Judy Grillo
  • Home
  • Writer
    • Services & Clients
    • Rates & Terms
  • Teacher
  • Trainer
  • Reveler
  • Blogger
  • Listener
  • Home
  • Writer
    • Services & Clients
    • Rates & Terms
  • Teacher
  • Trainer
  • Reveler
  • Blogger
  • Listener

No Time for Bull****

9/23/2021

0 Comments

 

It's been nearly two months of trolling around northern New York and Western Vermont with the added pleasure of socializing with friends and family in my comfort zone.  To add to this experience, I planned travel with a friend for a week including a full day of driving from Saratoga Springs to Smithsburg, Maryland.  This is an interesting experience in two cars when one person drives maniacally and the other drives the speed limit. Don't take me there.

So yes, a week in Smithsburg: one square mile with a population of 2,978. Incorporated in 1846, Smithsburg acted as a hospital town during the American Civil War in 1862, treating wounded soldiers from nearby battles at South Mountain and Antietam. Ah, the hook -- this location was chosen for its interesting Airbnb option but also its proximity to Frederick, Harpers Ferry and Antietam. 

We stayed in a private 2-bedroom apartment in an Appalachian farmhouse upstairs from a young Mennonite family and their two delightful children. The dad grew up here with his 6 siblings when it was a traditional dairy farm; but at 18, he and his cousin started the Triple-Hil Sires bull stud business. It's a successful business but we also enjoyed the cows, sheep, and 8 of the cutest lab pups that came in pairs of gold, brown and black. The farm stay was its own wonderful experience with the smell of hay in the morning breeze ingrained in my sensory bank. 

With one day in town on each end, it was a busy itinerary as we fit in full days at viewpoints on Catoctin Mountain enroute to Frederick (where Lee crossed the Potomac and the Union forces arrived on 9/12), a complete tour of Harpers Ferry (where the siege occurred on 9/14), and a day along the Antietam Battlefield (where the battle began at dawn on 9/17).  Too many stories to tell, but of course, many photos exist! 

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    Author

    Cyclist, writer, teacher, avid reader, bike/ped advocate, nomad, pie lover

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.