Sunday, April 13, 2008- Closing Down the Visitor’s Center

We woke up for an early start on a noticeably chillier day than yesterday. Julie wanted an early morning bike ride to beat some of the traffic. We rode through town to the Lutheran Seminary, and then started our way down Confederate Avenue. We got past the Virginia monument, when Julie wanted to switch bikes-- she was towing both of the girls at the time. In changing bikes, Scott’s brake lines got twisted and part of the brakes snapped. He probably couldn’t ride it any further, so Julie unhitched the trailer and rode back to the hotel to get the van to pick everyone up.

We started up the “Eisenhower Power Tower”, but Emma had to go to the bathroom, so that put an end to that. We went shopping for a couple of things that we needed, and then we went to the Visitor’s Center.

The Visitor’s Center that we have always known and that has been the main park museum was closing today for the final time. The new one opens tomorrow. We looked around at the exhibits one last time and took some pictures.

Then we went shopping. We spent most of the afternoon shopping in the many “junk shops” along Steinwehr Avenue. Both of the girls got a new Webkin and Emma got a pirate set with a sword that she has been swinging around for the rest of the day.

We got tickets for the very last ever showing of the Electric Map at 4:25. As we were sitting there the someone in the group behind us commented that Gettysburg is “a Star Trek convention for history nerds.” They meant it in a good way. No one at that showing of the Electric Map would have argued with them. After the program they announced that they were closing the doors on that visitor’s center for good in three minutes, and we made our ways to the exit.

We went back to the “Eisenhower Power Tower” and climbed to the top this time. Julie was a little freaked by the height, but was proud of the fact that she was able to make the climb. We made a stop at Little Round Top and went to McDonalds to try to use their WiFi.

Saturday, April 12, 2008- Gettysburg

The girls were excited to get up this morning because the hotel had a pool. It turned out to be a pretty nice one with water that was quite warm.

We packed up the car again and finally got to Gettysburg around 1:00. We unloaded the bikes, and went out on a two-hour tour of the battlefield. The weather couldn’t be better- in the 60s and sunny with a touch of a warm breeze. We climbed to the top of the Pennsylvania Monument, saw salamanders in “Bloody Run” , and visited the wolfhound on the Irish Brigade monument out past the Wheatfield. Everyone we passed smiled when they saw Emma being towed on the back of Mom’s bike and Anna pedaling on the back of Dad’s. To celebrate the end of the ride, we had an early dinner at the Dobbin House, with both sweetbread and Don‘s Derring Do, of course.

After the bike ride, the girls tried to go to the Boyd’s Bear store, but it was closed for the season. Anna was greatly disappointed, but we’re sure she’ll find other places to spend her money. The three girls drove to pick up Daddy, who was walking on the battlefield trying to take pictures of the monuments (although the camera was mysteriously acting up… hmm).

The whole family then climbed up Big Round Top, which Scott thinks he’s only done once before. We saw several turkey buzzards circling and settling into the trees in front of us. We’re back in the hotel room now, and the girls are once again watching new SpongeBobs. It’s only about 8:00, but we’re all tired and we’re going to be turning in early.