Spiros had sold some things I had in his shop so, I went over and a little down today. Uexpectedly, It was Reenactor Appreciation Weekend. I had no idea.

I stopped by the new visitors center and can report it's looking like it's just about finished. I stopped by the old visitors center and I can reort about 50% of the collection is no longer there. Lots of empty space in lots of display cases.

Then I went into town. I saw folks in various dress from about every time period you can name, except mex war. Both sides in all cases and civilians o' da' Civil War a plenty. All in various states of what they considered to be history. I popped in to the R'QM and it was packed. I paused long enough to look in his glass case of original items and to oogle an original .58 Lorenze he has hanging on the wall. I left before my mouth got me in trouble, mor from what I'd herd said than from what i'd seen. If this is your cup o' tea, the place is stocked to the gills. Out to the Sheads house. Nice seletion of goods. I almost bought another wooden pen with a #16 steel nib but wasn't sure that was the right nib, (according to our local expert), and left. It was only $7 but, I still have my money.  S&S has a large selection of goods, especially if you have a persuasion to Corn-fed. Out to see Spiros. Spiros has ha very large selection of good used items and some very new and shiney ones too. Lots of shoes and a few pairs of boots. We talked much about W-64 and I hyped Glendale-Malvern Hill to several folks who visited while I was there. I'd have to say, if youdda' been there in town with me, you would have figured out why they call me "Grumpy."

Next was a trip around the battlefield. The tree cutting is in full swing still in several areas. I took several pics, to follow from LRT. Looks like they're done on the Northern end of the field. I saw a Park Ranger fine some dude for running around on the hill in his Federal costume, with a musket, a artillary short sword and his bayonet. He had rolled rounds in his cartridge box. The NPS doesn't take kindly to folks using the park as their personal play ground. I'm sure the derisions his Confederate infantryman's costumed lady friend was throwing out at the Ranger didn't help the guy's situation any. I'll bet that trip to Gettysburg, for them was pretty expensive. I was glad to point the guy out when they pulled up.

Frankly, I get pissed off everytime I go to Gettysburg. And, I have to stop in the cemetary to clam myself down. There, I try to remind myself 99% of folk's who come to town have their hearts in the right place. And, well, one can't help but to remember the boys from both sides and, what they did, who are buried there.



Well, here's the pics, enjoy.





You know, now they charge you 30 cents extra at McDonalds to make your coffee Hazlenut. They used to add two "spuirts" for me for free. And, I got some sort of stomach virus on the way home. Those white puddles by the guard rail on the north bound side of US 15 are mine.

Wow!

I remember how things looked 4 years ago when I was in town in late February and the deforestation was just starting. Looks like even more has been cleared out since Rem Day last year.

My sympathies on your experience for Milk The Reenactors For All They're Worth, er I mean, Reenactor Appreciation Weekend. I'm sure that all of the merchant's hearts are in the right place.  

Jeepers, going there so soon after W64 it's a wonder your head didn't explode.

Nice pictures, though -- thanks for sharing.

PS -- I don't know what a number 16 nib is.  Every manufacturer has a different system.  But you can get a good nib for less than a buck.

I wonder if it has occured to the Park service to slice up chunks of those felled trees and sell it as a gen-u-wine remembrance of the Gettysburg Battlefield.

This tree grew in dirt that witnessed the battle....

Its been several years---I can really see the effect of the tree cutting now--its going to be really impressive and eyeopening when they are done.  

The NPS sold all of the usable wood to a logging company and the profits went to funding the NPS. All of the rest, that wasn't suitiable for the timber industry is used as firewood for the Living History Programs. I'm sure the NPS considered your suggestion.