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; in particular, the East German Trabant, the "worst car ever made!"

The Trabant is 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 outsource, the car was made from very cheap materials. 

Trabant means "companion" in German.

What's worse than a Trabant?  Two Trabants

America's darkest day

November 6, 2024 -- Trump won. Trump Republicans gained control of the Senate and gained seats in the House. Hogan lost, Parrot is in a tight race (I hope he loses). I am angry. No one I supported won. I am ashamed to be a Republican and plan to switch parties, to Independent. I am not proud to be an American today. I fear what the next 4 years holds. I need to rant. Don't want to do it on Facebook. This is my own personal space.

Today is a day of despair for America.

I do not like Kamala Harris. The thought of voting for her made my stomach turn. But she's not Trump, and I would have voted for anyone but Trump. Yes, I dislike Trump. He's not a good person. He says horrible things. He's done horrible things. I voted for him twice, but not this time. After he lost the last election, he and his MAGA supporters went off the deep end. Trump has called the January 6 terrorists "heroes." Sickening! I also oppose a lot of his policies. I read Trump's Agenda 47 and Project 25. I wonder how many people who voted for him did. No, they got their information from Facebook and FOX. They were too busy worrying about who might use their bathrooms.

I now understand how Hitler won over the people of Germany. Instead of Jews, Trump scapegoated migrants (and immigrants), LGBTQs, and other "undesirables." Funny how both he and his running mate married immigrants. But not all immigrants are equal, are they?  White vs. color.  I bet Trump researched Hitler's rise to power. The Donald ran a masterful campaign, no doubt about that. We'll go the other way in four years, but oh, the damage that can be done in 4 years.

I will benefit some from a Trump presidency. Hopefully, my taxes will be cut and my retirement portfolio will grow. Of course, I wouldn't put it past Trump (and Vance) to raise taxes on me, since I am a single, childless, older woman.  I think immigration needs to be reined in, but not in the draconian way that Trump proposes. I'm in favor of a wall. On the other hand, why don't we just keep the migrant children? Vance wants to pay people to have children. Why pay when they're being delivered to our door step? Oops! I forgot. Migrant children aren't white. Immigration was fine when it was white Europeans.

I am disappointed in the American people. Very disappointed. I am disappointed that women don't realize what this administration means to them -- a lessening of hard fought rights. Cuts to programs that benefit children and families. I am disappointed in farmers. This administration plans a trade war against China. Guess who that affects the most? What if Trump appoints Kennedy to the Secretary of Ag position? There's rumbling of that in the press. I won't have sympathy for farmers when these things happen.

Many people probably voted for Trump/Vance because of their positions on abortion. Pro-lifers don't care about human life. They care about controlling women. If they cared about human life, they'd have more compassion for single moms, foster kids, addicts, LGBTQ, poor people, and refugees. They wouldn't support the death penalty. About 60 percent of Christians voted for Donald Trump. I don't want to be a Christian anymore. How can you be a Christian and support someone like Trump? I guess it proves the assertion that the Bible is racist and Christians are white supremacists. I believe in God and Jesus, but organized religion is not for me. 

I am greatly concerned about foreign policy. Trump is a joke to the rest of the world. He will favor his buddy Putin (who's the Communist? Trump or Harris?) in negotiations to end the war in the Ukraine. Trump Republicans complain about all the money we've sent to the Ukraine, but don't utter a word about all the money we've sent to Israel all these years. So many double standards. Israel is one of the most violent nations in the world. They don't abide by UN resolutions. Yet we stand behind them 100 percent, with no concern for the atrocities they commit against others.

I'm not a crazy environmentalist, but there's no denying climate change. The science is sound. I'm concerned about the consequences of reversing some of the current environmental policies and ignoring climate change for four more years. Vance likes to say that as a single childless person I don't have much stake in the future. Well, it's his children and grandchildren that will have to live in this  world of rising temperatures and extreme weather events -- not me! Justice, I guess.

Can we survive 4 more years of Donald Trump. He's old. He might die or lose his mental capacity (like Biden did -- funny how Republicans were concerned about Biden's age, but not Trump's!). Maybe the next gunman will have better aim.  Unfortunately, I dislike Vance just as much. Columnist George Will once wrote that we can survive 4 years of any president. But he wrote this before the likes of Donald Trump. I'm curious what he has to say today.

Welcome to America in 2025 -- the ideal place for white, straight, gun-toting, Christian men, but nobody else. Fascism is here. The constitution is dead.

Catoctin Aqueduct

October 31, 2024 -- It was Halloween. I don't believe in dressing dogs up or taking them trick-or-treating, so I took Ty to the C&O Canal instead. We saw something new, the Catoctin Aqueduct. It was about a 50 minute drive, about 10 miles south of Frederick (not far from Point of Rocks).  It was a pleasant walk from the parking lot to the aqueduct, except for the bugs on the way back. We encountered many bicyclists and dogs. Bicyclists act like they own the towpath. Maybe it was just that day.

Real dogs go hiking not trick-or-treating.

C&O Canal aqueducts are “water bridges” that carried canal boats over the creeks and rivers that flowed into the Potomac River. Built in 1832, the Catoctin Aqueduct is 1 of 11 aqueducts on the canal. The Catoctin Creek Aqueduct was also known as the "Crooked Aqueduct" because canal boats had to make a sharp turn to cross it.

Catoctin Aqueduct, ca. 1834 (rebuilt 2011)

From the beginning, the Catoctin Creek Aqueduct's structural integrity was questionable. In the early 1900's the aqueduct began sagging. It leaked and was prone to flooding. It collapsed in 1973; Hurricane Agnes delivering the final blow. The National Park Service gathered up the aqueduct's stones in hopes that they might be used again. It wasn't until 35 years later that there was enough funding to rebuild the aqueduct; 459 of the original stones were recovered and used to reconstruct the historic aqueduct.

Catoctin Creek

There is a stone railroad bridge (viaduct) adjacent to the Catoctin Aqueduct. It is at this location that the two titans of transportation argued over who got to built what where. The B&O Railroad bridge was more scenic than the aqueduct. There were beautiful reflections of trees in the water.

B&O Railroad Viaduct (stone bridge)

Lock 29 and Lockhouse 29 are located about 0.6 miles from the Catoctin Aqueduct. This was where we parked to visit the aqueduct. Lock 29 was originally completed in 1834. It contains a bypass flume. The nearby lockhouse was completed in 1837. It replaced an earlier wood structure. Not sure if the lockhouse is open for overnight stays. 

Lock 29 and Lockhouse 29

Lockhouse 29, ca. 1837

There is a boat ramp near the lock and lockhouse. The view of the Potomac was especially picturesque on this autumn day. Ty went in the water and splashed around. That's his favorite thing to do on our excursions.

Lock 29 (Lander) Boat Ramp

Picturesque Potomac

My water-loving dog

Spa Town

October 20, 2024 -- I have visited Berkeley Springs on several occasions. Each time, I learn something new. Berkeley Springs is a charming little town in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. It is known for its hot springs. Berkeley Springs (originally known as Bath, in honor of England's spa city Bath) has been used as a health resort since the 1750s. It is one of the oldest spas.

Berkeley Springs Park

The Main Bath  House

Roman Baths: oldest building in Berkeley Springs

Mineral waters

Gentlemen's Bath

Swimming pool

Five major springs merge on the location of the spa. The water contains significant amounts of sulfates, nitrates, and carbonates -- mostly magnesium carbonates. It was (is) believed to have medicinal properties. Even Native Americans are believed to have frequented the mineral springs.

Enjoying the springs

Wading in the springs

Feels good

Get yourself some pure mineral water

Lord Fairfax originally owned the springs at Berkeley Springs and the land surrounding it. In the 1750's, he made the healing waters available to the public, but kept a private spring to himself. He turned the springs over to the Virginia legislature in 1776. I don't guess he had a choice. American Revolution and all. Berkeley Springs State Park was officially established on July 1, 1970.

Lord Fairfax Spring

George Washington is said to have visited the spa in 1748 when he was 16 years old. The tub where Washington supposedly bathed was rebuilt in the 1930s. Every March, there is a George Washington Bathtub Celebration to commemorate the first president's bathing.  

The only outdoor monument to presidential bathing

Two baths are open to the public. They aren't like the ones shown in the pictures. Bottled water from the springs is also sold. I've seen the water, probably drank it. I filled my water container up with water from the springs. There is a spigot in the Gentlemen's Bathhouse.

Ghost town on the canal

October 17, 2024 -- Today I went to Four Locks. I took Ty with me. He was due for an outing. I've been to Four Locks many times. It isn't far from where I live. Sometimes, I take Ty. I've also taken my mom.  Four Locks is a canal town, now a ghost town.  The town developed when the C&O Canal came through it and disappeared when the canal closed. It gets its name from the four locks on the canal.

Welcome to Four Locks

Blue waters of the Potomac

Ty @ Four Locks

The four locks (47, 48, 49, and 50) were built between 1836 and 1839. Each lock raised the canal 8.25 feet, allowing boaters to bypass the Potomac River at an area known as Prather's Neck. At one time, there were 30 buildings in Four Locks, including two general stores, a post office, warehouse, and one-room school house. Four Locks survived damaging floods and the Civil War. The canal closed in 1924 and the town eventually disappeared. Several buildings remain, serving as a reminder of a different time.

Four Locks

Lock 47

The watch house (shanty) at lock 50 is the only watch house left on the canal. It was used by local keepers while waiting for canal boats. It was easier to see on-coming boats from the watch house than the lock house.

Lock 50 Watch House

Lockhouse 49 is in good shape. It's where the lead lock tender for Four Locks (Lock #47, 48, 49, and 50) resided, along with his family. Lock 49 is one of 26 lockhouses remaining on the C&O Canal. It can be rented for the night. It is furnished in 1920's style. It might be cool to stay overnight, spooky, too, since it's in the middle of nowhere. Probably not something a single girl should do.

Lockhouse 49, ca. 1840

The Flory House is one of the few remaining houses in Four Locks. Alexander Flory was a major in the Civil War. He resided there and probably operated a store. The Four Locks Post Office was either located in or behind the Flory House. It operated from 1878 to 1903. Eight different postmasters, only one woman, worked and lived there.

Flory house and Post Office, ca. 1880

The one-room schoolhouse in Four Locks still stands It operated from 1877 to 1943.  Up to 30 children in eight grades attended for $240 per year. It did not have central heat, electricity, or indoor plumbing. Kids today are so spoiled.

One room schoolhouse, ca. 1860

The mule barn was used to house mules during the winter when the canal was closed. It was reconstructed by the National Park Service and stands as a reminder of the hard-working mules that hauled coal (and other cargo) up and down the canal. It sits in disrepair now. 

The mule barn

The National Park Service restored the impressive two story stone house in Four Locks known as the Prather House. At one time, the house was used for park housing.

Prather House, ca. 1840

The John G. Stone house was built shortly after 1860. It has had various owners and was purchased by the National Park Service in 1976.

John G. Stone House, ca. 1860

Canal Town

October 17, 2024 -- Williamsport is/was a canal town. It is the only place in North America where visitors can view a variety of canal features in one place, including an operational lift lock and refurbished lockhouse, a railroad lift bridge, a canal turning basin and warehouse, and now a watered aqueduct.

Cushwa Basin

Warehouse, now Visitor's Center

Trolley House

Cushwa Basin is one of the few places that boats could turn around on the C&O Canal. Thus, it was a major point of unloading and loading. It also factored prominently in the Civil War, as troops from both sides were ferried across the Potomac River. At one time, Williamsport was under consideration to be the Capitol of the United States, due to its location on the Potomac.

Bollman Bridge

Railroad Lift Bridge

Lockhouse 44

Along the Canal

Bridge across the Potomac

The C&O Canal National Park Headquarters is located in Williamsport.  It is the administrative hub for the 184.5 miles of the canal. A mule statue stands in from of the headquarters.

C&O Canal Headquarters

Mule statue in Williamsport

Cushwa Basin is one of my favorite places to take Ty. It's close-by. If offers nice walks along the canal (he always wants to get in the canal), with wildlife viewing (turtles and geese in the spring) and a place to put Ty into the Potomac. There is a boat ramp. Ty loves playing in water, so long as the water doesn't get too deep.  On hot days, it provides a good break, as it's in between walking areas.

Me and Ty (powerplant in background)

Ty in the Potomac and beside the aqueduct

Ty waiting patiently for me