We have just driven out of Chambersburg, Pennylvania where today the main road is all torn up and under construction but, more interestingly, where a Confederate General held the town hostage for $100,000 ransom. As an indication he meant business, they fired a cannonball through the city hall (spot is well marked). When the ransom was not paid, the downtown district was burned to the ground except for the city hall and the Masonic Lodge (saved by Confedrate Masons?). We had lunch at a Wendy’s Restaurant on the east side of town. We’re now headed towards Gettysburg which is about a half-hour away. The day is very pleasant. Mostly cloudy but no threat of rain. Light winds and cool temperatures round out the weather. The drive is beautiful. Everything is lush and green (it should be, considering all the rain of the past ten days) with trees and flowers in abundance. We’ll be at the campground in the area of 5 p.m.

The names of things around here are also interesting. We have the Moon Handbook for Pennsylvania which covers all the really important things in the state but misses all the little curiosities. For instance, where did Cash Town get it’s name? We can kind of get an idea about Brick Church but then Shrimpstown?? The highway is sometimes four lanes divided highway, other times two lanes with a turning lane, sometimes two lanes only, and at other times built like a freeway. There isn’t a lot of traffic except in some of the towns. Most of the drive is through rural countryside and we can almost always drive around 55 or 60. We have passed a lot of cemeteries, which raises in my mind the question, “Has this cemetery been documented on the internet?” Most have not. I’ve had a reasonable SprintPCS data connection for much of the drive today, so I’ve been able to stay pretty connected (Nina just got a phone call from Dawnmarie!). The desk works GREAT and I’ve been making very good use of it. I like being able to sit in the front seat and see everything going one and be able to be on the computer. We’re coming into Gettysburg after a pleasant drive from New Wilmington. The predicted pleasant drive is going very well. Route 30 has my vote for a nice drive.