Ferry Landing on the Chesapeake Bay

Jim and I are constantly doing weekend day trips to get away from the burbs and explore the area we live in. The first weekend of April, we both wanted to see the bay... which usually mean Jim says he wants to eat some seafood. I looked up a trail that is on the eastern side of the bay, Ferry Point Trail, on Wye Island, MD. The island is owned by the Maryland DNR and has a few trails. This particular trail goes to an old ferry landing. This ferry landing was the only way to Wye Island and the trail used to be a road to the ferry, to get to across the Wye River to Queen Anne's county Maryland. The island itself has been privately owned for 300 years and was used for production of wheat and tobacco. It was owned by the third Governor of Maryland and signer of the Declaration of Independence, William Paca. In the 1770's the other owner (he owned half the island) Charles Beale Bordley, was a lawyer and then quit devoting his time to making the island self-sufficient. He planted vineyards, orchards, started textile production and brick making and even tried his hand at brewing. In the 1970's, the ever expanding suburbs, forced the DNR to buy the island and keep it in its more natural state. It has great wildlife viewing (saw 2 ospreys and a fox).

the beginning of the park facing westward

The start of the trail, it was a bit muddy

Old Ferry Landing, People now use it for a local swimming hole

ferry landing

on the marshy side

sweet bi-valves

yes... I took a photo of vultures. Simply b/c Jim always thinks they are birds of prey...

a trail for short people

sweet little cubby

OSPREY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Point of Rocks

Jim and I decided to drag Gabby up to northwest Maryland to check out Harper's Ferry after hitting up Antietam the night before. Jim's boss bought him a Geology of DC, MD, and DE and I found a spot that just sounded super awesome "Point of Rocks", so using a map, we found ourselves at a northern part of the C&O canal (part of the trail we bike near us) and wandered over to an old train tunnel. A moment of courage overtook me and we all three walked into the dark tunnel, thankfully missing the dead animal toward the end. They both took some rock samples on the side of the highway and we proceeded up to Harper's Ferry, where I nerdily got some stamps in my national parks passport.

Point of Rocks from the other side of the Potomac River in Virginia

Point of Rocks Tunnel looking Northward

Deer skull outside the tunnel

Well it did get completely dark in the tunnel but this is toward the end with Jim and Gabby doing the Album cover photo

End of Tunnel looking south

Park of the canal that hasn't been dredged and fixed like the southern part

Jim and Gabby hanging out under bridges

Dudes stealing rocks

We strolled around historic Harper's Ferry, WV for a bit and then got some beers before heading back into DC. Harper's Ferry was the site of the John Brown raid, an abolitionist, who enlisted some men to take over the armory and begin an uprising against slavery. It is a considered a turning point for the case of slavery and possibly the start of the civil war. It occurred in 1859. He was executed for this act but said these last words

“I John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty, land: will never be purged away; but with Blood. I had as I now think: vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed; it might be done.”

off the bus, this looks like a rock wall but yet like the surrounding bed rock

historic Harper's Ferry, WV

An old sign on the rocks on the Maryland side, across the Potomac river. Its known as Maryland Heights and has some civil war artifacts at the top. We plan on doing the 3-5 hour hike once the weather cools down again and the tourist leave

You can say it" awwww". in the background is the confluence of the Shenandoah river (which flows north) and the Potomac river

looking over the Potomac toward Maryland

YES, so close to Georgia!!!!!

John Browns Fort

Since it was spring, I had to include the daffodil photo, they have such a short bloom period.

We enjoyed Harper's Ferry so much we ended up going back in a few weeks to meet with Jim's parents over his 30th birthday weekend.... yes there will be more photos!