Wednesday March 26, 2008
I got a phone call from Mark Nesbitt last night to make a reservation for a walking tour for Mark Nesbitt. Does Mark have to make reservations for his own tours? Hmmm.
The other Mark Nesbitt, age 17, was in town visiting Gettysburg College and wanted to meet Mark "the author" Nesbitt. Mark was kind enough to meet with him, and then Mark Nesbitt "The Younger" and his family went on the tour. I hope they enjoyed and I wish him luck with picking a school to attend. Can Gettysburg handle another Mark Nesbitt? Only time will tell.
Now I have to tell people that I am not handsome enough to be either of the Mark Nesbitts!
Haunt ya' later...
"RS"
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Does it get this cold in Phoenix?
Wednesday March 12, 2008 Baltimore St.
I took out the 8th grade class from Desert Shadows, AZ, which is in or near Phoenix, on a chilly evening. The winds died down and it was around 35 degrees at 8:30 when we got started. This was a decent group, not the best I've ever hard but nowhere near the worst. They seemed interested at times and lost at others. Maybe it was the cold sinking into their brains. Some of these kids only had a T-shirt and shorts on. This isn't the desert kids, welcome to the East Coast in March! We enjoyed ourselves and it was no where near cold enough to worry about frostbite!
I think part of the problem this group had was their itinerary. They flew into DC, got on a bus, drove to Gettysburg, ate at Pickett's, and then went on the Ghost Tour. They might have been better served to jog a few laps around the track at the Middle School to burn off some of their energy before the tour. These groups only have a short amount of time and they try to cram as much into the trip as possible. This works two ways. You get to see a lot of stuff on a trip like this, but really don't have enough time to take it in. On the other hand, you get a really broad overview and hopefully that will spark enough interest to make you want to come back and explore more in depth. Six of one, half dozen of the other I guess. At least they stayed overnight in Gettysburg.
Tours start running 7 days a week starting Friday March 14th.
Happy Hauntings...
"RS"
I took out the 8th grade class from Desert Shadows, AZ, which is in or near Phoenix, on a chilly evening. The winds died down and it was around 35 degrees at 8:30 when we got started. This was a decent group, not the best I've ever hard but nowhere near the worst. They seemed interested at times and lost at others. Maybe it was the cold sinking into their brains. Some of these kids only had a T-shirt and shorts on. This isn't the desert kids, welcome to the East Coast in March! We enjoyed ourselves and it was no where near cold enough to worry about frostbite!
I think part of the problem this group had was their itinerary. They flew into DC, got on a bus, drove to Gettysburg, ate at Pickett's, and then went on the Ghost Tour. They might have been better served to jog a few laps around the track at the Middle School to burn off some of their energy before the tour. These groups only have a short amount of time and they try to cram as much into the trip as possible. This works two ways. You get to see a lot of stuff on a trip like this, but really don't have enough time to take it in. On the other hand, you get a really broad overview and hopefully that will spark enough interest to make you want to come back and explore more in depth. Six of one, half dozen of the other I guess. At least they stayed overnight in Gettysburg.
Tours start running 7 days a week starting Friday March 14th.
Happy Hauntings...
"RS"
Monday, March 10, 2008
Scarier than Ghosts
The weather turned wet, cold, and windy over G'burg this past weekend, but our brave guides still hit the streets. In the office on Friday night, I was trying to convince people to go out on tour on Saturday rather than Friday because they wouldn't get wet on Saturday night. I don't think that many people took my advice, but if they did they're probably upset with me! Friday was cold and wet, but Saturday night was one of the worst nights for a tour I've seen in quite some time. The winds were howling around 30-40 mph and the temperature could not have reached freezing. I spoke to someone who was on that tour and they said it was "brutal" to have to stand there.
Over 40 people signed up! When I called in the second guide, so we can split the group, he couldn't believe it. Neither could I. One family came in and their daughters were still wearing their soccer uniforms. Shorts and sweatshirts. If those girls don't get pneumonia it will be a miracle. Others were dressed for the weather but honestly I don't think a gore-tex winter suit would have been enough.
The scariest part of that tour was that anyone was willing to take it!
I would also like to thank all the nice folks who joined us on our winter investigations. I enjoyed them and hope everyone else did too!
Is it spring yet?
"RS"
Over 40 people signed up! When I called in the second guide, so we can split the group, he couldn't believe it. Neither could I. One family came in and their daughters were still wearing their soccer uniforms. Shorts and sweatshirts. If those girls don't get pneumonia it will be a miracle. Others were dressed for the weather but honestly I don't think a gore-tex winter suit would have been enough.
The scariest part of that tour was that anyone was willing to take it!
I would also like to thank all the nice folks who joined us on our winter investigations. I enjoyed them and hope everyone else did too!
Is it spring yet?
"RS"
Thursday, February 21, 2008
I'm Back...Name Change...Brave Californians!
I've decided to change to a more user friendly name for the old blog. So now it's called the "Ghost Tour Blog."
It's been a long while, but that is what being a new parent will do to you I guess. The twins are now 6 months old and gettting bigger every day.
The new "Historic Haunts" DVD should be out soon. I narrate the episode, this time focusing on the Cashtown Inn.
Tuesday February 19, 2008 Seminary Ridge
I met a group from Arden Middle School from Sacramento, California on a very cold and windy night. There were 30 mph gusts during the day and thankfully it calmed down during the evening, but it was around 25 degrees at tour time. I asked one kid how cold it got back home and he told me 45 degrees "when it gets cold." Needless to say these kids froze out on the ridge.
I have to hand to this group, they toughed it out and we had a pretty good time.
The season kicks off soon!
VISIT GETTYSBURG!
"RS"
It's been a long while, but that is what being a new parent will do to you I guess. The twins are now 6 months old and gettting bigger every day.
The new "Historic Haunts" DVD should be out soon. I narrate the episode, this time focusing on the Cashtown Inn.
Tuesday February 19, 2008 Seminary Ridge
I met a group from Arden Middle School from Sacramento, California on a very cold and windy night. There were 30 mph gusts during the day and thankfully it calmed down during the evening, but it was around 25 degrees at tour time. I asked one kid how cold it got back home and he told me 45 degrees "when it gets cold." Needless to say these kids froze out on the ridge.
I have to hand to this group, they toughed it out and we had a pretty good time.
The season kicks off soon!
VISIT GETTYSBURG!
"RS"
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Real Busy Lately!
I can't believe that I haven't posted anything since the middle of the summer! That's what having children will do to you. Thomas and Patrick were born on August 17 at 1 PM, so things have been a little crazy over the last month or so. I will try to stay on top this blog as best I can.
Summer 2007
Working the day to day operations of the GoG this year has been interesting to say the least. Very repetitive. Very repetitive. Very repetitive...Sorry, got stuck there. I met a ton of nice folks from all over the world. Meeting people from everywhere is one of the nicer benefits of working in a tourist town. I love finding out what brings people to visit Gettysburg. The history, the scenery of the area and the battlefield, and ghost tours of course! All biggies. But I met a guy last night who was from San Diego and always loved history and this was his first visit to Gettysburg. He was amazed at the size of the battle and how large the battlefield here. He just wanted to know more and I told him that his questions will be endless, for even those of us that think we know a thing or two about the battle, the more you look into it, the less you know. But driving home last night I realized something.
Their basic curiosity about Gettysburg gets them here, the magnitude of it brings them back.
I guess that's how I got here too. I never really thought about it like that until last night. Oh and about last night.
September 17, 2007 Baltimore St
It was a really nice night for a walk. Almost no humidity, no breeze, and about 55 degrees at 8PM. 16 people came along for the downtown walk. This was a interesting group as they were from San Diego, Chicago, Iowa, Ohio, NJ, and Connecticut. Town was quiet and nothing overly exciting happened on the tour. We all had some fun and then I did it again.
At 9:45 the folks from Wyndham Worldwide came for a tour. I have forgotten how tough it is to do two of the same tour back to back. These people were from all over the world as one man was from Australia and another from Holland. These people were managers of big hotels and I could tell that they were some pretty important people within their own circles, but they were networking and talking shop in between stories. They didn't interrupt me at all, but walking between stops they were all business. That's some hardcore time management and efficiency skills.
Storyteller's Rant: I am almost at the point where I am going to throw somebody out of the office soon. I can not understand how people can not make up their minds about what tour to go on. If given a choice, most people hem and haw over which tour is the best? What tour has the most activity? Which tour has more ghosts? All dumb questions. I have to be honest about this people, when you ask me one of those questions my blood pressure goes up. All the tours have ghosts, if they didn't we wouldn't do the tour. Which tour is the scariest? That is subjective, it depends on who you ask. Just pick one and let your imagination do the rest. Am I guaranteed to see a ghost? I f I could guarantee that we would charge a lot more for tickets. Just pick a tour!
Seriously, pick a tour based on the time it begins. Other than that just relax and have fun. I have seen people leave the office, get into fights with each other and me, and not wind up going on a tour because they couldn't pick one. You are not buying a house, it is not a life or death situation, just pick one! Please for my sanity!
Haunt you later...
"Rick Saunders"
Summer 2007
Working the day to day operations of the GoG this year has been interesting to say the least. Very repetitive. Very repetitive. Very repetitive...Sorry, got stuck there. I met a ton of nice folks from all over the world. Meeting people from everywhere is one of the nicer benefits of working in a tourist town. I love finding out what brings people to visit Gettysburg. The history, the scenery of the area and the battlefield, and ghost tours of course! All biggies. But I met a guy last night who was from San Diego and always loved history and this was his first visit to Gettysburg. He was amazed at the size of the battle and how large the battlefield here. He just wanted to know more and I told him that his questions will be endless, for even those of us that think we know a thing or two about the battle, the more you look into it, the less you know. But driving home last night I realized something.
Their basic curiosity about Gettysburg gets them here, the magnitude of it brings them back.
I guess that's how I got here too. I never really thought about it like that until last night. Oh and about last night.
September 17, 2007 Baltimore St
It was a really nice night for a walk. Almost no humidity, no breeze, and about 55 degrees at 8PM. 16 people came along for the downtown walk. This was a interesting group as they were from San Diego, Chicago, Iowa, Ohio, NJ, and Connecticut. Town was quiet and nothing overly exciting happened on the tour. We all had some fun and then I did it again.
At 9:45 the folks from Wyndham Worldwide came for a tour. I have forgotten how tough it is to do two of the same tour back to back. These people were from all over the world as one man was from Australia and another from Holland. These people were managers of big hotels and I could tell that they were some pretty important people within their own circles, but they were networking and talking shop in between stories. They didn't interrupt me at all, but walking between stops they were all business. That's some hardcore time management and efficiency skills.
Storyteller's Rant: I am almost at the point where I am going to throw somebody out of the office soon. I can not understand how people can not make up their minds about what tour to go on. If given a choice, most people hem and haw over which tour is the best? What tour has the most activity? Which tour has more ghosts? All dumb questions. I have to be honest about this people, when you ask me one of those questions my blood pressure goes up. All the tours have ghosts, if they didn't we wouldn't do the tour. Which tour is the scariest? That is subjective, it depends on who you ask. Just pick one and let your imagination do the rest. Am I guaranteed to see a ghost? I f I could guarantee that we would charge a lot more for tickets. Just pick a tour!
Seriously, pick a tour based on the time it begins. Other than that just relax and have fun. I have seen people leave the office, get into fights with each other and me, and not wind up going on a tour because they couldn't pick one. You are not buying a house, it is not a life or death situation, just pick one! Please for my sanity!
Haunt you later...
"Rick Saunders"
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Sorry for the Delay!
July 5, 2007
I have been slacking this year! There is never enough time I guess. My wife is having twins in less that 8 weeks so things have been a little hectic over the last few months, needless to say!
I have given tons of tours since I last wrote. The Ghost Train rides have been a lot of fun this season. The Train departs every Friday night at 7:00 and I'll be on there again on July 20th.
I have been on all sorts of walking tours over the last few months. We survived group season, where even the notorious E.T. Richardson from Springfield PA, which most of us were not looking forward to, came along and we had a great time. That group was one of the best groups we had all spring. We met groups from all over, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusettes, Ohio, Wisconsin, just to name a few.
I took over managing the tour office this year so I have not been out on a lot of regular tours lately, but every once in a while we get over run and I have to put my uniform on and hit the streets. Last Saturday I had to guide the late Baltimore St tour. That was a nice group of people from Chicago, Michigan, and a family from my neck of the woods in Connecticut The temperature was nice and these people laughed at all of my jokes, all of them. I should have marked that down somewhere. I also gave a Carlisle St tour which heads up to Gettysburg College. I forgot how long of a tour that one is. I got it finished in an hour and 45 and incorporated the Eisenhowers into the tour pretty well. I started by mentioning them going to the Majestic Theater, then Ike's ties to the College and his office, and finally the house that they lived in in 1918. It tied together fairly well.
I will do my best to stay on top of this blog. I would like to thank all of you that read this on occasion and for coming out and seeing us at the Ghosts of Gettysburg!
"RS"
I have been slacking this year! There is never enough time I guess. My wife is having twins in less that 8 weeks so things have been a little hectic over the last few months, needless to say!
I have given tons of tours since I last wrote. The Ghost Train rides have been a lot of fun this season. The Train departs every Friday night at 7:00 and I'll be on there again on July 20th.
I have been on all sorts of walking tours over the last few months. We survived group season, where even the notorious E.T. Richardson from Springfield PA, which most of us were not looking forward to, came along and we had a great time. That group was one of the best groups we had all spring. We met groups from all over, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusettes, Ohio, Wisconsin, just to name a few.
I took over managing the tour office this year so I have not been out on a lot of regular tours lately, but every once in a while we get over run and I have to put my uniform on and hit the streets. Last Saturday I had to guide the late Baltimore St tour. That was a nice group of people from Chicago, Michigan, and a family from my neck of the woods in Connecticut The temperature was nice and these people laughed at all of my jokes, all of them. I should have marked that down somewhere. I also gave a Carlisle St tour which heads up to Gettysburg College. I forgot how long of a tour that one is. I got it finished in an hour and 45 and incorporated the Eisenhowers into the tour pretty well. I started by mentioning them going to the Majestic Theater, then Ike's ties to the College and his office, and finally the house that they lived in in 1918. It tied together fairly well.
I will do my best to stay on top of this blog. I would like to thank all of you that read this on occasion and for coming out and seeing us at the Ghosts of Gettysburg!
"RS"
Saturday, May 12, 2007
From Cub Scouts to College Kids
April 28, 2007 Seminary Ridge
7:30 PM
The Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association, of which I am a volunteer, had a group of scouts camping at the Daniel Lady Farm to do some community service and a group of about 50 joined me on the Seminary. I thought I was going to be dealing with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, but when the group showed up these kids were Cub Scouts and Jr. Girl Scouts! Big difference! I eventually wrangled control of these kids and freaked them out a little. I think they learned a little something from my interpretive rants and we finished up and I prepared for the next group.
9:45
A group of college kids from Manchester came down and met me on the Seminary. It got started a little late but we had a good time. Summer is coming!
"RS"
7:30 PM
The Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association, of which I am a volunteer, had a group of scouts camping at the Daniel Lady Farm to do some community service and a group of about 50 joined me on the Seminary. I thought I was going to be dealing with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, but when the group showed up these kids were Cub Scouts and Jr. Girl Scouts! Big difference! I eventually wrangled control of these kids and freaked them out a little. I think they learned a little something from my interpretive rants and we finished up and I prepared for the next group.
9:45
A group of college kids from Manchester came down and met me on the Seminary. It got started a little late but we had a good time. Summer is coming!
"RS"
April Entries All Thrown Together!
I gave a ton of tours over the last few weeks and can not keep track of them all. The first couple of weeks of April were "Spring Break" and families were coming to Gettysburg. It was a wierd batch of weather that the area got so our busier nights were actually Mondays and Tuesdays when the temperatures hit highs in the 80's! Then the cold would come and settle in and we led some walks against the stiff breeze.
The school groups braved the weather and I actually had a group from New Hampshire that was worried that it was going to be two cold to go on tour! They left the Granite State in a snow storm and sub-freezing weather and were concerned that 40 degrees was going to be too cold! I had to stroke their New England egos a little and told them that they were hurting my New England pride! Starting temperature for the walk was around 45 degrees and we had a good time.
Is it June yet?
"RS"
The school groups braved the weather and I actually had a group from New Hampshire that was worried that it was going to be two cold to go on tour! They left the Granite State in a snow storm and sub-freezing weather and were concerned that 40 degrees was going to be too cold! I had to stroke their New England egos a little and told them that they were hurting my New England pride! Starting temperature for the walk was around 45 degrees and we had a good time.
Is it June yet?
"RS"
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