Goderich - Gettysburg

"Fences had to be horse high, bull strong, and hog tight."

There was a lot more memorable events and pictures over my 4 day, 2000km bike trip to Gettysburg last week then fencing, but for some reason this is one of the quotes and facts that stood out.  These Pennsylvania Snake fences have no post holes or nails.  Post hole digging was too labourous, and the steel it would take to make nails was used for the Civil War effort and campaign.  Fencing was very important for the farmers obviously, but the battle at Gettysburg all but destroyed all the fencing that was there.  They have since been recreated, and upon arriving in Gettysburg you see many many miles of this popular way to fence today.

The trip started at 1:30 this past Friday afternoon as we officially exited Goderich at the Canadian Tire gas pumps.  It would be to Stratford, Tavistock, Woodstook, Delhi, Simcoe, and to Fort Erie.  We'd cross the Peace Bridge, and ultimately end up just outside of Letchworth State Park which is 70 miles from Buffalo.

The first day was a long - I had problems with the bike keeping a charge in the battery and getting it started once it was turned off.  What should have been a 6 hour leisurely day turned into 9 or 10 hours on account of my bike.  Mechanically it worked great once we were driving, but it truly had and has an issue with it starting while hot.  There would be nothing in the battery.  We'd have to boost the bike, and of course the battery isn't located simply under the seat or somewhere else very easily accessible.  But that is all I will mention about that because it was such a let down to have a bike in less then great working conditions.....  It was a huge pain in the ass.

The one memorable quote from this day's journey was from the US Border Patrol agent.  He was nice enough, but couldn't quite understand the concept of a sabbatical, though I told him I did work and was a teacher, just not currently.  That went past him.  As the conversation progressed I explained that Gettysburg was the ultimate destination, and he questioned if I was, "Into history or something."  Like that would be problematic, or very curious that someone may occupy their time with such study.  I said I was.  He said, "Then don't let them give you a Sherman neck-tie down there!"  I laughed and carried on that I knew exactly what he was talking about because I am so into history.  I quickly deduced that it would have something to do with a hanging.....  As it is it is about sabotaging the steel on railroads by heating them up and twisting them.  It was rather ironic he said what he did because my motor bike was working so poorly and I think it had a lot to do with the extra heat and not cooling off properly and starting.

  

But by and by we arrived to our first hotel and all was good - just a looong tiring day with bike issues.  Nevertheless we got 430 km of pavement in, and there was a twisting, winding 500 km more on Saturday morning to slay.  The weather would be great.