Soaking in the Last Day of Sites

Freedom is not free. I am so thankful for the brave men and women who have battled for our American freedom.

Visiting Gettysburg is an humbling experience.  The many granite memorials perched across this expansive battle site serve as a sobering reminder that our forefathers stood firm in their belief that states' rights should not be infringed upon by the federal government.

Lincoln at Gettysburg

Gettysburg Address

A memorial at the battlefield

Cannon and memorial at the battlefield

Cannon on Confederate Way

On Confederate Way we located the Georgia and South Carolina memorials, then rode up the mountain to Round Top and Devil's Den near sunset.  A beautiful view in a sacred place. So many lives lost on both sides.  What bravery to fight face-to-face like this!

Georgia memorial at Gettysburg

Inscription on the Georgia memorial

Georgia seal inscribed on monument

Historic marker detailing Georgia's role in the battle

Jamie at the Georgia monument

From Round Top looking across the rocky battlefield toward Devil's Den

Vista from Round Top

Sunset at Gettysburg

The museum at the National Military Park holds a vast collection of Civil War equipment and displays tell the story of the three days of fighting in this turning point battle of July 2-4, 1863.  A film and cyclorama provide a quick overview.  This historic 360° painting is lovely, but I prefer Atlanta's Cyclorama to this one. At Gettysburg, visitors stand in one place while lights highlight various parts of the canvas; in Atlanta, the theatre turns in a slow circle so that visitors see the entire painting.

Inside the Visitors Center

A few miles south of Gettysburg, we visited the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.  Annually, the Academy memorializes firefighters from across the nation who have perished in the line of duty. 

Memorial to America's fallen firefighters

Our tour guide Ashley snapped this photo of our foursome at the firefighters memorial

911 Memorial on the campus of the National Fire Academy 

on the campus of the National Fire Academy

Chief Sullivan on the campus of the National Fire Academy, recalling his training there nearly 10 years ago

 After soaking ourselves in sites for the past ten days, it was most fitting that we got soaked by a rainshower as we walked the half mile back to our travel trailers after this last tour!  Thank goodness for dry towels, a change of clothes, a different pair of shoes, and our own place to change.

A walk in the rain in Emmitsburg returning to our travel trailers

Life is Gut, Ya?

Old Mill Stream Campground is tucked beside Dutch Wonderland, an amusement park, in Lancaster, PA, in the heart of Pennsylvania Amish Country. A busy highway and asphalt parking lot in front give way to a well-planned, shaded and paved campground backed by a trickling stream and a cornfield. 

Plenty of space, paved driveway and graveled lots at Old Mill Stream Campground

View of the cornfield across the stream

Wildlife enjoying a swim along the stream

We arrived late, after a day of traveling & chocolate-feasting.  We dined on leftovers while our week's worth of laundry washed and dried in the campground's facilities.

The next morning we rode over to Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse, Pennsylvania, to get a firsthand experience in Amish country.  A cafe offered pastries and coffee for breakfast, the indoor farmer's market was a source of meats, cheeses, breads, canned items, and junky collectibles.  A handmade furniture store exhibited the area's craftsmanship.  Much too tourist oriented.

Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania

We took a country lane through a corn patch hoping to see more authentic Amish sites.  A couple of 

girls riding two wheeled scooters. Neatly kept farms and yards.  A team of mules baling hay.

Amish hay baling

 

We attended a matinee performance of Half Stitched, a musical comedy highlighting some of the Amish traditions, at the Bird-in-Hand restaurant and theatre, and learned "Life is Gut, Ya?"  I have to agree, Yes, Life is Good!

Our rush hour experience in Ohio's Amish country proved much more authentic than our visit to Lancaster County. 

The Lincoln Highway led us to our next stop.

How Sweet It Is!

Usually, we have to park our travel trailers in the most distant parking lots.  Not today!

At Hershey's Chocolate World, we were given curbside parking near the front entrance. What a sweet treat!

Curbside at Hershey's Chocolate World

The 3D interactive movie was more entertaining than we suspected it would be.  Not only were characters stepping off the screen to come near us, but also the scents of Jolly Ranchers and chocolate filled our senses at opportune moments.

We auditioned for roles as chocolate palateers, learning to taste the intricate flavors harbored in different chocolates. Quite interesting! I'll never "chew" chocolate again, but rather, I'll look at it, smell its aroma,  listen to its snap when I break off a piece, and let it melt slowly in my mouth while discerning the complexity of flavors it contains.

Becoming Chocolate Taste Testers

A narrated trolley tour of the town gave us newfound respect for the Hersey brand and its founder.  Not only is Milton Hershey an examplar of perseverance in business and in overcoming childhood obstacles, but also his philanthropy made possible through his Hershey candy fortune continues to provide a school and homes for nearly 2000 low income students annually, at no cost to the students.

At every juncture, Hershey ambassadors handed us a piece of chocolate.  No shortage of chocolate here.

Learning the Hershey story

Chocolate everywhere!

Wise words

Hail to the Greats!

On Monday we headed east, traveling U.S. 20 across the top of New York's Finger Lakes area.  Glimpses along the route: blue water lakes and green mountain slopes on either side, and quaint villages, some more modern and prosperous than others.

We entered mountainous terrain.  The highway went straight up and straight down. Mountain after mountain. Up. Down. Up. Down.  The grades were steep. Jamie was happy to be pulling the SolAire with a diesel powered engine.

Arriving mid-afternoon at Glimmerglass State Park on the northern shore of Lake Otsego, we set up camp and prepared to welcome Jamie's cousins Mark and Pam for dinner.  This pair of Mercers live only about thirty miles from here, so it's not often we see each other.  They arrived bearing gifts of home-sourced maple syrup; we returned the favor with some bags of Mitchell County pecans.

Becky served us pancakes Tuesday morning so we could try the syrup. Yummy!

After checking out the covered bridge at the park, we followed the eastern shore of Lake Otsego south to Cooperstown.  The main drag is filled with tacky souvenir shops set in historic downtown buildings.  Of course, we picked up a couple of baseball themed items.

Covered bridge at Glimmerglass State Park in New York

Inside of the covered bridge

John & Jamie walking through the bridge

Historic marker for the bridge

The baseball Hall of Fame held a wealth of memorabilia, telling the story of America's Great Pasttime and celebrating the Greats. Tour bus after tour bus unloaded baseball enthusiasts and hopefuls.

Buster's locker recreated in the Hall of Fame

Buster's shoes -- I guess they're here so South Georgian's like me can find something to take a photo of in the Hall of Fame!

Signatures on the plaque markers for the 2017 Class

Gaylord Perry's plaque in the Hall of Fame - took a picture only because we met him at a family wedding several years ago and we have an autographed picture of him from his playing days

After browsing the HoF, Jamie and I found a fun little spot on a balcony down an alley to wait for the Coach and Becky to emerge.

The Cooperstown Trolley took us to the Farm Museum, where we saw antique farm implements and a lovely carousel. 

Carousel at the Farm Museum

Awaiting the Trolley

We also did a drive-through of Dreams Park. The park boasts twenty-two fields and dozens of dormitories. One hundred teams of 12-year-olds play tournaments here every week for thirteen weeks of summer. At $995 per player and coach per week, well, you do the math! 

Dreams Park

Dreams Park

We returned to camp via the east side of Lake Otsego, completing a 360° tour.

Views of Lake Otsego from the west side

Lake Otsego

Early to bed, early to rise, we have miles and miles to travel as we turn south toward home. 

Two Lakes, Two Countries & the Falls

Meandering toward Niagara Falls, we caught glimpses of Lake Erie on our left and vineyards on our right.  This area is New York wine country.  On a Sunday morning, we didn't see any open that caught our interest.  We were Falls bound.

Our approach to Niagara was along the coast of Lake Erie through Buffalo.  Arriving in Niagara Falls, we were stumped by Google navigation as we searched for the designated RV parking lot.  Ahh, a line of campers tipped us off as we rounded the block. Just follow them!

The bridge crossed the rapids. We were awestruck!

Rapids at Niagra

After parking, taking a short trolley ride, and walking to the lookout, we were mesmerized by the Falls. So much water! What power!

The mist floated high, dusting our faces. 

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

Venturing to Canada, we walked through metal gates with scary signs posting warning messages. Check: we have our passports; no weapons, not even a pocket knife.

Flags flying above Rainbow Bridge

Niagara Falls

The wind was ferocious atop Rainbow Bridge, which carries vehicle and pedestrian traffic between the two countries.  The view was worth the wind!

Rainbow Bridge

We arrived in Canada at shift change, and waited patiently for the officers to motion for us to enter. We had nothing to fear, but we had just watched the all-American couple in front of us be whisked off to another room. Hmmm.  The officer scanned our passports - no stamp these days - and we passed through.

The broad sidewalk on the Canadian side of the river provides the best views of the Falls, as "everyone" had told us.  Stunning!

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

At Queen Victoria Place we dined on a second story balcony overlooking the Falls.  What a lovely Sunday lunch! I'd do this trip again.

Lunch on the patio with a view of the Falls

Our return to America was uneventful, thankfully.  Our border agents were good humored and polite.

Our campsite destination was just 120 miles away, about a two hour drive. And it was still early enough to sightsee along the way. We took the scenic route, stretching the drive into nearly four hours, toward Lake Ontario.  Vineyards, cherry orchards, quaint New York villages, and our fourth Great Lake (two last summer, two this trip). 

Fruit stand where we purchased some local produce

New York cherries

What should have been a scenic route along the shore of Lake Ontario turned out to be an abandoned highway.  We knew as soon as we got on it that it was a mistake -- weeds were growing in the cracks of this four lane Lake Ontario Parkway. The sign said "Rough Road Ahead"; boy, was that ever true! We took the first exit we could. The bumps were too much for us and our travel trailers.

We set up camp in a newly renovated park along a creek, Creek-n-Wood, in a rural community south of Rochester.

View of Lake Ontario

Creek at Creek-n-Wood campground is nearly dry