The Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers carve steep cuts though the Allegheny Mountains. Though time their power has been alternately harnessed for great work

and has rushed forward untamable to unleash tremendous fury and consume all in its path.  On a point at their confluence lies a great example of how geology and terrain drove settlement and growth, the town Harpers Ferry. The site attempts to interpret the crisscrossed stories of nation building through first canals

Lock 23 C&O Canal

then railroads, the Civil Rights movement with John Brown’s raid, and repeated Civil War battles over this strategic transportation hub and home of vital

Rifle Manufacturing

Federal arms manufacturing. Interpreters in period costume help bring the city back to life. It is easily a full day to explore. Add another if you want to trek the trails or visit local related sites like Charles Town where John Brown was hanged.

Check out the Confectionary. The shelves are lined with sweets and treats as enjoyed across the centuries. I skipped the roasted hemp seeds and marshmallow weed but had to sample a few things: the Pepper Company’s smooth Gibraltar Peppermint and tongue biting ginger drops plus an early chocolate bar now recreated by the Historic Division of Mars candy. If you make it in there, hang around a bit for the proprietor’s story telling.

Celebrating America through the 240 year history of the Army. The setting is perfect. A knoll at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall provides a panoramic view of the DC skyline. Brilliant colors of The Stars and Stripes wave perfectly against the cloud dotted sky. One after another units in historically accurate uniforms take their turn to tell the story of their role in major military eras/conflicts. Tunes played by the Army Band and cannon fire, both black powder-muzzle-loaded and modern battle guns, punctuate the performances. The Old Guard amazes with Fife and Drum Corp and the beautiful cornet tattoo. The synchronized clicks, steps and bayonet flashes of the Drill Corp are mesmerizing.

It’s a great fix of unabashed National Pride and a reminder of how much has been and continues to be sacrificed to keep our imperfect yet magnificent country safe.

As an added bonus, a good number of the well mannered, physically fit and fine postured men in spit polished and perfect dress uniforms mingled among the civilian spectators. They are pretty easy on the eyes!

Before heading on we checked in with some aunts, uncles and cousins.  Great visiting: Charlotte and Terry, Arlene and Leonard, Mary, Tommy and Louease, Doris and Curtis

Rockets red glare.  I got my fix of fireworks on the riverfront at Tu-Endie-Wei State Park.  Nicely done, Pt. Pleasant.

“The largest small town 4th of July parade in the USA” right here in Ripley WV.  The local High School band, Shriners, politicians, vintage cars, old time tractors, more tiara adorned girls than we could count (from 6 months old to 80+yrs), fire trucks, strolling clowns, and of course horses.  They still throw candy from the floats (or walkers associated with the floats) so we got our fix of tootsie rolls and dumdums.  There were street venders too.  I had to try the local kettle corn.  As expected, it was delicious.  We strolled the Court House lawn and came upon an impromptu jam session.  Four seasoned musicians made guitars, banjo and steel guitar sing.  Joyous!

If you can think of a mountain craft the Mountain State Art and Craft Fair is the place to find fine specimens.  Booths were filled to overflowing with hand woven baskets, carved and turned bowls, cutting boards and kitchen widgets, woven, knit and crocheted items of home spun yarn, quilts, pottery of every shape and size, brooms, jewelry, local foodstuffs and wine and lots more.  I spent hours and miles wandering tent to tent.

It was a bit of a disappointment for Kent.  As he recalls it from 40 years ago or so there was a lot more hands on demonstration and a pride in sharing their craft rather than the focus on sales that we found today.  They seem to have centralized the artisan side of the effort into an area where one can sign up for workshops to try their hand at various crafts.  It is probably a more practical approach but more purposeful and requires too much pre-planning for casual attendees like us.  The other big disappointment; no homemade ice cream at the FFA booth…they always had it.  The food court is now mostly commercial/fair venders rather than local non-profits like school groups, clubs and churches.  Things change.

A civil war re-enactment group included canon and musket firings and a great old time music group,

The Tower Street String Band.  Double Bass, banjo, fiddle and guitar combined for fun entertainment.  Weather turned threatening and we skipped out before the barn dance scheduled for that evening.  I am sure it was a fun time for all.

A local band, Two River Junction, took the stage.  They must know two songs from each of the top 10 artists over the past 20+ years.  A bit of Grateful Dead, Santana, Elton John to name a few and a handful of country singers whose names I can’t recall.  The evening was pleasant, the view of the fast flowing Ohio a bit mesmerizing, and the music quite listenable.  Nice start to the Holiday weekend Pt. Pleasant.

Beautiful

Triplet fawns

Hillsboro in the Little Levels District of WV puts together a fun little fair on the grounds of the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace.  Persistent rain cut our attendance short but we caught the highlights:  The heritage Parade, my favorite float was the Senior Citizens of Hillsboro carrying their women’s group, “The Merry Struters.  The BBQ Chicken dinner brought to us by the local Methodist Church.  A sampling of local Bluegrass music, Richard Hefner and the Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys.  A tour of a local grist mill that they are actively trying to restore.  The caretaker/renovator clearly loves his work and makes a wonderful tour guide.

Did you know that they bleached wheat flour with ozone to make “white flour”?  They pipe the gas to a tumbler and tada, white flour. This is the first mill we have toured that had an ozone generator.

Kent was excited to stumble upon a local woman’s baked goods booth that included the difficult to find salt rising bread.  Of course we brought some home.

Think before you swat.  Lots of species of flies are important pollinators and so are those annoying sweat bees.  The campground talk last night was given by an entomologist from WV University.    Kent and I were the only attendees so we got to ask lots of questions and learned all about bees, wasps, flies, butterflies and beetles.  Everyone, plant a plot of native wildflowers.  Loss of prairie habitat is threatening many of our native pollinators