Paw Paw Tunnel and West Virginia

The entrance to the tunnel

The Paw Paw Tunnel is part of the C&O Canal, where they tunneled through about 3000 feet of rocks by hand. Instead of two years and $33 500, it took fourteen years and $600 000. How is that for overrun!! That included stopping work for some years due to not having money, and not digging as far as they thought they could. And the different nationalities of miners clashing with each other (Irish, labour, English, and Welsh miners, German masons).
It was longer than I expected.

On the way home, we drove through West Virginia, and saw a beautiful view at Prospect Peak.

Cumberland, MD

A house on Washington Street

Cumberland can be seen as you shoot through on a highway that 'bypasses' the town by virtue of being raised up and routed sort of through the middle of town, Cahill Expressway style (Sydney). Very ugly. Also, very efficient at getting traffic not to stop in the town. We went to the main street precinct on Sunday, and it was very quiet, lots of shops shut, which is unusual, but hey, it was Sunday. Monday wasn't much different however. Most of the shops seem to be independently owned bric-a-brac. Presumably there is a grocery store somewhere, but not in the main street.
Cumberland used to be important because the B&O Railroad (Baltimore and Ohio Railroad) and the C&O Canal (Chesapeake and Ohio Canal) went through here. The C&O Canal goes through to Washington DC, beside the Potomac River, while the railline has been converted into an awesome bike path called the Great Allegheny Passage. The original idea of the C&O Canal was to join together the Ohio River to the Chesapeake Bay. The Canal didn't quite make it, but the Railroad did. The B&O Railroad also beat the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad in its day. You could ride all the way from Pittsburgh, PA through to Washington DC if you wanted.
The skyline in the town is punctuated by about four spires, all on a hill very close together, which on closer inspection, are churches (except one, which is a masonic temple). We went for a self guided architecture walk, which wasn't such a great idea, because the kids really struggled to stay interested, but I loved seeing all the different styles. I tried to follow the architecture walk brochure, but it was very well researched, and I honestly didn't realise there were that many different styles of architecture. (Transitional Greek Revival-Italianate Style anyone?!). We ended up splitting up, with the boys heading somewhere else more interesting with the grandparents (possibly a bike ride) and hubby and I just strolling along looking.
Hubby did happen to see a real estate listing, and he saw a whole house with yard for $29 000, which may give an idea of Cumberland's future.

Not the house for sale

Cumberland - Western Maryland Scenic Railway

We took advantage of having extra adults (grandparent visit!) and went to Cumberland, which is in Western Maryland, to go on another train ride, this one diesel. The usual ride is from Cumberland to Frostberg, where there is a train turntable, so you get to hop out and see the engine being turned.
Unfortunately, it is close to Easter, so all we could do is get a ride to some sort of picnic area, stop for an Easter Egg Hunt, then get back on the train and go back to Cumberland. They put a diesel on each end of the train for this. I think normally there is a steam engine.
The train was FULL of families, with bags and Easter outfits, etc.
The Easter Egg Hunt (candy) impressed the boys. I enjoyed the scenery - the train passes through some sort of gap in between hills. I didn't enjoy that they say no outside food, but that isn't to keep the train food free, that's so you'll buy their food... We had not gotten lunch in time, so we had a whole heap of takeaway containers, so we ate our food, but sort of furtively.

Maths questions

The question - Who is correct? Explain how you know.

My sons answer: Becaus [sic] I just know. (his answer to the question was right, but...)

Oranges

I have memories of happily assuring people that oranges didn't seem to exist here. I was wrong, we have been bringing home 1lb bags of Californian oranges from the supermarket for most of Winter. Might be the supermarket? Or maybe I have a really bad memory. Both possible. Oranges are very nice with granola on them for morning tea :)

Yellow flowers

I have no previous memories of seeing these trees come up with yellow flowers! They're beautiful, and might account for the yellow pollen that blows about this time of year.

Cherry Tree

Peak bloom for the cherry tree by the playground!