"...it's about the journey, not the destination..."
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| On the way to the old part of town in Harpers Ferry WV. |
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| Harpers Ferry was a key location for more than the famous raid by John Brown. |
The focus today was getting home, so there would be little opportunities for scenic pictures. As I have said I prefer to stay off of Interstate highways if possible. Today, combining time and distance, I would start out the day on Interstate 81. Up at 6 am out at 7:15 and right onto I 81. The good news is that this would be the only Interstate I would ride today. The better news is that I would only be on it for an hour or so.
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The Harpers Ferry bandstand, originally one of the structures on Island Park
amusement park was created and operated by the B&O railroad. |
I rode up I 81 for 61 miles getting off at Stephens City onto VA 277 east to US 340. Then I took US 340 towards Frederick MD. As I was riding I was thinking about opportunities for pictures on my route. After Charles Town WV I realized my route would take me past Harpers Ferry. What a great opportunity to visit a significant historic site, and get some pictures.
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| The site of the Small Arsenal building in 1861. |
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| John Brown attacked Harpers Ferry to get weapons for his fight against slavery. |
In the morning hours on a Wednesday morning I hade the place almost to myself. I rode down the hill to the oldest part of town, the site of the attack by John Brown and his followers. A number of the buildings were very old, giving the area a special historical feeling. As is often the case this area seemed so small for such an important event to have taken place.
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| The fire house where John Brown was captured after a bloody confrontation. |
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The Union solders who rushed to Harpers Ferry were commanded by a Colonel who
would later become a famous general, Robert E. Lee. |
The leader of the Union troops that responded to John Brown’s attack was Robert E. Lee. A young 1st Lt. named James Ewell Brown Stuart was part of the force. Jeb Stuart would become critical to General Lee’s successes during the Civil War.
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| A look up the street in Harpers Ferry. |
After my time in Harpers Ferry it was back on US 340 to Frederick MD where I began a route I’ve developed over the many trips I’ve taken through this area over the years. MD 26 east out of Frederick to Eldersburg, then a left turn, navigating around Baltimore. This route typically takes longer that the Interstate around Baltimore ( depending, of course, on traffic and accidents on the beltway around Baltimore! ) but it takes me through some of the Maryland horse country and features some interesting, curvey roads. In Jennersville I turn off of MD 23 onto MD 165 that goes north towards Pennsylvania. When this road crosses the border it becomes PA 74. Shortly thereafter I came to a circle, on which sits the Delta Family Restaurant. Dubbed the “Delta Diner” by my good friend and riding buddy Jimmy, now deceased. This is one of my normal stops when I go out riding. I was almost home.
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| My bike in front of the “Delta Diner,” one of my usual stops. |
I arrived at the Delta Diner around noon, and had my usual lunch. From there a pleasant trip through the PA and MD countryside to US 1, then over the Conowingo Dam to Rising Sun MD. From there country roads towards my home in Newark De. I had a great 5 day trip, visiting with on old colleague, riding many back roads, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive. LOTS of fun motorcycling on an excellent bike. The next trip is with my daughters to the finger lake region of New York in the first week of September. Many great journeys ahead!
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| The site of one of the nation’s first industrial complexes. |
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