Odyssey of the Barth

Williamsport MD Canal Days Aug. 27-29, 2010

Our destination this weekend was Williamport, MD, about 75 miles from home. As an important port during the heyday of the C&O Canal, they were having their annual Canal Days Festival in town - arts & crafts, music, exhibits and of course, food! We set-up housekeeping at the KOA, about 3 miles out of town.

The town is bisected by the Conococheague Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River beginning 80 miles away in PA and ending in Williamsport - the C&O Canal had to build an aquaduct over it for the canal boats. Our campground was located on the creek's banks.

Andy-the-son was in town, along with his traveling partner Bleu-da-dog, so they joined us for the weekend (free food ya understand....). Andy brought his hand-crafted wood kayak, which got a good workout.

Campsites were kinda close-in, but the facilities were clean, including a nice pool we had all to ourselves. We'll probably go back some day.

Stopped at C&O Canal museum during the Canal Days festivities to look over the exihibits & displays of the canal's history.

Back to Gettysburg, w/boys, Aug.14 & 15, 2010

Last weekend, we traveled with Raegan & Abby to Gettysburg, PA. The girls seemed to enjoy it, so we headed back with Carter & Drew.

Saturday morning: "Come on Bampa, let's get going!"

Granite Hill Campground even had our same site from last week vacant!

Swinging is always a fun thing to do........

As well as "working in the sand".....

Gymnastics in progress......

"Ta Da!!..........."

Taking a break with Grandmom.....been busy smore eating & flashlight huntin'

Pool time!.........These kids have seal blood in their veins!

Drew gets driving lessons from Grandmom.........

Carter's driving style?.....Pedal-to-the-metal !!

Hayride time........

Sunday morning we drove through the Gettysburg battleground. Bampa's favorite battle leader is General Longstreet.........

We stopped to listen to a group of re-enactors explain how an artillery battery worked, including a live demonstration of the cannon..........

Ka-Boom !!.........Everybody was ready for the noise.........

"Drew, do ya remember how they made this thing work?"...........

The battlefield has several observation towers. The boys and Grandmom decided to make the climb.............

At the top..........

Horse tours passing next to the Barth......

When touring the battlefield, horses have the right-of-way.......

Then it was lunch in the motorhome, mass at the Seton Bascilica in Emmitsburg, an ice cream stop in Thurmont and we headed home.

Great weekend guys!.......Let's take another trip soon !!

Gettysburg w/ the girls - Aug. 7&8, 2010

Grandmom, Bampa, Raegan & Abby head for Gettysburg PA for the weekend. We returned to Granite Hill Campground, where the gang had enjoyed a crab feast a couple years ago. Weather was perfect! The girls stayed busy at the pool, watching a magic show, trying out the playgrounds, taking a hay ride, checkin' out the DJ's music Saturday night, making mud pies and the always scheduled camp fire & smores.......

Nice shaded campsite....the girls enjoyed meeting our neighbors.

First thing on the agenda - Lunch!

Perfect weather to try out the pool - several times......

Mud pies & sand castles - part of campin'.........

Baby sitting duty by the Hat Lady........

"Hmmmm, wonder what the neighbors are up to ??....."

Bampa supervises the making of gravel-cakes..........

Mass at the Elizabeth Seton basicalla in Emmitsburg, MD. A beautiful shrine, with a large sanctuary and fantastic accoustics.....While the priest's homily may have been an eye-glazer, Abby's burp managed to get everyone's attention :(

Great Cacapon/Berkeley Springs WV, July 17-18, 2010

Lee & George Ross, his friend of 40+ years, head for the mountains of NE West Virginia, near Berkeley Springs..........Destination is Cox Campground, owned by George's friend......This is definately banjo-music country!!

Cacapon River, flowing into the Potomac River at the little burg of
Great Cacapon, WV - a town that's seen better days.....

Great Cacapon in the distance, with view of the Potomac River. The

C&O Canal follows the river.

Set-up at Cox Campground, carved out of a mountain top

way off the beaten path, somewhere in West Virginia.......

George's first visit to the Paw Paw Tunnel, a C&O Canal shortcut

built in the mid-1800's.....Quite the engineering feat of its day.

West end of tunnel - East entrance is 1300' away....

Berkeley Springs State Park. Hundreds of springs provide clear cool water

estimated at over 50,000 gallons a minute...........George Washington

frequented the springs and owned property nearby.....

Springs feel great on a hot day!

A stop at the waterfall in Cacapon State Park, just outside

of Berkely Springs.......

Harper's Ferry WV - Family Weekend - July 9-11

Family weekend at Harper's Ferry KOA - easy drive for all.

Now a National Park, Harper's Ferry was an industrial center for military arms, but most noted for the failed raid by John Brown just before the Civil War.