Gettysburg

Arose earlier than usual today and managed to be the second coach across the Border back into the USA at Niagara Falls. Thus began a drive south that lasted from 7am until 7pm. A few grumblings for the passengers but I am content as long as someone else is doing the driving, organising and worrying. And Todd spends a lot of time on the mobile arranging things and finessing the schedule. I don't know what people expect for the money we pay.

There are many interesting stories on the bus. I plan to record some of them in a final entry when I have time in Washington. 4 days in one place will seem such luxury, even if I MUST write my Yr11 reports.

We drove a solid 2.5 hours through upstate New York (very pretty) and along the Susquehanna River to Harrisburg, capital of Pennsylvania.Todd outlined the many reasons why you would not want to live in Buffalo, former rival to New York City, chief being "Lake Effect" snowfalls, felling branches that result in power cuts of 30-60 days a year. Like most of the cold bits of the USA and Canada, it's a nice place to visit in the short summer but why would you live there if you had a choice?????

We stopped at Coach stops for "de-watering" and shopping along the way but their names escape me although I may have taken photos with clues. I like Kohl's but Todd would not have got the joke. Lunch was ......??????? somewhere. Either side of lunch, we watched "Gettysburg" starring Martin Sheen beneath Gen. RL Lee's beard. It was designed to give us a picture of what happened but as a movie it was woeful. It gave new meaning to the word, "ponderous." Watch it yourself and see if I'm wrong.

Finally, after 3pm, we arrived at the Visitor Centre at Gettysburg for "de-watering" primarily. Then we finally had our tour with Todd. We stopped at several statue/plaque stops around the battlefield. I guess in a sense of reconciliation, both the film and the military memorial glorified Lee and what was an unadulterated military disaster, not to mention a senseless waste of life. Australians would think Gallipoli. Heroic failure at best. The tour managed to give me a sense of the geography which only being there can do. That is what the complaints about the bus miss, I think. Yes we rush through everything - it is a whistle stop tour but that still has value.

Our hotel tonight is perfect - big, its own Irish Pub with edible and well priced food, a pool, free wifi and quiet rooms with good facilities. And for what we paid for this tour.....

Tomorrow, Amish Country, a slower pace and on to Washington for 4 nights. Luxury! The weather was unsuited to photography today, starting with rain and never losing overcast skies. Will include a few later though.

Location:E Park Dr,Harrisburg,United States