Four score and seven . . . No . . . about two years ago, Bob, Sally, and her father John, left on a cross country trip to visit friends and national parks. We traveled in a 2016 24′ Forest River Sunseeker RV with a Mercedes 3.0 liter diesel powered engine and towed a 2015 Chevy Sonic to use locally once we have set up “camp”.
We pulled off the winter cover, converted the 3rd bed (over the cab) into an attic (storage space), replaced the heavy glass shower door with a shower curtain (RVs have a weight limit and 3 adults use up most of it!), moved all our stuff in, and set off. Inside (see pictures below), facing the front, on the left is the dining room/living room/John’s bed. Over the driver’s and passenger’s seats is the attic/3rd bed. TV#1, back door, and kitchen are on the right. The bathroom and master bedroom (with TV#2) are in the back. Kitchen has 3-burner stove top, micro/convection oven big enough for an 8″ pan, full-size fridge/freezer.
The plan was go south as far as we could, then west, north, and east–from NJ to NJ, via Portland, Oregon. Move at our own pace, no set dates. Should take 3 months, 4 at most. Sally’s travel diary soon became a blog to share with friends, but we were too busy to select pictures and write entries as we went–and we didn’t know how to get them on the web anyway!
Mon. 4/17.
First stop, Gettysburg. after breakfast at Flemington IHOP. Had car key in the wrong position while towing, drained the battery. Got a jump from Al, husband of campground (CG) hostess, no further problems. Forgot some important stuff, Bob drove back home, returned the next morning.
Tues. 4/18.
We took the “Battlefield” bus tour at Gettysburg— 1 of the most important & hotly contested battles of the civil War, 1863 (see pictures below). 300 regiments from 18 states. Maryland had troops on both sides. Bloodiest–51,000 wounded, captured, or killed. More men fell than any other battle on American soil before or since. Followed Lee’s victory at Chancellorsville.
Having a guide really helps–having someone point out where troops came from, where the elevation changed, etc. More info than with a brochure too. Worth the cost vs. a driving tour + brochure.
Battlefield was 1-2 miles wide, 5 miles long. Battlefield was 25 sq mi. Field changed hands 17 times in 3 hrs. Union saved by bayonet charge after running out of bullets. Saw bloody footprints of surgeons on floors of hospital buildings. There are few “witness trees” because, riddled with bullets, they die of lead poisoning. Town of 2200; 20,000 wounded from both sides left behind here.
1913 reunion was 1st the Confederates were invited to. Only Union soldiers were buried here. By 1872, CSA dead were buried in Southern cemeteries. North Carolina actually owned the plot of land their memorial stood on, till recently ceding it to the federal government.
Wed. 4/19.
Saw the cyclorama (42’ long, 377’ high canvas painting of the battlefield, mounted in a round room.), a film, and the museum. All very well done.
Soldiers on both sides looted farms and houses, as well as the bodies of the dead.
Southern cavalrymen usually provided their own horses and often their own saddles and other gear. Northern cavalrymen were issued a mount and equipment by the army. As the war went on, most cavalrymen learned that taking care of their mounts was nearly as important as taking care of themselves.
Richard’s anti sun stroke cushion, patented June 24, 1862, was made of cork, sea sponge. Wet with water, wear linen side next to head during the day, reverse at sunset.
Thurs. 4/20.
Found out lights on tow car were not operating correctly. Took a day to get stuff done around RV, including correct light problem. Bob learned far more than he wanted to about tow light connectors.
Fri. 4/21. Drove to Washington, DC.