Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Address: Gettysburg
We have just arrived at Round Top Campground in Gettysburg where I am finally able to get commected. Here's the update from the past whenever.
Pilgrims Under Siege (10/19)
We were quite excited about Plimoth Plantation because of the “real pilgrims” you can talk with—not so much to see but lots to learn. (Kit and I are at totally different levels on this history stuff because I’ve taught 5th graders for lots of years). At Plimoth, we learned a very important lesson for all travelers: don’t be complacent about being “off season”—plan your visit to places like this on Sundays or after 2 pm. Plimoth was literally swarming with school groups. I am sure there were well over 500 kids from preschool through high school. I usually don’t mind kids but there were so many it cannot have been a good experience for them or us. Forget talking to the villagers. We finally left for lunch and came back after 2pm when things had quieted down a bit. It’s a unique place to visit—I just wish they would put a quota on school groups.
Biking on the Cape (10/20-21)
We were lucky enough to have good weather for a couple days on Cape Cod. We were also lucky enough to have our own private RV park (the Fedge driveway) with hot baths a real bonus. (and of course, visiting with Tom) Wonderful bike trails on the cape. Thursday afternoon we rode part of the Cape Cod Rail trail. On Friday we went out to the National Seashore and rode several sections to beaches, through the dunes, and through a beech forest, past ponds ringed by brilliant leaved trees.
Substitute Eighth Graders (10/22)
Saturday was cold and drizzly but not a bad day to visit Boston. (after we went to the Unitarian Church fair in Brewster). Tom is taking two groups of 150 8th graders to Boston next week so we went in to check it out. He led us on a walking tour of the Freedom Trail and other bits of Boston as well. It was quite a surprise to come out of the parking garage onto the Boston Common which was adorned with carved pumpkins. Boston is trying for a world record. Anyway we loved Boston—saw lots of historic stuff, lots of shopping malls, (where we didn’t spend), and lots of Italian restaurants (where we didn’t eat). 18th of April in ’75…. Paul Revere was out on his horse so he didn’t do the lanterns in the Old North Church.
Fleeing the Storm (10/24)
Drove out of New England and the wonderful tree-lined freeways, into New York and across the Hudson River, and into Pennsylvania.. a day ahead of the “Nor ‘easter”. It is not easy driving across Pennsylvania—none of the freeways seem to go in the direction we are headed. Drive down back roads along the Delaware River and onto the Pennsylvania Pike (bumpy toll road) and Highway 222 which was slow one lane for miles. Finally we came to the current RV Park. (near Lancaster, PA) It rained all night but no flooding, wind, or snow.
Cost Update
Diesel was pretty much $2.95 for about two weeks. Then on Cape Cod we found it for $2.89. Then in New York we paid $3.13. Today in PA it was $2.83. Talk about yo-yo. And the lowest camp prices are now around $30.
Amish Country (10/25)
Do you believe it has been 20 years since the movie Witness came out! There was an exhibit at the Lancaster Cultural Museum that did an excellent job of explaining Amish life (because of the movie anniversary). Despite the rain there were lots of horse and buggies out on the roads. At the museum we saw a driver’s manual for horse and buggy. I’m sure in the sun this is beautiful country. But it’s not all just Amish farms. Big suburban houses are now dotting the landscape—and even on back roads there’s plenty of car traffic. We first went to the town of Intercourse. (Tom, bet your kids would have fun with this one). I found, not only one fabric store, but lots of them. This is a mecca for quilters. In Lancaster I visited the quilt museum along with a tour group of German quilters. We also found a wonderful food market (and I lost my umbrella) where we got some great stuff for supper. Pennsylvania is not our favorite state so far. You have to buy wine in a state liquor store and beer you can only get by the case at a beer distributor. Plus the roads are unimpressive to say the least.
Pilgrims Under Siege (10/19)
We were quite excited about Plimoth Plantation because of the “real pilgrims” you can talk with—not so much to see but lots to learn. (Kit and I are at totally different levels on this history stuff because I’ve taught 5th graders for lots of years). At Plimoth, we learned a very important lesson for all travelers: don’t be complacent about being “off season”—plan your visit to places like this on Sundays or after 2 pm. Plimoth was literally swarming with school groups. I am sure there were well over 500 kids from preschool through high school. I usually don’t mind kids but there were so many it cannot have been a good experience for them or us. Forget talking to the villagers. We finally left for lunch and came back after 2pm when things had quieted down a bit. It’s a unique place to visit—I just wish they would put a quota on school groups.
Biking on the Cape (10/20-21)
We were lucky enough to have good weather for a couple days on Cape Cod. We were also lucky enough to have our own private RV park (the Fedge driveway) with hot baths a real bonus. (and of course, visiting with Tom) Wonderful bike trails on the cape. Thursday afternoon we rode part of the Cape Cod Rail trail. On Friday we went out to the National Seashore and rode several sections to beaches, through the dunes, and through a beech forest, past ponds ringed by brilliant leaved trees.
Substitute Eighth Graders (10/22)
Saturday was cold and drizzly but not a bad day to visit Boston. (after we went to the Unitarian Church fair in Brewster). Tom is taking two groups of 150 8th graders to Boston next week so we went in to check it out. He led us on a walking tour of the Freedom Trail and other bits of Boston as well. It was quite a surprise to come out of the parking garage onto the Boston Common which was adorned with carved pumpkins. Boston is trying for a world record. Anyway we loved Boston—saw lots of historic stuff, lots of shopping malls, (where we didn’t spend), and lots of Italian restaurants (where we didn’t eat). 18th of April in ’75…. Paul Revere was out on his horse so he didn’t do the lanterns in the Old North Church.
Fleeing the Storm (10/24)
Drove out of New England and the wonderful tree-lined freeways, into New York and across the Hudson River, and into Pennsylvania.. a day ahead of the “Nor ‘easter”. It is not easy driving across Pennsylvania—none of the freeways seem to go in the direction we are headed. Drive down back roads along the Delaware River and onto the Pennsylvania Pike (bumpy toll road) and Highway 222 which was slow one lane for miles. Finally we came to the current RV Park. (near Lancaster, PA) It rained all night but no flooding, wind, or snow.
Cost Update
Diesel was pretty much $2.95 for about two weeks. Then on Cape Cod we found it for $2.89. Then in New York we paid $3.13. Today in PA it was $2.83. Talk about yo-yo. And the lowest camp prices are now around $30.
Amish Country (10/25)
Do you believe it has been 20 years since the movie Witness came out! There was an exhibit at the Lancaster Cultural Museum that did an excellent job of explaining Amish life (because of the movie anniversary). Despite the rain there were lots of horse and buggies out on the roads. At the museum we saw a driver’s manual for horse and buggy. I’m sure in the sun this is beautiful country. But it’s not all just Amish farms. Big suburban houses are now dotting the landscape—and even on back roads there’s plenty of car traffic. We first went to the town of Intercourse. (Tom, bet your kids would have fun with this one). I found, not only one fabric store, but lots of them. This is a mecca for quilters. In Lancaster I visited the quilt museum along with a tour group of German quilters. We also found a wonderful food market (and I lost my umbrella) where we got some great stuff for supper. Pennsylvania is not our favorite state so far. You have to buy wine in a state liquor store and beer you can only get by the case at a beer distributor. Plus the roads are unimpressive to say the least.
# posted by Carol Harma @ 11:17 AM 
