We departed New Holland PA for a short 123 mile dash southward to Brunswick MD. Brunswick is a train town on the banks of the Potomac River, and a stop along the C&O Canal. We have been to Brunswick several times, but we've never been able to stay more than a night or two. The first time was when we were biking the length of the C&O Canal and camped at Brunswick Family Campground in a tent. On that trip, when we pounded the tent stakes in, we hit a rock every time. Move the stake; hit another rock. Later we learned that the campground was built over a concrete ai strip and the concrete still exists just a few inches under the soil.
On this trip we hoped to explore the local area, do some biking, enjoy some down time and visit DC. We were reserved for 7 nights at Brunswick Family Campground.
Brunswick is the site of a major rail yard. There is Amtrak service, MARC service (commuter rail into DC) and freight operations. If you can't stand train noises all night long, don't camp at Brunswick Family CG.
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| Brunswick has a huge rail yard |
Brunswick Family Campground offers pump-out service for campers.
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| Winnie the "Poo" |
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| Enjoying a brew at Smoketown Brewing Station |
One day we biked westward on the C&O to Harpers Ferry. The C&O Canal Park is a so-called "trash free" park, meaning all visitors should carry away their own trash. Some folks are clueless clods.
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| Lock 33 at Harpers Ferry |
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| What can you do? |
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| Catoctin Creek Aquaduct |
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| A black vulture patiently awaits fallen bikers |
On yet another day we drove to Swain's Lock and then cycled eastward towards DC and Great Falls. This is an extremely scenic portion of the trail.
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| Great Falls Tavern |
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| Dorcas is a happy triker |
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| The Great Falls of the Potomac |
A climax to our trip was a visit to DC. We had originally intended to take the MARC (Maryland Area Regional Commuter), which has a station in Brunswick. Ultimately, we decided to drive to Rockland MD and catch the DC Metro at Shady Grove station. We each bought an unlimited 1-day pass, which were loaded onto our phones and operated the turnstiles.
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| Riding on the Metro |
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| A Metro station in DC |
For our first stop we wanted to go to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. There wasn't a Metro stop close by, so we chose the station at Foggy Bottoms. This put us out at The George Washington University and about a 3/4 mile walk to the memorial. I quickly learned that this was going to be a tough trip on my tender new knee.
From the Vietnam Veterans Memorial it was a short walk to the Lincoln Memorial.
From there we continued on up the National Mall to the World War II Memorial.
We had hoped to get to the top of the Washington Monument, but there were no more tickets remaining for this day. DANG!!!! However, Dorcas talked to a ranger there and plied her feminine wiles, hiked up her shorts, batted her eye lashes, and otherwise dazzled him with her shameless flirting. He told her to stand by, and the next thing I know we are being escorted to the head of the line. We were in! You go Dorcas!
The following photos are from the top of the Washington Monument looking in various directions.
The Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle) serves as a Visitor Center for all the Smithsonian museums, and is an iconic symbol of the Smithsonian Institution.
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| Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle) |
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| Inside "The Castle" |
After descending from the Washington Monument, we figured we would try to see a museum or two. There are dozens of museums operated by the Smithsonian on the National Mall, but we only had time to see one or two. Our first choice was the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, but it was closed. DANG!!! Our second choice was the Smithsonian Arts and Industry Building, but it was closed, too. DOUBLE DANG!!! We finally settled on the National Museum of Natural History.
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| Our first Postmaster and friend |
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| Letter boxes from around the world |
The "Inverted Jenny" (also known as an Upside Down Jenny, Jenny Invert) is a 24 cent United States postage stamp first issued on May 10, 1918, in which the image of the Curtiss JN-4 airplane in the center of the design is printed upside-down. It is probably the most famous error in American philately. Only one pane of 100 of the inverted stamps was ever found, making this error one of the most prized in philately. A single Inverted Jenny is estimated to be worth $1,593,000.
The museum had trays of stamps that visitors could shuffle through and take a few home. As hard as I looked I only found 6 Inverted Jennys.
After a long, grueling, knee-killing day, we returned to Union Station to catch the Metro back to Shady Grove station and drove back to camp.
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| Union Station |
I wish we had had more days to spend in Washington; there is just so much to see and do. Perhaps next time we can come and stay longer.
On Friday July 29, we returned home to Winston Salem, and our "Jaunt Through the Mid-Atlantic States" tour came to an end.
