Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite Realtor
Deep Creek Lake-SavageMan Triathlon. Ever wonder how people gain the mental strength to endure three physically challenging sports events combined into one race? Come witness for yourself the SavageMan Triathlon hosted this weekend at Deep Creek Lake, Maryland.”Whether you believe you can, or you cannot, you are right” comes to mind as I try to conceive how the human mind and body can push itself to this level of competition. When’s the last time you swam, biked, and then ran Olympic distances over the mountainous terrain we have here in Garrett County? My answer to this question is never!
Check out the schedule for this Saturday and Sunday and make time to cheer on these elite athletes who will blow your mind and maybe inspire you to get in shape. Surely we can all pick up the pace in our athletic lives by pulling inspiration from these warriors.
Check out the differences between the two big races this weekend…
SavageMan 70.0 mile triathlon-1.2 mile swim, 55.7 mile bike, 13.1 mile run
SavageMan 30.0 mile Triathlon-0.9 mile swim, 22.9 mile bike, 6.2 mile run
Deep Creek Lake-Wakeboarding. As summer winds down and the kids start to get back to school, there is still time to enjoy one of my favorite summer sports without the mid-summer traffic normally on the lake. The boats on the lake become a little more sporadic helping in producing optimum wakeboard conditions which are no wake and pure glass. There is nothing more exciting than getting up on a wakeboard and having the perfect mirror lake reflecting the mountains off the water while doing 20 or so miles per hour. You don’t have to bust big airs to feel the stoke of wakeboarding. Just kick back with your friends and family and enjoy the experience. I often hear people saying, “Wow, I can’t believe summer is over already” or “summer flies by faster and faster each year as you get older”. Make it a priority to enjoy every moment you can with your family and friends in this gift of life that we are all fortunately given. Take my advice and put wakeboarding on your list of to-do’s in late summer, and find the treasures of memories that are awaiting you and your family.
Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite Realtor
Deep Creek Lake-Chili Cookoff-Wisp Resort. Forget the fact that the forecast was torrential rain and also forget that the fair had been switched to conflict with our beloved annual chili cook-off. The crowds were leaner than normal but the chili and salsa were out of this world delicious! These secret recipes ranged from tomatillo based white chili with chicken or pork to fire engine hot classic red-style beef chili that was hot enough to melt your spoon. It was very interesting tasting the different and sometimes subtle complexities of each contestant’s special blend. One gentleman broke out a 4-story toolbox with secret chili powders, cumins and paprikas and swore that his recipe would win because he used every spice in the toolbox. Another woman with a chili pepper hat pulled out her six shooter vowing to blast me to kingdom come if I didn’t vote for her chili… The rain trickled at times but not enough to tarnish the integrity of this annual event. Is there anyway to mess up good chili and cold beer? I think not!
Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite RealtorDeep Creek Lake-Garrett County Agricultural Fair 2012
Deep Creek Lake-Garrett County Agricultural Fair 2012. Garrett County Fair week starts today!!!! Old school living with tractor pulls, horse pulls, mud bogs, crash up derbys, and Dukes of Hazard’s own Craaaaazy Cooter leading the parade in THE General Lee!!! You have to check the schedule as there are many, many other things going on including of course the livestock sale. Garrett County stands tall in providing locals as well as outside visitors with a genuine glimpse into small town Tom Sawyer-ish old town county fair experiences! This event staggers throughout the week giving you no excuse to bail on spending a little time with us here at Deep Creek Lake. The wheels on the car go round and round… so point them toward Garrett County and Deep Creek Lake and get more than your tires spinning on thrill rides like THE TANGO!!!
Artist Studio Tour-Garrett County Arts Council. The 4th annual Artist Studio Tour is on the horizon for this weekend on Saturday, July 28th from 10am-4pm and Sunday July 31st from 1:00pm-4pm and is brought to you by the Garrett Count Arts Council. This event gives everyone a chance to drive around beautifulGarrettCounty and pop by local artists working studios and experience a vast collection of various styles of art. Enjoy watercolors, photography, paintings, jewelry, sculptures, wood crafts and many more art categories for your viewing pleasure. Take some time and talk to artists first hand on how they are inspired and support them by purchasing a piece of their inspirational creations.
Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite RealtorFire on the Mountain 2012-Deep Creek
Fire on the Mountain 2012
If you are like me you have a Charlie Daniels song floating around in your head after hearing these words. “Fire on the mountain, lightning in the air” goes the old country rock classic song. Well this year we got a little bit of fire and lightning. The event normally commenced at 9:00pm’ish but was delayed a bit this year because of a huge hail/lightning/rain event that backed up the starting time 45 minutes or so.
Fire on the Mountain 2012-Deep Creek
In case there are a few of you out there that have no clue what I am talking about; Fire on the Mountain is a Fourth of July fireworks event that lights the sky above Wisp Ski Resort every year here at Deep Creek Lake. People line Highway 219 for an optimum vantage point. Or they come by boat to sneak in close to the resort, sit atop Wisp ski slope to catch an eye level view of the fire show, or go to Deep Creek Marina to witness the show while enjoying the new line of boats available for the summer season. Make sure you put this exhilarating event on the calendar with the kiddies next year if you didn’t make it to this year’s event.
Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite RealtorAccident Maryland Annual 4th of July ParadeAccident Maryland Annual 4th of July Parade
Accident Maryland Annual 4th of July Parade
Accident Maryland Annual 4th of July Parade
Accident Maryland Annual 4th of July Parade 2012. This parade represents United States small town living at its finest! The annual 4th of July parade in Accident Maryland is just a few minutes outside of popular Deep Creek Lake. This event just screams All American, apple pie, good-time living, and I think the hundreds of people who jammed the streets of this town would certainly agree. I have families that are of college age who have been participating in this parade since they were in diapers. They made the pilgrimage from Virginia and Wisconsin to once again be involved in this parade. It was a treat seeing an assembly line of vintage cars, floats, fire trucks, marching bands and folks on horseback. Garrett counties own Delegate Wendell Beitzel and Maryland Senator George C. Edwards also participated in the parade. My beautiful and newly pregnant wife Betsy and I relaxed street side in the shade under a huge mature Silver Maple dreaming of the day in the near future that our child would start his or hers participation in this fantastic event. Be sure not to miss it next year!
Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite RealtorBlackwater Falls-West Virginia
Waterfalls near Deep Creek Lake
Blackwater Falls-West Virginia. Do you want to experience a fun day trip? This weekend I took a step off the everyday path and took a Sunday drive to Blackwater Falls, which is a stone’s throw from Thomas, West Virginia. The drive is about 45 minutes or so from the resort end of Deep Creek Lake. The drive alone is worth the price of admission, passing through beautiful rustic farm country and ascending & descending some of the highest mountains that Maryland and West Virginia have to offer. The reward at the end of the line is Blackwater Falls State Park, a fantastic place to experience with your family and friends. From the welcome center, it is only a short walk down the gorge until you are literally in the mist of this mighty waterfall. There are many tiers along the walkway so you can experience the falls from many different vantage points. This can be very therapeutic for those of you who live the busy city life and whose lives get caught up in a web of daily gridlock. Take the family on a little spin South of Deep Creek Lake and experience Garrett County and beyond.
Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite RealtorThe Ohiopyle BikeTrail
The Ohiopyle BikeTrail
Normally I do not encourage folks to stray too far away from our utopian vacation heaven here at Deep Creek Lake because of the wealth of activities we have here. But, I have discovered a superb place just twenty-five minutes North of Garrett County in Pennsylvania that is a bike peddlers dream in the fall (or anytime for that matter). The ride is a great way to experience the legendary fall foliage that is not too far away from firing.Choose your starting point either at Confluence, PA or at Ohiopyle National Park, which are separated by eleven miles. The kicker is that the bike path between the towns runs parallel with the beautiful Youghiogheny River with gentle, consistent elevation changes, making for pleasant peddling. There is only a 2% grade running downstream from Confluence towards Ohiopyle that makes this 22 mile round trip perfect for those of us who don’t have the legs and lungs of Lance Armstrong. The trip allows many opportunities to stop and take in the relaxing peaceful calm that the Yough River is famous for. You will see many kayak and raft tours cruising down this easy flowing section of the river. Bring the family and a backpack with a nice lunch and a few ice cold Powerade’s and spend a special afternoon enjoying another chapter of God’s country.
I suggest if you do not bike a lot to begin by starting at Ohiopyle, which makes the first eleven miles 2% uphill all the way to Confluence, that way if you get too tired you can cruise with less effort on the slightly downhill run back to Ohiopyle. Expect rubbery legs the next day, and the urge to make biking a new part of your life. I know the summer season has ended, but take some time as fall approaches to step away from work, load up your bikes and bring the family to enjoy a memorable day just a stone’s throw from Deep Creek Lake.
Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite RealtorGarrett County Agricultural Fair Deep Creek Lake
Garrett County Agricultural Fair Deep Creek Lake. Try to remember through child eyes the fantastic moments you experienced at the local summertime fair. I used to love the feeling of riding the “Round Up” spinning so fast that you could pick your feet off the ground as if you were flying. Then after getting off the ride simply trying to navigate walking for the next ten minutes while your head is spinning like a tornado. It can be as challenging as a tight rope walker.
There are all the rides that normally entice you to play like the scrambler, apple turn over, the star ship, and of course the ferris wheel. Cotton candy, funnel cakes, candy apples, fresh lemonade, beef brisket, hot dogs, local corn, and the famous rotary vinegar fries are just the start to Garret County fair cuisine. The familiar sights, sounds, and smells are nothing short of perfection to the senses at this All American small town fair.
There are truck pulls, tractor pulls, dirt bike exhibitions, and my favorite ‘”the crash up derby”. People from all over the county put together make-shift ram rods to see who can take the least amount of punishment and survive the longest. The leaking radiators leading to blow motors and back wheels being plowed into the car frame seem to be the master of demise in this grand event.
Remember that this is an Agricultural Fair. A popular event is when animals come through the auction gates. People pack the fair bleachers to bid on a large selection of farm animals ranging from Cows, Lambs, and Pigs. There is something special about the auctioneer taking control of the bidding and the electricity of the crowd competing for these beautiful fair animals. There is also the standard competition of trying to get the coveted blue ribbon for the best vegetable, photograph, painting, quilt or wood working piece.
After the fair, I went up to an special place overlooking the fair with the sun setting, the fair lights shining brilliantly, and the rumble of the crash-up derby all framed in by Wisp Resort in the background. What a great way to finish up the summer and the catalyst for the start of fall.
