Angela and I have been using several methods to keep our spirits up regarding the journey ahead. The trail has mile markers, so we keep track of those (we’ve now reached mile 124, at Hancock). Another is to count folds on the map. We’ve now made it past the fourth fold.
Honestly, I thought I’d have to dig to find history in these smaller back country towns in western Maryland, but everywhere we turn there’s another historic plaque or old building or tiny museum. This image was on a building outside the present day courthouse in Hagerstown.
We had a terrific stopover in Hagerstown (again, off trail — we rode the local bus) visiting the Washington County Historical Society, a library and museum and friendly staff all wrapped into one. The museum had the best collection of old lamps, shelves and shelves of them, each one carefully labeled, that I’ve ever encountered.
Nightfall found us in the small town of Hancock, at what I can only describe as a cat-loving (I count three so far), bicyclers motel.
Today is our first with rain. We’ll see how far we get on the map fold.
Bike hike update: It’s not as bad as all that — the rain was a few misting drops, not a major downpour. Now, the sun has come out, and we haven’t even started biking yet.