We have arrived to Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia on our first full day of fun.  This is a special trip for us – all 3 kids are with us as well as our younger dog, Winston.  Max is too old, deaf and grumpy to travel anymore.  John and Elaine are babysitting him at home while we are away.

We left home on Saturday afternoon and drove the first three hours to Knoxville, TN.  On Sunday we slept in, took a leisurely breakfast and drove the rest of the way to HF – arriving her around 4pm.  Just enough time to get settled and unpacked, find dinner and begin hard core relaxing.

Our house was built in 1830 and overlooks the Potomac river.  The building served as a hospital for both the US and Confederate troops during the civil war.  HF was changed hands 8 times from 1861-1865.  HF is also the site of the famous John Brown raid and failed black uprising.

View of our front room.

Isabella is grading papers. Finals week is over, but she has to get all papers graded and into the computer by 5:00pm today.  She hasn’t yet been able to relax on this trip.

Down one of the main streets near our house. 

Out on our first hike of the day.  Cold (38 degrees) but sunny and not much wind.

Much of the town is preserved as a national park; most of the buildings have been restored/renovated.  Many are re-done just as they were in the 1860’s.

Interior of dry goods store, as an example.

Abandoned railroad bridge piers.  They were built in the 1830s for the B&O railroad.  The Confederates blew up the bridge in 1861 and it was rebuilt and destroyed numerous times throughout the war, sometimes being replaced by a temporary pontoon bridge. 

We attempted another hike across the Potomac into Maryland to walk up the Maryland Heights.  Winston was NOT happy about this walkway and when we got to the far end, there were several steep series of open grate stair steps.  We could not get him to walk the gratings and could not carry him.  He got into a full, wiggly panic and could not be comforted.  We had to abandon our hiking plans and turn back.

We found another hike more to his liking; along the Shenandoah river.. this is part of the Appalachian Trail.  HF is just about halfway between the starting point in Georgia and the end point in Maine.

Our parking spot and rented house – it’s the brick place on the left with the large, central fireplace.

Brenda’s dinner – CBD salad full of marijuana leaves.  She did NOT expect that.  The leaves don’t have any of the THC, smell a bit like mint and did not taste good.

Our houses mantelpiece – with cap lock rifle and real cannon ball and shells.

Left over equipment from the 18th and 19th century armories – HF was ground zero for the nation’s arsenal and factories that produced much of our countries arms and armor.  These lathes were turning gun stocks and rifle barrels.