July 24 - Harper’s Ferry and the Potomac River

Talk about a beautiful river! Today’s ride took me west from Fort Meade, Maryland to a small town named Harper’s Ferry in Virginia. The town is ideally situated where both the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers meet. It also has historical significance as John Brown attempted to use the town and its armory as the base for a slave revolt in 1859. The raid increased tensions between the north and south and is considered to be an impetus for the civil war.

Leaving Fort Meade this morning I took interstate 70 west and then 340 west to get to Harper’s Ferry. To be honest although the ride there was pretty, with lots of trees on both sides of the road, it was not particularly noteworthy. However, the views of the Potomac River were spectacular. I have to say, I believe it is one of the prettiest rivers I have ever seen. What struck me most was how peaceful and serene the water appeared. It was as smooth as silk with hardly a ripple anywhere, despite the beautiful rock formations scattered throughout the massive body of water. It is approximately 1,300 feet wide where I saw it at its junction with the Shenandoah River.

The town of Harper’s Ferry is a quaint little village with cobblestone paths, buildings from the 1800s, historical information placards, and shops with something for everyone from candy to antiques. I didn’t spend much time there, simply because I had a service appointment for the bike in DC. But I felt like my trip there was a great retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city.