MyHikingVacations: The Adventurous Weekend, Part III: 3 States of Mind

Harper's Ferry feels the brunt of politics.

Well, it's time to wrap up the tale of my whirlwind weekend, which began with a 6-hour wait for any of 5 various tow trucks near D.C. on Friday night and continued with a 100-mile bike ride on Maryland's Eastern Shore on Saturday.

Then came Sunday. My friend Malcolm and his son were in town, and they wanted to go for a hike and then do some camping. I suggested various options, and they went for Harper's Ferry, the historic town nestled at the junction of two rivers (Potomac and Shenandoah) and three states (Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland.)

But the government can't shut down a nice view.

However, Harper's Ferry is so historic that much of it is a National Park, so therefore much of it was closed because of the federal government shutdown. Even the parking lots were barricaded, which meant the most popular sport in Harper's Ferry these days is the eternal search for a place to plop the car.

We found a space near the train depot and went off on our adventure, walking around town and then across the Potomac River bridge to do one of the most famous hikes in the area _ Maryland Heights. It's steep but relatively short, and extremely popular. Hiking Upward gives it a "5" for views (excellent!) and a "0" for solitude (tourists are everywhere!).

It was unseasonably hot for October, but nevertheless a great day to be outdoors. We hiked, then found a campground next to the Potomac and spent the night. The stars were particularly brilliant.

Onward to Maryland Heights ...

I don't get to see the Milky Way where I live in suburban Virginia. Nice to see it's still there.

So it was a great weekend after all. Who knows _ I might even get my Prius back soon. And, yes, I'm still working on getting compensation from the insurance company for the tow truck bill.

In case you're wondering, Harper's Ferry isn't on the itinerary for any of our hiking vacations for next year, but we do have a trip that takes you into the nearby Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Take a look at the schedule and be sure to sign up.