Sunday May 27th 2012 - Gettysburg Day

·      Today was Gettysburg day for us. Memorial weekend here in the US.

·      Straight to Gettysburg historic site and museum.

·      Started off with a movie narrated by Morgan Freeman which summarized the events leading up, the reasons for and the chronology of the American Civil War 1861 -1865. Basically it found it’s beginnings in the election of Lincoln to the presidency in 1861. He wanted to end slavery and prevent it’s spread westward as the United States grew. South Carolina seceded from the union and sparked a confederation with 5 other southern states. They appointed Jefferson Davis as their first President and so America had 2 sitting presidents. Robert E Lee headed up the Confederate Army and General Meade the Union army. When the Confederates threatened to take Pennsylvania by force, the Union Army (USA) decided to fight back and thus began the three day conflict in July 1863 in Gettysburg.

·      Gettysburg saw about 50,000 casualties (about 8,000 deaths) The rest Injured or missing.

·      We headed up to a ‘Cyclorama’ which was painted in the 1888’s…. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING…  It was refurbished in 2002 for a cost of $5million. Inch by inch using razor blades and Qtips.  The detail was astonishing. 

·      Bought a 3 cd set of an auto tour and set off for about 4 1/2 hours around the battlefield. To stop and read all of the 1400 monuments would be days !!!!

·      To relate all the heart-renching details and stories would be too much. But we  would recommend anyone to do this tour. Some highlights:

o   Confederates attacked from Seminary Ridge against the union army on Cemetery Ridge (known as Pickett’s charge)

o   Highest loss of life in any single day in American history.

o   Brothers fought against brothers, friends against friends

o   If Stonewall Jackson (under Robert E Lee) had not been killed before Gettysburg, one wonders if the result would have been different and hence life as we know it in North America.

o   One of the key success factors for the Union was the recruitment of freed black slaves into military service a much need boost to the numbers .

o   Attacks and counter attacks were numerous (especially at Little Round Top, a strategic  high spot that the confederates tried to take and failed.

o   Only one civilian casualty (a woman, Jenny Wade who was baking in her kitchen at the time)

o   Gettysburg was the pivotal point in the civil war, yet it continued on for 2 more years.

·      Derek and I were moved by this day of immersing ourselves in the American Civil War. We knew little about it before but came away almost exhausted, yet enthralled by the enormity of the event. 

Some Photos from the day:

The spot Where Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address.. (inscribed on righthand panel)

the Etrenal Flame

Sally., the regimental dog who stayed with dead member of Pennsylvania regiment until the remaining members returend and found her almost starved... she refused to leave them behgind.

Untion cannons on Cemetery Hill.. aimed at Seminary Hill

Derek on phone to UK Derek from Little Round Top

Please step away from the phone.... or else!!!!!

On top of Little Round Top.... Rccks that have quite a story (UK Derek?????)

general Robert E Lee atop his hore Traveller

The famous rocks from Little Round Top (Devils Glen?)

Trostle Fsrm- (with Cannon ball hole in roof preserved (saw original photo with dead animals in front.

Big Round Top... Not as strategic beacuse of tree coverage.

Pennsylvania monument to soldiers

 Culps Hill Look out over battlefields (Confedereate hill)

On Top of Culps hill Lookout tower

Waiting patiently at Culps hill.

Ready, Aim..... Fire

Derek once again in line of fire

·      Back to camp and BBQ’d some chicken we bought earlier in the day … delicious.  And then the heavens opened…. What a quick storm… we saw the guy across the way folding up his awning and pulling in his pushouts… turned out he had an advanced weather warning system phone app… must get that!!!!

Sat May 26th - Washington - Pennsylvania

·      Time to break camp and move on (reluctantly I might add). Had leisurely breakfast and asked for late checkout.

Got coach ready for take off and went for a walk on the hiking trail around the camp. What a pleasant surprise. The walk is mostly through the wooded area surrounding the camp and by-passes ponds and an enclosed dog runs (complete with a fire hydrant) , and the cottages they have for rental (more like houses)… still in awe of this amazing campground.  Best ever!!  Janice saw a deer streaking by in front of the path (unfortunately Derek missed it … must have been preoccupied with something else).

 

 Back to camp and hitched up before heading to pool.  Derek went for a swim – Janice regretfully didn’t wear her swimsuit and was highly jealous of Derek frolicking  in the pool while she baked in the VERY hot sun. But took photos of him.

·      Left at 1:30pm and drove up to Pennsylvania to Conewego Isle Campground. The difference is like night and day from the last place.... This place is friendly as anything but quite 'scruffy' .. not up to m’lord’s and m’lady's standards. NO wifi and NO phone connection at our site.  Even the other campers seemed rather intimidating staring at us as we wound our way through the camp with our big rig to site H.  Later discovered they are a friendly bunch, out to have fun with their families. The whole place is kind of run down and in need of some repair, but it will be home for the next few days so we will make the best of it.

·      After setting up we headed to the pavilion with our computers to send email to the kids and look up area attractions

·      Storm brewing and the rain started .. so headed back to site to batten down the hatches and try to cook some dinner. There was a DJ setting up in the pavillion as we left and we wondered what on earth would be going down tonight!!!!!????? LOL...

·      Storm didn’t amount  to much and Derek BBQ’d up the MOST AMAZING pork ribs (country style with all the white meat) YUM!!!! We are starting to wonder why US meat tastes so good… more research to be done!!! Janice had a nap.

·      Headed over to the Pavliion to see the ‘hoe-down’. Turned out to be a disco for 6-15 year olds, having tons of fun.  As Derek said… this type of thing is what memories are made of for these youngsters.  Wandered around the site and headed to bed early. (One group sounded like they were having a little bit too much fun., sleep came with difficulty).

Friday May 25th 2012 - Camp Day

Friday May 25^th 2012

·      Camp day.  Catch –up and take a breath.

·      Hopped up to Home depot and picked up a few bits. For the trailer (shower glass wiper, spare hose etc.). 

·      Down to the pool to swim and bask in the 85-90 degree weather. Such a beautiful day. 

·      Walked around the camp again to see all the motorbikes that are here for the Memorial Day run.

·      Steak on the BBQ - US corn fed tenderloin …. With baked potato and fried onions. Fabulous meal… cooked to perfection by the new master chef of the household.

·      Chatted with Grant on Skype… lovely. 

·      Another walk round campground then lit a fire and had a beer.

May 24th 2012 - Washington sightseeing

• Once again headed downtown via Metro bus/Train... thinking how fabulous this camp ground is... public transit right on the property and ability to buy tour tickets etc. We bought tickets for hop on/hop off bus before we left for the day
• Arrived at Union station and were suitably impressed by the size of the station and architecture. It really has that old fashioned grandiose railway feel about it.. with a large 'fine dining'  restaurant (wicker chairs / tablecloths etc) in the massive stone entrance hall..  with a beautiful mix of modern and classical decor. 

• Got the open top bus (yellow route) and began to soak up the sights of DC in brilliant sunshine. Through Pennsylvania Ave, National Cathedral of St Peter and Paul, Embassy row and wonderful Georgetown until we arrived at the Harbour and got off the bus. Weather beautiful... sunny, hot, no humidity.
  

Ford Theatre where President Lincoln was shot.

St Peter and Paul National Cathedral

Couldn't resist snapping this fashion statement. Red shirt, red leather tie... Nice!!

Kennedy Centre in background.

A quick lunch at a Queens Quay type open air cafe (Crab cake burger mmmm!!!) and then on to the hour long cruise up and down the Potomac. What a different and splendid view of the city from Watergate, Congress, Washington memorial, Kennedy Centre, Lincoln Memorial and the Pentagon.

Lincoln Memorial with Washington Memorial behind on left.

The famous Watergate Building (see small wooden water gate namesake on lower left)

White house Front Yard.

•  We returned to the bus and then passed the White House and World War 2 memorial, before getting back to Union Station
• Again mastered the easy DC transit system and back at Cherry Hill.
• Went and got some groceries. 
• The steel-head trout and fresh white corn BBQ'd up a treat. Inexpensive luxury indeed. Chatted with neighbours. Many Harley bikers here for a Memorial day 'Thunder Ride'.
• Overall a wonderful day lots of sights, the weather deteriorates in short bursts and we seem to be able to miss any short downpours. Looking forward to a camp day tomorrow with sunny forecast expected.

• SIGN OF THE DAY:  On a Police car downtown:    "POLICE - SECRET SERVICE DIVISION"   -- Okay guys .. the secret's out... 

May 23rd Washington Exploring

• Got up to find a somewhat sunny morning where we had expected rain and thunder. 
• We got into DC quite easily with a bus and subway. 

• We quickly got to the line for the holocaust museum and just got a ticket for the 4pm entrance. We immediately went to Daniels story and the current propaganda exhibit. We joined the throngs of 11 year olds who where very noisy and actually helped us realise that we are not school kids anymore.
• Then we went off to the American History museum to catch up on the American war involvements (more  propaganda!!) but we did bone up on the civil war and prepped ourselves for the trip to Gettysburg at the weekend. 
• Had a $5 !!!! hot dog outside the Smithsonian American History Museum...after all we are in the excited states!

 

• Then got back to holocaust for entry at at 3.45.It did not disappoint. Exhibits are well presented with the build up of the history and then dropping you into the horror of Nazi regime and the maniac Hitler. Stories are compelling, emotional and life changing. No photos allowed.

• Spoke with a security guy who has worked at this museum a year and he says it's taking it's toll, even though it's a well paid job, he is feeling the emotion about being that close each working day. 

•  Easy ride back to camp...feel like we mastered the DC transit system like pro's.

• Sausage pasta, blog and early night.... in retrospect the most stressful part if the day was dealing with hundreds and hundreds of kids on school trips..... ARGGHHH!!! They are SO loud!!!!! 
• Much to our shame we have both forgotten the sign of the day... we saw it from the bus.... IF we remember I will post it later..... sorry sign lovers!!!!

May 22nd 2012 Williamsport to Washington 363km

Tuesday May 22nd 2012

• Leisurely morning getting packed up and left Williamsport South KOA oat 10am and gassed up before heading out toward Harrisburg PA where we thought there was a Camping World Super store…. WRONG!!! Disappointed we switched drivers and headed to Washington….

• Deciding to take the ‘ scenic route ‘ as we had extra time. Bad decision…. We are realizing that the interstates are actually more picturesque, a lot faster and easier on the nerves than the smaller highways.
  ·      However we continued to laugh at our learning and Janice maneuvered our land-ship through busy late afternoon traffic to Cherry Hill Park like a pro!!!!
  ·      Now for the sign of the day… we have chosen two ’cos they are so complementary…
  a)    “$1.50 BEER ALL DAY”     and a little further down the road…………..
  b)    “BEWARE OF AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS”         ……. DUH!!!!!!!!
  
  
  ·      And another sign that has honourable mention “ KEEP ALERT AND WATCH FOR DUI DRIVERS”   (Note that all these signs are real)
  ·      A point to  mention is that the drive along the Susquehanna River is so very beautiful… open roads and fabulous views… North America is a fabulous continent.
  ·      Cherry Hill Campground is all that we remember form 16 years ago. plus some. Bus stop at site connects to subway. Pool, restaurant, hot tub, store, great campsites, clean showers etc etc… HIGHLY recommended for anyone wishing to see Washington on a budget, without compromising comfort.
  ·      We set up, unhitched and were proud of how fast we had accomplished all this …. Then we checked for level… and were at a tilt that would leave us in danger of slipping off the end of the bed in the middle of the night … so we had to re-hitch and level off…. Lesson learned (we hope).

  

  YEY..... It's level..... happy times!!

  ·      Had  Shepherds’ pie and then met some lovely people in the camp (Reggie [Regina] and Marty) from Jupiter, Florida… chatted with them about travels, families, RVs etc… We have discovered that doing this traveling thing results in meeting so many like-minded late-in-life explorers who share our love for family and each other.  This is an unexpected and rewarding aspect of this life style. It has made us more positive about the future when we plan more extended and extensive travel.
  

  

  Note the lovely gas tank holding down the table cloth!!

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  MMMMM!!!  Shepherds' Pie and red wine!!!!!

  

  We still love our rig so much!!

  
  
  
  

May 21 2012 - ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Monday May 21^st  2012

Well here we go again… we left at noon today with heavy hearts after saying our final goodbyes to our dear friend Dave over the weekend.  RIP dear friend.

It was a delayed start as we locked ourselves out of the truck with both sets of keys in (as you do!!!) OnStar couldn’t unlock remotely so they sent a locksmith. As it was late, we decided to head straight down toward Washington and get as far as possible instead of detouring to Camping World

At the border we were asked if we had any fruit or veggies etc etc …. “no”….  “okay.. can you open up the trailer for me?”   OH DEAR!! What a nice man…. He saw my Shepherds Pie, home-made soup, Sausages, Salad stuff, Broccoli chicken breast, chicken burgers, champagne, beer, fruit juice, cream cheese, cheddar, bread,  margarine, …. And he picked up an orange pepper, examined and declared that although it was grown in Canada he was going to keep it and prevent it getting in to the US.  

Pepperless, we giggled our way South and East through New York State

In our bliss of being on the open road, we missed a turn  and added a further half hour (at least) to our journey on pretty slow roads. Ever cheerful we plodded on.

NOTES:

·      Williamsport South KOA is GREAT

·      Sparkling Merlot is NOT.

·    In one town we passed a garage with a sign “We fix deer hits” (Sign of the day) …. 2km later a huge deer pranced out in front of the truck… we just missed it…… Coincidence?? ….. We think not!!!!!!!!! The imagination runs wild!!

·    Another sign… “Firewood…. All you can carry in one arm $5” … and a little further down the road… “$4 an armful” … Like .. is this not discriminatory??? I have short arms …. 5”4” me … vs a 6”6” guy…. Just not fair!!!  Also… how far do you have to carry it to qualify for the price break???

·    Several gunshots  after we set up camp had us thinking…. OKAY!!!!   Welcome to the USA.

·   The scenery through Northern Pennsylvania is awesome.  Deep wide valleys, forested slopes.

·   We didn’t bother unhitching the truck so tomorrow we can just close up and take off…. Early night … long day.    

WASHINGTON HERE WE COME