While the rest of the group slept this morning, I took another walk through Frederick. This time, I went through old town and along the Carroll Creek Linear Park. Carroll Creek is a tributary to the nearby Monocacy River and runs right through the middle of town. Historically, the creek was prone to periodic flooding that destroyed property and threatened lives. After the floods of 1976, the city resolved to create a reliable flood control system. To do this, they diverted the creek underground into huge drainage pipes, leaving enough water above to create a charming canal. Walkways, shops, restaurants and public art line the route.
Barbara Fritchie House (see yesterday's blog entry). Note the flag.
After this, we took Karen out for her birthday breakfast at a little café downtown. Then, we jumped in the car to head north for a few miles to take a driving tour of the famed covered bridges of Frederick County. The three surviving bridges (there used to be about nine of them) date from the 1850’s and provide a glimpse into the past.
Utica Mills Covered Bridge (c. 1850)
Loy’s Station Covered Bridge (c. 1848) – Four days after the Battle of Gettysburg, the Union Army crossed this bridge as they were pursuing the retreating Confederate Army of General Robert E. Lee.
Roddy Road Covered Bridge (c. 1856)
Since it was Karen’s birthday, we wanted to engage in one of her favorite activities – hiking? So we set out for nearby Cunningham Falls State Park. The light rain and the warm and humid conditions made for a lovely two mile nature walk through the forest and up to the falls. Happy Birthday, Karen!
On our drive
back into Frederick, we stopped at the ‘Great Stuff by Paul’ antique store.
This is more like a big warehouse of unusual items of mostly European origin.
Paul told us that movie producers often use his stuff to dress film sets. We
saw candles used in ‘The Last Airbender’, and some apple crates used in one of
my personal favorite films, Steven Spielberg’s ‘Lincoln’.
There were also some other weird and creepy things for sale there.
By this time, an afternoon weather front was moving in and we decided to get some dinner. Steph and Stephan treated us to Mexican food. Just as we got back to the town home and sat down to eat, the skies opened up to a torrential downpour. Judging by the amount of water flowing down our street, I think the city’s flood control plan of 1976 was a very wise decision. We had some birthday pie and played some cards, while the lightning and thunder flashed and boomed outside.
P.S. See photos below for a brief look into some of the behind-the-scenes activities that help bring you the stunning visual compositions that accompany the lyrical text of the blog...
Next: Monocacy Battlefield?
LOL Love it! You all look great! 👍🏻❤️
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