PA

Gettysburg, PA

11:52 PM

I am downstairs in the basement of my father’s cousin, Arden, in Gettysburg, PA. He and his wife Patty have taken me in for a couple of days. I left Uniontown this morning at 11:30 and drove the 3 hours to get here. This was the most diverse drive to date in terms of geography. I left coal country and rose and fell in elevation right off the bat. My Hyundai had not been tested like this yet. The rise through the mountains revved the engine and the descent tested my brakes and handling. I am no car tester, so all’s I’ll say is that I made it without a hitch. I was one of the faster guys on the road.

The elevation changes were beautiful. The greens and the mountains in the background made the drive go by fast. There was no cruise control on this trip. I even had some country radio on the dial. Some of it isn’t so bad. That didn’t last too long though. The Weezer CD came out and so did some Van and Petty. I went down 40 to 68 east, up to 81 and then over to Gettysburg on 30. My ears popped as I drove. I’m not sure exact elevation, but I recall something like 2,800 feet above elevation. I saw a couple of deer. One came close to the highway as I whizzed by at 80, I mean 72. That was a bit freaky.

I missed my big picture today. I drove from PA, to WV, to Maryland, and the back to PA. I missed the Mason-Dixon Line shot. I have my digital camera at my hip and I try to shoot as I drive. This is not the safest at high speeds with turns and hills, but I’m a one man gang and have to do what it takes. I’ve become pretty good at the one handed point and shoot.

I got into town, hit Long John Silvers, and ordered two flanks? of chicken, and sat in a picnic area behind McDonald’s. It was a beautiful day and I was in the shade. There was a stream behind me, but for some reason I felt it was polluted. I have no basis for that, but that’s what it seemed.

I arrived at the Harrison’s and we caught up. I explained what I was doing. They showed me around their beautiful house which sits above a lake. I had to pass through a security stop on the way in and it took me back to my old job. We talked for a while and then it was off to see Gettysburg. My dad went to college here so we looked at the campus. It’s small and I was a fool as I left my cell phone in my car (they drove). I wanted to call him and see what to look at it. We talked to him later and he told me about a bar or two, his fraternity house, and places he lived. I may check them out tomorrow.

We drove up to apple and peach orchards. I didn’t know Motts and others get their apples here. Row after row and mile after mile were trees. It was impressive and pretty as the sun settled down.

We then went to what Gettysburg is all about, the battlefield. We drove all around it and Arden explained a lot of the history to it. I will not go into detail until we go back tomorrow. I will say it is a place that is awe inspiring and at the same time sad. 300,000 soldiers. 50,000 killed or mortally wounded. A country divided.

We left the field after I took some pictures and used my imagination what it could have been like. We then went to where Lincoln stayed the night before he gave the Gettysburg Address. The “Four score and seven years ago…” If you had forgotten about it like I had, do a search and read it. It’s pretty deep.

Then we came back to their house, cruised the lake in their pontoon boat, had a feast of breaded chicken, sweet/white corn on the cob, salad, and baked potato. I was then forced to eat peach cobbler with ice cream. We watched Big Brother, they are big fans, and here I am.

Time for bed.