Rainy Philadelphia!

Well, I'm back from my whirlwind trip to Philadelphia. No, no cool pro road race to see, no mountain bike race to attend, a family wedding was the cause for the drive. After the mildly uneventful trek up from NC, we got to the hotel and absolutely crashed. In the morning Lis and I got up, met up with the rest of her family that was at the same hotel, and took a train ride downtown. Got rained on....extensively. Ate philly cheesesteak, instantly regretted it. Train ride home, yuppies getting off of work. Wedding. Bed.

Statue of the "Father of the U.S. Navy" John Barry, for whom I'm named after (not really)

Lisa and I at the wedding

THEN.....excitement for the history teacher in me; Gettysburg! I've always been amazed with the Civil War. The steadfastness with which the soldiers fought under a hail of gunfire. Lined up in rows, marching against tens of thousands. Of all the battles Fredericksburg and Gettysburg have always amazed me the most. Two of the biggest massacres in our history, but a perfect illustration of what mans' will can accomplish. I once read this book by James MacPherson called, For Cause and Comrades, the premise of which is to decide why these men fought. The viewpoint that the author takes is simply that they fought for each other, not so much a cause or any kind of common goal. Anyways, it is a great book, I highly suggest it if you are at all interested in history. The author uses tons of journal entries, letters, and other written primary sources for the basis. It's a great view into the lives of the common soldier during the war.

Looking over Devil's Den from Little Round Top

The North Carolina Memorial on Seminary Ridge

Looking down Cemetary Ridge onto the mile long open field where Pickett's Charge took place. Many thousands of men met their end across this farmland.