The Antietam Battlefield Tour

 The Antietam Battlefield Tour

 Hmmm…I have 2 hours.  Well, some people choose to watch a movie or go shopping, but I decided that today is a nice day for a tour of Antietam Battlefield Hiking trails.  So, I went to work. 

Checklist…

•      Weather 

•    Garmin 

•    Balance Bar 

•      Water 

•    Money 

•    Map 

•    Cell phone charged 

•     Cash 

•    Road ID 

 I drove to the Antietam taking my “so-called short cut,” but my short cut turned out to be a long cut…Who knew there were two roads one is Alt. Rt.40 W and the other is Rt.40 W?  Oh well, I finally arrive.  Checked in with the park service. I tell them I will be back in 2 hours and off I went on my tour.

 Oh did I say that my tour was on foot.  I ran 10.5 miles up and down.  Let me repeat this again for emphasis....

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 Up & Down

This is going to be interesting.  Here I am running through history sweating like a pig.  This is NOT pretty,  but I kept going. The hills got so ridiculous that at one point I figured well now is a good time for a picture or two while I catch my breath.  I plodded along as cars passed slowly, filled with smiling families waving as they drove up hill. 

Wait is that a mirage or is that a gas station?  Yippee, it is a gas station.  I ran in to get a bottled water and Skittles.  A few cyclists were there as well. I smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries with the cashier, a nice plainspoken woman.  She was probably thinking …” You guys are crazyyyyy…Get a car!”  I sent a text message so my friend would not send out an ABP:  “ I’m fine and have never been so happy to see a gas station in the middle of nowhere, “ the text read. 

Then I had to go back.  Well, there was no forgiveness in the elevation.  Just more of the same UPPPPP and Downnnn.  Then I came upon a historic bell tower.  There were a few young people  in the tower waving and yelling, “ You go girl, run, run, run!”  I waved back and they clapped.  They could not see it, but I smiled a lot.

Is that my car?  I think I see my car.  It IS my car.  Oh shucks.  I guess I can’t run across the battle field to get to my car so I have to keep running UPPPP and Downnnn to get to my car.  I looked at the Garmin 8.6 miles.  My car looked closer than that, but I had run that last 2 miles to actually get to the car.  As I kept running, I started thinking that I don’t remember all these turns and stuff.  My car should be right here!  Then I turned one more time and there was the Visitors Center and the car!  Yipppee. 

If you have two hours…Take the tour man…Take the tour.