Gettysburg

Gettysburg

Sign says it all!!!!

It is now July 17th, and we are settling in at the Gettysburg campground. We finished setting up the outside. I put the West Virginia and Pennsylvania state stickers on our map.

Really coming along!!!

We met our neighbors, Doug and Paula Smith. Doug said they come here quite a bit. He is a Civil War buff. Eddie and I had planned on renting the Auto tour CD, but Doug owns it and the book and he very graciously loaned it to us to use. We went into town and drove around taking it all in.

I just love the old buildings. We planned on starting the Auto tour tomorrow, so for now we were just enjoying a cruise and snapping pix of Gettysburg.

up, up and away

old farm house in Gettysburg

We saw a hot air balloon ride. What a view that would be!!!! It didn't float around, it only went up, and then back down again. But it did stay up there long enough to be able to get a good idea of the landscape and just how much ground this battle was fought on. I did not realize just how big this battle was until we got here and saw all of the locations that fighting was on, and all of the different monuments.

more old buildings

Cool old house

love, love, LOVE this one

me wanty!!!!

roundabout in downtown Gettysburg

We saw a restaurant/pub called Gettysburg Eddie's. We just may have to try it out while we are here.

I didn't know Eddie had a place here. hummmmm

After a bit of exploring, we headed back home. This is such a beautiful place. We are SO grateful to have the opportunity to see this and so much more. Back at Freeda, we relaxed for the rest of the evening and called it a day.

Friday the 18th we started the Auto tour. There are 15 stops, and we did up to 9. After awhile the sun wore us out. I did the driving and we REALLY enjoyed all of the info and history we learned. There are 2 CD's on the tour, and we completed the first one. The battle grounds are FULL of monuments to the different companies and states that had men fighting here. There were over 51,000 men killed or wounded at Gettysburg!!!!! Way, WAY to many!!! The only known civilian killed was a gal name Jenny Wade. She had been taking bread and water out to the union troops. She was at her sisters baking more bread when a stray bullet came in and killed her. It is stories like that that interest me the most. If any of you ever get to come here, we HIGHLY recommend the Auto tour. You will learn SO much!!!!!

cannons and rock wall

hard to believe what happened here 151 years ago

Eddie at Gettysburg battle field

After we were done exploring for the day, we grabbed a quick bite to eat and headed back to Freeda and Suzy. Later that evening, we barbecued chicken and steak for dinner and ate outside. We played a game of Mexican train, and had a great night at home. We didnt' end up getting to bed until almost 1am. Darn Mexican train!!!!

Saturday the 19th we were going to finish up the Auto tour. But to our joy, Becca messaged us that her, Andrew and Vegas (Becca's doggie) were coming for a visit!!!! OH YEAH!!!! We got the place and ourselves ready and then hung out outside waiting for their arrival. They had wedding errands to take care of first in Philadelphia, and then coming our way. They arrived just after 3pm. It was SO good to see them!!!! After visiting and making sure Suzy and Vegas were going to get along, we decided to go get a bit to eat. We ended up at a Chinese Buffet Called Li's. It was pretty good. Becca and Andrew treated us!!!! We had a good time talking and eating.

Andrew & Becca

Daughter & Dad

When we got back to our site, Andrew and Eddie went to get some wood so we could start a fire and make some S'mores, yum yum. Well at least Becca and I could. Andrew doesn't like marshmallow's, and Eddie doesn't like them roasted. They don't know what they are missing!!!! I tell ya, Eddie and Andrew are two peas in a pod, just ask anyone of us!!!!!!!

Vegas!!!!!

Andrew starting the fire

Our fire is slow to start

fanning the flames

no we're talking!!!!

Becca enjoying her s'more

It took a bit to get the fire going, but our pryo's Eddie and Andrew got it done. After the s'mores it was time to turn in. We made the sofa into a bed for Andrew, Becca and Vegas. It was going to be a, well lets just say, a snuggley fit!!!!!

Beck and Andrew have gone to the dogs!!!

Vegas claiming his spot

Suzy kept trying to sleep right on their heads and faces, so she got the boot, but it didn't last long. How can you resist such a cute face as hers!!!! Vegas hadn't been feeling well, and had gotten sick a couple of times. We are lucky that Suzy travels so well. It would be a disaster if she didn't. Becca discovered Vegas being prone to carsickness when her and Elizabeth drove across country when Becca first moved to the East coast. Poor little guy!!!!






In the morning, I asked the kids how they had slept. They both agreed that it was NOT a good night. WAY to squished. So the sofa is good for one person, but not for two. Eddie made us pancakes and eggs outside, while my Vegetarian daughter and I did bacon inside in our microwave bacon maker. We all enjoyed a nice breakfast in the great outdoors.

yummy b'fast outside with our children

snoozing Suzy

2 peas in a pod

Once we were done eating and cleaned up from breakfast, Becca and I showered in Freeda, while Andrew used the bathhouse here at the campground. We were using the "honey bucket" service, but still after several showers our grey tank gets filled fast.

Becca drove us all over to the lodge where we all got an ice cream and Eddie used the wifi to send off some emails. We checked out the store and lodge area. The pool is huge, and I can't wait to be able to enjoy it. Becca and Andrew hung around for a bit. We did quesadilla's for lunch on the griddle outside. By that time it was time for them to go. They have a long drive home and both of them have to be at work in the morning. I was sad to see them leave. The time with them had been so much fun, and I love being with my girls anytime. We are looking forward to when we will be closer so as to be able to visit with them more. After we said goodbye and they were gone, we went to finish up the Auto tour. Bruce and Paula were leaving in the morning, and we wanted to get his CD's and book back to him. I enjoyed the second part even more than the first. We visited "Devil's Den" and "Little Round Top". These are now my favorite places on the tour. I don't know why, they just are. At Little Round Top, we climbed to the top. Eddie sat down with his sketch pad and did some drawings. He wants to do some panoramic watercolor paintings of some of the sites.

Eddie sketching at Little Round Top, Gettysburg.

General Warren statue on Little Round Top

path coming down from Little Round Top

Devils Den

Devils Den

Gettysburg battlefield

Looking out towards the Pennsylvania memorial

Barn on the battlefield

Pennsylvania monument

Hummelbaugh House

battle wagons

love these statues

Peach orchard

more battleground

so beautiful and peaceful, hard to believe the battle waged here

General Mead Statue

The sights and sounds here are almost spiritual. This is such a beautiful area. It is hard to imagine the terrible fighting that took place here, but then again, as you look around, you can REALLY feel the presence of the men who fought so hard. They truly believed in their cause. I would have said "Hey why are we doing this? We are ALL Americans" But those soldiers were fighting for their way of life, and in their hearts and minds, no sacrifice was to great to preserve their way of life or the fight for freedom.

Monday July 21st was a hot day out. The weather is taking a turn for one I don't like. I am used to the Pacific Northwest cool days, and cooler nights!!!! Eddie went back out to the battlefield to do some paintings while I puttered around at home. Before our neighbor, Doug left, he extended an invitation to us to park on his property. We joined a group called boondockerswelcome.com to be able to find a place close to Becca to park. We have had a couple of leads on that, but Doug is closer than the others. So we may just take him up on that!!!! Eddie and I had barbecue leftovers for dinner and watched a movie until it was time to hit the hay.
The next couple of days I hung around the campground while Eddie did some watercolor paintings of the area. I worked on our travel blog, and took care of some business. It was good to have some "down time". 

The Wheatfield

View from the Vermont Memorial

Little Round Top

On the 24th, we went to the visitors center to visit the museum. They had a three for one deal. So we got to see a movie "A new Birth of Freedom" narrated by Morgan Freeman, a viewing of the Cyclorama, which is a sound and light show of the spectacular 377 foot painting by Paul Philippoteaux of Pickett's charge completed in 1884. And admission to the museum. The movie wasn't very long, but very educational. The cyclorama was really amazing. The museum has SO many things to see and do. We spent several hours walking around taking it all in. The tickets were only $12.00 each and well worth it.

Walking up to the visitors center

A "must visit" when in Gettysburg

Abe and Eddie

"The Battle of Gettysburg" painting by Paul Philippoteaux

more of the cyclorama

Pickett's charge

this painting was AMAZING!!!!!!!

Gettysburg visitors center

After our day at the visitors center, we just vegged for the rest of the evening. It was such a fun and good day. We both enjoyed the visitors center. They also have a real neat book store and gift shop. Another place worth checking out.
July 25th, twenty two years ago on this day I married the most wonderful, sweet, kind, generous, loving man EVER!!!! I am thankful every day that he found me, and that I am loved by such a good person. Here's to twenty two more years my love!!!!!
Saturday the 26th started out a bit rocky for me. I wasn't feeling well and it took me a bit to get going. We had heard that there was to be a reenactment of the Civil war at the reenactment area, but when we walked over there, no one was there. Our neighbors, Jeff and Dee, had offered us use of their golf cart, so we loaded up on that and headed to the pavilion. There they had a Confederate and a Union camp all set up. There were several people walking around in costume. It was awesome. A couple of days ago, Eddie had met a couple, Jim and Debi, in McDonald's and it turned out that they are also staying here at Gettysburg Battlefield Resort. They are from East Tennessee, and dress up as Confederate's in Civil war reenactments. We ran into Jim in the Confederate camp. He is such a nice fellow, I liked him right off even though he is a Reb!!! We strolled over to the Union camp, and while there a very pretty lady in costume walked up us. It turned out to be Debi. She is wonderful. I felt as though I had known her forever.

Confederate camp

Rebels camp

More Reb camp

Rifles

Sleeping quarters

Rosie

Rosie showing her stuff!!

Debi & Jim

Suzy checking out a little girl in costume

Muskets in the Rebels camp

Union camp

Beautiful Debi

Coffee pots on the fire

Between 1pm and 5pm, there was a Flea market going on at the pavilion. So we took some of Eddie's art work to show. He did a pen and ink drawing of Debi in her costume that they want to buy. He also sold a sketch of our friend Brian that he had done. That was cool. Jim came by to let us know that the battle reenactment was to be at 4pm. Eddie stayed with the art so I could watch the reenactment. It was really cool. I shot some video of it, so I hope you all are able to view it. They aren't the best, or very long. The whole thing was fun to watch, and there was quite a crowd there to see it.

The Fife player played Dixie

That's Jim in the middle of the picture

Loading up

the fight is on!!!!

Union side

Cleaning the muskets after the fight

Reenactment area

Add caption

 Before heading home, we took one more cruise in Jeff & Dee's golf cart and explored more of the camp ground. We rode over to the lake and saw a Gazebo there. There were several kids fishing in the lake. I bet a lot of campers had fresh caught fish for dinner that night!!!!

Gazebo at the lake

Catching dinner???

With the money we made from selling the sketch of Brian, we went into town and got some KFC for dinner. It had been a long but very fun day.
Sunday Eddie wanted to go out and paint again. It was to hot for me to sit in the car, so I stayed home and read outside enjoying the "me" time. Eddie called me, and he sold the three watercolor paintings he had done, YIPPEE!!!! It wasn't much, but it was something. Not to long after he got home, another storm hit. It rained hard. We watched a movie and settled down for the evening. When we headed for bed, I noticed a wet spot on the floor by Eddie's computer and office area. We had the window open and figured it had come in there. So we closed it up and headed for bed.
Monday July 28th we inspected Eddie's desk area to see if there was more to the water coming in than we first thought. It seems so. We cleaned up, and Eddie did some needed organizing. We still have not found exactly where the water got in from, but are keeping an eye on it. A bit later Jim stopped by. He wanted to pay for and pick up the drawing of Debi. He ended up staying for over three hours visiting. He is such a fun and interesting fellow. We thoroughly enjoyed his visit!!!! Our neighbor, Dee, had said that General Pickett's Buffet in town was pretty good, so seeing as how we didn't do anything for our anniversary, we decided to go out and try it. We both enjoyed it a lot.

Eddie at General Picketts for our anniversary dinner

There is a gift shop upstairs from the restaurant, so we checked that out after we filled our bellies. We got a little something to send to our great nieces, Eddie got a pin for his hat, and I got myself a souvenir.

do you think I like pink???

After our lovely dinner, and evening, we went home to start getting ready to head out the next day. We really like Gettysburg, and can't wait to come back in a week. But we are also really looking forward to seeing Maryland and Boondocking for a week. We will be able to add another state sticker to our map!!!!! This is a good place to end for now. Take care all and we will see you on the flip side!!!!
Eddie, Darlanne & Suzy with Freeda.