We arrived at our destination, the Gettysburg National Military Park, 44 miles south of Harrisburg, at about 1:15 pm. Even though it was the beginning of a holiday weekend we were unprepared for the throngs of people visiting the battlefield. Hundreds and hundreds. Many, many older citizens like ourselves, but many younger people and families as well. This is indeed a national shrine that touches people's hearts.

We took advantage of viewing a special film narrated by Morgan Freeman, followed by a most impressive panaramic display of Picket's Charge. This is final moment of the conflict, where on day three of the battle (July 3, 1863), 10,000 Confederate soldiers in full battle dress, banners and flags flying in the breeze stepped off in perfect formation from the trees seen on Cemetary ridge a mile away across these open fields, and marched toward this spot, "the copse of trees," where the Union Army awaited on Seminary Ridge. Though there was a brief breakthrough right at this point on the Union line, led by General Armisted and his men of "Old Dominian" (Virginians) the Confederates were thrown back and suffered terrible loss. Shattered beyond all hope and endurance they withdrew from the field, ending the battle. There were over 53,000 casulties on both sides during these three terrible days, July 1,2 and 3. Many, many of them are buried as "Name Unknown" in the military cemetary nearby, dedicated by President Abraham Lincoln on the occasion of his immortal speech, "Fourscore and seven years ago ..." The Gettysburg Address. It was the turning point of the Civil War. It is sacred ground.

It was very sobering to come to this spot after the orientation and film in the Visitor's Center as the beginning our 'self tour.'

As we came to Harrisburg, PA on I-78 we saw two remarkable old stone bridges spanning the Susquehanna River upstream from us. We were in heavy traffic on the Interstate bridge so Linda took a quick shot with the camera.

Quite the river at this point. Much larger than we realized it would be.

And what was the name of the road through the tiny village of Chapman? Well, of course, "Chapman's Road."

Well, would you believe it? We took a wrong turn as we left the hotel in Allentown, PA this morning, looking for access to the Interstate and came upon this sign along the side of the road.

The area we were driving through was a sort of non-descript combination of commercial, industrial and old residential housing on the western outskirts of Allentown. We drove down the road a short distance and there was the same sign, welcoming eastbound travelers to the "Village of Chapman."

We will need to do a little research to learn about this, but it was interesting to come upon it by accident.

Day 38, Thurs, Oct 9, Southington, Conn to Allentown, PA

This is typical of a scene we see so often in our travel down the more rural roads of this part of the country; roadside markets and garden supply stores, displaying their Fall harvest of pumpkins.

This garden store in a small place called Bushkill Falls on US 209, PA.

Another view of the Delaware River, looking upstream, again from the Pennsylvannia to the New Jersey shore near Dingman's Ferry.

This is approximately 80 miles north of the place on the Delaware where General George Washington made his famous crossing near Trenton, NJ, taking the British and Hession troops by surprise, during the Revolutionary War.

This is the Delaware River, the dividing line between Pennsylvannia and the adjoining states of New Jersey and New York.

This picture is a view of the New Jersey shore from the Pennsylvannia shore a few miles south of Milford, PA on US 209, near a place called Dingmans Ferry.

We got off I-84 as we crossed over the Delaware River, much to Linda's happiness. It is so much more enjoyable to journey down America's less traveled roads. When you see something of interest you can usually find a safe place to pull over; hardly possible on the Interstate.