USA 1999: The Mid-Atlantic States
(continued)
After 63-miles we reach the highest point (3,860-feet) on the Skyline Drive. Here, we have lunch at Skyland, a lodge and restaurant
complex - as well as salads, we have excellent soup and desserts, including mile-high ice cream pie (above).
We're actually driving north - but this side of the board is more attractive.
The Skyline Drive finishes near the town of Front
Royal, where we use the US-340 to drive to Frederick, Maryland. It is a very pleasant drive through delightful countryside with some
lovely evening sunshine in the Shenandoah Valley. We pass through West Virginia (our 36th state) before reaching the Hampton
Inn in Frederick. After exploring the historic centre of Frederick we have chicken salads at Wendy's.
(Day 24: Saturday, June 19th): At the feature pond at the Hampton Inn we spot a green heron before we set out for today's
first objective - Washington Monument State Park.
The park preserves the Washington Monument, a 40-foot-tall tower honouring George Washington. The monument sits along the Appalachian
Trail near the summit of South Mountain's Monument Knob. The monument is a circular brick tower that has the appearance of a brick
kiln; it was the first monument created to honour the first president. The park is well worth visiting for both its historical significance
and its tranquil setting.
There are superb views from the top of the tower.
Our next objective is the Antietam National Battlefield that commemorates the Civil War battle that occurred on September 17th 1862.
The area, situated on fields among the Appalachian foothills near the Potomac River, features the battlefield site and visitor centre,
a national military cemetery, the historic stone arch Burnside's Bridge, and a field hospital museum. A number of 'veterans' are camped
here and periodically fire a cannon with mixed results. More men were killed or wounded at Antietam than on any other single
day of the Civil War.
A tour of the battlefield takes us to Burnside Bridge that featured significantly in the battle, and the National Cemetery where the
remains of 4,776 Federal soldiers are buried.