The Washington herald., 1910-05-22
BY AUTOMOBILE
TO LURAY CAVES
The Tour Is Most Delightful
Over Excellent Roads.
By MRS. l.. FLEMER.

We nave proven 10 our own S3tSfac-
tion that the country in Virginia and
Maryland contiguous to Washington af-
fords the opportunity for delightful two
Or three day trips automoblling
With party OF fve a basket filed
to the brim with goodies, sandwiches,
deviled eggs, olives. cakes. lemons. sugar.
coffee, tea, small alcohol stove. tin
buckets. and Thermos bottle for milk:
with extra sweaters for each and good,
comfortable clothes, especially In head
gear, We started out early one morning
with our objective point Luray Caves.
seemingly far away. but really within
easy motoring distance. as the good
roads between Luray and Washington
make travelling a pleasure not easily sur
passed
out Massachusetts avenue TO Wiscon-
sin avenue. thence north through Mont
rose. Rockville. Darnestown, PoolesvIlIe,
on a good dirt road we went. reaching
Whites Ferry just in time 10 catch the
next (only one) boat and be carried
across in the good old fashioned way, by
aid Of pole, paying % cents for the
party.
once on the other side OF this pictur-
esque crossing Of the Potomac. we were
surrounded on all sides by beautifully
Kept estates. and soon passed through
Leesburg and on 10 the pike named for
that Virginia city. going then through
Hamilton. PurceuviIe. Round Hfl.
Smokers Gap. and Eluemont. and de-
gv,F.
Shenandoah. crossing the river on a
bridge which now takes the place OF the
famous Old Castleman's Ferry. Here we
encountered our first toll gate. and paid
20 cents. also registering Toll gates
now appeared IN rapid successor. aver
aging every six miles. and we soon cot
in the habit Of putting our hands in our
pockets whenever q bent tree appeared
across the road. once. I'm fact. driving
up 70 a porch extending out over the
road. and embarrassing both ourselves
and the people sitting thereon by our
offering simply because We had seen
the water pipes running up the sides.
and mistook them for toll gate Tolls
average about cents mile. but the
splendid roads or pixies more than COM
After enjoying an extemporaneous bas-
ket luncheon I'm the woods along the road
side, we rode on again through Berryville
and out upon a fine pike which took Us
through Winchester made interesting by
its national and Confederate cemeteries
and academy. and here we stopped long
enough TO get some gasoline at a con-
venient garage.
From Winchester il is only a twelve
mile run to Middletown. passing en- route
Kernstown. Bartonsville, and stephens
City, and there we put up for the night
az the Wayside Inn
Bright and early the next morning.
after a most appetizingly served break
fast, we took TO the road once more
continuing our way along that beautiful
pike, passing through Strasburg. up
Fishers Hill Ga battledeld). Toms Brook.
Maurertown. Trplet. Woodstock. Taylor
town. EdenhurE. Hawkinstown, and
Mount Jackson. reaching New Market.
where we turned off the pike TO the
east Oeft, climbing over the Massanutten
Mountains, where We found tine road
very rough, but as there are only thlr-
teen miles. they are soon passed over
and the beautiful views over two valleys
and the glOries OF that wonderful cave
are ample reward for the short rocky
going
We were ferried over the South Fork
of the Shenandoah paying % cents).
forded Mill Creek. near Hanberg. and
arrived at Luray at about 2 o'clock IN
the afternoon, which was very propi-
tious. as we could join the last party al
ready made up 70 go through the caves.
thereby only having to pay 81 each.
The caves are well worth any trouble
10 see them. and are truly considered
one OF the wonders of the world Al
though we could have had dinner az the
hotel we were satisfied to finish up our
basket lunch on the side Of the noun
tain, and then were able TO do justice 10
the delightful supper served us by the
host Of the Waysde Inn, 10 which place
we had returned over same road. and
here spent the second night.
The third morning. making an earlier
start after breakfast, we headed for
Harpers Ferry. which we reached by go
ing through Winchester. (where we again
stopped TO repienlsh our gasoline). Berry
vile, Gaylord, Charlestown. i'm which
city we passed the house where John
Brown was tried and hung. and we were
now in West Virginia Following the
Charlestown pike to Hautown. a small
place four miles from Charlestown. here
at the crossing We turned to the right
TO Harpers Ferry. two miles away. al
which picturesque place three States and
two rivers join. affording a most beauti-
full scenic effect
Crossing the bridge at Harpers Ferry
we took the country road which runs
parallel TO the towpath through Knoxville.
and reaching Frederick. twenty-one
miles away. stopped for dinner.
The run from Frederick to Washing
ton was by way of Hyattstown, Clarks-
burg, Gaithersburg and Rockville. enter
ing Washington by Wisconsin avenue and
arriving in good spirits and appetite to
enjoy rather a late dinner.
We averaged about one hundred miles
a day. not a record-breaking gait. but 1
one which permitted thorough enjoyment
in every respect.