2-23-06
Start: Town Creek Campsite, MD
Destination: Fort Ashby, WV
Miles: 17.2
Weather: Cool, sunny
Yeah! We're in West Virginia! Thanks Maryland and Washington, D.C. for a great hike, wonderful history, and of course, very friendly people! We're definitely coming back to D.C. when we have more time, and doing some tours!
This morning we woke up and mom got the fire going again right away with only a few little ashes. It was magic. Super-fire-woman has magic powers! It was nice to sip coffee in front of a campfire.
This morning we walked our last few miles on the C&O Canal Towpath. We saw a HUGE herd of deer and kept scaring them up the strip of field between us and the Potomac River. There had to be at least 50 of them! It was fun to watch them bound and leap ahead of us for quite a while with their huge white tails flopping back and forth. I've never seen that many deer together at one time!
We also scared some geese up river a couple of times, a heron, and a muskrat. None of them seemed too thrilled that we were in their territory. Especially the heron. That thing squawked as it flew until we couldn't see it any more!
We stopped in Oldtown, where a fisherman told us we could find food at the old school. So walked about an extra half mile to it, and sure enough, a cafe! The school actually looked really nice, but apparently the area flooded, and since the area is in a floodplain, they couldn't rebuild. So the town's population dwindled. But inside were tables, and two very nice people who waited on us and made us some breakfast. Oh, did that hit the spot! When we walked through the hallway to use the restroom, we could see a bunch of REALLY nicely restored old cars. I believe the gentleman also used the area as a body shop. What a neat stop!
We crossed a toll bridge over the Potomac River, and when we asked what the fee was, the lady told us, "As you are... free." So we walked across and high-fived each other for hitting a new state.
We had a steep climb -- it felt like it was straight up! We are SO in the mountains, now! We've been following a river, so it hasn't really hit us hard until today when we felt the ascent. Very exciting, and very pretty!
We stopped to filter water because we weren't sure where we were staying, but when we entered into Fort Ashby, we stopped at a convenience store and a gentleman told us we could set up our tent by the water treatment plant down the road. Turns out that it's practically right off the trail! They even came back and opened it for us so we could use the restroom. What great people! :)
We're soon shooting for a motel. We need showers like something fierce! If it was warmer out, it would be fun to wash up in a creek, but we're not quite ready for that yet...
It's almost 8 pm, I better get to bed! For those of you that know me, you are probably in shock to hear that! I'm known to stay up late and sleep in really late! Times are quickly changing with this new schedule! But I love the way mornings look, sound, feel and smell. So maybe it'll stick. :)
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