Early this week Giz and I went to Gettysburg, PA for a few days. The main reason was to see part of the National Belgian Tervuren (hey…see the dog at the top of my blog!) Specialty show. There would be a TON of Tervs from all around. The thing about the Tervs as opposed to a lot of breeds is that they show in normal conformation and in all the performance events, too. They are a working breed which strives to a show title and obedience, herding, and tracking titles also.
General George G. Meade and his terv welcomed us to the show! Coolness because I was born at Fort Meade in Maryland a long time ago…
The weather was beautiful for the outdoors events so we saw a bit of the obedience trials as we got there late afternoon on Monday. At the hotel afterwards we relaxed a bit before dinner and a deluge hit! It rained VERY heavy for about an hour, soaking us as we ran to the car for the run to the exceptional Dobbin House Tavern for dinner. This is an historic site in Gettysburg built in 1776.
The meal was excellent as always, and Giz proclaimed it one of the best meals she ever had at a restaurant (maybe the killer rum punch drink helped!)
Next day was the “bucket list” horseback tour of the battlefield. I’ve been to Gettysburg 10-15 times and never managed to do this before. We had booked the ride at National Riding Stables. This trail ride takes you right in the middle of the battlefield and lets you experience the view a mounted officer might have seen while following the path of Union Major General Daniel Sickles and his 3rd Corps on July 2, 1863.
My horse was “Hudson”, a retired police horse. I hoped that he was good for a rookie rider. I was on a horse once before a few years back when I visited my brother in Arizona. City kids don’t get to ride that often! The Giz got to ride “Rusty”.
As we rode the path of 3rd Corps we would halt at different points and the excellent guide would describe the events of July 1863 and try to make the surroundings come alive with the history. The nice couple ahead of Giz are long-time riders from Iowa. The mother and daughter behind me were visiting from Denmark, so we had an international experience.
Giz on “Rusty” at one stop. The tree in the picture above is a “witness” red oak tree that has been there since the battle. It’s documented that some of the dying men were laid at its base to get some shade.
And here are the intrepid riders at the Trostle Farm. This was the scene of heavy fighting and served as a make-shift hospital for the wounded. Just to the bottom of the diamond-shaped parts of the upper barn is a visible hole made by a Confederate cannon ball.
The battlefield view is spectacular on this beautiful day!
Back from horseback we hit the
Sounds great Rich. Glad you were able to take the horse ride. Like the scene looking at the field from the fence…awesome. See ya at HISTORICON 15.