September 13th, 2011 Tuesday 72* and SUNNY!

We arrived on Labor Day the 5th, the trip was a long one at about 450 miles and a little over 9 hours. It rained most of the way and had stopped about a half hour before we arrive, BUT as luck would have it 6 miles prior to arrival at campground it began to pour down rain and did not stop until Friday. Counties to the east along the susquehanna river we flooding and causing terrible problems and uprooting families from their homes. :(

Saturday we got to go in town and do a little browsing, rain was still happening off and on but did allow us to explore.  Earlier in the week we went with Ken and Kathy to the New visitors center with the restored painting of the war in the Cyclorama. Quite the impressive display with over 20,000 troops painted on the canvas. The size of it is 377 feet by 44 feet tall and was one of four and the only painting known to exist in full. Words can not describe what it is like, the landscape blends right into the painting and you can not tell where the transition takes place. The foreground is covered with authentic items from the day, including carts, weapons, clothing, saddles, cookware, tents and so much more. You are given a limited time as so many people are going through it but you do get probably 10-15 minutes to take it in. It is well worth the $10.50 it costs which also gives you a 1/2 film telling the story of the Battle of Gettysburg and also admission to the museum.

Sunday our friends left for Hershey Pa. for a trade show so we are now on our own to explore. We started by doing the first of 3 parts of the self guided tour. It was a beautiful day with the sun finally shinning. We spent probably 4 hours during this part of the trip, stopping to visit and read the monuments which number close to 1600 I believe! I was in particular looking for the 66th infantry from Ohio, they were formed in Urbana Ohio and served in defending Culps Hill. We finally found the monument and spent some time trying to imagine the mass of it all. The rifles firing the bullets zinging by the yelling the cries of pain. Its all so much to take in and should never be skipped during your life time.