Gettysburg

President Lincoln was still in Gettysburg

A happy tourist at the new Gettysburg Visitors Center.
They have a wonderful new museum and restored the Cyclorama to the tune of $14,000,000.

President Lincoln traveled through this train station in Gettysburg.

We took a bus tour but we chose the air-conditioned bus.

These people are happy because they just finished a delicious Italian lunch.

Trains at Horseshoe Curve

In Pennsylvania we visited Horseshoe Curve, a 280 degree curve through the mountains that opened up rail travel between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Previously they needed to do portage to get the passengers and goods across the mountains. It is fun to hear the trains rumbling before they come around the mountain and then watch the 150+ cars of the train displayed in the curve and feel the ground shake as they pass so close to you.

One of the visitors was passionate about trains and even brought his walkie-talkie so he would share with us when the trains were coming. You're given a schedule of the expected trains but it is only followed loosely by the trains hauling cargo. The passenger trains travel on schedule.

We got to the observation deck by riding these cute little cable cars.

The two cable cars passed one another on the bulged area in the track.

This picture shows how they had to enlarge the railroad tunnel for our trains today. They also doubled the tracks. We visited this site just west of Horseshoe Curve.

Have you ever seen the inside of a caboose? They look like an RV.

A trip to the bank

These Amish children waited patiently while Mother went into the bank.

They were visited by our resident extrovert in his fancy contraption.

A beautiful courthouse.....possibly in Millersburg

Ohio Amish Country

We enjoy visiting the farmlands of the Amish. Maybe they remind us of our childhoods in Iowa and Illinois where the farms were self-supporting with chickens, milk cows, hogs, orchards and big gardens. And we know the Amish restaurants serve wonderful food so we wouldn't want to miss that! It's a delightful experience and Ohio Amish country, near Millersburg, is one of the prettiest we've found.

Ready for a swim!

All tuckered out!

We stayed at a beautiful RV park near Mt. Eaton that had an indoor swimming pool and sauna. Evergreen RV Park is one of our favorites.

A beautiful summer day in Greenfield Village

There was just enough rain to keep the crowds away but not enough to spoil our visit.

Grandma and Grandpa Ricketts on the train ride.

Grandpa Glen and Daniel on the train.

Someone took a picture of all of us. We filled that bench seat up pretty well!

Locomotives at Greenfield Village

People sat around waiting to hear the bongs every 15 minutes.

Grandma Audy and Daniel in front of the Wright brothers' home. Henry Ford had the foresight to ship all these memorable buildings to Greenfield Village and reconstruct them there.

Wilbur and Orville Wright's bicycle shop where they built the first airplane

Henry Ford's first factory

Some of the transportation in Greenfield Village

Thomas Edison's factory where he made light bulbs. Edison was a very close friend of Henry Ford's.

Greenfield Village

Shipshewana, Indiana

After leaving Illinois and with Daniel's other grandparents as our traveling companions, we stopped overnight in Indiana. We enjoyed a special treat. Right behind our campsites were a group of horses with new foals. Some of them were Shetland ponies. Their babies are so cute!

Our puppies

Greta makes it very convenient for Daniel to scratch her tummy!

Nikki is a good traveler and loves the outdoors.

Maggie wondered why Nikki invaded her calm life.

Glen seems oblivious to the great battle taking place beside him.