Chilly day in historic Harper's Ferry

December 12, 2024 --  Last weekend, Mom and I took a scenic drive along the Potomac River, before stopping in to see Robin.  Along the way, we passed Lock 34 of the C&O Canal. There was a parking lot there. I aimed to return with Ty, so we could take a scenic stroll along the Potomac River, but when we got to the parking lot a few days later, it was closed off. So instead, we drove into the town of Harper's Ferry. I found parking near the visitor's center, and we set off exploring and learning. We probably walked about 3-4 miles. While brisk, the weather was perfect for hiking.

Ty looking out at the river

Near the midpoint of the Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail Bridge

John Brown's Fort

John Brown monument

Farm Update

November 16, 2024 -- Thirty-nine ewes have been exposed. Lambing should commence around March 12 and continue into April. The ten yearlings and ewe lambs were bred 3 weeks later, to lamb in April. 

Along with a friend of mine, I invested in two new rams. I bought them from North Carolina State University's online sale. They had a copious amount of data. My emphasis was strong maternal EBVs.: number born and number weaned. The rams had been hauled from North Carolina to Virginia for the ram test sale. A PA consigner had offered to haul rams to PA for $100 a piece.  We took him up on the offer. I picked up the rams in Shippensburg.

Two new rams from North Carolina State University

We named the rams Thunder and Lightening. I was disappointed in the size of the one ram. He was a "dwarf" compared to some of my big ewes. I reluctantly left him in with the twenty ewes at my mom's place. I took him out a few days early (after 18 days) and put a bigger ram lamb in with the ewes. I renamed the little ram Munchkin. He'll get a chance to grow out, but he better get bigger. I fear I was blinded by too much by data. The other ram we bought was decent enough size, though the rams I raised were bigger (and younger). My friend used him first. He's currently in with my group of ten younger ewes.

A homegrown ram out of a Weeks ewe and the USDA ram is the other ram I am using. I call him Falkirk, after my trip to Scotland this year. He was in with a group of nine at my house, before being transferred to my mom's house. Another ram lamb is cleaning up for  him. Munchkin is in a pen by himself, no more breeding duties. He may be little, but he can get out of any pen. I had to cover his pen with wire panels.  I'd like to pare the flock back some. I going to try to sell some bred ewes, maybe 5 or 6.

Yearlings and ewe lambs

I leased a buck to breed my two Nigerian Dwarf does. He's not the biggest either. After two heat cycles, I'll take him to the sale barn, along with the two wethers. I'm hoping they'll be big enough to bring a good price at Christmas time. I sold the doe kid. The other wether is Ramen. I'm letting him stay for now.

Ramen's in the middle of the two does

I might have to get rid of the rabbits. I currently  have six litters of different ages (two of each breed), and I can't find a market for them. The guy I met at Hoffman's butcher shop is hard to get up with. I'm not sure he is going to be a reliable buyer. He wants bigger (mature) rabbits that I can provide. Soon, I'm going to have a real cage crunch. I might have to put the first 10 in the freezer, before the others approach market size, too. Too bad. I like raising rabbits. I've put a lot of money into my set-up. 

Pearre/Sideling Lock

November 11, 2024 -- The first time Ty and I set out to visit Lockhouse and Lock 56, Google maps directed me to Lockhouse 56 Road in Falling Waters, West Virginia. That was about 50 minutes away from Lock 56. It was late in the day, so we went to Cushwa Basin instead. Ty didn't mind. It's one of his favorite places to walk . . . and play in the water (Potomac River).

Ty in front of the lockhouse

A few days later, I made sure that Google maps was pointed towards the right place. Many of the locks and lockhouses on the C&O Canal are in the middle of nowhere, since most of the canal towns disappeared after the canal closed (in 1924). Lock 56 at mile marker 136.2 is no exception. The turn-off to get to the lock is just past Hancock (heading west). When you get off Interstate 68, the final 10 miles are very scenic and mountainous, albeit lonely. 

Lock and Lockhouse 56

Where the lock and lockhouse were, there was a house and canoe/kayak rental place. No people. In fact, we didn't pass any other cars once we got onto Pearre Road. I had wanted to visit the nearby Sideling Hill Aqueduct, but there weren't any signs indicating where it was, and I didn't want to venture too far from my car. Ty agreed. Might be some crazy MAGA followers lurking nearby.

Made from wood

Lock 56 lock is known as the Pearre/Sideling lock. They started building it in 1837 but didn't finish until 1849 due to lack of funds and abandoned contracts. The lock has a 7.7 foot lift and is accompanied by a bypass flume that allowed water to bypass the lock to water the level below. On the other side of the towpath is a two-and-a-half story frame lockhouse. Like the other lockhouses at the far western end of the C&O Canal, Lockhouse 56 is made of wood. The two-story building is not open to the public. It just sits there as a reminder to the past. 

Ty near the Potomac

Calm waters

Paris of Eastern Europe

January-July 1993 -- Of all the cities I've visited, my favorite is Prague in the Czech Republic. From where I lived in Poland (Jelenia Gora), it was only a three hour drive to Prague. I made the trip at least a half dozen times; even got to know my way around the city (a little bit). My mom flew into Prague to visit me. I never tired of the city: the Paris of Eastern Europe. The Golden City. 

When I visited in 1993, Czechoslovakia had only recent split into two countries:  Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Prague is the historical capitol of Bohemia. It is capitol of the Czech Republic and its largest city. Situated on the Vltava River, it is home to about 1.4 million people; a couple hundred thousand more than when I visited over 30 years ago.

The Golden City

The Charles Bridge is one of the city's most iconic landmarks. It is a medieval stone bridge first constructed in 1158. At one time it was the only bridge that crossed the Vltavia River; now there are many.  There was usually a lot of activity on the bridge. Sadly, when Mom visited, the bridge was quiet. Only pedestrians. 

Charles Bridge

Across the Charles Bridge is the Prague Castle (complex or district). Prague Castle was built in the 9th century. It has long served as the seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world. We were fortunate to see the Changing of the Guard at the castle during one of our visits.

Prague Castle

Changing of the Guard

Goose-stepping soldiers

Golden Lane is a street situated in Prague Castle. Originally built in the 16th century to house Rudolf II's castle guards, it takes its name from the goldsmiths that lived there in the 17th century. Golden Lane consists of small houses, painted in bright colors. Most of the houses were souvenir shops. The last residents moved out in 1953.

Golden Lane

Another thing Prague is known for is its clock. The Prague astronomical clock is a medieval astronomical clock attached to the Old Town Hall. The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest clock still in operation. The Astronomical clock show runs every hour sharp from 9 am until 11 pm. I have seen the show several times. 

Prague astronomical clock

Old Town Square

On one of our visits, we saw a tribute to Prague Spring. Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia that lasted for about 7 months in 1968. The Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact member invaded Czechoslovakia to end the reforms. The US did nothing.

Tribute to "Prague Spring"

There is an old Jewish cemetery in Prague. It was founded in the first half of the 15th century. It is among the oldest surviving Jewish burial grounds in the world. What's noteworthy about the cemetery is that bodies were buried on top of each other, with graves layered up to 10 deep.  While the cemetery was expanded several times, it was never big enough to meet the needs of the Jewish town. There are about 12,000 tombstones in the cemetery. It was unlike any cemetery I had ever seen.

 

Old Jewish Cemetery

One of the things I remember most about Prague is the marionettes. There were so many of them. Shops selling them. Street entertainment. Czech marionettes have been a part of Czech tradition since the middle of the 18th century, when Czech puppeteers roamed Central Europe to entertain crowds and tell stories. I bought marionettes for my niece and nephew and one for myself. Years later, I bought big sheep and goat marionettes. Sometimes I used them for teaching. Everyone loves them. I love puppetry. My favorite scene in the Sound of Music is the "Lonely Goat Herd."

Marionettes on the Charles Bridge

World's Worst Car

My early travels were to the Soviet Union and Easter Bloc. During my travels, I became fascinated with the cars made there; most notably the East German Trabant, the "worst car ever made!"

Trabant in Poland

The Trabant was a series of small cars produced from 1957 to 1991 by a state monopoly in East Germany. There were four models. Because materials couldn't be outsourced, the car was made from cheap materials. The car had only a two cylinder engine and created a lot of pollution. It didn't have any gauges on the dashboard or seatbelts in the backseats. Nonetheless, it was an East German status symbol during the Cold War. 

Trabant in Hungary

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, many East Germans drove to the West in their Trabants. After that, the car all but disappeared; the factory shut down. Nowadays, Trabants have a cult following, even in the US. According to the internet, there are still 25,000 of them still out on the road. There's a museum dedicated to the Trabant in Berlin. I would love to visit it.

What's worse than a Trabant?  Two Trabants

I saw Trabants in several different Eastern European countries, including Poland and Hungary. I rode in them a few times.