September 25, 2007 -- We met a very nice family with eight children (home schooled, of course) which hailed from upstate New York, near Buffalo. The kids got acquainted first, and then the parents—it turned out that we had quite a bit in common. It is one of the perks of traveling and staying in RV parks—you get to meet a lot of nice people (despite the few knuckleheads that seem to slip between the cracks, like we have written about earlier...).
We traveled to the Gettysburg National Battlefield Park and Cemetery. The Ranger-led tour described in graphic detail (almost too much detail) the occurrences during the battle, and the carnage that remained in its aftermath. The battlefield, in the heat and humidity of July 1863, with thousands of dead Union and Confederate soldiers lying about, as well as numerous dead animals; followed by hasty and shallow burials of the soldiers who could be found. This was followed by two weeks of rain. This leaves only to your worst imagination what this battlefield Hell must have been like. In the following months, the area was designated as a National Cemetery, and the work began to disinter the soldiers, who were reburied in proper and organized graves; the entire process took about six months. In November of 1863, the cemetery was dedicated.
Interestingly, President Abraham Lincoln was not the keynote speaker; it was the governor of Pennsylvania who delivered a two hour dissertation. Lincoln, who afterwards delivered his timeless Gettysburg Address, used less than four minutes to deliver his dedication remarks.
We toured the battlefield, and witnessed the numerous monuments that are dedicated to the numerous military units from many Union states that fought at Gettysburg. On the way back to the campsite, we found a Girl Scouts Council office in York, PA, where Malia found several GSA awards unique to the area for Hannah and Kiki to earn, and “compared notes” with the staff personnel. While traveling to and from Gettysburg, we passed the Harley-Davidson Motorcycles plant. A lack of time, and, lest I speak blasphemy, or at least un-American and/or treasonous words; a lack of interest, kept us from visiting the plant (which is open for tours).
September 26, 2007 -- We traveled up to the Reading, PA to see the Daniel Boone Homestead. The property is where Daniel Boone was born and raised until age 15, after which he made his way from here into the history books. The actual home where he was born was no longer there, and the homestead itself was not what we had hoped for, or what the website hyped it as… We returned to the Lancaster area and bounced around the community a bit, taking in the scenery.
September 27, 2007 -- We traveled south for about an hour to the Herr’s Potato Chip factory. An interesting story, of how a young man started a hand-peeled-and-cut potato chip business, and turned it into a major snack food manufacturer over several decades; a shining testimony as to what determination and perseverance can accomplish. For you potato chip aficionados, trust me when I tell you that a potato chip tastes no better than when it is coming hot off the manufacturers line—yum!
We again returned to the Lancaster area and took in the local sights and businesses. Lots and lots of Amish-made stuff, and some, not so sure if some of it may have been Chi-mish…
During the evening, we went to a local hotel that also owns the campground we stayed in, and enjoyed an informational presentation by Mrs. Smucker (of the jams and jellies family), an Amish woman, about the Amish society, and the differences and similarities in the Old Order and New Order Amish and Mennonite communities. This followed with an open FAQ session with her. We came away sorta understanding, sorta not… While the Amish appear to be strongly committed to their beliefs and culture, we could not help but see a few contradictions, especially when it came to “gray areas” and non-distinct lines between the Amish and the “English” cultures and practices. The Old Order Amish appear to be the “hard-liners” in their beliefs; the New Order Amish are a bit more liberal in their interpretations of “The Rules” which are set by the Bishops of the sects. Electricity from the grid is a no-no, but juice from a generator is okay, as long as it drives an air compressor to drive the end-product tool or device. A guy crashes into Brother Yoder’s buggy, kills his kids, gravely injures him and his wife, then does a hit-and-run; a nut case guns down a school room full of kids (remember the recent Nickel Mines incident?), and the community comes forth with a huge outpouring of forgiveness. But, if one of them leaves the Order to be “in the world” on a permanent basis, that person is excommunicated and shunned, and basically written off, in some cases, even by the family of the “traitor”—go figure… Mrs. Smucker also gave rise to a few giggles when she pulled out her contraband cell-phone…
September 28, 2007 -- We drove up to Hershey, PA to see the world-famous chocolate making factory, and the model industrial community created by industrialist and philanthropist Milton Hershey near the turn of the 20th Century. We first stopped in at the visitor’s center, which gave a “simulated tour” as if something out of Disney’s “Small World.” We found out that they don’t give actual factory tours anymore, they only do the kiddie ride thing. The tour obligingly dumps you out, the unsmiling chocolate mistress grudgingly hands you a chintzy sample of Hershey’s version of M&Ms, and then funnels you in front of their photo purchase desk to tempt you to buy a high-priced photo of yourself on the ride (we didn’t). The exit hall then dumps you in the gift shop, where they will allow you to spend all the money you care to on any version of Hershey chocolate in the inventory, as well as all the other tourist bait. If you are sensing a certain bit of disappointment with it all, you sense correctly… No ten minute flick on the life and accomplishments of Mr. Hershey, no samples to grease the money-drop, and again the Disney-like atmosphere of maximum profit-taking. We finally said enough already and actually drove through the original town built by Hershey, and up where the factory was actually at—the employee parking lot was thick with the smell—oh, boy, you guessed it! Chocolate! Yes indeed, why didn’t we have lunch there, instead of up at the Hershey gardens? Oh well…
We drove back to Lancaster, and trekked about from shop to shop until we were able to find a fabric panel that we had been scouring the area trying to find. It depicts several scenes from Amish life, and creates a lovely mini-quilt when done. It is apparently out of production, and in huge demand. We found it at the shop of a very kindly Amish woman, who we had met briefly on our first day bus tour of the area. We had talked not just quilting with her, but about family, life, twins, and the like on the first visit; she remembered us from the visit and was kind enough to sell us a panel of the rare fabric, which she didn’t usually part with to just anyone who asked—we consider it a blessing…
September 29, 2007 -- Once again, time to hit the road. Camping under the trees has a mixed review—the shade is nice, but when the top came down on the trailer, it looked like the bottom of a bird cage… We got the bird exhaust cleaned off, and road tripped to College Park, Maryland. We have to hand it to the Maryland road folks—they really know how to make well engineered, well paved, well signed roads and highways, unlike some of their New England neighbors…
We established Headquarters for the next week-and-something at Cherry Hill Park, the closest RV park that we could find to DC. Have you ever heard of the term “earworm?” Through the power of suggestion, the name of the Park where we are staying has permanently stuck the song “Cherry Hill Park” (remember the song in 1970s by the artist Billy Joe Royal?) in my head—aagggghhhh!
September 30—October 7, 2007 -- Rather than give you a day-by-day, play-by-play of the Washington DC visit, I’ll recap some of the highlights of one very busy week:
International Spy Museum – The history of cloak-and-dagger from Biblical times to present, and the way it will be done in the future. It covered topics from “the real thing” to film spies we’ve known and loved, from James Bond, Agent 007 to Maxwell Smart, Agent 86, and all their way-cool spy gadgetry.
Smithsonian Portrait Museum -- Unbelievable displays of original historic portraits, of names that would be familiar to most. You can literally walk up and touch them, (if you were so uncouth to do so…) as only two are covered with glass.
The National Aquarium – this one needs help, and we even had to pay to get in—they need to take some examples from some of their contemporaries in this pursuit.
The Old Post Office Tower -- A beautiful old building, done in Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, which was obsolete before it was finished near the turn of the 20th. Century, and considered an eyesore (“the Old Tooth” it was called) before future-thinking preservationists saved it from the wrecking ball. It houses a bell tower with a carillon of the ten Congressional Bells that are hand-rung on special occasions.
National Air & Space Museum – what a candy shop for the aviation buff! Numerous original air and space craft are housed there, including the Wright Flyer and the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo spacecraft, just to scratch the surface.
National Zoo -- nice display of animals, which were displayed in natural settings, but placed where they couldn’t just run off and hide, like the St. Louis Zoo. The meerkats were a hoot!
White House – a self-guided (but well supervised tour by the Secret Service) of the east wing of the White House. Nice tour; we all know that it all “happens” down at the West Wing, which you need a top secret clearance from God to get into…
US Capitol – now this was a great tour. Guided by a staff member of Congressman Michael Thompson, it was beautiful inside, and the tour guide really knew his stuff. It was awe inspiring to know that we were walking on the same floors as many historic figures that helped create our nation. We even sat in for a short time on a session of Congress, while a bill was on the House Floor. Interesting, to be sure, but high level politics, as one politician whose name I have forgotten, likens it to “herding cats.”
The Library of Congress -- without a doubt, this single most beautiful place in DC. This place was put together by artists and sculptors that knew and loved their craft, and was designed to be a showplace rivaled only by the likes of the Vatican.
Holocaust Museum – what can you say about a place like this? This was a very sobering experience, and we were thankfully hurried along by time constraints. It was a good introduction to a topic that is better assessed by more mature minds than the kids possess, but it gave rise to some good discussion afterwards that helped the kids better understand this difficult, yet important to know, topic of human of human behavior and suffering.
Bureau of Engraving – if you ever want to see more money than you will ever again see in your entire life, go here. You know what that smell of fresh money smells like? The entire place reeks of it here. What an interesting place, and the numbers and logistics will boggle the mind.
The US Supreme Court – pretty impressive place, but that the Justices are only in session three days a week, and between October and April… We didn’t get to see them, but the public is welcome to sit in on any cases being argued while the court is in session.
WWII Memorial
US Navy Memorial Plaza
Washington Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
FDR Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
Korean War Memorial
Vietnam War Memorial – all the memorials listed are on or near the Washington Mall. They are, as the term memorial suggests, tributes to the person or persons who served our country in a very noteworthy and commendable fashion, and placed so that none may forget their sacrifices in making America the greatest nation on earth.
The National Archives – the most impressive display of pack-ratting in existence. If it is a record that has to do with our country or our people, it can probably be found here. (Also, the next edition of “National Treasure” is being filmed here—ooh, ooh! Can’t wait!!).
Arlington National Cemetery – of course, many historic military and political figures planted here, but of course, the main event is the changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Man, those guys are strack! There is some “urban legend” regarding the Tomb Guards, so it’s a very interesting read to Google up some stuff about them to set the record straight.
These are the key locations that we went to, in addition to numerous lesser venues. A few observations—DC has more cops, both public and private, than any other place we have ever seen; you can’t swing a cat by the tail without hitting one. Nearly every building you enter begins with an airport-like security check. The Metro subway system is the way to travel in DC—it will take you nearly anywhere in greater DC, if you don’t mind a reasonable walk to your end destination. The people are helpful and friendly, and the downtown is clean, and feels very safe and secure. There is more columns, Greek-Roman-Corinthian architecture than you can stand, and everything has some kind of symbolic meaning. We were blessed with good weather, and truly enjoyed this key destination in our trip—we’ll be back!
October 9, 2007 -- In the heart of an unseasonable heat wave, we packed up and road-tripped down to Williamsburg, VA--more to come!
