After Detroit and Cleveland, Brad and I weren't home long before driving up to Ranson, West Virginia, to spend time with Breck, Iris, and their dog Mancha, over Memorial Day weekend.

Hiking in Harpers Ferry

Breck knows my favorite thing is to hike and be in nature, so our first adventure was hiking in Harpers Ferry. Even though we had been to Harpers Ferry before, we've never hiked to the viewing area on top. Mancha had never hiked it either so it was fun to go with her and see what a happy little hiker she turned out to be (a dog after my own heart!). It was a pretty steep trail, but Mancha killed it! It also helped that it was the perfect day for hiking, sunny but not too hot.

The hike was mostly shaded, with Mancha always several steps ahead

Breck and Mancha on the rocky cliffs

Beautiful view of Harpers Ferry!

Me sitting on a rock cliff taking a panorama of Harpers Ferry, and the Potomac & Shenandoah Rivers

View of the people on the trail below, with my zoom lens

Brad and I enjoying the view!

Breck with his baby, Mancha!

Taking advantage of the best photo-op ever!

View looking up at the rocky cliffs where we were standing and taking pictures

Breck holding Mancha, not because she was tired, but because she was afraid of the other big dogs on the bridge

Walking back through town to our car

Beautiful St. Peter's Catholic Church

The problem with Harpers Ferry is the lack of parking, so normally we would walk about a mile just to get to downtown, but Breck found a secret place to park near the cemetery. It was much closer and I actually enjoyed cutting through the picturesque historic cemetery.

Gorgeous house across from the cemetery

One of Mancha's favorite things to do is stick her head out of the window, and feel the wind in her face!

Hagerstown, Maryland

Hagerstown is best known for its Civil War battlefields since it was located in the crossroads of the Civil War. However, our purpose for going was to buy fresh bread and produce, and eat the most delicious foods and pastries ever from the Pennsylvania Dutch Market! The market is not much of a looker on the outside, but once inside you feel like you've been transported right into the heart of Amish country, only you don't have to drive miles and miles of hilly winding roads to find organic meats, cheeses of all kinds, fresh produce & herbs, homemade breads & pastries, jellies, desserts, candy, bulk foods, homemade fried chicken with all the trimmings, all types of sandwiches, a variety of salads, and even an ice cream stand! The place is amazing, and I can't wait to go back the next time we visit Breck and Iris! Before heading home we caught a matinee (Guardians of the Galaxy) at Warehouse Cinemas (with fully reclining seats) in Frederick, Maryland.

Cool Spring Nature Preserve

Cool Spring is a nature preserve that spans 63 acres and includes forests, meadows, and marshes. The barn and park area is usually filled with kids learning all about nature, but on a Sunday afternoon it was very peaceful as we walked the mile-long nature trail.

Fun little barn where all kinds of nature activities take place during the week

Grassy nature trail

Boardwalk to protect the marshes

Cute little pond with great views

Fun little play area for kids...

Or adults...

Or dogs!

We topped-off our day with the perfect treat, homemade snow-cones made-to-order, by Iris!

At home in Ranson, West Virginia

Just chillin in Breck & Iris' cute little house

Hanging out with Mancha

Mancha chewing on her stuffed bottle while watching a movie

Finding a better places to watch the movie (since it was a little intense)

Mancha and Breck are best of friends, since Breck works from home and they spend all day together!

Playing with Mancha outside

Mancha's always there when you need a friend!

Mancha feeling a little left out...

That's better!

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

On Memorial Day we visited historic Shepherdstown, the oldest town in West Virginia. It's history is palpable with old colonial-style homes and buildings, local restaurants and cafes, a college, and a babbling brook that runs under the entire town.

The stream can be heard when walking anywhere downtown

Shepherd University, a public university known for the Theater and The Arts

Beautiful Trinity Episcopal Church

Miniature cottage, right in the middle of town

One of Breck's favorite homes with an old waterwheel and town stream running through the backyard

James Rumsey Monument and Park that overlooks the Potomac, the very river on which Rumsey pioneered the first steamboat

The park and views were so green and beautiful!

Remains of the old railroad

The modern railroad

View of the road bridge and Potomac River below. On the other side of the bridge is the C&O (Chesapeake & Ohio) Canal trail, built 1828-1850, and covering 184.5 miles starting in Washington DC and ending in Cumberland Maryland. It's a popular biking trail and one we hope to ride in future visits to Breck and Iris'.

On our way back to the car we stopped at Rock Hill Creamery on main street. It was so delicious, and even Mancha couldn't get enough of her pup-cup ice cream!

Happy Birthday Breck!

The day before we left for home, we celebrated Breck's birthday. Even though his birthday was still a month away, we wanted to give him his gifts in person, and take him out to his favorite restaurant.

Breck's favorite snacks

Just like a child, Mancha thinks it's her birthday too😆

Self-help book & podcast (of course)

New running shirt with the caveat that he'll run a race with Brad and me, in Shepherdstown, in the Fall.

Brad actually picked out Breck's shirt so that they could be twins😆

Last but not least it was Olive Garden again for Breck's birthday dinner. The reason Breck likes Olive Garden so much is because their Chicken Parmigiana reminds him of his favorite food in Argentina!

We had a great time visiting Breck, Iris, and Mancha in West Virginia while getting to know the surrounding area a little better, and we can't wait for our next visit, which will hopefully be sooner than later!