Well it sure has been a while since we have posted!
Honestly, so many things have happened since our trip to the reservoir last June that I'm not going to even try to summarize it all. Instead I wanted to tell a new story :)
...
It all started with John Denver.
It was the second last day of our holiday weekend trip to DC to visit Alex. We had explored all across the Mall, seen all the monuments, played poker, swapped stories, and enjoyed drinks at the bar. We all wanted to get out and see some nature (Alex had been talking about how beautiful it was this time of year).
The plan was to drive through Shenandoah National Park across the famous Skyline Road until we reached Front Royal.
We left from Pentagon City singing "Take me Home Country Roads," and weaving through the rolling hills of Virginia.
Unfortunately, as we were driving into the park, the ranger warned us that the entire road was closed due to dangerous icy conditions, so we took a quick picture at the entrance and had an imprompteau change of plans...
At least we got a picture of the entrance!
Upon exiting the park to the west, we began to drive through beautiful, rugged farmland. I especially enjoyed all the fences!
Finally we arrived at the town of Harpers Ferry, nestled at the junction between the Potomac River and Shenandoah River.
Some defining feature of the town: it was small, old, wet, and felt totally empty, like we were ghosts exploring the world as it might have been 150 years ago.
It seemed like every main building was actually a museum, staged to look like it might have when the town was a major transportation and trade hub around the time of the Civil War.
The perfectly re-created store interiors were like a time machine that eliminated all people, echoing the past, but it felt a bit unsettling without anyone around!
We hiked up this shale covered hill...
...and took a selfie at an old church that was closed!
Further up the hill, we realized that we were actually walking on the Appalachian Trail! Here are some cool ruins we found.
Everything led to a gorgeous outlook, and a rock where Thomas Jefferson once stood when he wrote a description of the town in his journal:
On your right comes up the Shenandoah, having ranged along the foot of the mountain a hundred miles to seek a vent. On your left approaches the Potomac, in quest of a passage also. In the moment of their junction they rush together against the mountain, rend it asunder, and pass off to the sea. This scene alone is worth a voyage across the Atlantic.
We agree Mr. Jefferson ;)
As our evening wound to a close, we wandered through an incredible exhibit about John Brown, an abolitionist who attacked the city before the Civil War on his crusade to end slavery. You have to admire the guy. He ended up being hanged, but his presence has certainly never left the town. Pieces of his gallows were actually in the exhibit, which was... disturbing.
We loved this cool railway bridge!
At the other end, we got a close look at this cool writing we saw on the hill from across the river. Can anyone make out what it says??
Also, apparently Lewis and Clark got their supplies here before their journey West!
Finally, as night closed in we tried to hitch a train to Shepherdstown, but it just drove on right by! We ended up grabbing dinner at a cool British Pub before heading back to Pentagon City for the night.
It was truly amazing to get on the road again and take a journey with Molly and Alex. Here's to many more adventures!
Never stop exploring.
