Harpers Ferry, WV (take 1)

Maryland Heights overlook hike

So here's the backstory. DB loves to hike. He likes nature and long grueling hikes where you sleep on the ground and skip showers. The kind where you're out in the woods for weeks at a time. I hike too. Little day things that are more extended wanderings. Where I can actually get a shower and maybe a bed at the end of the day. Obviously, his definition and mine aren't the same. But he's cute and old, so I'm going to humor him. What can I say, I'm just nice like that. Anyways, back to my knitpicking......DB doesn't like to dance, in fact I might go so far as to say that he's allergic to the dance floor. With the excuse that Victorian dances are completely different, I cajoled him into coming with me to the Reenactors' Dance in Gettysburg on March 8. (For the record, he claimed to have enjoyed himself). I felt bad, so when we changed our plans sunday to go to Harpers Ferry, I said we should take the Overlook hike. Hey, it would have made him happy, and my intention was good.

***Walking by the B&O Canal, we see two people side by side: one in olive green pants from Columbia, a blue long sleeve t-shirt, and a grey short sleeved one on top, the other wearing brown cords, and a black hoodie which is pulled closed to reveal only her eyes and nose. Who knows if she's wearing anything underneath it? I made a comment, goodness knows what it was, but in response, my darling boyfriend laughs and puts his arm around my shoulder to squeeze me gently. That's what he claims. Go ahead, ask him. The truth of the matter is that DB is a psychopath who really wants to do me in in much the same manner as an anaconda. Momma always said to stay away from the outdoorsy types......but I digress..... Said squeeze propels my ear into his shoulder, resulting in a ringing noise for the next 5-10 minutes. Oh no honey, you really aren't out to get me.

***You know how mountain trails are supposed to level out for bits? Okay, so they do in my world. This one didn't, at all. About a quarter of the way up, I stop to lean against a tree and catch my breath. "Damn it, how long does it keep going uphill?" Without missing a beat, Dan turns around with a smirk worthy of death-by-vine. "Until we reach the top." This smirk also states, "It IS a mountain, after all. Silly girl." I need a vine.

***DB claims that rocks are good for trails, something about ecological protection and runoff, and a whole bunch of other things I tuned out while silently cursing him yet again. On the way back down (downhill, mind you), he telepathically had one of the stupid things trip me, causing a shrill yelp, and yours truly to go stumbling down several feet. The picture of doting boyfriend, my own personal Knight in Shining Armor grabs my arm with a concerned, "Are you okay?" "Yeah, I just stumbled." And then proceeded to look for said guilty party, stomp back up the hill, and kick it. Stomp back down hill, the entire time doting boyfriend has an amused grin on his face (coincidentally, this also makes me think of a vine). "Better?" "Much. Let's go." I'm telling you, he's out to get me.