Gettysburg Aug 5

While sharing pre-departure coffee, we had our big treat for our week together when a teenage bear wandered right past the window!  With warning signs and beer education everywhere, you’d think this would be a more common occurrence but this was our first!

The road to Gettysburg was not long nor complicated and we came into cell service about halfway there.  After a week with nothing but messages bleeping in, it was quite a treat to catch up on some calls to Matt with Madi, Mom and more and get some overdue business done.  Being out of the mountains also meant being out of the cool weather and things heated up quick!

We arrived in Gettysburg in the midday heat.  First order of business was the educational video and “cyclorama” at the Visitor Center.  The video was well produced and the cyclorama quite an experience.  A 360 degree oil painting created by a French artist in 1882.  It took a surprisingly short 1 year to paint by one artist and his 11 assistants.  The canvas spans 377 feet in length and 42 feet in height!  It weights over 5 tons with 4 of that being paint.  Wow! 

Added to its WOW value is its value in depicting the battle itself.   The park uses current technology to make the battle come to life with lighting and sound and by the end of the 15 minute presentation one feels some of the magnitude of that historic day.

Eternal Light for Peace United

Being that driving a big rig around the 24 mile battlefield area wasn’t practical (or allowed for that matter!), we chose bikes for our method of transport for the day.  The sun was high and the temps climbed – right along with the path!!  It didn’t take us long to realize it was going to be a challenging day on the bikes.

We modified the tour, cutting off driving distance but managed to see almost every site of the route.  I have never seen so many monuments in my life!  Every battle, every regiment, every state that fought was represented.  Sadly, the magnitude of the hot and challenging ride took away from some of the viewing pleasure but one could not regret having had the experience!

Returning to the rig, we were completely spent.  Overheated and exhausted, we ate a frozen fruit pop and waiting for some energy to return before heading to WalMart (YUCK!!!) for the night.  I had thought this could work being that I had an endless list of catch up to do.  Bills, emails, texts, and calls were lined up and waiting for attention.  Little did I know how WalMart-ish this one would be!

Not a superstore, we grabbed a couple of very basic supplies and did manage to get a needed prescription filled.  We grit our teeth, got our work caught up, tried to distract ourselves with dinner and a game or two and spent a very long night trying to ignore the amazing variety of souped-up or poorly maintained cars that frequented the parking lot through the night!  Lessons learned…!