Journeys end

I’m not sure why I have such a hard time writing the last blog entry for every trip. I guess I don’t want them to end.

For my last day on the road, the plan was to hook up and go to the Gettysburg visitor center (assuming it was open during the shutdown) and see the exhibits since I had not done that during my first visit. The ranger had recommended that I drive the battlefield instead. I had felt in retrospect he’d given me a bum steer because the battlefield was so overwhelming. Taking down camp went fine until I was trying to hook up. The men came out again to help. I was doing my perfectionist thing but once again, I was shown how to wiggle the hitch around to get it to drop on the ball. I think I got the message this time. Black and grey water dump went fine and I was on my way.

The visitor center was open and I had no problem getting a space in the RV parking lot. I got my ticket for the movie and the panorama. I found a seat towards the back in case it was really loud to prevent sensory overload for me.

It turned out the movie was more setting the stage and explaining the events that led to the Civil War. I was left wanting a lot more.

On to the panorama, which I did not realize had been created shortly after the war by Paul Philippoteaux using first person accounts of the Battle of Pickets Charge. Also called a cyclorama, it toured the country until the art waned in popularity and then art work fell into disrepair. Recently reatored, it lives on at the museum with some animation for emphasis. Some say it was an early form of virtual reality. Everything old is new again!

The panorama is an amazing artistic endeavor. It would have been a travesty for it to have become

Irreparable as it is close to having video of the event and drawn from fresh memories before they could be romanced.

However, I left the visitor center with a better appreciation of the advice Ingot on my first visit. A drive around the battle area gave me a much greater sense of the magnitude of battle.

On this trip, I did learn that General Meade after winning the battle could have pressed his advantage and probably ended the war two years earlier. What a great saving of lives and property that would have been. Of course, hindsight is always 20/20.

As I made my way back to the RV lot, I saw a white Audi SUV similar in size to my Volvo pulling an RPod trailer. That was another brand I investigated during my research, so I went over and gave it a look. It didn’t have a bike rack, so theirs was on top of their car and they had no kayak. Clearly not as cool as me. :) It did appear the owner was traveling alone with his dog as I am proving that I am not the only solo camper.

From the visitor center buoyed with coffee, it was time to get gas and get back on the Lincoln Highway. I did make one stop at a farm stand to get some apples and cider. Tis the season in Pennsylvania. Other than that, it was a grueling drive on a two lane highway most of the way with a strong side wind fighting me most of the way.

I arrived at my friends Bud and Sue’s around three. After Bud effortlessly parked and leveled the trailer, and a beer, Sue drove us over to New Castle to see my “new” house. But it was an early night after sunset and a takeout dinner. Then into my trailer to sleep. Buddha, however, preferred to stay in the ols gun club building where we usually sleep even if she can no longer get into “her” chair.

We will stay at Bud and Sue’s until I get some furniture in the house. And that is going to be a whole other adventure!