Skip to main content

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....




t

 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.   



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

You Define Success*****

Today I must admit was an extra-ordinary day. I had the opportunity to do something I had never done before. I completed 2 endurance events back to back. I participated in the Maryland Sprint duathlon on Saturday and Olympic Distance on Sunday. This consisted of 39 miles of cycling uphill and 10 miles of running in back to back within 24 hours.  For a few, this seemed like a walk in a park. See these events bring out the most talent athletes around. They look fast and have fancy bikes.   I signed up for this race because a buddy asked me to do so.  There I was. No fancy shoes. A bike that is 11 years old. No fancy outfit. NOTHING.  I just said to myself, " Oh well, you defined what you want to get out of this." Oh course, I was totally intimidated by all the racers.  I had not planned on doing this event.  The course is very tough.  I have not trained for much in the past few months, but exercise regularly for sanity.  All I could do is ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Healthy Tips for the Night RN

Imagine yourself walking into a hospital cafeteria between 6am-7pm. Fresh fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates and proteins are available to patients, families, visitors and staff. Flashing signs decorate the café with slogans to remind customers to choose healthy options. By 6pm or 7pm, the café is closed.   The lights are dim and all is quiet. The hospital personnel dwindles to essential staff only.   Then here comes the night shift.   All the doctors, nurses and personnel, who keep the inter-workings of the hospital functioning, begin their “day.”   For night shift employees, their “day” begins at night.   As a night nurse, you arrive at 7pm prepared to care for patients and handle any emergencies that may arise until shift change at 7am.   Traditionally, the beginning of the shift is the busiest with night medication passes; preparing patients for surgery for the next day; conversing with family members prior to the end of v...
Post a Comment
Read more

Rock n Roll:DC- Tired, Train, Trust-March 2016

After the long months of cold and over 30 inches of snow, I arrived at the Rock n Roll:DC half marathon.   It was a blast. I had been tired from working consecutive night shifts and this event was on a Saturday unlike other half marathons I have run in the past, except Baltimore.   I spent 2.5 hrs in traffic to pick up my packet on a Friday night .   Between the traffic, security and all the training to get to this event, I was simply exhausted.   Saturday was a brisk Spring day. I decided that I had done all I can to get me to the event healthy so I matters we'll have fun.   I did. I listened to the sites and sounds of the bands and cheers of the spectators. Around mile 5-7, I turned up the music in my iPod. I knew what lay ahead. A huge hill by the National Zoo was gonna trying to beat me down. I felt like an old car with a manual stick shift gear system and powered it down. I made it up the hill and conserved energy for the second...
Post a Comment
Read more