Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-15

not great enough to prevent horses from
fording al low water, and the shores roll
ing farms. edged with sycamores and
elmS leaning owed the water. their Endrled
and knotted roots winding around each
other at the rivers brink 4 sand or
gravel bar here or there presents per-
feet place from which to take plunge and
a swim, and good camping sites are on all
sides. II the water is reasonably clear.
black bass can be seen jumping after in
sects all over the water.
In this way another two miles are
knocked of. - and then one rounds a wide
curve and catches his first glimpse Of Su-
gar Loaf mountain, which apparently rises
from the seyen-arched aqueduct over the
mouth of the Monocacy river, the largest
branch of the Potomac, until the Shenan-
doah is reached This wooded elevation,
lifting its head majestically from the low
country around, is In reality five miles dis
tant from the canoe, while the bridge and
the mouth OF the tributary are only about
mile away; but they are In the same line
of vision and the effect produced is very
striking.
Since leaving Seneca the canoes that have
gone as far as the Monocacy have followed
the river in wide curve TO the westward,
the distance from the mouth of the latter
tributary back to the mouth of Seneca
creek being much shorter in "A direct line
than by the river. The canal is close
to the river in this stretch it Is farther
down stream and as the voyagers turn
the noses of their little craft into the MO-
nocacy they pass Immediately under the old
aqueduct. getting the drip of the canal
through the lealy stones.
side trip up the Monocacy river for a
few miles affords lots OF fun. Plenty of
swift water will be met with and the
canoeists in some places will have to jump
out and push. The scenery along the banks
is unusually attractive.
For upstream padding and downstream,
too. for that matter, the best part OF the
river for the canoe is past when the MO-
nocacy is reached. There are rocks ana
swift currents in abundance for the remain
der of the distance to the source and rev
long stretches of smooth water. II IS con-
sidered extremely impracticable to continue
further up the river. The canoeist usually
carries his craft up into the canal, unless
as many do. he thinks II best TO make TINS
the turning point of the trip. 1t Is SIX
miles I'D the canal to Point of Rocks, Md,
and eleven miles from there 10 Harper's
Ferry, which is the goal of many travellers
on these trips. At the first mentioned
place the first ridge of the Appalachian
mountain system is passed through ana
from there on the scenery IS grander than
it is below, but no more picturesque.
The entire journey home no matter how
far one goes, is much easier and can Dc
made in much shorter time than the up
ward trip; for always, in both canal ana
river, there is the help of some kind OF a
current which, indeed, Is often so swift In
the river as to make the banks go by with
great rapidity To The man who knows the
river like a book fine sport can be had In
gliding down stream swift waters that
cannot be travelled upon on the upward
trip. Such portions are found between
Seneca and the Great Falls dam and be-
tween Great Falls and the High Island
dam But beware! And don't venture
there unless you are an expert and know
the way perfectly.
The effect of such outing as has been
described If care is taken to prevent over
exertion Is of the best. The returned
traveller has a strong and healthy feeling,
his face and arms are sunburned and he
feels equal to accomplishing double tasks
in the city The desire to try IL again Is
the unuermost thought in his mind.