The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-06-19
NATURE PROVIDES
VACATION JAUNTS
NEAR WASHINGTON
: River, Hills and Beach
Offer Every Advantage
For Outings.
POTOMAC POPULAR
Hundreds of Camps Along
Historical Stream in
Hot Weather.
POTOMAC POPULAR

oers what he wanted to dictate be-
cause he is obsessed by the vision
OF rolling green links and nyins
white ball. Or perhaps the buzzer
reminds him Of the singing Of reel
and the tug of a fighting bass.
These types figure well enough the
constantly growing American en-
thusiasm for the broad outdoors-its
fresh winds, the reckoning ROADS
and open sky. For several months
at least. we become a nation OF va
cationists bound for to look and for
TO see, for to behold this world so
wide" And II most of US cannot
travel far. we can, at least, travel
we'll We can become acquainted
with the landmarks and be auty spots
Of the country neighboring US, and
at the same time. in nine cases out
Of ten, also find good sport on river
links or tennis court.
vaestion Places at Home.
Folks who live in washington are
blessed by the fates that govern va
cation spending. River. hills and
beach are all near BY The city lies
in the heart of a country redolent of
American history. of memories OF
the civil war and the Reyolutiop.
may yield a harvest of rare, cleaC-
cut impressions. Those who are de-
tanned in the city may plan series
Of refreshing trips possible of COM
pletion in a single day. Gettys-
burg. Fredericksburg. Martinsburg-
all these places can be reached in a
few hours driving.
But the really lucky folks are
those who can provision the family
fiivver, machine or car, as the case
may be, and start on a leisurely,
gypsy like sort of pilgrimage. They
may drift leisurely down the East
ern Shore or trek through old Vir-
ginia- II they have studied their
camping lore and have a tent along.
hotel and restaurant rates Will not
pesterfy them. They can get fresh
produce from the farmers. and II
fortune is kind they may catch fish
aplcnty from the wide-bosomed Po-
tomac. With a steut-hearted little
car. a man may take his family up
into the Virginia hills. In a few
hours he may leave the cultivated
icountry and camp on the cool slopes
of the Blue Ridge. He may drive
through the fertile Shenandoah VAL
ley on the old roads. now made int
Union and Confederate generals used
in the sixties. Or he may journey
down to Richmond without worry
ing about high railroad rates and
being bothered by pesky train smoke
and flying cinders.
ChIldren Enjoy Trips
There is a peculiar serene charm
that grows on one in an unhurried
motor camping tour The peace or
the sky and earth enters into your
mind in the easily gliding days and
quiet nights when the only sounds
are the chirps of restless birds and
the rustic of the tent flap. The chill
dren, if you are lucky enough to
have any along. flourish nightly.
They battle and paddle in waysfde
brooks and creeks, pick blackberries
explore nearby woods and eat like
young Indians. 1t is impossible to
be a son. even temporary. of the
open road and roofess sky without
absorbing some of the quietude and
day-by-day happiness that nature
gives to those that come to her.
River Camps Along Potomac.
II you want headquarters close to
home. there are the rivef camps that
line the Potomac palisades Here
hundreds of Washingtonians find a
haven every summer. They seem to
spend half OF their time canoeing.
and the balance in swimming and
angling for the nimble catfish. this
bewhiskered aquatic worthy being
one of the best known inhabitants
of the upper Potomac. A few min
utes' paddle and the campers are In
(,anrDafnun ~ mi II
utes Of downtown Washington. This
feature makes the palisade camps
particularly agreeable to many folks.
In your camp you are surrounded by
the most rugged scenery, the Jagged
palisades rising a few score feet in
back of your tent and the wide river
in front A curve of the stream
cuts of your view of the city. But
within a few minutes are all of the
cOnveniences and amusements of
town-movies, Restaurants, .theaters,
roof gardens and, not TO be passed
over lightly, q practically mex
haustible choice of the edibles yon
will bear back to your rock-and-
river-bound retreat. There could
not be a much better place than q
wen-ordered camp to knot up the
ravelled sleeve OF care" to find the
physical balance and relief from
fretting detail that spell good health
and mental clarity. Bothers sub
side. No one can worry when they
are lying in a hammock looking at
the treetops. Instead. they will
probably find their eyes slipping
shut for a healthful nap.
strean Affords Fair Fishing.
All along the Potomac the Grant
camper or week-ending motorist will
find very fair fishing. Trout croak-
ers and catfish are often plentiful.
and an occasional rock is a fine ad-
dition to a fried fish feast Occa-
sionally you will pull in a succu-
lent crab that will put you in the
humor for an immediate Grabbing
party. But there Is one pest in the
Potomac. / refer to that singular
brute, the toadfsh. His colorlng, IL
you are not acquainted with him,
will make you indulge in wild con-
lectures as to the probability Of a
catfish having been bitten by, a dia-
mond-back rsttlesnske and turned
the snakes color. His ugly head
is reminiscent Of the worst, looking
Kind of gargoyle, and he packs a
hne set of teeth that he snaps vic
iously. Keep your fingers away from
mis- mouth IL you don't want a bite
that will have to be cauterized. The
way to deal with toadfsh Is to kill
them (breaking the back is easiest)
and throw them back In the water.
II Is impossible 70 use them for
either food or bait.
Canoeing and motorboat enthusi-
asts md Washington an ideal place
Tor playing around with their hobby.
Inc river swarms with canoes and
Trim little launches on Sunday, and