faced its fair share of challenges, but it did seem to us that it was working hard to make a come back.  The Inner Harbor area felt safe and was quite busy with people of all ages and walks of life enjoying a lazy summer, Saturday afternoon.

A friendly welcome to Baltimore!

Along the Inner Harbor

The National Aquarium Complex.  The Skybridge connects the two buildings.

The Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse.  It was located at the mouth of the Patapsco River in Baltimore Harbor until it was decommissioned.  It has been relocated to Pier 5 as an historical landmark.

Baltimore Visitors Guide

We finished up our time in Baltimore watching our favorite baseball team, the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Baltimore Orioles.  Being somewhat of a baseball junkie, I'm proud to say that I've seen games in the home ballpark of twenty eight of the thirty major league teams.  I'm also happy to let you know that Beth has been along for most of these experiences.  While she's not as enthusiastic as me about checking them off the list, she enjoys them as well.  Of all the parks, Orioles Park at Camden Yards is one of the best.  It's well designed with wide concourses, interesting features, plenty of food options, friendly and very loyal fans.  This year is not going to go down as one of the Orioles best years, but there was still a nice crowd cheering on the home team.  Thankfully, there cheers weren't enough and the Rays spanked them 12-3.

A beautiful night for baseball and a free Oriole's mascot bobblehead!

We're ready for some baseball!

If you're a baseball fan and haven't been to Camden Yards put it on your list of parks to visit........I think you'll love it!

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

The game started late due to an Orioles Hall of Fame induction ceremony so we ended up leaving before the game was over.  We decided not to spend the night in Baltimore and drive on back to the Lock Keepers Cottage, but we still had one thing to check off the list............Krumpe's Do-Nuts!.  Unbeknownst to us until the other day, Krumpe's is a legendary do-nut shop in Hagerstown that has been serving up little morsels of goodness in these parts for over 80 years.  Beth learned about Krumpe's from a lady waiting in line at another local eatery earlier in the week (there will be a blog on food and wine coming soon).  While they were admiring the sweets in this place the lady told her that while they were good here, there was a place called Krumpe's that were even better.  Her comment received an "amen" from the lady behind them and soon a visit to Krumpe's was on our "to do" list.

DoNut Alley leads to................

Krumpe's!

Krumpe's

Krumpe's is open seven days a week, but their hours are a little unique.  They are only open from 7:00 PM-11:00 PM.  We strategically timed leaving the ballgame in Baltimore to make it to Krumpe's before their 11:00 closing.  We made it with twenty minutes to spare.  Was it worth leaving the game early to go to Krumpe's............yes it was!  A sweet ending to a sweet day.  

I'd open the box but it's empty!

Gettysburg, and a little more.........

 

The Tucker Trio, with Abe, outside the Gettysburg Foundation Visitors Center

Arguably the most famous battle of the Civil War was the three day battle from July 1-3, 1863 at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  While the war continued until the final surrender of Lee's Confederate army to Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, most Civil War experts consider Gettysburg to have been a crucial turning point for the Union.

The buildup to this battle began in early June when Lee began marching his army westward through the Blue Ridge Mountains, into Maryland and onward into Pennsylvania.  Unknown to Lee they were being followed by Union troops and the unexpected collision of these two armies took place at Gettysburg.  By the end of the three days of fighting it is estimated that over 7 million rounds of ammunition (not including cannonballs) were fired.  It is estimated that around 51,000 troops were killed, injured, captured or declared missing.  With over 24,000 causalities, Antietam was the deadliest single day battle. Gettysburg was the deadliest battle of this terrible war.

Today this small Pennsylvania borough of just over 7,000 residents hosts over one million visitors per year.  The battlefield is obviously the reason for most visits, however, Gettysburg does offer much more.  There is a small, very nice downtown with numerous museums, shops and restaurants.  Gettysburg has numerous hiking and biking trails for outdoor adventures,  The battlefield is a National Military Park that is operated and maintained by the National Park Service.  The Visitors Center, Museum and Battlefield Tours are operated by the Gettysburg Foundation. 

Gettysburg National Military Park 

Gettysburg Foundation

From Sharpsburg it was just over an hours drive to Gettysburg.  We had the pleasure of having Ben join us on this adventure.  He made the three and a half hour drive over from Western Pennsylvania to spend his days off with us.  Although it was somewhat busy when we arrived, the visitors center wasn't overly crowded.  There are multiple things to see and do and multiple ways to do it.  We consulted with a very nice gentleman at the information desk who helped us decide on a plan.  

We chose to do the package deal of the introductory film (A New Birth of Freedom, narrated by Morgan Freeman, the Cyclorama (a 337 foot painting in the round of Picketts Charge on day 3 of the battle) and the Museum.  All three were excellent and very helpful in understanding the events leading up to, during and after the Battle of Gettysburg.  If you're visiting and choose this package you should count on around two hours for these three activities.  

There are three ways to see the battlefield, on your own (pamphlets are free or audio guides can be purchased), on a bus with a guide or with a private guide who is employed by the foundation.  Since there was a private guide available for the time we wanted, we chose that option.  Guides are limited but will take up to six individuals, so if there are three or more it's actually as affordable as the bus.

Our guide was named David and in addition to serving as a guide, he is a history professor with over thirty years of teaching experience at nearby Shippensburg University.  He was passionate in his narration as we went along the route, taking time to explain points of interest and events in great detail, as well as answering our many questions.  His knowledge of the Gettysburg battle was amazing and we're quite certain that we barely scratched the surface of what he knows.  All guides are certified by the National Park Service, so I'm sure that if you elect to hire a private guide your experience would be similar.

The hill on Cemetery Ridge.  It was here on the third day of the battle that 7,000 Union troops held off the 12,000 man Confederate infantry charge that was ordered by General Lee.  The battle is commonly referred to as Picketts Charge, named after George Pickett, the Confederate leader who was in charge of the failed raid.

The Eternal Light Peace Memorial.  This monument was dedicated by President Franklin Roosevelt on July 3, 1938 marking the 75th anniversary of the battle.

We concluded our time in Gettysburg at the Soldiers National Cemetery where over 3,500  Union soldiers are buried.  It is also on this site that Abraham Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863.  The 272 word speech took less than two minutes. It offered hope and inspiration that the sacrifice of so many would lead to a better future for the country. 

This monument to Abraham Lincoln is located in the Soldiers National Cemetery near where he gave the Gettysburg Address.

After our visit to Gettysburg we drove to Harrisburg, the Capital of Pennsylvania.  

In addition to being the capital of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg is the home of the AA affiliate of the Washington Senators.....they are appropriately named, The Harrisburg Senators.  The stadium is located near the capital complex on a small island in the middle of the Susquehanna River.

I've done a lot of ballgames in a lot of ballparks with this guy..........as well as with the person taking the picture!

Sunset over the Susquehanna! 

Catoctin Mountain Park.............."I'd tell you but then I'd have to kill you"!

 

Fueling up at the Blue Ridge Summit Trailhead before heading out

Just a forty minute drive from our Airbnb in Sharpsburg is Catoctin Mountain Park.  Like Harpers Ferry and Antietam National Battlefield, Catoctin Mountain Park is maintained and operated by the National Park Service.  If you're like me, when you think of the National Park Service you think of the National Parks such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, etc..  In reality, the 63 "National Parks" make up less than 15 percent of the 423 "units" covering more than 85 million acres that our park services oversees.

The very nice and informative park ranger at Catoctin Mountain Park smiled as she explained that there are nineteen different naming designations (National Parks, National Battlefields, National Historic Sites, National Monuments, etc.).  She went on to share with me that there are eleven different units that just don't fit into any of the designations and that Catoctin Mountain Park is one of those eleven.  She chuckled as she used the analogy that the park was like the weird aunt, uncle or cousin that every family has that just doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of the family.  While it may not fit into any of the designations, we found the 5,770 acre park to be very scenic and to have a couple of very unique features that none of the other National Park Service units can claim, and there is no admission fee!

National Park Service 

Catoctin Mountain Park

The first of these is that camps (built by the CCC in 1939) within the park were closed when the US entered World War II.  The camps converted to rehabilitation facilities for injured soldiers and then into a training facility for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS).  The OSS was a new government intelligence gathering and espionage agency.  It has evolved into what we now know as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

The GPS brought us into the park on the opposite end from where the visitors center is located (MD-77 and Park Central Road).  We're glad it did because the 10-15 drive along this winding road, under a canopy of tall trees, was very impressive.  Making it even more enjoyable was the fact that it seemed as if we had the park pretty much to ourselves, only passing one or two cars as we made our way to the visitors center.

In addition to the brief lesson on the National Park Services designations, we were also given some suggestions of a place to enjoy a picnic and hike.  While the park has over 25 miles of hiking trails. most of the longer (2+ miles) trails are considered moderate to strenuous due to elevation changes and terrain. We asked about and were pointed in the direction of some very enjoyable shorter trails.  We enjoyed a picnic at the Blue Ridge Summit Trailhead as well as the 1.2 mile round trip hike to the overlook.  We also enjoyed the two mile (roundtrip) hike to Hog Rock, which also had a nice overlook of the park. 

Along the Summit Ridge Trail.  The trails we hiked were well marked and mostly flat. There were occasional exposed tree roots and loose rocks.

Summit Ridge Vista.  Even on a hazy day it offered a great view of the park.

Searching for President Biden from the top of Hog Rock!

After hiking we stopped back by the visitors center to get some information on Cunningham Falls State Park which is adjacent to Catoctin Mountain Park.  The state park land was once a part of Catoctin Mountain Park, but in 1954 it was turned over to the Maryland State Park Service  In addition to wanting information on the state park I had a couple of other questions for my park ranger friend.

Hunting Creek Lake is a man made lake in Cunningham Falls State Park.  The parks beach can be seen across the lake.  The park features the longest cascading waterfall in Maryland, however at this time of year the waterflow is light.

The second unique thing about Catoctin Mountain Park is that Camp David, the presidential retreat since the FDR administration, is located within the park.  The general location of Camp David is somewhat easy to figure out because if the president or another high ranking official is there sections of the park are closed.   Inquiring minds want to know, so I had to ask................"were we overlooking Camp David from either the Blue Ridge Summit or Hog Rock?  She had a one word answer for me.....No!   At that point I assumed that since she been so helpful that she was under instructions not to talk about Camp David, so I just had to push a little more.  I looked at the map and asked "can you point to Camp David? She looked at me, smiled and said "it's within the boundary of the park".  I interpreted that to mean  "I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you"!

The irony of that whole conversation about the location of Camp David is that it's actually not a big secret.  When I pulled up google maps earlier this morning, it's location was shown on the map!  I think we might have seen it from Hog Rock but I'm not sure.  Besides, if I told you where it was I guess I'd have to kill you............just look for it on Google Maps!

Antietam National Battlefield

The cannons serve as a reminder of the battle that took place on this farmland near Sharpsburg.

A year and a half into the Civil War the outcome remained uncertain.  Both the Union and Confederate forces were battling with resolve and determination.  Until September of 1862 the fighting had taken place on confederate soil.  General Robert E. Lee made the decision to move his troops over the Potomac River and on to Union soil in Western Maryland with the goal of continuing to move northward into Pennsylvania.

This set the stage for a clash that would come to be known as the Battle of Antietam (sometimes referred to as the Battle of Sharpsburg), the bloodiest day in American History.  Today 3,200 acres of the battlefield is maintained as a historical park that is operated and maintained by the US Park Service.  The peaceful rolling hills are covered with corn and soybean fields that are still maintained by local farmers just as they were back in 1862 when death, suffering and chaos was all around.  Experts on the Civil War tend to sum up the battle as "Tactically Inconclusive" but as a strategic victory for the Union that drove General Lee and the confederate troops back across the Potomac River.  Within a week of the battle President Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation which warned confederate states that he wanted to free all people held as slaves within the rebellious states.   

Looking across the battlefield from the visitors center 

New York Monument honoring the 3765 soldiers from New York who were killed wounded and captured during the Battle of Antietam

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Dunker Church was a German Baptist Church built in 1852.  It was heavily damaged during the battle but rebuilt for the Civil War Centennial.

At the present time the visitors center is undergoing a seven million dollar renovation that will be completed in the summer of 2022.  In the interim there is a temporary visitors center adjacent to the main parking lot. 

The park service offers ranger led talks to provide additional information.  At the present time these 30 minute talks are offered twice a day (10:00 and 12:00).  However you may want to check the schedule if you are planning a visit.  Beth and I were fortunate enough to be able to listen to one of the presentations.  It was given by a young park ranger and it was absolutely fantastic.  He eloquently painted a picture of what unfolded on the battlefield that kept the audience captivated throughout his presentation, even though it was outside on a very hot and sunny day.

After the presentation we did the self guided driving tour of the battlefield.  The park service provides a pamphlet with a description of eleven recommended stops along the way.  The length of time to complete the self guided tour will depend on how much time you spend exploring the stops and reading the numerous informational signs along the way.  We spent about an hour and a half to two hours which I would imagine is about average.  As I mentioned above, we highly recommend the ranger talk if at all possible.

Admission to the Antietam National Battlefield is $10 per individual or $20 per car.  Admission is free if you have an annual or senior national park pass.

This 24 acre cornfield saw some of the heaviest fighting during the battle. Both sides suffered heavy losses. none more than the  Louisiana Brigade which suffered over 60 percent casualties in less than 30 minutes.

The Sunken Road (also known as the Bloody Lane).  For several hours the heavily outnumbered 2,000 confederate troops held off over 10,000 union soldiers.   After the union troops gained control an observer said "Words are inadequate to portray the sight the of the dead lying like ties of railroad, in heaps like cordwood mingled in the splintered and shattered fence rails.

  

The Lower Bridge (renamed after the war to honor the Union Army General Ambrose Burnside).  Under Burnsides command the union troops pushed back the confederate army toward the town of Sharpsburg.  The tree in front of the bridge was there in 1862!

The final stop on the self guided tour was at the Antietam National Cemetery where 4,776 Union Solders are buried.

Antietam National Cemetery.  Confederate soldiers are buried in cemeteries in Hagerstown and Fredrick, Maryland and Shepherdstown, West Virginia (Shepherdstown was a part of Virginia during the Civil War.

The numbers on the left represent the losses for the Union Army, the numbers on the right represent the losses for the Confederate Army.  The bloodiest one day battle in American history.  Union or Confederate.........they were all Americans!  

Sharpsburg, Maryland and Harpers Ferry, West Virginia..................let the history lessons begin.

 

The Lock Keepers Cottage near Sharpsburg, Maryland

Before the start of this adventure we really weren't very familiar with this part of Maryland.  We had spent some time in the Baltimore area a few years back and really enjoyed it.  We've only been here for a few days now and while this area is very different, we've loved what we've seen so far and are looking forward to exploring even more over the next three weeks.

One of the first things that we learned was that Maryland has a "panhandle".  It's located in Western Maryland and consists of Washington, Allegany and Garrett Counties.  The region is bounded by the Mason-Dixon Line to the north, West Virginia to the west and the Potomac River to the south.  It's a much more rural area than the area around Baltimore and it lies in the central Appalachians so parts of it are quite mountainous (similar to North Georgia, North Carolina).

Along the Maryland Panhandle

There is so much history in this area that it's really hard to know where to start, so I guess I'll start with where we are staying.  Our Airbnb is located near the small town of Sharpsburg, which according to the latest census has a population of just under 1000 residents.  Records show the house was built in 1841, which for comparison sake was four years before Florida became a state.  Thankfully air conditioning and indoor plumbing have been added since it's original construction.  

The house is located just a few steps from Dam #4 on the Potomac River,  Beth and I start every morning with coffee and tea on the front porch swing listening to the water cascading over the dam.  As a matter of fact, we eat practically every meal, finish every evening and spend most of the time we're here at the cottage sitting on that porch listening to the water flow.  Between the cottage and the river is what remains of the C&O (Chesapeake and Ohio) Canal.  This 184.5 mile long canal from Cumberland Maryland to Washington DC was built in the 1820's and operated until 1924.  Although different goods were transported along the canal, the main cargo was coal from the Allegheny Mountains.  The boats were pulled by teams of mules that walked along what is known as the tow path.  As the boats made their way they passed through 74 locks.  One of the locks is just a few hundred yards from our cottage, which is called the Lock Keepers Cottage.  I'm not sure if it got it's name just because of it's close proximity to the lock or if it is where the lock keeper actually lived.  I'm looking forward to learning more about the cottage and canal and passing that information along in future blogs.

Dam #4.  The combination of the sound of the water flowing over the dam and the front porch swing on the cottage are VERY hypnotic!

Down river from the dam.

Gate house for the lock.

Water inlet that allowed water to flow from the river into the lock.

The canal towpath is now a trail running the entire length (184.5 miles).  We're at the 84 mile mark so there's plenty of hiking and biking either way we go.

Much of the history of this area dates back to the Civil War and several significant battles and events that took place nearby, but some of the history goes back even further.  One of those places with historical significance dating back to the pre-Civil War time is Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.  

Getting to Harpers Ferry was an easy 45 minute drive that took us on winding farm roads through fields of corn, soy bean and green pastures.  From Maryland we passed into Virginia for about two minutes before entering West Virginia.  Harpers Ferry is the eastern most town in West Virginia and was the northern most point controlled by the confederate army during the Civil War.  It is at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers and if that's not enough, the Appalachian Trail passes through the town.  

Harpers Ferry National Historic Park

Prior to the Civil War both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had visited Harpers Ferry.  Washington proposed that an armory be built in Harpers Ferry (construction started on the armory in 1799) and Jefferson, who must have been working for the Chamber of Commerce wrote that it was "perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in nature" and was a place he visited often.

In 1803 Meriwether Lewis made his way to Harpers Ferry with a letter from the Secretary of War authorizing him to pick up supplies for an upcoming westward expedition which would later be known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  He gathered rifles, ammunition, knives, axes and repair tools as well as oversaw the construction of a collapsible iron boat frame.  He later proclaimed this stop in Harpers Ferry as the most important stop in preparing the members of the expedition for their difficult journey.

While the Civil War didn't actually begin until shots were fired at Fort Sumter, SC on April 12, 1861, a significant event leading up to the Civil War occurred in Harpers Ferry in October, 1859.  John Brown and 21 of his followers who were opposed to slavery staged a raid on the armory in Harpers Ferry.  Their plan was to take control of the armory, arm the enslaved people in the area and spark a rebellion.  

While they did take control of the armory for a short time, they were greatly outnumbered and unable to carry out their plan.  Several of the followers were killed and most of the others, including Brown were captured.  The captured were all quickly tried and executed.  While Brown's plan failed, it did focus additional attention on the growing anger over the horrible practice of slavery and pushed the nation closer to what would become the Civil War.

Today Harpers Ferry is a small town with a population of around 500 residents.  It is located within the boundaries of the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park which is operated by the National Park Service.  The 4,000 acre park is actually located in three different states, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. The admission fee to enter Harpers Ferry is $20 per car.  You have two options (the fee is the same with either option), a small parking lot in town or a much larger parking area at the visitors center.  If you park at the visitors center, there are shuttle buses that will take you into the town.  Personally, I think parking at the visitors center is the better and easier option.  

Shenandoah Street in the Harpers Ferry Historic District

Where the Potomac (left) and Shenandoah (Right) Rivers meet.  From this point on it's known as the Potomac River.

This bridge over the Potomac is part of the Appalachian Trail.  It's the only flat part of the trail near Harpers Ferry!

The building on the left is the White Hall Tavern.  The building on the right houses a small exhibit on Merriweather Lewis's time in Harper Ferry.

 

View from Jefferson's Rock

St. Peters Catholic Church

In addition to the historical buildings, there are a few restaurants, shops and bed and breakfast type accommodations.  Unless you plan on doing a deep dive into history or hike a bit of the Appalachian Trail a half day should be adequate to enjoy visiting this very scenic and historic park.

Back at it............

Celebrating a Rays win at Progressive Field (Cleveland)

After almost a month in Florida we've been reunited with the Silver Bullet and are back on the road.  Our time in Florida was great and included the annual Beach House gathering that was very nice after Covid limited the 2020 gathering.   Congratulations to Beth and her cousin Shelly for winning this years annual Rook Tournament.  The competition is always tough so it's an accomplishment worth noting.  Additionally, I got to enjoy a nice visit with my two brothers , which is always fun.

We had left the Bullet at Ben's house in Pennsylvania.  We flew up to Pittsburgh last Tuesday (July 20) and the action started right away.  He wanted us to tour the Roberto Clemente Museum but unfortunately they are currently limiting admissions and were sold out for the day.  Undeterred, we quickly came up with an alternative plan that proved to be quirky, fun and put a smile on our faces.

First up was Bicycle Heaven, which is a wonderfully eclectic bicycle museum that also sells and repairs bikes.  It is billed as the worlds largest bike museum, and with a collection of over 4,000 bikes on the floor, walls and ceiling I certainly can't dispute that claim.  The collection includes rare bikes with values close to $50,000, bikes used in movies and TV series (Pee Wee Herman's Bike and the four seater that the Monkees rode) and so much more.  It was the second time Beth and I had visited Bicycle Heaven but Ben's first visit.  We all enjoyed the hour or so that we spent meandering through the collection.  I especially enjoyed seeing a black and silver Schwinn five speed Sting Ray just like the one I terrorized northeast Mulberry on in my youth. 

You'll be surrounded by bikes at Bicycle Heaven

Bicycle Heaven

Just a few miles from Bicycle Heaven in the Mexican War Streets District of Pittsburgh is the colorful outdoor public art display known as Randyland.  Both Bicycle Heaven and Randyland are in a book that was gifted to Ben that is titled "100 Things to do in Pittsburgh before you die".  "Randy" is Randy Gibson who is described as being able to make something worthwhile out of what is seen as worthless.  It's a description that's accurate and if anything understated.  Randyland was a little challenging to find on the narrow one way streets of this historic neighborhood, but it was well worth the effort.

Randyland!

A cardboard cutout of Randy!

Pittsburgh wasn't a city that was on our radar screen until Ben moved to the area.  We have found it to be an amazing city with a rich industrial history that has transformed itself into a vibrant and diverse city with so much to see and do.  If you've never been to the "Steel City", do yourself a favor and visit it if at all possible.  I think you'll be amazed.

We spent the next few days enjoying time with Ben and his dog Allie.  Ben and I got in a little golf. We celebrated Christmas in July at the campground where he serves as Activities Director. The small nearby community of Harmony was also having a Christmas in July celebration.  Thursday afternoon we made the easy drive over to Cleveland to see the Indians take on our favorite baseball team, the Tampa Bay Rays.  The Rays won, but the bigger story was it was the last game before the big name change was announced.  The next morning it was made official that starting next year the Cleveland Indians, as they have been known since 1915 will become the Cleveland Guardians.  I don't really have a dog in the fight, but it's going to take a while for the Guardians to grow on me.

Christmas in July in Harmony, PA.  This small borough was settled by German immigrants in 1804.  Records show that George Washington had passed through this area prior to it being settled (1753).

The Harmony Inn Restaurant

The World's Greatest Activities Director was in the Christmas spirit at Kozy Rest.  He was bombarded by the campers during the snowball fight.

Sunday we packed it up and hit the road for our next destination.  We are now in Washington County, Maryland near the historic town of Sharpsburg.  We'll be spending the month here relaxing along the Potomac River and the C&O Canal.  It's a part of our amazing country that we haven't spent too much time in over the years and we're certainly looking forward to exploring it and of course blogging about it as we go.