Walking Union Mills Homestead, Westminster, Maryland

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Walking with the Walrus

UNION MILLS HOMESTEAD- WESTMINSTER MD - 11KM VOLKSMARCH REVIEW
JUNE 7, 1998

by Kevin Shaw

Start tent WOW! It is harder to get any better than this. This was the big 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Piedmont Pacers Volksmarch Club, with as much of the original trail done in June 1988 recreated this past weekend. There was a big, full celebration, complete with some great tasting wurst, a German Oom-pah band, free anniversary cake to all participants, an SAS shoe giveaway, and a superb trail through woods and forest. The occasional rain showers today with a few rumbles of thunder failed to dampen our spirits, as we huddled under this big tent, partying on with some of the old timers recalling what it was like 10 years ago. My pooches, Peaches and India, accompanied me on the walk today, and the trail was just great for them too. We eventually met up with Kitra Burnham, who had gotten there earlier but was out on the 29 km bike (rated 3+) when we got there. Rumors that the wurst was going to run out forced our hand - we didn't want to come back after walking and find the wurst all gone- so we had some before starting the walk, even though we weren't particularly hungry. Then the heavens opened up with the most serious rain of the day, along with the thunder and lightning, and Kitra and I just waited it out with our bratwurst and cake and a visit with Bill Brabant. He showed us his pictures from a recent walking trip to Australia, which finished up just as the rain was finishing up.
We finally got going on the trail about 1:30 pm, and had some others who were waiting out the rain. We walked up a long hill on the main road to get to Saw Mill Road, one of the many picturesque Country lanes that proliferates this part of Carroll County. As we progressed on this road, it just kept getting more and more rural, mostly in woodland, with some side trails off to both sides. The entire course was very well marked with streamers and arrows, and we never had any doubts where the trail went. We picked up a stream along the way, and headed into the first checkpoint at the intersection of a more substantial road. We also picked up occasional smells of skunk, and hoped that Peaches and India would not have a real close encounter with one of those odiferous animals. Thankfully, they didn't!
The checkpoint was a real help; the next part was a climb uphill that had me gasping for breath. A walker on her way down told us the walk up was worth it- a great view at the very top which would inspire us to sing "The hills are alive with the Sound of Music". Well it was definitely a Kodak moment, but neither Kitra or I felt that our voices were good enough to really burst into song. Julie Andrews would not have to worry on this day! Open fields and ridges just went on for miles to the East, and a model airplane field was found just before we came off this ridge top. Unfortunately, no planes were flying at the time but I was told that they had been flying earlier. This ridge topped out over 1000 feet in elevation above sea level, and the view was indeed spectacular. .
view from top We met up with some walkers from Hanover PA and walked with them for a few minutes, as they gave us some insights on their backgrounds in the area, and how great all the Piedmont Pacer events are and have been through the past 10 years. With my injury last year, I have a rough time going up and down significant hills, and this walk had more than a few of them, and I got quite a workout on this trail. We walked downhill through the woods back to the checkpoint, satisfied that we made it up this hill and got the great view as advertised.
After the checkpoint, we walked along Rinehart Road for a short time, then plunged down a short stretch to walk along a stream. The pooches cooled off in the stream, and really started to have fun. The trail here became quite muddy here, and alternated from following the stream in light woodland to cutting through full meadows. Lots of birds and birdhouses were found in this area, including a rarely seen bluebird (at least rare for me).
stream The trail followed this stream for quite a while, and we did have some fun crossing the stream in a few spots, jumping on old branches or doing some rock/stone hopping to cross. Eventually we climbed out of this stream valley and into the more dense woodland, but we did come out on to more meadows on occasion, including more skunk scents.
The trail wound through the woods, passing some neat rock cliffs and significant dropoffs from the edge of the trail down to a stream. Ferns along the road gave Kitra fascination and more Kodak moments. Another uphill (Kitra and I felt that this walk contained more uphill sections than downhill!) brought us to Saw Mill Road, and another short steep uphill brought us back to the main road, and a nice downhill got us back to the Union Mills Homestead and the start/finish. We checked out the old waterwheel on the Homestead, a throwback to what was once a very efficient and clean energy source.
Peaches We got our books stamped and picked up some last minute brochures, and visited with the remaining crew and a few walkers that had come in just before us. Unfortunately the band was gone, and as we had feared, the brats were gone. But there were several hot dogs left, and Peaches and India put a request in for them, and they got all 8! (Four apiece) They deserved it, they had walked/ran hard! Thanks to all the great Piedmont Pacers for putting on such a great, high-quality event. I heard a grand two day total of some 470 walkers (included about 60 on the 5 km trail option) with an additional 30+ bikers. This beautiful section of Maryland country has gotten to be seen to be believed, and most years the Piedmont Pacers put on some kind of event here in this Union Mills area of Carroll County. May the next 10 years be as good or better than the first 10 years, Pacers, and look forward to all of your future events. With yesterday's 11 km, the 22 km I walked this weekend was time very well spent and thoroughly enjoyed. I had not walked since Mother's Day weekend, and I really felt it, but it now feels like a "good sore", one that hopefully will lead to a more regular walking regimen. Oh yes, I did not win on the SAS shoe drawing, but I am proud of my magnet award, and also a club magnet they gave out free to all walkers at the checkpoint. Thanks, Pacers!