After a routine drive with only light rain at times, we arrived at Gettysburg Campground just before 1:00. By 1:09, we had camp set up.
Next stop: Eisenhower’s summer home.
We had a short window to tour the house. The last one ran at 3:00 p. m. on Mondays, with none on Tuesday or Wednesday. Hence, the early arrival.
Ron saw the putting green first. A woman, sitting on a bench, held a putter in her hand.
“You can get one from the volunteer.”
Excited to get to putt on Eisenhower’s personal green, Ron got a putter and told me to take a picture. One of the few times he actually wanted a picture taken. Once he putted, I did my obligatory putt, then we looked at Eisenhower’s three-car garage with a Presidential Limousine, the custom golf carts he had made for driving around the 189-acre property, and his little green mini.
While we waited for the free tour at 2:00 p.m., we looked at the Secret Service headquarters, located in the back of the garage. Tours, given every half hour, start outside the house on the bench with a fifteen-minute introduction by one of the park rangers. Josh educated us on why Eisenhower bought the property and how he used it during his presidency and afterward.
The former president purchased the property for 44,000 at the end of 1950 and spent the equivalent of 3 million dollars in today’s money to build the 5,000-square-foot home where he and Mamie lived until they died. Eisenhower had over 300 prize black Angus cattle that he showed off to foreign dignitaries such as Winston Churchill, French President Charles de Gaulle, and Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev.
Serving two consecutive terms in office, Eisenhower became the first president to fly in a helicopter. Often, during meetings at Camp David, he would take his guests on a 10-minute flight to the farm to show them his cattle. What took two hours to drive from the White House took a mere 35 minutes to fly.
Eisenhower often ran the country from his farm, signing legislation, meeting with dignitaries, and fulfilling his role from afar. In eight years in office, he spent 365 days at the only home he ever owned, which accounted for 1/8 of his presidency. After his first heart attack in 1955, the president spent 36 days recovering in his beloved home.
We found parking at the roundabout in front of the Blue and Gray restaurant, where we ate on our last visit. Deciding to try something new, we braved the light rain and walked to the Pub across from it.
Poutine fries: French fries smothered in cheese curds and beef gravy, melted in our mouths. We ate every bit, with a side salad for some greens. Absolutely delicious!
God wink!
Sitting in The Pub in Gettysburg, having “Linner” (lunch + dinner), something old folks do, the woman behind me tapped me on the shoulder.
Then she set this charm before me and walked out, not saying a word.
Touched beyond belief.
Love from a stranger in a world full of hate.
That defines a God wink in my book:-)!
We set out to ride the Auto Tour, but quickly realized it took us down roads we didn’t want to ride. So we meandered around the battlefield to Devil’s Den, where the Union Soldiers had the Confederates pinned down.
And my foot got stuck in the pedal, and I fell, jamming my arm and scraping my toe and ankle. Now I can say, “I left my skin and blood on the Gettysburg Battlefield.”
A strained elbow limited our activity for the rest of the day. After unloading the bikes at the campground, we went to the Farnsworth House for lunch. Intrigued by the ghost stories the waitress told us at the Pub, we had to check it out.
We split a crab withmothered in cheese. Then I indulged in an apple dumpling with ice cream, comfort food for the injured.
We split a crab, smothered in cheese. Then I indulged in an apple dumpling with ice cream, comfort food for the injured.
The lady at the information booth told us tales of servers and housekeepers leaving because of ghostly activity, as well as guests waking in the night. One guest heard the things on her desk move around, and paper crinkled in her ear. According to the receptionist, the Farnsworth house has the most hauntings in all of Gettysburg.
After lunch, we enjoyed a lazy afternoon at the camper, watching the Cincinnati Open and napping. Ron grilled salmon for dinner with roasted cauliflower, and then we took the pups for a walk around the campground.
Unable to sleep in bed because of my arm, I slept on the couch. We all had a restless night because of the disruption in routine.
While Ron hooked up the trailer, I walked Ruby around the campground. When we returned, I found one last surprise in Gettysburg: a painted rock from Florida.
As we make our way home, I can’t help but thank God for this wonderful vacation and all the special blessings He gave us along the way.
Until our next trip, thank you, Lord, for this trip. Keep us safe until the next one. May we have many more in our future. IJNIP. Amen