Double Time on Saturday Night!

Woah! I haven't done back to back tours in quite some time! I got called in for double duty this past Saturday and had a good old time! I started with the original Ghosts of Gettysburg Candlelight walking tour, the short Carlisle St, and then went out to the Seminary for the 8:15. I should have went back to the office and hauled the 9:45 Baltimore St tour to complete the trifecta! Oh well!

Carlisle St Saturday 6/3/06

I mentioned in a previous past how much I enjoy groups of AP History High School kids and this group from New Hope, PA was one of the best I've ever had. We went on the original ghost tour! I love this tour, it leaves from the square and goes onto the college campus. This tour has some of the best stories we have to offer and the opportunity to guide it does not come up as often as I would like. Take advantage of it when you can I guess.

We started fairly early, at 6:30, and the sun was up for the whole tour. It was awesome weather, the temperature was just right and there was very little breeze. The campus was fairly quiet and of course the kids got a huge kick out of the "Hippies use Backdoor" sign on one of the houses on Washington St. I was having so much fun with this group that I went longer than I had planned and had to end it at about 7:50. This gave me just enough time to get to the Seminary for my next tour.

AP History students always come up with great questions and observations. The question came up whether I believe in ghosts or not and I told them my standard response. I'm on the fence and I'm leaning in a certain direction, but a little skepticism never hurts. One of the students asked me how I could not be fully convinced and still be a guide. I have been waiting for that question for quite some time. I told him that one of the main reasons that I guide and enjoy it so much was for the oral tradtion of storytelling. I am going to write a seperate entry on my motivations for being a guide so I'll get into this more later on. But it felt really nice to explain why it is I do what I do. Check back soon for that essay.

Seminary Ridge 6/3/06

Arriving at the Seminary with only moments to spare it was time to shift gears and get into Seminary mode. This group was composed of Boyscouts from Ohio, a couple from West Virginia, and a couple of Ghosts of Gettysburg "regulars" from Maryland. It's always neat to see people that have been on one of my tours before. Off we went into the long shadows creeping over the Seminary.

I finally timed the Glatfelter Hall story for first time this year! The clocktower always chimes on the hour and if I finish the story at the right time, the bells ring as I pause after the story. This always gets a good reaction. As the bell began to ring, I just smiled and nodded my head. When the bell stopped I turned around and someone in the group asked if I meant to do it that way. I told her that I always try, but fail to get it right most of the time. Very pleased, this woman actually started a small round of applause. I think the reason that it worked so well is when I was on the college campus, I set my pocket watch to the 7:00 bells. Therefore there was less room for error. After the tour was over, the "regulars" told me that last fall they were on the Carlisle St tour where the guide timed the bells. It's a really cool trick when you can pull it off!

We finished up around 9:30 and I stuck around for the Gettysburg College alumni fireworks at 9:45. I tried taking some photos but they didn't come out all that well. It was a fun few hours! After 10:00 I went home, went right to bed, and drove to New Jersey Sunday morning.

Sleep well...

"Rick Saunders"