Camping Journal

This was the spring Maryland/Virginia Pop Up Times camping trip. We set another new record with 28 families participating. It was wonderful to see folks we had camped with before and lots of new faces.

Saturday night we had a wonderful pot luck dinner with a campfire afterwards. While it did rain during the campfire, we were warm and dry in a nice shelter.

Sunday was pack up day for everyone but us. Raining all day. We went to the office around 3 PM to pay for the extra day and were told that they were closing the campground for the week and we would have to move to the "B" campground. We decided that if we had to pack up anyway, we would just go home.

The trip home took us west on VA 214 and then north on US 301. Apparently just after we passed through La Plata , MD on 301 a tornado passed through the town causing a lot of damage. Worse yet we later found out that one of our camping group (Joe & Kathryn) stopped in La Plata and were caught in the storm. While their pop up and tow vehicle sustained major damage, no one was seriously injured.

Cabins #6, #25 and the Potomac River Retreat: Parking, ramp entrance, restrooms and showers.
Campground A: Reserved parking, restrooms and showers.
Park office: Reserved parking, ramp entrance and restroom.
Park restaurant: Reserved parking, ramp entrance, restrooms and dining.
Camp store: Reserved parking, ramp entrance, restrooms (enter through restaurant).
Visitor center: Reserved parking, ramp entrance.
Pool: Reserved parking (100 yards from pool, level concrete walkway from parking lot to pool), lift available at pool.
Pool/picnic area bathhouse: Reserved parking (100 yards from pool, level concrete walkway from parking lot to bathhouse) restrooms and showers.
Playground: Reserved parking, level grass access to playground

Location: Westmoreland State Park	Date: 4/25/2002
Miles Towed: 225 RT	Weather: H mid 60's L mid 40's