Day 8 Journey to Salem
Crossed the Potomac River into VIRGINIA today! The Mayor of Leesburg invited us to stop at the Courthouse to meet her. She had read the diary that Salome kept in 1766 and she wanted Leesburg to make a better impression on our group this time! She issued a Proclamation. It was very kind of her. She asked us to explain more about Salem Academy when she learned that some of us that are walking are not from the college. We did, and added that the Academy was actually founded first. She was super impressed that Salem has been educating women for 250 years! Gorgeous walk today!!!
– Debbie Faires A’83
Day 8. Frederick, MD to Leesburg, VA. 21 miles. 57,000 steps. Overcast. Hilly. 8 miles of gorgeous horse farms on unpaved road! Thank you to Katherine Lee Johnson, A 79 for joining us this morning AND for the doughnuts!!!! We devoured them! And thank you to Alex Klein, college alum, for joining us as our videographer!!! What a joy! We had a gorgeous, rolling walk today through Maryland and Virginia, crossing the Potomac, petting horses and cows, gaping at stunning horse farms, and meeting a man who told us about the history of a farm that was a stop on the underground railroad. Please note the dates on all of the signs today – 1700’s on most!!! We picnicked by the Potomac for lunch, enjoying a cornucopia of picnic food, including pb&j sandwiches with blackberry jelly from Katherine, made locally by McCutchen’s. We were met in historic and picturesque Leesburg (1740) by the mayor, Kelly Burk, who spoke with us about the history of the walk and their time in Leesburg (the original girls/women who journeyed through here did not get a great reception!), the Academy and College, as well as read a prepared proclamation. And, a real personal treat for me – 4 classmates met us here and will walk with us tomorrow! We caught up tonight while sharing a wonderful meal at Tuscarora Mill. Thanks to all for a superb day and to everyone who worked so hard to make it so!
– Lucy Rose C’76