Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-10-29
NO CONTEST INVOLVED
Towpath Ride Is Low-Pressure Sport
By WHEELER JOHNSON
Outdoor Edftnr

By WHEELER JOHNSON
Outdoor Editor
One Of our areas most re-
Taxed leisure time activity is
the semi-annual Towpath Ride
which had its 14th renewal
Saturday and Sunday.
There aren't any rules, ex-
cept that each participant has
to furnish his or her own horse
and care for it, and no one is
under any pressure to do any,
thing at a certain time.
And there certainly isn't any
competition. No one is trying
to vie with anyone else or prove
anything-not even that any
ones horse is better than any
one else's.
It's Just an opportunity for
those who like to ride in pleas
ant, unspoiled surroundings to
get out and enjoy the hobby
over q fair distance.
Van From Virginia
On this particular session Of
the Towpath Riders, not all Of
the participants even started
at the same place. One group
vanned its horses from points
In Fairfax County, Va, to
Point Of Rocks, Nd, and then
took an approximately IS mile
ride down to Seneca.
There they met the WASH
ington delegation that came UP
from points such as the Edge
water and Rock Greek Stables.
Seneca has been the meeting
place for Towpath Rides since
the idea began to burgeon
about Z years ago. And regard
less which end the riders start
from. they are glad to see the
locks at Seneca come in view
because they know that not too
much later they will be sitting
on the patio at Phil and Cert
Samples Seneca Hotel and re-
counting, over a cold one, the
affairs Of the trail.
Chicken on Table
And after that there will be
the gathering around the
long table inside for q heap |
ing platter Of Harry and Mrs. |
Johnson's fried chicken-crisp
on the outside and Juicy tender
inside. At that point the sad
die WEAKNESS seems to drop
away and the riders are con-
WINGED that after a good nights
sleep they can face the long |
miles back to Washington or
Point Of Rocks feeling tall in |
the saddle.
: It's only when they get up
in the morning that stiffness
'becomes q reality again.
q OF course, before any Of the |
riders can take it easy over |
that cold one on the patio. one
Of the two rules for the tow
ride has to be complied with.
The horses have TO be stabbed,
rubbed down and fed gen.
erously so they too can be in
shape for the long trip back |
Sunday morning.
Big Red Barn
on top Of the hill above |
Seneca, with q view Of the
Potomac bending In the back
ground, Is Q huge red barn
that takes care Of the horses.
It wasn't so full on this par
ticular trip, but there have
been times when as many as
so riders have made the jaunt
to Seneca and back.
The fine thing about the
Towpath Ride is that it's for
everybody.
1t was a family affair for
the Robert Mousers. DR..
Mouser is q veterinarian with
offices and residence In Vienna,
Va. He's a very busy man, but |
these trips are one Of the three
events for which he saves room
on o crowded calendar.
With him was Mrs. Mouser
and his three stepchildren,
Freddie, Peggy, and Karin
Nelson. 8, IL, and IS years old
respectively.
They like to ride Western
style, and the most enthusiast
tic Westerner in the lot was
Freddie, with two six guns on
his hip and PREDETERMINED
hat, he was the hit Of the ride.
AS soon as their horse van
arrived at Point of Rocks, ]