Day 33: Trout Run, PA to Gettysburg, PA: 141 miles

It rained most of the night and the spot we chose was not ideal. It turns out that on the other side of the freeway, the convenience store was closed for remodeling. So, we could have had less traffic during the night, but our walk in the morning with the dogs was nicer on the side we chose. 

The cemetery at Trout Run was perfect for a quick stroll to have the dogs and us stretch our legs. We thought we could get coffee and gas across the highway and hit the road. But we got gas and no coffee because of the remodeling. We were only a few miles from Williamsport, PA so we got off the freeway early so we could find a place to get coffee. Why does Williamsport sound so familiar? Anyway, right on the way and convenient to get back on the highway was the Backhouse Cafe and Coffee house. 

A house converted into a gathering place where people could have coffee and visit. The place was very quaint and historic as is most places in the eastern US. It turns out that the building was built by Henry Johnson, a Pennsylvania legislature that was instrumental in getting the voting age lowered to 18 and the right for soldiers on the battlefield to vote. Without it, Lincoln may have lost Pennsylvania and his re-election. There were lots of historical brick and stone buildings. West coasters are not used to these kinds of regular sitings. 

As we were driving through town, a few mentions of Little League Baseball and it dawned on Kasey that we were in the place were Little League Baseball Championships are played. There were bronze statues along the streets of Little Leaguers. 

Back on our way to Gettysburg, PA our first stop was the visitor center and museum of the Gettysburg National Military Park. We stopped in for information, pictures of museum displays, and a few souvenirs. Mostly books and refrigerator magnets. We were able to get a few pictures with Abe himself. 

We decided to do the auto tour. It is across the area of Gettysburg and has 16 stops. Statues, monuments, and replicas of canons dot the landscape each telling a part of the story of that event that can only be described as carnage. Total casualties of both the Union and Confederates was over 51,000 and over 7000 people were killed in this area. The Union fighting for the right to make policy in support of individual rights and the Confederates fighting for the right to keep policies that allow wealthy individuals to enslave those with darker skin. A sort of status quo mentality. 

Our tour took us to the spot where President Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address. It was a speech that lasted 3 minutes and talked of our nation and democracy. There was no gloating, no partisanship. 

Lincoln sought to bring the country together because he knew that the nation was changing; changing for the good.

The whole experience was numbing and gut wrenching. I found myself feeling sick to my stomach and also sad and frustrated. Frustrated that we are still fighting for the right to set policy that moves this nation forward, all while the forces of evil are eroding those same gains that were won on the battlefield. Among us are those that seek to return us to the days before civil rights and equality. Frustrated because if we truly had a voting democracy, the rights of individuals would be secured in the constitution and the right to to set policy for this nation would not be so easily undermined by those that seek to win by cheating, or force.

(This young, shirtless man we saw visiting the memorials is packing a revolver and sporting a tattoo of an AK47 on the upper part of his back.)

Our nation could have been completely different if the battle outcomes had not been in the Union's favor. The forces of evil are still among us. I have never missed a vote since I was legally able and I never will. We must constantly secure our liberties by remembering history, voting, and not giving up on the quest for a more perfect union.

Nearby is Eisenhower's home and we got there late but was able to get the Bark Ranger badges for the boys. A little badge indicating that they were good dogs while visiting the park.

The day ended perfectly at our host's place, Willow Grove just 10 miles from Gettysburg. Sharon and Ed enthusiastically greeted us, let us have firewood for a fire by the babbling brook, let the dogs romp and play in their yard and stream, and brought us fresh fruit and produce. They love to travel as we do and gave us tips on good places to stay.  

We sat by the fire into the evening. Sharon joined us for a while. Before turning in for the evening, I apparently was not going to get away from these parts without hearing a barred owl. Oh, well, at least they belong here.