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.

Jed wants waterwings for his birthday.

Can't believe it says Jed, yet another soaking!!

Stopped last night after only travelling 107 miles from Niagara. Stopped due to running into a heavy thunderstorm, I could see that it was not the first of the day as all the gardens alongside the road were flooded. Anyhow, stopped at a place near Five Fingers Lakes, perhaps that should tell me something - lakes equal rain or the other way around perhaps.

Got up this morning and as the motel did not have Internet I hung around till 10 to use the local library. The result of that was the previous postings. Left the Library at 11 to be greeted by dark skies and the rumble of thunder, being a total wimp who does not like rain, I clambered into full waterproofs and started out for Scranton (base for one of my favorite comedies, American Office) and Newark (to buy a case to fill with stuff from the panniers).

We had not travelled more that 1/2 mile when, youv'e guessed it, the heavens opened. It threw it down, so bad that for about 20 miles I rolled along following the tail lights of a car in front of me at 10 to 20 mph. There were cars parked both side of the road waiting for the rain to stop, but twit here plods on. I was already wet (on the outside of the waterproofs, not too bad inside) so did not see the need to stop, plus there was no where to shelter. Eventually we came into the next town and the road was by now awash, and I mean awash almost to the point of flooding, so discretion being the better part of valour we pulled off the road and onto a garage forecourt to get out of the rain. Sat on the bike for about 15 mins in full waterproofs before the rain slowed enough to carry on.

By the afternoon the sun was out again and it was warming up nicely. The ride down through Scranton was very nice with gentle rolling wooded hills, a real pleasure to be on the bike. Have stopped just south of Scranton and spotted a 100 store mall about 10 miles back, so will look for a bag there in order to save a trip to Newark, I will make to Gettysburg where I will spend a few days exploring the battlefields etc.

Jed says that it has rained everyday since Chicago, and wonders why that is. I've told him that I think it is down to end of road trip blues and that when he gets back home to Summer Isle the sun will be out every day.(OK mark and Marie)

Have sent apologies to Lisa for the digicam and they have been accepted very nicely, thanks Lisa. I will put matters right no matter what you say, so there!

Jed is looking forward to getting back into his own bed before he starts planning next years adventure, he says you have to plan early so that you can bore everyone for the maximum time - don' know what he means.

Niagara

The view from the Maid of the Mist, sorry about the spray on the lens!

Jed looking forward to his 2nd soaking of the day, the falls in the background are Bridal Falls where he got soaking number 1.

This is the walkway at the bottom of Bridal Falls - No Smoking!!! No kidding, You would never get one lit.

Base of Briday falls from the walkway, water flowing over the boards.

What a handsome pairing, at Horseshoe Falls, Jed looks a bit worried from the look in his eyes.

Niagara, day 2, and another soaking

Wow, what a day. The Canadian side is far prettier and the horseshoe falls very impressive, but for fun, the American side tour was the best!

Started off by visiting the Horseshoe falls overlook at Prospect Point on Goat Island, and as the mist was blowing towards Canada the falls looked better than last night. Jed also had his photo taken again! From there we went down to Cave of the Winds (no cave as it collapsed years ago) where they give you a plastic cape and a pair of flip flops to replace your own shoes, and then its down the elevator and out onto a wooden walkway at the base of Bridal Falls. You then walk about at the base of the falls and get SOAKED. The water finds its way everywhere, no matter how much you try to keep dry. It even washes over the walkways, so its a good job that you have the flip flops. I had to roll my trousers up under the cape in a effort to keep them dry, but it was great. I must say sorry to Lisa, my eldest daughter here, as I think I buggered up her digital DVD camera. It says it has a condensation problem (am I surprised?). I have tried to dry it out but it keeps saying its in safe mode - hope I can sort it when I get home. Sorry dear!

Next stop on the tour was a small museum where they have items on display that people have used to go over the falls (idiots), these range from a load of lorry tyre tubes tied together to a jet ski (rider died) to purpose built barrels. Why any one would want to drop 180 ft over the falls I don't know.

By the time we came out of the museum, it was pouring down, what better time to go out on the Maid of the Mist, the boat that rides straight at the base of Horseshoe Falls. We were going to get wet anyhow. So, once again its down an elevator and into another plastic cape (still got the flip flops on) and away we go. The boat heads straight out towards the base of the falls and sits there for about 10 mins whilst you get soaked but enjoy a superb view into the falls.

One of the best days ever, but its all coming to an end real soon. I have now done over 7500 miles and seen everything I planned to see so its time to head home.

I am dropping my bike off at Baltimore on Monday, giving me time to see a little of Washington before I head off home and back to reality, but I can say its been a great trip - and its not quite over yet!!

Jed

Jed, all ready with his passport to get into Canada, and hopefully back to the states!!

Jed looking for a barrel

Maid in the Mist, this will be us tomorrow.

Cute little Raccoon!

Jed goes for the safe option after seeing the state of the bike tyre on an earlier post, chicken!

Jed gets a soaking, times 3!!

Up bright and early today, that makes a change Jed said. Had breakfast and the heavens opened, heavy rain, thunder, lightning, the lot. Sit tight for a bit and wait for rain to subside a little before starting the ride to Niagara.

At about 1030 its slowed down enough in order to venture out to load up the bike and get out onto a very wet interstate. So off we go. After about half an hours ride it became obvious that we were chasing the storm that we had just waited to pass over. The sky went very black and the rain hammered down. Not a good idea to continue when you cannot see either the traffic around you or the road ahead and the bike feels as if its trying to go sideways. Off the interstate and pull over underneath the roadway in what can only be described as a running stream. Sit tight for about 30 mins the the sun comes out. Great. Back onto the road it is then.

Another 30 mins down the road, guess what, yep, back into the storm. This time continue as the rain is falling a little less than before, eventually reach Niagara in bright sunshine in the early afternoon and make our way to the information bureau.

10 minutes later we are booked into a hotel and have two trips organised. The first being an evenings trip to the Canadian side of the falls which starts at 6.30pm and lasts 4 1/2 hrs and the second for 11am tomorrow for a tour of the American side of the falls, this also lasts 4 1/2 hours.

So, Jed gets his passport ready for the crossing to Canada and we are off. I must admit the tour is quite good and the Canadian side is far prettier and better developed than the American side, this is obvious straight away when we cross the bridge into Canada. Suddenly it is greener with nice houses and pretty gardens. Also there are nice hotels and places to eat. far far removed from the American side which is more industrial with hardly anywhere to eat to be seen. The Canadian falls are also far prettier with the horseshoe falls being dominant, a 180ft fall for the water over a curved edge nearly half a mile wide, whereas the Americans have to put up with two falls that are far smaller and a good deal less impressive.

On this tour we get to see the falls at night and all lit up and very nice they are to. We also get to go down to a point about half way down the falls and get a soaking when the wind switches direction and blows what feels like tons of spray all over us, thank god for the plastic ponchos provided.

Tomorrow on the American trip we get to go on Goat Island and also do the Maid in the Mist, Jed really fancies this as he saw it tonight from the Canadian side. The boat just puts on full power and sits nose on into the rushing water and freezes in position right in front of the Canadian falls. Jed feels yet another wetting is in the plan.

On the tour tonight, we stopped at a viewpoint and saw a Raccoon begging for food. Got really close to this critter and got some photo's, hopefully we will be able to post them tomorrow all being well. 2 computers in this hotel and I end up on the one where I can't post pictures, typical eh.

Chocolate time

Jed and myself chilling out, drinking hot chocolate courtesy of Arnie and Sharon, thanks guys.

Ready to do a few more miles. This seems like an age ago now.