Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-27

or so inland. The fun came in when the
explorers turned around and glided back
on the current. The most rapid portions
were pickd out this time, and several times
it was necessary to look sharp and WELD
the paddles strongly and quickly in order
to avoid a collision with the high bank
the outside of sharp curve. This may be
made one of the most interesting and eX
citing parts of the entire trip.
The best part of the river. as far as the
canoist is concerned, is passed when one
gets here. There are rocks and swift cur
rents in abundance for the remainder of
the distance to the source, although, of
course there are pleasant stretches to be
met with here and there. 1t is, how
eVer,regarded as extremely impracticable to
continue farther up the river, and the party
at this point generally carries its craft or
crafts from the mouth of the Monocacy
up the little hill to the canal-the best
portage is on the right bank d $ you go up
stream. This is a good place to camp for
day or so and then turn around for home
There are no settlements within several
miles.
Point of Rocks and Harper's Ferry.
1t is six miles up the canal to Point or
Rocks, Md, and eleven miles from there to
Harper's Ferry, which is often the travel
er's goal on these occasions. At the first
mentioned town a ridge of the Appalac chan
mountain system is seen for the first time,
and from here on mountains are passed
every few miles. At Point of Rocks there
are hotels, where the weary traveller may
get bed and a good meal. There are a
number of towns between here and Har-
per's Ferry, among them being Brunswick.
Knoxville and WevertOn: the first is of con-
siderable size. The scenery along this
eleven mile stretch is spoiled by the yards
and dirt of the railroad and by the business
aspect of the towns. The Baltimore and
Ohio road crosses the MonOcacy but a short
distance from its mouth, and two miles
above takes up course on the bank of the
canal, which it does not leave until 1t
crosses the river at Harper's Ferry.
On account of the roughness of the river
and the unattractiveness of the canal along
these last seventeen miles, and especially
the last eleven many canosts lift their
crafts on canal boats and loaf comfort
ably for as long time as they please, re-
turning the same way. No charge Is made
by the captain of the canal boat, though he
will accept a small tip for himself or his
boy. He is always Overjoyed to have your
company and will entertain you by the hour
with stories of the old waterway. The
newspap per men, before referred to. spent a
delightful six or seven hours each way In
this manner arriving at Harper's Ferry on
| the upward trip about 1:30 o'clock on
moonlight night
The Journey Home.
The whole journey home. no matter how
far goes, is much easier and made in
shorter time than the upward trip; for al
ways, in both canal and river. there Is the
help of some kind of a current. which, in
deed. it is often so fast as to make the
banks pass by with great rapidity.
A strong and healthy feeling. sun-brown-
ed face and arms and greater capacity for
work in the city are always the results OF
a trip like this. TIE desire to go again IS
also high in the returned travellers mind.
| and he looks forward to next summer with
| peculiar pleasure. u. A. Z.