Living History

Nearly two years ago, shortly after we started this adventure, one of our first destinations was Gettysburg, PA, and we had decided to return for another visit this year. Besides being a beautiful area, it’s a fascinating place full of history, more than can be absorbed in just a couple of hours or days. Our stay last time was four days, but generally the day of arrival is pretty much wasted unless you can check-in early and the drive hasn’t been too far. This time we planned to stay a week, and the campground we chose this year is only about a mile from Gettysburg National Military Park. Appropriately named Gettysburg Battlefield Resort, it is large and quite nice (though they do need to fix some of those pot holes in the roads). Beginning in May each weekend has its own theme, and this one was Wild West Weekend. We didn’t participate in any of the activities (most seemed geared towards kids), but did venture up to the pavilion Sat. night to check out the entertainment for a short time. As you can see by the picture, there were quite a few line dancers.

We had learned from the National Park Service website that there would be two events on the battlefield the weekend we’d be in town. Normally I would refer to these as re-enactments, but as we have learned in our travels, that term is generally used only for actual battle re-enactments and those cannot be performed on federal lands. Instead they are referred to as “Living History” presentations, and the various units attempt to accurately portray tactical demonstrations, military drills, and camp life. These units consist of men and women who have a deep affection for preserving history and paying tribute to the gallant men who served in the Civil War, and they are generally passionately dedicated to a specific side.

The first one we encountered on Sat. was the 6th New Hampshire Union Infantry (http://www.6nhv.org/) who were camped in the park at Spangler’s Spring. There was to be a musket firing demonstration at 10am, so we arrived early to walk around the camp and visit with the “soldiers”. It’s always interesting and enlightening to talk to these folks. All have military ranks within their units, and Second Lt. Harry Bedford came up to welcome us and let us know about the upcoming demonstration. Wives and even children sometimes accompany the soldiers and are actually part of the units, dressing in period dress as well. All wear and use authentic reproductions of the clothing, equipment, and belongings of the time. Many are collectors of Civil War memorabilia and experts on the period, ready to discuss, explain, and enlighten.

It was time for the men to fall in for the demonstration and march across the street to the open field. The park ranger welcomed us and introduced Capt. Walter Dewey who proceeded to explain the inner workings of the infantry. They are not allowed to use live ammunition but do use black gun powder with blanks so the noise when they fire is loud! After three more firing demonstrations, they charged towards us scaring one little boy to tears. He was fine…it was just sudden and a little scary.

After returning to their camp, they were available to chat and answer questions. While we were standing there, a couple of the guys began re-stacking some of the muskets. One of the guys thrust two of them at Russ and said “Here, hold these” while they proceeded to get the other two set in formation. When they were done, we asked a couple questions about how soldiers knew which rifle was theirs (they are arranged by height as is the regimental line), and spent the next 20 min. or so chatting with Private Peter Matthews. He showed us the inside of his cartridge pouch/box that holds the black gun powder explaining its usage, and then explained the many differences in uniforms worn by the Union soldiers. The pants are not always the traditional blue you generally think of, and underneath their blue coats they might wear just about anything. In Peter’s case he said the plaid shirt he was wearing might have been one the soldier would have taken off a farmer’s clothesline when his white issued shirt was damaged. The green vest or waistcoat might have been something he admired in a store or someone from home sent him. Everything the re-enactors wear is authentic from the time period and would be what a soldier of the time would have worn. He showed us his pup tent where he had slept the night before and even offered to share a bite of his hardtack that he nibbles on throughout the day. Uh, thanks, but no thanks. It’s basically just a simple square biscuit made from flour, water, and salt that is hard as a rock. It’s what the soldiers were able to make in the camp quickly and easily and it would last seemingly forever. Peter is not only involved with Civil War re-enactments and living histories, but also World War II and the American Revolution. One thing he told us that surprised us is that kids attending the middle school where he did are not being taught any history. It is simply not a subject at that school any longer, and we all agreed it was definitely a shame. History does have a tendency to repeat itself.

We decided we had tied up enough of Peter’s time and bid him well as we proceeded to leave. We had originally planned to make it to the 11am presentation on the other side of the park, but on our way to the car began talking to another gentleman whose name, rank, and picture I did not get unfortunately. He collects a lot of Civil War memorabilia and was full of information. We spent about another 20 min. with him and missed the 11am demonstration. But that was okay because there was another one at 1pm.

This next living history demonstration was the 4th Maryland Confederate Light Artillery (http://www.4thmarylandlightartillery.com/military.html) who were camped in the park at Pitzer Woods. Located at this site stands the monument to Gen. James Longstreet who served under Gen. Robert E. Lee. Not far beyond this monument was the camp where we were greeted by Private Shawn Saez. Their camp had an entirely different setup and he explained that generally an infantry unit is constantly on the move, carrying everything on their backs, and set up wherever they plop for the night. Artillery units, however, are pretty much set in one location for a bit and nearly all their belongings are carried on the wagons pulling the cannons. Shortly Gunner Robert Candler joined us, and both men spent quite a bit of time describing things from the Confederate camp side. This unit is a family-oriented group with many family members involved, and a couple of the women are even in uniform as soldiers manning the Parrot Cannon.

Before long it was time for the demonstration and we walked across the street to the open field. As it so happens the same park ranger welcomed us and introduced Capt. Jean Buchen who proceeded to explain the inner workings of the artillery unit as the soldiers prepared for the demonstration. One of the boys passed around one of the shells so we could feel just how heavy it was, and once again they would be firing blanks and we were advised to cover our ears. Everyone has their place and assignment in an artillery unit and soon all were prepared and ready. Glad they told us to cover our ears!












Afterwards they invited everyone to ask questions and to get a closer look at the cannon. During the entire demonstration there was a very distinguished looking gentleman in a slightly different uniform standing off to the side. At the end as he passed by, I asked him who he was and his role. As it turns out he was the Lt. Col. and is in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly and correctly. I chatted with him for quite a bit while Russ was talking with Shawn.

We’ll discuss the rest of our week here and the Visitor’s Center in the next blog entry.

Family Ties

As we all grow older, it seems we cherish time with family more than when we were younger. Maybe it’s because we’re wiser or more nostalgic, or maybe it’s just because we’re not around them as much…tee hee. Over the last couple years this lifestyle has afforded us the opportunity to spend time with family members we hadn’t seen in years. This past week was the third summer we have spent visiting with Russ’ sister, Terri, and her family. She and Bill have a beautiful home where they’ve lived for the past 32 years, and this is the first time we’ve visited when the hydrangea bushes were in full bloom…simply gorgeous.

Their three grown kids always make an extra effort to drop by several times while we’re there to visit with us. Kristi and her boyfriend, Erick, were leaving for a brief Florida vacation a couple days after we arrived but she made sure to drop by so we could meet Erick, something we had missed doing last year. We actually saw them a couple times before they left town, and he seems like a really nice young man.

Terri baby sits Billy’s son, Josh, a few days a week, and picks up his brother, Will, from pre-school in the afternoons, watching them until one of their parents picks them up after work. We were in town for Josh’s birth last year and he will turn one next month…they grow up so fast! Will soon will be four, and Russ is his buddy, sharing a love of the movie Cars. Russ has a Cars/Disney “map” on his laptop, and Will loved looking at that with his Uncle Russ.

Their other son, Matthew, aka Boo, got engaged a few months ago to his longtime girlfriend, Taylor. (That's Boo pictured at left with his Aunt Mary Ellen & Taylor is in the group photo lower right.) We stopped by their place for a brief visit one night, and saw Boo several other times as he usually stops by the house around lunchtime. They also came over Memorial Day for a great barbecue. There’s always plenty of food and drink! Bill’s the BBQ master but we had Terri take this picture of us as a joke…tee hee! Bill’s brother, Mike, and his wife, Mary Ellen, came over for the day, as did Billy and Maggie with the boys. The pool was open but the water was a little too chilly for nearly everyone but the dogs. But Terri cooled down the jacuzzi so the little ones could use it as the pool for the day. Here are a few photos from the festivities:



















Russ’ mom still lives with Terri and just celebrated her 91st birthday this month. She spends most of her time in her room either watching TV or sleeping but did manage to come out for some dessert on Memorial Day. Alzheimer’s is such a cruel disease that robs the person and their family of so much. She really doesn’t know who anyone is anymore, not even Terri. She is otherwise in relatively good health, not taking medications for anything. However she did give us a scare the day before we left. Wed. morning she refused to get out of bed complaining of severe pain in her ankle and not able to walk or even stand. We tried sitting her up on the edge of her bed but even the slightest touch to that area of her leg would send her into pleas to stop. We knew she hadn’t fallen out of bed because she would not have been able to get herself back up. We let her lie back down while Terri wrestled with what to do. It was possible that the next day she’d be fine but if something was seriously wrong, you didn’t want to wait too long. Finally Terri decided to call 911, and the ambulance took mom to the ER. Terri had made arrangements for Billy to come get Josh, and Russ, Terri, and I followed the ambulance to the hospital. We arrived about noon, and the ER was packed with people who had been waiting several hours for a room. Terri knew one of the nurses and we were fortunate enough to get mom into a curtained area while we waited. The doctor on call checked her over and though she was running a very slight temp, could really find no cause for her obvious pain when he touched her ankle and lower leg. He decided he’d take some x-rays but in the meantime, Terri asked him to give her something for the pain. Once he did, she was out like a light, looking so small, helpless, and frail. Russ and I went back to the house for a bit and returned just in time for them to have secured her an actual room. It was now about 6:15pm, only 6 hours later…luckier than most. Once she was settled in the room, we all left, and it was a little emotional for us. We considered staying another day but Terri said that the last time she was in the hospital a few years ago, mom had been basically comatose for three days after they gave her meds and figured that’s what would happen again. We knew she was in good hands and decided there was nothing more we could do so planned to hit the road the next morning, stopping by the hospital for one last visit on the way out of town. When Russ and I walked into her room at 9am the next morning, she still appeared to be sleeping. Russ bent over and said “Mom, it’s Russ and Susan”, at which time she opened her eyes and said “Well, I’ve been waiting for you two” (though we really doubt that). Much to our surprise she was alert and rather chipper though irritated she was in the hospital. She remembered nothing from the day before, which isn’t surprising, and was the best we had seen her the entire week. We tried explaining to her why she was there, and when Russ felt her leg and ankle, she looked at him like he was nuts and said “that’s my leg, what are you doing?” There was no pain. Her roommate mentioned that the doctor had been in earlier talking to her, and overheard him say that she had some congestion in her lungs. It was just such a relief to both of us to see her awake, alert, and in rare form. She’ll stay in the hospital a couple of days to keep an eye on what they think is bronchitis and have a physical therapist come in to evaluate her, too.

Feeling much better, we hit the road for Gettysburg but planned to make a brief stop at Valley Forge on the way. Valley Forge National Historical Park (http://www.nps.gov/vafo/) commemorates the Dec. 1777 – June 1778 winter encampment of the Continental Army consisting of nearly 12,000 men under the command of Gen. George Washington. After watching the 18 min. film presented by the National Park Service, we toured through the museum that is full of displays and artifacts showing what life was like in the camp. We were amazed at just how heavy a musket rifle really is! Gives one an even greater appreciation for what those soldiers endured. This particular location had been chosen because the army was close enough to keep pressure on the British troops but far enough to prevent a surprise attack by them.

We headed back to the RV to take the self-guided tour route through the park. Dotted along the route are replicated huts, memorials, monuments, and markers. One of the largest of these is the National Memorial Arch, a very impressive site that was dedicated in 1917 commemorating the “patience and fidelity” of the soldiers who wintered at Valley Forge.

Driving through the Pennsylvania Columns towards Washington’s Headquarters, we passed this imposing statue of Gen. Anthony Wayne who commanded the PA troops. Once reaching the parking lot to Washington’s Headquarters, we discovered that the house was actually situated at the base of the hill where the RV could not go. Russ stayed with the dogs in the coach while I ran part way down the hill to get a couple pictures.

It was time to get back on the road but we’re glad we made this stop to learn a little more about America’s history.

They Do What to the Crabs?!?!!

Leaving the Outer Banks, we traveled along NC-12 towards Virginia Beach passing Jockey’s Ridge State Park and the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Opening the picture will allow you to see a person walking atop the huge sand dune at Jockey’s Ridge. You can read more on the park and the memorial in the blog entry from our visit to the area in May 2008.

We didn’t do a lot while in Virginia Beach. Drove down to the beach the day we arrived just to check it out….large beach area, windy, and only a couple people there. The dolphin in the front yard of this beach house is just one of many that appear all over the area and each is painted or decorated differently. During our stay, we also saw the new Star Trek movie, and it was excellent. They did such a great job of casting that at times the young stars looked as if they really were younger versions of Shatner, Nimoy, etc.! Russ and I figured the last time we had been to a movie theater together was about 4 years ago, so this was a real treat.

Since the internet connection was not good at the campground and I needed to post the blog, we drove down to the Boardwalk for a better signal. It drizzled and rained most of the day so no beach time; we just drove around looking for somewhere good and reasonably priced to eat. (Passed this building with a cool mural painted all around it.) On a recommendation we headed towards a place not on the Boardwalk and ran across a seafood shop that had quite a number of soft-shell crabs for sale. For those who don’t know, soft-shell crabs are considered a delicacy and are not always available. As crabs grow larger, their shells cannot expand, so they molt the exterior and have a soft covering for a few days. They are meant to be eaten whole in this state, generally cooked lightly breaded, and Russ really likes them. Not having ever cooked them, I was asking this older lady who worked there how they are “killed” before cooking, afraid I might have to hit them on the head with a mallet or something. She replied, “basically you cut off the face, pull out the lungs, and that pretty much quiets her down.” Now that was definitely a visual I didn’t need!! She said they’d do it for us, but that pretty much put an end to me wanting to have anything to do with them! We wound up eating at a restaurant near the campground that had also been recommended, sharing a huge seafood platter (no, there were no soft-shell crabs on it!)

From Virginia Beach we were heading to my sister’s in Rehoboth Beach, DE, and decided to take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (http://www.cbbt.com/history.html). It’s considered the world's largest bridge-tunnel complex consisting of more than 12 miles of low-level trestle, two 1-mile tunnels, two bridges, almost 2 miles of causeway, four manmade islands including a pier and restaurant, and 5-1/2 miles of approach roads, totaling 23 miles. It provides the only direct link between Virginia's Eastern Shore and south Hampton Roads, Virginia.











Just on the other side, traveling north, is the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge (www.fws.gov/northeast/easternshore). We stopped at the Visitor’s Center, initially just stopping to get some info and ask a couple directional questions but wound up chatting with the ranger for a few minutes. On one of the walls was a piece of artwork created by area high school students of a paper-mâché turtle on which they had attached pieces of balloons and their ribbons symbolizing the danger these items can be to wildlife. Also, they had a huge whale bone skull and a large glassed in wildlife viewing area complete with binoculars. They also had a live camera feed of a nesting osprey, which was pretty cool. We didn’t stay for the 16 minute video because we had to get back on the road, but it was a pleasant side trip.







Not far from my sister’s is Mountainaire Farms, a food processing plant, and on the way we passed one of their trucks full of live chickens heading for the plant…almost makes you re-think eating chicken!



The campground near my sister’s does not allow check-in until 2pm, so once we got settled, it was nearly 4pm before I left for her place. Fortunately she only lives about 20 minutes away. After the initial greetings saying hi to her husband, she and I left for our annual first night ritual of dinner and a movie. We ate and had “perfect” margaritas at Applebee’s, and then saw The Soloist, another great movie.

Julie had made reservations for a free tour on Tues. at the Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (http://www.dogfish.com/). Opened in 1995, they started with only 2 12-gallon kegs and are continually expanding the operation. In fact they are in the midst of another expansion and have guaranteed that next year’s tour will be different. The place is run by some crazy, kooky people, and they try to keep the day-to-day activities light and fun. They are currently brewing up to nearly 20 styles of beer that are sold in more than 25 states. After the tour, we got to mosey up to the bar and sample 4 of their “off-centered ales”. That night we ordered pizza, drank some wine, and watched the first part of the American Idol finals. This is the first year I have watched AI from start to finish, and Julie and I have been having weekly fun e-mail exchanges regarding the contest. We were excited that the finals were going to be during my visit.

For the last couple years we’ve planned to spend some time at the beach but something always kept us from doing so. Though it was a little cooler this time of year, guess the third time was the charm because we finally made it. We spent a couple hours at the beach in Lewes on the Delaware Bay side, just relaxing and enjoying some rays. Not far down the beach at the ferry terminal sat the Kalmar Nyckel (http://www.kalmarnyckel.org/) a replica of one of America’s pioneering colonial ships which serves as Delaware’s seagoing goodwill ambassador and is docked here in the summer for a crew training program. I also got a nice shot of the Cape May – Lewes Ferry as it departed with the Delaware Breakwater Lighthouse in the background. Later back at her place, she cooked her “famous pasta dish” for dinner, and after the AI final show (Adam was robbed!), we said our good-byes till next year’s visit.










The next morning it was time to head for Russ’ sister’s house in Atco, NJ. We took a back road for part of the trip and while still in DE, passed the Taylor’s Bridge School built in 1923. The school was closed in 1949 and has since operated as a community center. Traveling further down the road, we could see the Salem Nuclear Power Plant in the distance. For miles you could see the stack and though actually located in NJ, I was able to zoom in with my camera and get a great shot. And here’s a bit of trivia: Bruce Willis worked at the plant as a security guard before pursuing an acting career.

We arrived at Terri’s house Thurs. afternoon and will report on that visit next week.