3.22.26
Western Maryland is a mixed bag.
Yes, my opening post was actually West Virginia BUT let’s backtrack to the wilds of Western Maryland.
Sidling Hill is of course a much anticipated part of the journey through Maryland’s panhandle, however MY FAVORITE part is a partially constructed “Ark” as you pass Frostburg.
“God’s Ark of Safety” as it’s called has always fascinated me. I remember seeing it for the first time as a kid and fully believing that someone was building a replica of Noah’s ark. My family was fairly religious and the story of Noah’s Ark was not unknown to me. I was also SUPER OBSESSED with everything apocalyptic so the idea that someone was building an ark to save us from some cataclysmic flood that was going to come back around again — YES PLEASE.
In the years to follow, each time I had occasion to travel past it, I would convince myself that they’d completed just a little more. Another beam. Another bolt. Who knew? Not me. Just that I was so sure they were making progress.
This, of course, was far from the truth. Nothing has been added since the late 90s (I think).
Still, it continues to draw my attention and give me a good chuckle.
For what it’s worth, present-day Ames is still pretty obsessed with apocalyptic disasters. I’m well aware though that this steel frame isn’t going to do a whole heck of a lot with whatever might be coming, cataclysmic floods inevitably brought about by climate change included.
Live, laugh, toaster bath,
Ames
Oregon Trail: Ames Edition 
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