Nature Rules

August 21, 2017  1 AM. I wake up with the memory of the night before the Appomattox Surrender reenactment and day long activities on April 9, 2015.

On April 7,  I met some folks from town who graciously invited me, a total stranger, to stay at their home right in town. Since the events the next day began at 7:00 and my hotel was a 40 minute drive away, this was a great gift that I was happy to accept.

The  evening of April 8, I  attended a reenactment at a site that had just been documented recently. AFterwards we were all to go to Appomattox Court House to listen to Ranger Patrick give a talk. But near the end of the reenactment, it started to rain. A Heavy rain, enough for us all to scurry to our cars. We were told that the talk would still happen, but inside the visitors center instead of as an outdoor tour.. As it turned out, a 45 minute talk turned into several hours as the knowledgable attendees asked question after question. Partrick was in his glory.

During the night the rain turned into one of the worst thunderstorm I had ever encountered, made worse in my mind perhaps by the 2 year anticipation of this culmination of  my journey. I wasn't imagining the power of this storm. This was not a slight rain that could just dampen the next days events. This was a violent thunderstorm that could literally cancel them.

 6:00 am The rains stopped. Silence. A beautiful silence.

7:00 am  on this foggy morning as the last battle of the Civil War  unfolded with Union cavalry lined up on the hill ready to charge, and more from the Army of the James to the left  surrounding the last gasp of Lee's exhausted army, Patrick opened up the morning by stating

          150 years ago at 7:00, the roads were muddy and fog moved across those fields
                 
I was reminded of that story during the night of August 20 knowing that the weather report for Charleston was for thunderstorms and the closest area without too many clouds was hours to the west. So in my imagination,  this trip that depended on nature's whims, would be thwarted and there would be no place that was clear enough to see the eclipse anywhere within driving distance.

 5:30 am We forged ahead the next morning with Plan B: the beach.

At 6:15 or so we packed up as if we were going out for the whole day. Food. Towels. sheet to sit on.Newly purchase beach umbrella. Water. Eclipse glasses.

The sunlight was evident when we made it to the water, but- oh my- enormous billowing clouds hung over the water obscuring the sunrise. The weather report called for storms in Charleston.

Let's go. We needed to change to plan D: We were to become eclipse chasers!

Those darn eclipse glasses

Went online to find out about eclipse glasses as Karin told me about the camera lenses she was buying. Amazon had several versions, so bought what seemed reasonable along with splurging on special binoculars. They came in a few days, rather flimsy cardbook like you see in the movies when watching 3-D, but the lenses are much darker. It is the density of the film that matters. The label indicated that they were ISO certified so I felt secure.

However, sometime in late July, I got a message from Amazon that these could not be guaranteed as coming from a recommended vendor and SHOULD NOT BE USED!

Yikes, back on line to the NASA website to find out what companies they recommended. There were only 3 and for one of them it was just too late to get individual glasses. Fortunately, I could get 4 at another site, albeit for more money. But heck, this is my eyes I'm talking about.

With 4 pairs of glasses and special binoculars in hand, I had what I needed.

eclipse synopsis 1

Short synopsis

I was so busy during the day and exhausted from the heat that I didn't have time to blog, but did do some writing yesterday.  We didn't trust the weather in Charleston as it did say storms and clouds, so we became eclipse chasers driving west and landing in Columbia, SC where we found the crowd at the Riverfront park with telescopes and tents and great spirit of sharing the experience together. Families of all kinds from  PA, NY, MA, GA, FL and even Hawaii (on her way to Spain). The park service was even giving away free glasses and water bottles.

Short answer: A tough first few minutes obscured behind clouds, then 2 hours of excitement and joy watching the sun disappear and then -totality-  it brought me to tears!

Driving from Wilson North Caroline

A long day, a satisfying day, an amazing day from Wilson NC to be on a road trip with Shanna as we take the long, lazy way to get to Charleston. A 4 hour trip turns into 7 or was it 8 with a stop in ‘historic' Bergaw for a McDonalds lunch. Historic? Every town in North Carolina is historic and some of it is made up [says my new Charleston housemate] Indeed, if it has a railroad depot, then it was sure to be at least a thru way for army supplies, and this town of currently under 4000 also was a way station for Civil War prisoners kept  there for a week in preparation for a prisoner exchange.

Then off to Wilmington NC home of the battleship NC and lots of cute stores. From there down Rt 17, the road that leads to beaches that we never saw. because we had a goal to get to Charleston by 8. But seeing the beautiful palm trees and live oaks that had weeping willow qualities, and sweet grass basket stands one after another, finally crossing the magnificent suspension bridge into Charleston was worth the detour.

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We find the house on James Island/Foley Beach a section to the south west of downtown Charleston. Our host Craig greats me/us with such enthusiasm, glee and a big hug-my new best friend. There are already 2 other men in the house and he introduces J. as an Uber driver who is willing to take us places if he is around. After a whirlwind of listing all the places to eat and how to get to the beach and where are the towels, and here is the beach umbrella, and stories about all the guests, we have a chance to breathe.

Thank God for Kittens-A day in the world

Thank God for kittens


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November in Gettysburg is alive with the rustle of falling leaves, the click clack of 19th Century army boots and banging of swords and canteens and belt buckles against the blues and browns and greys and reds and greens of woolen uniforms. the Third Saturday in November 2016 as is the custom is alive with remembrance of death a and destruction 153 years ago July 1-3 1863. This year, Dedication Day, the ceremony of the anniversary of the Nov 19, 1863 dedication of the National Cemetery and delivery of one of the most famous speeches in US History, coincides with Remembrance Day, a time of wreath laying throughout the park, musical tributes and a parade of both Union and Confederate reenactors and living historians.

This is my third year attending Remembrance Day and the first time at Dedication Day. I am a bit skeptical that this will be as significant as the first when I was in the midst of my Civil War immersion.  It was then that I happened upon the musicians on Little Round Top playing marches and hyms as the sun set., the inspiration for Gettysburg Prayer. It was then that my new born studies came to life as the whole town of Gettysburg filled with 19th C. memories and storytelling.

Why this blog?

Gettysburg Army of the Virginia 

Welcome to my experiences  of  Civil War 150th anniversary commemorations in 2014-15 which will end with a trip through Virginia and on to Appomattox, where two great generals met face to face  for the first surrender in a devastating struggle .  The blog is part travelogue, part book report, part photo-journal, part song book and musings. What can be learned from  this war that created over 625,000 casualties ( some say as many as 820,000. In WW2  403,000 American soldiers were lost).

I am inspired by this quote of W.H. Murray from the Scottish Himalayan Expedition

Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back...[With commitment] All sorts of things occur that help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamt would come his way.

With Generals Meade and Lee at Gettsyburg

Since April 2014 I have  read books, trolled websites, taken courses, attended reenactments, taken a trip to Gettysburg and through Virginia, and planned the dates to other battle sites. Much of this has generated eye opening conversations with re-enacters, Civil War historians and enthusiasts along with trained guides. Old and new friends have surfaced as knowledgeable and engaged resources for my self study.

So welcome. Check in as much as you want and make comments as you feel motivated.