Althouse: "They reacted with casual glances when Jackie Kennedy came down the mountain to window-shop."

October 13, 2008

"They reacted with casual glances when Jackie Kennedy came down the mountain to window-shop."

Life in Thurmont.

10 comments:

Chip Ahoy said...: If you stand anywhere on Main Street and look west," Wireman, now 87, said, "it looks like the road is running right into the mountain.

Thurmont: elevation, 500 ft.
Camp David elevation, 1,800 ft.

Mountain. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.; 10/13/08, 9:21 AM
Triangle Man said...: Granted 1,300 feet of vertical is about half of what you will find at a respectable ski resort in the Rockies, but I think that's a big enough bump to qualify as a mountain.; 10/13/08, 10:22 AM
mrs whatsit said...: "Somewhere up there - exactly where, no one who knows will say - is Camp David."

Umm . . . if you put Thurmont, Maryland into Google Earth and look around the area, it'll take about five seconds to find Camp David, clearly marked. When will journalists learn to use computers?; 10/13/08, 10:35 AM
Christy said...: Thurmont is also home to one of the best fabric stores in the region. Well worth the trip.

Lovely area, gentle camping, hiking, and rock climbing.; 10/13/08, 12:17 PM
bleeper said...: Lived in that area for years. Trust me, bicycling through those mountains is more taxing than the Cascades or the Coastal Range in California - the grades are much steeper. As a result, the downhills are over quickly and on any given ride, you will, on average, be climbing very steep hills for more than 75% of the ride.

I rode past a few "Turn Around Now" signs near Camp David, just playing stupid, and next thing I know an unmarked, plain-jane 4 door sedan is right on my back wheel. Where it came from, I have no idea. As soon as I saw it, I turned around and rode back to the correct road, and proceeded on my way. Did not wish to get to know those guys any better.

At the cafe in town, there are pictures of presidents from Eisenhower on. Maybe earlier - it's been a while since I was there. Thurmont in those days, was a very insular town, but I imagine that has changed, too, and now they are looking forward to welcoming The One, his Mighty Leftness, and they will cook up some pork-free dishes, and all will be right with the world.; 10/13/08, 12:21 PM
George M. Spencer said...: "The missiles are flying! Hallelujah! Hallelujah"

--President Greg "Martin 'Josiah "Jed" Bartlett' Sheen" Stillson in "The Dead Zone"

Nixon's private bowling alley there, paving over the riding trails, and conducting symphonies before imaginary audiences.

Carter watching "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" over and over while there.

Yasser Arafat slept there in July 2000....

Also, Fletcher Knebel's thriller "Night of Camp David" about a vice-president who plots against the president who he believes to be insane.

Camp David is scary. Not a good place to play with your mashed potatoes.; 10/13/08, 12:46 PM
veni vidi vici said...: Thurmont: Touring Vermont with Strom Thurmond as your guide.; 10/13/08, 10:25 PM
veni vidi vici said...: Thurmont: A Frenchman's term for getting jiggy with Uma Thurman.; 10/13/08, 10:26 PM
veni vidi vici said...: Thurmont: The sound of "Stop!" from the mouth of one who's teeth have just been punched in.; 10/13/08, 10:26 PM
veni vidi vici said...: "At the cafe in town, there are pictures of presidents from Eisenhower on. Maybe earlier - it's been a while since I was there."

Eisenhower was present at the christening. Camp David is named after his son.; 10/13/08, 10:28 PM