Gettysburg - We have arrived

We left later than usual on Saturday (08/26) since we only had a three hour drive. If we have to take more than one day to get to where we are goin, we try to have the short trip on the last day. Good thing this time.

The ride was beautiful.

 Corn fields  and orchards decorate the highways

Seen on the side of the road - Southern Heritage in Pennsylvania

 

As we got closer, we ran into several detours and the GPS did not pick them up.  I have a love / hate relationship with Tom the GPS.  We were driving on 2 lane roads with corn as high as the car on both sides of the road. We were directed to make a left on some road - at the last minute (one lane bridge ahead of us) but that left was a bomerang turn.  Big Bob said he didn't know if we could make it, but we were committed and no we did not. The back right tire was dangling in a ditch.  Lot of weeds there, so we couldn't tell it was a ditch.  I called Good Sams and he dropped the car and got it out of the road but the back end of the motorhome was still out there.  Not much traffic but almost everyone stopped to see if they could help.  After 1/2 hour, Good Sam's  was still looking for someone to tow us out.  But by then Big Bob had the plan.  He found some wood and brought it the motorhome. Then a 2002 Electro Glide pulled up and the rider came over and helped.  Big Bob put down the back jack, raising the coach up, and the good samariton slid the wood under.  Then Big Bob  backed up a little and they did it again and then she was out.  And we were on our way (The biker was local and gave us the directions to get by the detours.)  After this, I must say this - Big Bob is THE MAN!  

Definitely no picture, except the aftermath.

Gettysburg Farm RV Campground 

This is a pick your own site campground and because it was late in the day on Saturday, it was not looking good.  

We made a few lapse and found nothing,  To say the least, our nerves were shot and we were ready to leave and try another campground, when we found this spot. 

Plenty of green space.  This is the best site we have every had.

This is a working farm.

 They grow corn.

And they have lots of animals.  This is across from us.

And around the corner

Hanging out in the road

 Snack time

Click here for Next day's event - Gettysburg Battlefield 

Gettysburg and Harly Behind the scenes steel toe tour

Gettysburg
On Sunday (08/27), we took our time (about 1/2 hour from the campground) getting to the Visitors Center. Not many people and the temperature was in the low 70's.  A perfect day.
First, we took the time to see the history film and the Cyclorama (a painting in the round that took only1 year to paint). It was unbelievable.

Next, we took a  two hour bus tour with Clay as our guide.

The tour was well worth the money.   We made lots of stops as he explained the three day campaign and the monuments and statues from all the states that had troops there. None of then have been removed or have they received threats because of them.

My birth state, North Carolina, had largest number of casualties and second highest number of soldier.

My home state - not a lot of soldiers at the battle, they were dealing with the Seminoles in most of the state.

 Reinactors on the week-end.

The battlefields

  Time to rest - Abe

The Dobbin House
We had a great diner that night at a landmark.

 We ate dinner downstairs in the old cellar.  It sits over a spring.

Harley Davidson Factory
We headed out early Monday (08/28). We didn't want to miss anything here.

 
We had bought tickets months ago (they book up that fast) for the Behind the Scenes Steel Toe Tour.
We had to wear safety vests

And  shoe coverings (looked like open clogs with steel toes.)

This is our tour picture. There were fourteen  people in the tour and they broke us down into two groups, giving us a lot of individual attention. The tour is two hours of walking through the plant and covering all stations.  They build a bike in 2 1/2 hours (3 hours for the Trikes and CVO's.)  Lots of automation to make it happen, and even more quality assurance tests.

More fun was to follow in the area but we are grounded right now.  Big Bob has aggravated his sciatica so we have cancelled some reservations and extended here as we wait for him to heal. He  only has to til Friday since the campground is sold out.  Just a waiting game now.

Just click here to see how we have spent Labor Day weekend

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Gettsyburg Bound

Making our way to Gettysburg - first stop Statesville KOA

We headed out yesterday (08/24) and took the road less traveled all the way to Spartenburg.  It was a bittersweet ride.  Brought back memories - my last road trip with my dad was in NW South Carolina.  He, (the driver at age 86) along with my Aunt Jo, sister Bo (Belinda) and cousin Donna picked me up at the Greenville airport and we traveled to a house we rented  close to Mountain Rest, SC. We were there for a birthday party for my Uncle Jim's birthday. Meg, his wife, did an outstanding job with the party and lots of NC family there to celebrate the man Uncle Jim was.  The time with my dad was priceless.  I kept wanting to call him today and  tell him where we were and how our Great New England Road Trip was progressing.  He always wanted to hear about our travels.  It was something he and my mom wanted to do but when they were ready (grandkids raised -with their help) she was no longer well enough.  RIP Mom and Dad aka Granny and Poppy.

We encountered something on I-85 we had never have before. We were in the fast lane (I know, but Big Bob isn't afraid to crank it up with a car in tow) when all of a sudden the lane split off and we were actually in what used to be the fast line going south bur converted to north due to construction.  Eventually the lane joined back with the rest of northbournd I-85.  We took an exit so the driver could use the bathroom  but it turned into a country lane so we pulled over onto a corn field for the potty break and lunch then onward to the Statesville KOA.  A hard adjustment after RV Mountain Resort in Dillard.  But it's only a one night stop so it will do. Only no water the next morning.

Day 2 - Onward to the KOA - Shenandoah Valley

We took I-70 to I-81.  I-70 through NC was landscaped with color.

This route was debated for some time but everything I read said we could do 81 (it was that or deal with roads around the DC area)  Our route cuts through the mountains and and the ride was hilly but not too bad. 

 We were behind this truckload of chickens. Where is PETA when needed?

 
The views were spectacular.  Virginia is beautiful and we both regret we did not have time to enjoy this country properly but we will be back here.

 The view coming into the campground.

Tomorrow we will be at our destination for the next few days - Gettysburg Farm campground. While there we will be re-routing again.  My planned stops are just too much drive time for us. We like 3- 4 hours to keep it enjoyable.

Click here to read more about We have arrived at our Campground 

Dillard House, More Moutains and Tallulah Gorge

Tuesday August 22

Today we took a few hours to just drive higher up into the mountains to Sky Valley and then the  Nantahala National Forest. Such views!

Seen on the side of the road - only us old folks will remember.

The hit of the day was a late lunch at the Dillard House. 

If you haven't been there, they bring the food (everyone gets the same) and will refill it if you want more. Big Bob was a happy man and he got to bring home the left overs for dinner.

After we ate, a rest was in order.

Views from the porch were awesome as well. Just beautiful country.

    

                   
       

                                                 

Wednesday - August 22

We started the day with a good-bye breakfast with Maggie and Fred with a great southern style breakfast - country ham, grits and fried eggs for me and it was perfect!  Then back to the campground for us and then it happened - re-routing, cancelling and making new reservations.  Big Bob finally took time to review what I had done and he didn't like the driving distance and since he is the driver, he wins by default.  With our brains about to blow out with trying to find best possible route and whether should go through the mountains (the shortest) or up the middle (the longest), we called it a day and took a short day trip.

Tallulah Gorge
This was another awesome place.  The trails are all made out of reclaimed rubber and have hand rails,

and warnings.

These pictures do not do justice to the falls

 

After our hike, time to rest - again.

And now it is time to say good bye to Dillard and head to the next destination (a 3 day ride after the re-route)  to Gettysburg.

Click here for the Gettysburg journey