The next morning, we headed north to Maryland for a little adventure before heading south for the winter.
The two of us enjoyed a peaceful, scenic drive through northern West Virginia and Maryland. Brian had been to Maryland a few times, but I had never visited the state. Maryland is also known as the, Old Line State and their state motto is, “Manly Deeds, Womanly Words”.
Maryland is one of the original thirteen colonies in the United States, so you can imagine the history here. According to the Maryland Office of Tourism, “See historic places like Antietam and Fort McHenry where the very course of history was changed”. The state has several battlefields, historical sites, and more than sixty state parks.
We arrived at Fort Frederick State Park in Big Pool around 3 o’clock that afternoon and stopped at the visitor’s center to check-in. While paying the $22.25 fee, the staff informed us we were the only ones camping there, so we would need to unlock and re-lock the entrance gate behind us. This campground is open to self-contained camping units year-round, tent camping ends the first Sunday in November.
On the way to the campground, we passed Fort Frederick. This fort was built between 1756 and 1757 by the colony of Maryland to protect itself during the French and Indian War. The stone walls are three feet thick and stand twenty feet high. Fort Frederick was also used as a prison for British soldiers during the American Revolution. The state of Maryland purchased the fort in 1922 to create one of the first state parks.
Brian pulled up to the gate of the campground and I jumped out to unlock it. Once he pulled through, I locked the gate back, and jumped back in the Big Tan Turtle. After backing into our spot, we were amazed at the cleanliness of the park and the view. Out of our front windshield was the Potomac River, the fourth largest river on the East Coast of the United States. On the other side of the river was the state of West Virginia.
The two of us quickly got Sailor settled in the motorhome, grabbed the camera, and headed to the fort. The area closed at sunset, which was fast approaching. We were excited to check out something new and learn the history of the area. After a short walk we approached the main gate, large wooden doors with a row of spikes across the top.
Brian and I were amazed at the size of this fort and felt like we were walking through castle doors. We discussed the skills it must have taken to haul the materials and construct this unique stone fort in the 1700s. The two of us checked out the wall made of local rock and three layers thick along with the well that supplied water to the troops from the Potomac River which is located a half mile south of the fort.
We continued our history lesson by looking in the windows of the East and West Barracks, which showed the life of the enlisted men. The Governor’s House is represented by a stone outline and was used as the officers’ quarters. On the way out, the two of us checked out the six-pound cannon located in the fort. We then exited the fort and enjoyed a lovely nature walk back to the campground.
After dinner, Brian and I spent the evening watching the sunset and playing with our cat, Sailor. The campground was so quiet and dark, we really enjoyed the solitude that night. The two of us needed this little adventure, but we were ready to hug more of our loved ones. The next day, we said good-bye to Interstate 70 and headed toward Interstate 95 in Virginia.
Virginia is known as the “Old Dominion State” and their state motto is, “Thus Always to Tyrants”. According to Virginia’s tourism website, “Virginia is for Lovers”. There are over 3,000 miles of scenic roadways in Virginia, including the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. Virginia also has beaches, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls for outdoor lovers to explore.
The two of us enjoyed a beautiful drive through parts of Maryland, went around Washington D.C. and made it through the capital city of Richmond without any issues. After five hours and 230 miles, we arrived at our destination in Petersburg, Virginia. The South 40 Campground is a family owned campground located less than a mile off of I-95 in the heart of Virginia.
Brian pulled up to the office and I jumped out to pay the $38.40 fee for the night. After getting Sailor settled in, the two of us went for a short walk around the area. Brian and I were both so exhausted from our travel day that we spent the rest of the evening relaxing with our cat. We were a little over two hundred miles away from some of the most important hugs we would give on this trip and we were ready to spread the love.
The next morning, we left earlier than usual and headed south to North Carolina.