State Highpoint #2 - Maryland

On the same day that I started the journey, with my friend TJ Mack, we had mapped out a route to do 3 state highpoints in the same day. We left his house in Charlottesville, VA and made our way to Spruce Knob, WV. From there, we took the winding roads through the Appalachians to the small neck of land in Maryland, where the state highpoint is. I couldn't find a great picture of the actual state highpoint, but this small church is very close to the point in the road, where you park on the shoulder and head up the side of the hill to the highest point in Maryland. And this is a great example of the wonders that I've been able to see as part of this journey. I have seen places in this country, that I never would have imagined because some of the high points are so far off the beaten path.

State Highpoint #1 - West Virginia

When I was somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 years old, I found an atlas in the mountain of books stacked unorganizedly on our bookshelf, in our Alpine home. I began studying the pages of maps. I was fascinated with the lines of roads and how they meandered and winded through the 2 dimensional topography. I wondered how the roads were constructed, and why they took the specific courses they did. Then somewhere - and I wish I could remember exactly which state it was - I ran across a little + sign, with the words, "Highest Point in"...... It had the name of the mountain, and the elevation. I thought, "Hmmm.... That means there's a highest point of elevation in every state." I flipped back to the first page of the atlas, and began searching the landscape of Alabama. "Cheaha.... 2407'" The search was on. I found and circled all 50 state highpoints on every page of that atlas, and I said, "I'm going to reach the highest point in every one of these states."
That declaration stuck with me for years. I went through junior high and high school. Left to Brazil for two years as a missionary for my church. Came back and went to to college, and found myself consumed with studies and responsibilities. I never knew how I was going to accomplish this goal. I soon married, and started a career. I found myself with less time to start this goal than ever. Then, I found myself not happy in marriage, and was soon divorced. With a broken heart, I had nothing, but a chance to reinvent myself. As a way to get away, my friend invited me to fly to his house in Virginia to get away for a while. After all, it was through him that I met my now ex-wife. He understood better than anyone that I needed to get away. I told him that I wanted to get out and see the world now, and told him about my dream of reaching the highest point of every state. I mapped out three close points to his house, that we could do in a day, and I talked him into going on a road trip with me.
And so, on October 13, 2009 the journey began.