Biggs Cross Country 2017: Day 28 - Big Meadow to PA Dutch Country

We left Big Meadow this morning, grudgingly since the weather was really nice, although the wind was still blowing. We went down the mountain to Front Royal and picked up I-66 then I-81 into Maryland.

Left the interstate near Hagerstown to take the “scenic route” toward Gettysburg.

We came across a park called “Catoctin Mountain Park” and “Cunningham Falls State Park”. We were curious that there was a National Park Service emblem on the sign. There was a Visitor Center, so we went to check it out. The park ranger explained that the two parks had been built in the 1930s by the CCC boys as a “Recreational Demonstration Area”, jointly by the Nat’l Park Service and the Dept of Interior. The original intent was that the entire facility would be turned over to the state of Maryland as a state park. The parks consist of hiking trails, camping, a waterfall, etc.

During WWII, Franklin Roosevelt wanted to have an inland Presidential retreat (since he couldn’t use his yacht on the Potomac! Uboats, you know)). So, Camp David was born! You couldn’t have a presidential retreat in a state park, so the property was split in two, thus the two adjoining parks. Of course, Camp David’s exact location is a secret. There are no road signs and you won’t find it on a map!

Then we went on to Lancaster and drove through downtown, which is very interesting! It’s quite old but appears to be gentrified. Lots of college students around. From Lancaster we circled back south on some back country roads to visit with our old friend Marilyn in Glen Rock. She was our next door neighbor in Oneonta. She and Charlie were our kids’ surrogate grandparents. We went out to dinner in the little town of Shrewsbury.

Then we continued our circle and ended up at a motel in New Holland, in the middle of “Pennsylvania Dutch Country”. The countryside is beautiful. Corn, corn and more corn!