Gettysburg

Jed about to address his (imaginary) troops on the battlefield.

He knew he was the right calibre for the job!

Final days are here folks. Have now covered just shy of 8000 miles far quicker than I thought I would, but I have seen almost everything I set out to see. So, I am making my way down to Baltimore now, and the bike will be dropped of on Monday morning. I will then catch the train up to NY and make to JFK where I hope I can arrange my flight. (don't see a problem but I've said that before)

On route to Baltimore I have stopped off at Gettysburg where the deciding battle in the American Civil War took place. The hotel I am in is on the edge of the "battlefield" and from the town I have to ride through it. I have never seen so many memorials in one place, from the road you can literally see hundreds, statues, blocks, stones and cannons, they are everywhere. I have booked to do a battlefield tour today at 11, it should be good.

Had a look around the town last night and it is steeped in atmosphere and history. Although the battle only lasted 3 days, every old building in the town seems to have a story to tell. Where I ate last night, (outside in the garden as the weather has broken) the building was used by snipers, and the wall is pockmarked with bullet holes. It brings history to life. Incidentally, last nights meal was one of the better ones I have all trip. The steak was sublime, almost up to the Cregs standard (but not quite). Don't know what it is about Americans, but they go on about steak but they don't seem to be able to cook it or serve best quality.

The restaurant served what they call period food, so before the meal I was served preserved water melon, which was unusually to say the least, and something in a little pot called crack spoon bread. To my taste, this was just like bread and butter pudding but without the fruit, tasted very similar at any rate and had a similar texture. I was too stuffed after the meal for pudding but I'm sure they would have been as good.

Did a ghost walk last night as well. The town seems to have about 10 different places doing ghost walks, the one I chose actually goes into an old orphanage where children were apparently locked in the cellar for being naughty. This could have been so better had the guide been a bit more interesting. He was boring!!! Still, I will pick another tonight, glutton or what.

Whilst walking through town I dropped into a music shop, as you do, and they were holding a Bluegrass jam session in the back (read 12 old men playing bass, banjo and guitar and warbling, and you get the picture) Not my taste but why not, it passed 3/4 of an hour and it was free!

So off for my battlefield tour. More to come.