The "Last Hurrah" of my 2019 RV season (sniff sniff). I cannot say it didn't end with a bang. I will be meeting other members of the Hudson Islanders at the Gettysburg/Battlefield KOA in Gettysburg and hop a ride, as usual, on Saturday/Sunday, the 12th and 13th to the site of festivities 9½ miles away. The following 30-second trailer will give you a glimpse of what is offered: 55th National Apple Harvest Festival Their website can be viewed HERE. The festival will be held rain or shine and our weekend was as perfect as you can get.
For this blog, I had to approach its presentation in a different manner and format. There is just too much to share. Over 200 photos must be cropped, enhanced or eliminated and then my narrative will continue through the captions and links. Although this memorable week is my journal of events, I'm considering my readers who mostly have a life....meaning, no time to sit and read what I have to say. So here is how I'm presenting this blog.
For each day, I'll give a short synopsis of where we went and what we saw with a few photos. The link, highlighted in RED will take the reader to another page that contains the details in the form of photos with captions and links for more details. Everything that is printed in red is a link. At the end of that reading, be sure to click on the back arrow in your browser to return to this blog. I tried to set it up so that readers can read each day at their convenience. Good luck following it all and do let me know how it worked out for you.
Wednesday - I arrived after a long, 5 hour drive and set up camp. Tony/Doreen, Ray/Sue and Roberta had already arrived and were settled in. The day was sunny but chilly.
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO SEE PHOTOS AND DETAILS OF WEDNESDAY
Thursday - We visited the Military Museum, had lunch in the oldest house in Gettysburg, the Dobbin House Tavern, visited the McClelland house where Jennie Wade died. She was the only civilian killed during the Battle of Gettysburg at the age of 20. Shopping at the Christmas Tree Haus ended the day.
Friday, we returned to the Military History Museum where we boarded the tour bus and were treated to a two hour tour of the Gettysburg Battlefield, the 1,000 acre landmark that saw the bloodiest and most costly battle of our Nation and remains the largest battle in the Western Hemisphere. CLICK THIS LINK for a video clip of the site of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Saturday arrived as did our reason for being here in the first place: to attend the 55th Annual Apple Festival in Biglerville, a borough in Adams County, PA. With a population of a little more than 1,200, the attendees at this annual event, no doubt outnumbered the entire town. It was quite a spectacle and the throng of folks was itself something to behold. I was able to take videos of six events I found interesting and uploaded them to my YouTube page. The links, highlighted in red will give you the flavor of the event...in this case, everything apple; opps, except for my funnel cake; haven't had one in years.
Single apple peeling machine
Triple apple peeling machine
PAST TIME HARMONAIRES
Grinding corn
Friendship Bracelet
Scarves Happen
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VISIT THE DETAILS OF SATURDAY
Sunday was a day of rest. I tried to catch up on writing this blog but just couldn't get around to doing it. Staying at the Gettysburg Campground about 2½ or 4 minutes away were fellow Hudson Islanders, John, Carol and Johnny. We met them and had dinner at Hoss's Steak and Seafood Restaurant. I had a reasonably priced filet mignon with a baked potato and a root beer. I did not take advantage of their extensive salad and dessert bar. Don't know if it was because it was Sunday or the local ordinance in PA but no alcohol was served. Afterwards, we traveled back to their campsite and enjoyed my last campfire for the 2019 RV season.
Monday I dumped, flushed and winterized Winnie for its four month hibernation in Cross River. I've already prepared my itinerary for my 2020 Winter Adventure and just need some more overnight stays as I make my way back home at the end of February. Stay tuned.
For this blog, I had to approach its presentation in a different manner and format. There is just too much to share. Over 200 photos must be cropped, enhanced or eliminated and then my narrative will continue through the captions and links. Although this memorable week is my journal of events, I'm considering my readers who mostly have a life....meaning, no time to sit and read what I have to say. So here is how I'm presenting this blog.
For each day, I'll give a short synopsis of where we went and what we saw with a few photos. The link, highlighted in RED will take the reader to another page that contains the details in the form of photos with captions and links for more details. Everything that is printed in red is a link. At the end of that reading, be sure to click on the back arrow in your browser to return to this blog. I tried to set it up so that readers can read each day at their convenience. Good luck following it all and do let me know how it worked out for you.
Wednesday - I arrived after a long, 5 hour drive and set up camp. Tony/Doreen, Ray/Sue and Roberta had already arrived and were settled in. The day was sunny but chilly.
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO SEE PHOTOS AND DETAILS OF WEDNESDAY
Thursday - We visited the Military Museum, had lunch in the oldest house in Gettysburg, the Dobbin House Tavern, visited the McClelland house where Jennie Wade died. She was the only civilian killed during the Battle of Gettysburg at the age of 20. Shopping at the Christmas Tree Haus ended the day.
Friday, we returned to the Military History Museum where we boarded the tour bus and were treated to a two hour tour of the Gettysburg Battlefield, the 1,000 acre landmark that saw the bloodiest and most costly battle of our Nation and remains the largest battle in the Western Hemisphere. CLICK THIS LINK for a video clip of the site of the Battle of Gettysburg.
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| The casualty rate in the battle at Little Round Top was about 700 per minute. The attack by the Confederates known as Pickett's Charge cost Lee over 5,000 soldiers in the first hour and essentially ended the Battle of Gettysburg. |
To appreciate the enormity of this Civil War, CLICK HERE to see how French artist, Paul Philippoteaux depicted it in his Cyclorama which we viewed yesterday in the Visitor's Center.
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| Les Fowler, our brilliant tour guide |
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| Lunch was at Garry Owen Irish Pub Owned and operated by Kevin and Joanne McCready, originally from County Armagh, Ireland. They strive to bring a little taste of a real Irish Pub through "ceol, cainte agus craic' - music talk and fun. |
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| An unexpected treat in a roadside tree; a huge red-tailed hawk |
Saturday arrived as did our reason for being here in the first place: to attend the 55th Annual Apple Festival in Biglerville, a borough in Adams County, PA. With a population of a little more than 1,200, the attendees at this annual event, no doubt outnumbered the entire town. It was quite a spectacle and the throng of folks was itself something to behold. I was able to take videos of six events I found interesting and uploaded them to my YouTube page. The links, highlighted in red will give you the flavor of the event...in this case, everything apple; opps, except for my funnel cake; haven't had one in years.
Each of these videos are included as links in the page for Saturday's experience. You can either view them one at a time here or when you view the photos and narrative. They include:
Triple apple peeling machine
PAST TIME HARMONAIRES
Grinding corn
Friendship Bracelet
Scarves Happen
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VISIT THE DETAILS OF SATURDAY
Sunday was a day of rest. I tried to catch up on writing this blog but just couldn't get around to doing it. Staying at the Gettysburg Campground about 2½ or 4 minutes away were fellow Hudson Islanders, John, Carol and Johnny. We met them and had dinner at Hoss's Steak and Seafood Restaurant. I had a reasonably priced filet mignon with a baked potato and a root beer. I did not take advantage of their extensive salad and dessert bar. Don't know if it was because it was Sunday or the local ordinance in PA but no alcohol was served. Afterwards, we traveled back to their campsite and enjoyed my last campfire for the 2019 RV season.
Monday I dumped, flushed and winterized Winnie for its four month hibernation in Cross River. I've already prepared my itinerary for my 2020 Winter Adventure and just need some more overnight stays as I make my way back home at the end of February. Stay tuned.