Shenandoah Valley

When I look back on my life, I want to be able to say I lived my life to the fullest by my experiences. I do not want to be one of those senior citizens who have regrets that he/she did not take chances but played on the safe side without adventure or love, kindness or joy. I want to be able to say I lived my Life and I lived it Well.

When Bill & I began this latest road trip we could have taken 95 to Washington D.C. then crossed over to Front Royal by way of RT 66 however we wanted a more relaxed scenic drive so we headed out West passed Harrisburg then took 15 South towards Gettysburg into Frederick Maryland where I quickly got on goggle to check out the area hotels discovered a decent hotel and was pleasantly surprised when I discovered we had enough points for a free room in a nice hotel. We knew where we were going to stay when we arrived in Front Royal Virginia however I wanted to be adventurous and find a place to stay the first night of our travel when we felt like stopping for the evening. After a nice (though late) dinner at the Red Horse Steak House and a restless night (because of eating too late) we were off early the next morning down 340 stopping along the way to stand on a bridge in Virginia that overlooked Harper's Ferry in West Virginia before we traveled through Harper's Ferry West Virginia into Charles Town passed through Front Royal Virginia to get on Skyline Drive and drove 60 miles into mountains of Shenandoah stopping at various overlooks and climbing mountains that reached a peak of 4051 feet before arriving at Skyland Lodge for a tasty lunch of spicy hot vegetable chili and wine from nearby vineyards. We walked the trails down and around rented cabins climbed boulders took pictures of butterflies and wildflowers examined a tree with various holes evident that this tree was a favorite of woodpeckers. Around dinner time, we drove back down the mountain into Front Royal and to our hotel room. We checked in, took our bags to the room, and dropped the bags on the bed, before we headed back out to dinner at Houlihans. Dinner, Dessert and a bottle of Château Ste. Michelle's Riesling later we exhaustedly fell into the bed where we read until late into the evening before sleeping the sleep of babies until the alarm went off at 5am.

Yes. We planned to get up at 5am this morning so we could head up the mountains for that perfect spot to photograph the sun rising over the mountain while oceans of fog rolled out. As Bill set up his camera and I took out my camera phone, I sat on a wall overlooking the horizon with the only sounds of a bumble bee buzzing, a bird calling and the sound of a train very far out in the distance. I counted a total of six deer that passed by, one raccoon and a chipmunk. And I thought this must be what it is like in heaven.

Night left. Dawn came. The sun rose. It was time for breakfast and explore other adventures!

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

If life could always be this beautiful.

New Day New Post

Have no idea why I typed that title. Welcome to my world, where I generally have no idea why I do what I do, When you figure it out, let me know. BTW, I may yet to come back home with some corn in my trunk since I see fields and fields of it everyday. Do you think Farmer Bill will notice? Anyway, I slept really well last night, got up, went down for breakfast, had a conversation with an elderly couple who repaired antique dolls and were from Indiana, then went back upstairs for a two hour after breakfast nap.

Time for the trip down to Harper's Ferry. Western Maryland to Virginia to West Virginia, then back up to Maryland. Harper Ferry Sights;

 This is an acre of land I purchased 20 so odd years ago. I know. I know. Will I ever do anything with it? Probably not. But to the right, this land has this view.

My guess is I will pass it down to my kids. It belongs to me. Yes, in my name. Yes, I love history and the beauty of this area so much, I purchased it for a fairly cheap price. The only agreement I had to make was promise not to build on it for ten years.

Anyway, we parked the car and took the shuttle down into the valley of the old Harper's Ferry town known as the place John Brown fought against slavery (which is why we have West Virginia to begin with since they broke away from the state of Virginia over the slavery/war) and of course why John Brown ended up dead.

 I really need this chair in my own house.

Above pictures with the exception of the church are from an old time Boarding House. On another note, if anyone ever experienced the glory of climbing a hill in Manayunk, this town will give you a run for your money. Hills, steps, hills and more steps. Believe me. I fell up some steps. Yes. I know. People fall down steps. I need to be different and fall up steps.

St Peter's Catholic Church has been here since 1830 founded by the Irish immigrants who came over to build the town, mills, canals and railroads.

 This is what's left of St. John's Episcopal Church that served as a battle field hospital during the Civil War, but did not make it.

Had lunch at this old Bed & Breakfast.

  We ordered the Chicken Pot Pie. It consisted of two pieces of chicken, about three peas and surrounded in all bread. Basically, I turned the sucker upside down to get to the three peas and called it a day. A hour later we were eating dinner. SOMEWHERE ELSE.

We got away from Harper's Ferry for a moment to show you where we ate real food. When you pull up and spot a sign "biker's welcome" with fake palm trees and tacky statures of pirates, how could one not go in for a meal. I had the best steak. Mexican style. In a Biker Bar.

Back to Harper's Ferry.

Need any Dry Goods?

Or a direction to High Street.

Or a picture of Bill standing on Thomas Jefferson's Rock. Not that any of us know for sure, the man actually ever stood on it, but what the hell, name a rock after him.

 I asked Bill why he took this next picture. He told me, "in case you fell, I wanted it on camera".

Little does he know I birthed three babies, the last one after a hiking trip, took three boys grocery shopping, let alone allowed them in my car as they fought constantly, and I am still alive today, thank you very much. INSANE. BUT. ALIVE. I. THINK.

Apparently, I lost my fear of heights. Damn it! I stood on Jefferson's rock. Have a year like I just did and a thousand mile drop to the bottom of a mountain, hitting rocks along the way, while being washed away by the river, and pecked to death by crows and fish seems like a piece of cake. And this concludes the pictures of the day.

 Practicing for my homeless days sleeping on a bench.

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal

Historic Harper's Ferry