We’ve previously reported evidence that Segways were used during the Civil War.

Now comes word that they have been around much longer than that!  Here’s the video evidence:

(If you can’t see the video for some reason, you may have better luck on this site.)

Actually, those aren’t real Segways but a cheap knock-off.  If you look closely, they have four wheels.

But it is funny anyway.

The scenic Pennsylvania countryside has many beautiful vistas but this is the one (hidden in the woods on the Gettysburg battlefield) that we’ve been waiting to see!

The First Sign of Spring

That’s right — the porta-potties are back in the Park and, like the Swallows to Capistrano, that’s a sure sign that Spring is finally here!

We’ve been doing Segway tours on the battlefield for a month already this year but we are sure looking forward to the warmer weather that is always forecast by the appearance of the porta-potties!

(If you weren’t there, be thankful that you didn’t have to witness the spectacle of our staff doing a happy dance around the porta-potties.)

Now please stand, tip your glass, and join us in a momentary celebration…

Woohoo!

OK, that’s enough.

Thanks to all that came to visit during our Open House on Sunday. We had a lot of curious folks come by to try about the amazing Segway PT. We had so much fun, in fact, that we might do it every year!

Here’s a sample video…

Segway Tours and Rides of Gettysburg (SegTours, LLC) is happy to announce an Open House on Sunday, 27 March 2011, to celebrate the opening of its new location in the Gettysburg Shopping Center. Attendees will receive free training and the opportunity for a free 10-minute indoor ride on a Segway Personal Transporter™.

Our New Indoor Training Area

SegTours, LLC provides tours of the Gettysburg National Military Park with Licensed Battlefield Guides. The company is starting its fourth season in Gettysburg, having moved over the winter from its previous location on Taneytown Road. After initial training in its new indoor facility, graduates can then experience the challenges of the new Segway obstacle course, including traffic cones, bumps, ramps, and other challenges under the supervision of SegTours staff.

“Our focus is principally on the history of the battlefield,” said owner Bob Velke, “but the new training area prepares riders for the terrain of the area and gives them the skills to safely operate the Segway Personal Transporter around curbs, ditches, parked cars, pot holes, and other potential hazards.” He added, “At the conclusion of training, the rider can comfortably operate the Segway PT and focus more attention on the history as it is presented by our excellent battlefield guides.”

“The Segway PT is an innovative and fun way to experience the battlefield,” said Gary Kross, a Licensed Battlefield Guide with 25 years of experience in the park. “It gives the visitor a more intimate perspective on the action and it gives me the flexibility to share stories from parts of the park that are otherwise infrequently visited,” he said.

Sunday’s Open House will be from 10am to 5pm at the company’s new location at 22 Springs Avenue, Gettysburg PA 17325 (near the Dollar General Store).

The Company: SegTours, LLC began offering tours of the Gettysburg National Military Park in 2008 and has grown to be the #1 rated activity in Gettysburg, according to the popular travel site, www.TripAdvisor.com. The company offers substantial discounts for tours and rides to Gettysburg residents, employees of the Gettysburg National Military Park, military and law enforcement personnel, and to first responders. Further details about the company’s offering are available from www.SegTours.com.

Contact:
Segway Tours and Rides of Gettysburg
info@segtours.com
717-253-7987

The 2011 tour season is starting and we have openings for several responsible people on our staff. Full- and part-time positions are available. For more information, please read the job announcement.

Winter is nearly half over (yahoo!) but we’ve been keeping busy in the off-season, preparing to bring you some really great news!

Segway Tours of Gettysburg is moving out of our little parking lot on Taneytown Road and into a spacious INDOOR location!

Take a sneak peak at some of our new space.

That’s right — this year we’ll have more room to spread our wings. The new location will not only have enough space to store and expand our fleet but there’s also room for a reception desk, a workroom, and a comfortable sitting area. And we’ll finally have our own restroom!

Best of all, our Segway training will now be conducted indoors and, for those who graduate the introductory course, you’ll be able to practice riding and test your new skills on our indoor Segway obstacle course! There will be cones, ramps, weave poles, and other obstacles to challenge riders of all skills levels. When you leave for your tour, you’ll feel even more comfortable on the Segway because you’ve mastered the bumps, hills, and a much wider variety of obstacles than you’ll ever encounter on the battlefield.

March and November can get really chilly in Gettysburg. And we always have a few really hot days in the summer — especially on the blacktop of a parking lot! But now you’ll be able to learn how to ride a Segway in climate-controlled comfort. And if it rains or it is too hot or cold to take a tour, you can get your “Segway fix” without ever leaving our building!

We’ll start the season at our new location on March 1st. Watch this space as the date gets closer and we’ll give you more details, including our new address.

At Segway Tours of Gettysburg, we’re gearing up for our fourth and best tour season ever! We’re looking forward to taking you on a Segway tour of the battlefield.

The season is over in Gettysburg but you can still give a Segway tour for the holidays!

The perfect gift: a Segway tour of the Gettysburg battlefield. We’ll create a customized gift certificate to match your specifications. You can buy one for a specific dollar amount or for a specific type of Segway tour (without publishing its value) and it is good for a year.

If you have a color printer and would rather not wait for the mail, we can email it for fastest delivery.

Give us a call at 717-253-7987 and let us help you to surprise the history-buff in your family with a unique and educational gift that they’ll really enjoy!

Annabelle is one of the red-tailed hawks that live on the Gettysburg battlefield. She and her mate, Leroy, can frequently be seen around the area of the Peach Orchard and Devil’s Den. They will often swoop down to say “hello” while we are on Little Round Top.

Yesterday, one of our staff, Chuck Stevens, got this majestic shot of Annabelle as he was leading a Segway tour down Millerstown Road toward the Peach Orchard.

Annabelle was sitting on the fence just yards away, unphased by the passing humans — so close that Chuck didn’t even have to use a zoom. Great photo, Chuck!

A close-up of Annabelle

The autumn is in full swing but the end of the tour season will be upon us in a few weeks and it is time to think about preparing for next year by refreshing our fleet. We’re looking for good homes for 4-6 of our most mature “horses”.

If you’ve ever thought of buying a Segway (you know you have!), this may be an opportunity that you can’t miss. These are the latest-model Segways (I2s) were born in 2008 and have been lovingly maintained. They have 3-6000 miles on them, new tires, handlebar bags, and two wireless keys each.

Prices range from $3200 to $4000 plus shipping. (New units sell for between $5200 and $6200 plus another $140 for the handlebar bag).

Free delivery is available in the areas of Adams County, PA and the suburbs of Baltimore and Washington D.C.

Picture yourself commuting to work or tooling around town on your very own eco-friendly Segway! Think of all the money you’ll save on gas alone! Just plug it into a standard outlet and pay about $0.25 for a full charge. Don’t miss this chance to get a clean and reliable Segway at a substantial discount.

They make great gifts too!

WARNING: Segway riding is highly addicting. Your spouse will want one too!

Please write to us for more details.

PS: Don’t be misled by low prices on eBay and elsewhere where Segway scams are notorious. Even legitimate sales are for machines that have been in accidents and have wobbly wheels and other serious defects.

Segs4Vets is a volunteer grass-roots project which donates Segways to disabled American veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.

These brave servicemen have sustained injuries which have resulted in the amputation of one or both legs, extensive soft tissue and muscle injuries, traumatic burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injury, and other neurological injuries and disorders.

The Segway restores a certain level of mobility that these servicemen had lost, improving their psychological and physiological quality of life.

Yesterday, we were honored to attend the most recent Segs4Vets award ceremony at the Marine Corps War Memorial (aka Iwo Jima Memorial) outside Washington D.C. where 50 disabled servicemen from the United States Army, Marines, and National Guard were honored for their courage and sacrifice with the gift of a Segway.

It was a moving tribute to those servicemen who, like their predecessors at Gettysburg, risked their lives in the service of their country.

To date, Segs4Vets has provided Segway Personal Transporters to more than 500 disabled veterans. Shortly before his tragic death, Jimi Heselden, the owner of the parent company of Segway, Inc., donated 1000 Segways to this very worthwhile cause.

Segs4Vets is a project of DRAFT (Disability Rights Advocates for Technology) which “represents people with disabilities who refuse to be defined by their disability and whose passionate enthusiasm for participating in life’s activities is supported by Universal Design and new and emerging technologies.”

DRAFT has been awarded the Seal of Excellence by the Independent Charities of America, classifying it in the elite group of charities which “upon rigorous independent review, been able to certify, document, and demonstrate on an annual basis that they meet the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness.”

In fact, Segs4Vets is one of the rare charities that can claim that 100% of the donations go directly to the program. Administrative costs are paid by the Board of Directors and Advisory Board.

Please watch the Segs4Vets video on YouTube and consider a tax-deductible donation to this worthy cause.