Lancaster to Gettysburg Peg: Spoke to Doug from tent in Gettysburg. Good day. He arrived in Gettysburg at 3:30. No other details. He was exhausted. Doug's notes to follow when his mail arrives.
Day 3 - August 20, 2003
Slept kinda restlessly last night. First night in tent. Found spot behind a business school Had patio with tables out back which would make packing up easier. Set up tent behind a batch of big pine bushes, so I wouldn’t attract attention. Heard janitor walking around throwing trash in dumpster. Called Peg from tent on cell phone. (First cell phone call ever.) It all seems so bizarre. Keep asking myself is this all really happening?
Only really strange thing to report was the goings-on behind a nearby mall. A steady stream of cars until about midnight. They’d all slow down, stop, then keep going - drug deals? But one car kept going forward and backward over and over for at least 20 minutes. If it isn’t drugs, then I guess this is what people do for excitement around here.
Up at 6:30. High humidity - tried to dry out wet tent and pack up bike. Had everything spread out on tables and benches on patio by school. Grabbed a gas station breakfast and set off at 7:30 AM. Nice cool morning, sunny. Easy riding to Columbia, PA. Crossed the Susquehanna River. Thrilling! I know its just a bridge, but as I rode across, I didn’t want it to end. No traffic. Had entire lane to myself. Great view. Could see remnants of a bridge just to the north a hundred yards. When I got to the other side, I saw a historical marker. Decided to actually stop and read it. It basically talked about how, during the Civil War, the Union purposely burned it to prevent Confederate troops from advancing to Harrisburg. OK, so now I’m Doug the biker/historian. Well, I’m heading to Gettysburg, so let me get into Civil War stuff for today. Have only gone 9.96 miles to here. Now that the written record is up to date at 8:45 AM, I’ll move on. West to Gettysburg!
10:30 AM West of York PA. 25.32 miles. Pass this funky town called Hallam, but every other sign had it spelled either Hellam or Hallam. I thought how retarded - a town that can’t even spell its own name correctly or consistently. You all know me - the spelling cop. So I figure there must be an explanation and begin looking for a town hall or municipal building. Then suddenly the mystery was solved. Hellam is the township. Hallam is the town.
Just finished passing through York, PA. Never realized what a large place it was. The ride from there to Gettysburg was hot and similar to yesterday's Amish country, except that it seemed more like suburban farms and farmhouses with tremendous lawns. Lots of people riding tractors and riding mowers, cutting grass. Seems to me a waste. I mean how much grass in front of the house is enough? Not for me. The thought of spending all that time cutting grass makes me glad to be pedaling.
Stopped at a shady churchyard to take a break and eat the chicken breast I swiped from the restaurant last night. I have become Grandma Anne. Me, who always thought it ridiculous to take extra food from a buffet home in her pocketbook, was now doing JUST THAT! But, I have an explanation. I ate about 3 plates of food and just couldn’t eat that last piece of chicken. I didn’t want to see it thrown away, so I wrapped it in some napkins and put it in my handlebar bag. Well, 18 hours later, I figured I’d better eat it before it spoiled. So there by the church, I had a fried chicken picnic.
On to Gettysburg. Found a small creek to jump in and cool off. Soaked my shirt to stay cooler. Finally, a sign: Gettysburg 4 miles.
Totals for the day: 57.29 miles. 5 hours 8 min. 196.7 on the odometer.
Downtown Gettysburg is quaint. Big traffic circle, surrounded by pubs and shops. Got to the historic area. Locked my bike and took a change of clothes into the restroom. WAHOO - feel much better. Now I’m Joe Tourist. Checked out the museum, a movie, a cyclorama painting of the battle scenes. Then walked the battlefield for about an hour and a half. God it felt great to walk, even if it was 90°. Caught part of a ranger talk and enjoyed that.
Back to downtown - hey, the bike was where I left it and nobody messed with my shit. This was the first time I was away from the bike this long. Thinking about a drink and dinner and sleep now. Hey, wherever I sleep tonight will be my Gettysburg Address!!!!! (hee, hee)
Found a place to sleep on campus of Gettysburg College. Man, I’m tired. 9:15 I fall asleep. Wake at 10:30 to make the cell phone call #2 from the tent. Just to let everyone know I’m OK. Good night.
Route notes: 462 West, 234 West