A Day In Holland

Friday the 29th

Once again the sun is shining as we gently ease out of bed. It's supposed to get up to 72 degrees today. As a treat, Tina fixed French Toast and Bacon for breakfast and it was goooooood! Even the kids thought it was great as they each got a little of the left over bacon as a treat. After cleaning up and reading mail, watching GMA, etc., Tina headed into town to get her hair done while the kids and I stayed home.

After she got back looking simply ravishing we drove into town so I could fax a couple of documents.

Once that was taken care of we found a really nice bakery cafe and had a nice lunch then with dogs on leashes we walked through the downtown area of Holland. This is a very vibrant older town which has benefitted from good leadership on the city council as they took advantage of the Federal Downtown Revitalization Program. To learn more about the Washington State program go to http://www.cted.wa.gov/portal/alias__CTED/lang__en/tabID__52/DesktopDefault.aspx.

After enjoying the afternoon in Holland we returned to the car and headed for the local Dog Park to give the kids a channce to exercise. Like many others, the park has two fenced areas, one for large dogs and one for small dogs. There were a half dozen small dogs and owners in the small dog area when we got there. Once inside Punky and Wicket ran around with a Poodle/Retriever mix, several Westy's, a Long Haired Daushund and a couple of others. They had a lot of fun and soon tired themselves out.

We left the park and returned home for dinner and to enjoy the remainder of the day.

To see today's photos, click on the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mjdolanski

Travel To Holland

Thursday the 28th

When we finally got up at 7:30 AM and looked out the window all we could see was a sort of mist floating through the air and hovering over the ground. It wasn't rain and it wasn't fog but it sure was wet. The kids didn't want to go out, they only wanted to eat. But that was okay since I wasn't moving very fast, in fact Tina was up before me.

Eventually I couldn't put it off any longer and made my way from the bedroom to the bathroom (two feet). After brushing my teeth and sorta waking up I fumbled my way to the kitchen (three feet) and grabbed a cup of coffee. Ahhhhhh... I'm alive!

With coffee in hand I ate a banana and leashed up the kids for their morning constitutional. When I got back Tina took the car and went to the Post Office while I got the rig ready for the road. As soon as Tina returned we moved the coach out of the site, hooked up the car and headed out of town.

We got on to I-75 South headed for Flint. Thirty some miles later we headed West towards Lansing then on to Grand Rapids wher we turned South to Holland, Michigan (http://holland.org/) a very pretty little town on the shore of Lake Macatawa. Just before we got to our destination we were stopped for a train that in turn was stopped for some reason. We finally got through the train crossing about a half hour later and proceded to our final stop for the day at the Oak Grove Rv Resort (http://www.oakgroveresort.com/).

No photos today.

Distance for this leg, 165 miles. Total for trip so far, 7,847 miles.

Dinner in Frankenmuth

Wednesday the 27th

It rained all night last night so I was ready to get up by 6:30 AM to take my shower, start coffee and take the kids out for their pre-breakfast constitutional. It was overcast and periodically we'd get a short shower. By 9:00 AM Tina had sorted all the laundry and with soap and quarters in hand I walked over to the laundry room to start laundry.

Three hours and nearly $18 later I managed to take thje last of the clean clothes back to the rig and get things put away. Tina was ready to go to lunch and Drew had recommented "Tiffany's" so we drove to downtown Frankenmuth (http://www.frankenmuth.org/?display_members=1237&page_id=124) and found a place to park.

The restaurant is a long narrow room with wood paneling, a long bar and Tiffany lamp shades suspended from the ceiling. Tina ordered a Roast Beef sandwich and I had a cup of Cajun Gumbo followed by a Cajun Crawfish Salad. Tina's sandwich was a load of warm, thinly sliced roast beef with provolone cheese on a large hoagy roll soaked inside with au jus. It was really a great sandich. My gumbo was excelent as was the crawfish salad. Yum, yum!!

After lunch we wandered around town for a while - no rain yet - then went back to the coach where I grabbed the laptop. Tina wanted to go to "Bronners" christmas store so Iopped her off then came back to town to a small coffee shop that had wireless. I was able to load all the blogs up to the web and get our photos up as well and their coffee was really good too!

After I picked up Tina we went back to the coach to chill out for a while. Around 6:45: we got in the car and drove to dinner at "Zhenders" Restaurant (http://www.zehnders.com/) for a home style chicken dinner. This time we had Diane and her two girls join us so we could visit a little before we headed out to Wisconson.

To see all our photos click on the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mjdolanski

Visiting Relatives In Saginaw

Tuesday the 26th

Up at 7:30 AM to an overcast sky but relatively warm so it’s hard to complain. We have a leisurely morning and get on the road about 10:00 AM. After a very bumpy 70 mile drive down I-75 we pulled into Frankenmuth and wound through town until we passed the “Bronners Christmas Store” and turned into the Jellystone RV Park.

After getting set up at camp we relaxed until around 4:30 PM when we got in the car and headed for Saginaw to visit with Drew and Deb at their home. Debbie has been doung a lot of flower planting in their back yard and it will be really beautiful this summer. We sat around the patio table and spent several hours visiting before having tacos for dinner and watching a music video of Kid Rock.

By 9:30 we called it a night as both Drew and Deb had to work the next day.

No photos today.

Total distance for today was 78 miles. Total for the trip so far, 7,682 miles.

Relaxing Memorial Day in West Branch

Monday the 25th – Memorial Day

Something amazing happened this morning. The dogs didn’t wake us up until 9:00 AM!! We must have all needed to catch up on our sleep. Surprising, but very nice. I got up and made coffee put some clothes on and turned on the heat (it was a beautiful sunny day out with a blue sky but still chilly). After getting the dogs off the bed we all went out for a walk then came back for a really nice breakfast.

Later in the morning we went over to the Tanger Outlet stores to do some memorial day sale shopping. I got a two pair of new shorts, a swim suit and a shirt while Tina got a new summer wardrobe! I felt so good we stopped and had ice cream cones for our afternoon snack. Then we drove into the town of West Branch and walked around. Most stores were closed but it was a nice day so we checked out a few antique stores for fun.

Then it was back to the rig where we kicked back for the rest of the afternoon. Tomorrow we start back south.

No photos today.

Relaxing At Peach Lake

Sunday the 24th

A beautiful morning but cool, mostly from the wind. Drew and Deb planned to come over here for a visit to see the coach. They got here about 10:30 AM and were suitably impressed. After figuring out our plans for the day they headed out to do some shopping. We needed to make a run to WalMart so we bundled up the kids, some dogfood, a change of clothes, cameras, etc., and headed out.

After our stop at Walmart to pick up some water and a few other essentials we headed over to Drew and Debs cabin. We arrived in time to help do a few chores while Drew fired up the BBQ for some grilled “Encased Meat” or hot dogs to those less informed, heheheh! While the coals were getting hot the girls put some salad together then with the tube steaks cooked we had a nice lunch.

After we ate it was time to take the boat for a spin around the lake. When we got back Drew put some slip proof carpet on the dock, I took our two dogs swimming so the could cool off and then Drew and I put the small outboard on the small fishing boat to get it ready for his friends Reg and Tammie who were coming up next weekend. Then it was time for some more cruising. It was such a beautiful day that after coming back to the dock we sat around a campfire and relaxed away the afternoon. Sometime around 6:30 PM the grill was put on again to do a really nice ham while inside the girls had put together some scalloped potatoes and garlic bread. Meanwhile we had some cheese and shrimp for a pre dinner appetizer. Drew had made some fresh cocktail sauce for the shrimp and it was devine. When dinner came it was scrumptious. The ham was as tender as could be, the potatoes cooked just right and the baked beans were devine. Drew is indeed a master of the grill! After dinner we watched the sunset as we relaxed around the fire.

Eventually we had to leave. Since Drew and Deb were leaving to go home the next day we made plans to meet up on Tuesday when we got set up in Frankenmuth at the Jellystone campground.
To see all of our photos, click on the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mjdolanski

A Day In The Michigan Wilds

Saturday the 23rd

It rained last night and sprinkled a little this morning. Since the dogs are in no hurry to get up we kinda lay around in bed until 7:30 AM before Wicket insists she really needs to go out, so we all got up. After all our morning stuff is done we leave the kids in the coach and head for Drew and Deb’s cabin. Since it is still a bit drizzly out we decided to head for the western shore of Lake Huron. We all load into Drew’s new crew cab Dodge pick-up and head out MI-55.

We get to Tawas City, park in the waterfront marina and walk out onto the pier. Surprisingly about 90 percent of the slips are vacant even though it’s the opening day of boating season and the first big weekend holiday of the year. Even so, the town is bustling with lots of pedestrians. Leaving the pier the sun starts to break through the clouds as we head north along the shore of the lake.

Eventually we start cutting back inland and into the Huron National Forest. We make a couple of stops along the AuSable River for pictures – the first at an overlook, the second at a barrier free trail to a fishing area, Both are very pretty and at the second stop there are two large “Trillium” beds, one on either side of the trail. Tina and I had never experienced that many “Trilliums” clustered together in one place before. It was quite stunning.

Back on the road again we continue to drive along the river with pastures and forest interspersed along the way. By now it’s 1:15 so we stop in a small town and have a bite to eat before returning to Peach Lake. Tina and I returned to the coach to change clothes now that the sun is out and to get the kids before returning to the cabin.

Back at the lake we visit and go out for a cruise. As we neared the far end of the lake the Sheriff’s patrol boat pulled up and asked about our registration tabs. Drew’s had expired in March. Fortunately, the new ones were back at the cabin, so we were let off the hook to go back and get them and put them on the boat. That done, we went back out on the lake and gently cruised around sipping pop and laughing at the antics of the four dogs – Drew’s two labs and our two small ones.

Eventually we headed back in as the sky began to cloud up. Drew fired up the BBQ and cooked some marinated sirloin and marinated vegetables. That along with garlic toast made a wonderful dinner. After cleaning up we retired to the fire pit outside and watched the sun set before Tina and I gathered up the kids and headed home.

To see all our photos, click on the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mjdolanski

Returning To The US

Friday the 22nd

Today we leave Windsor and return to the US. Because it’s a relatively long drive plus the border crossing we are up by 7:00 AM and complete our morning routine early. After hooking up the car we’re on the road by 8:45 AM and headed into Windsor. Traffic is relatively light and we have no problems getting to the Windsor Tunnel. The crossing fee is only $5.25 for the rig and car. What a deal! After passing through the tunnel, again with no problems, we cross the border, come up on the US side of the river and go through customs. Surprisingly it only took a few minutes and we were out onto Jefferson Ave (MI-475) and looking to get on I-75 for the 168 mile drive up to West Branch.

Traffic is somewhat heavier until we get out of the Detroit area then it drops off considerably. We make one rest stop after 80 miles or so then it’s back into the holiday traffic which is starting to build. Once past Saginaw the freeway is packed with the early holiday travelers. We reach West Branch and pull onto Busn-75 for about a mile, then we turn on Old Hwy 76 for about a mile, turn left onto Crawford St and follow it to the RV Park only to come to a dead end with no sign of an RV campground. Luckily there was a home with a circular driveway so we didn’t have to disconnect the car to get out of the dead end.

Since we had followed the mapquest instructions to the letter it was time to go back to the main highway and call the park. It seems there is a Crawford Lane about 4 miles down Old Hwy 76 but I used Crawford St in my mapquest direction search. Oh well, we got what we needed, turned around and using the new information found Loringer Pines RV Park within five minutes. We set up the rig and called my cousin Drew to let him know we were in the area. He and his wife Deb were still on their way up from Saginaw. Drew told me they were going to put the boat in the lake at 3:00 PM, so we agreed to get together then. Since it was about 1:30 PM we had our lunch and relaxed for a while.

Since I had looked at the area map several times I had a rough idea of where Peach Lake was located. So about 2:30 PM we packed up some clothes, dog food, the dogs, etc. and headed out. We made one stop in town to mail some packages then headed for Drew’s. We drove down MI-55 for about five miles to Peach Lake Road, made the turn, followed it for about a mile and turned into the Peach Lake boat ramp access. As we passed the boat ramp there was a pontoon boat being launched. I told Tina, “That’s Drew and his boat”. She couldn’t believe it. So we backed up and pulled into the launch area and sure enough, it was Drew and his wife Debbie.

We parked the car and got out – they were just as surprised to see us as Tina was to see that we’d found them so easily! Well, once we said our hellos and the boat was launched Drew and I ferried the boat down to their dock while the girls took the cars to the cabin. We spent the afternoon catching up then took the boat out for a leisurely spin around the lake. When we got back Drew fired up the BBQ and did some ribs up. We had fresh asparagus with ribs for dinner, Yum! After dinner we sat outside around a small fire on the bank above the lake overlooking the lake and watched the sun go down. Tina and I finally gathered up the dogs and headed home around 10:30 PM after a really nice but long day.

To see all of our photos click on the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mjdolanski

Distance for this leg, 180 miles. Total for the trip so far, 7,604 miles.

Travel To Canada

Tuesday the 19th

A travel day. By 7:00 AM it’s in the mid 50’s with a promise of warmer temperatures later. We have a quiet morning, eat breakfast, walk the dogs, clean up, hook up the car and with instructions in hand head for the highway.

After 40 miles we reach I-75 and head north towards Detroit. This is supposed to be a fifty mile leg but with twenty miles to go we read a sign that says the freeway is closed at exit 47A. That’s our exit. The next sign says if we want to take the tunnel into Canada we need to exit towards Flint. Wanting to follow directions we take the next exit towards Flint. Eventually, with Tina reading the map, we decided to keep following the freeway signs. So when it says to get off and follow another Freeway towards Detroit, we do it.

By this time we’ve probably driven fifteen to twenty miles out of our way. So Tina says to get off at the next exit and it should put us on Michigan Street. If we follow Michigan Street we should go straight through the center of Detroit and right to the Windsor Tunnel. And she’s right. It’s slow, and right through downtown Detroit but we get right to the tunnel entrance. We pass through the tunnel with practically no traffic and get to (and through) Canadian customs with no problems. This puts us in the heart of downtown Windsor where we follow another construction detour before getting on our route out of town.

We follow our map instructions and before you know it we’re off route with one more construction detour. This time we can’t locate the street we think we’re supposed to be on so we stop and call the park for directions. Turns out we’re only a few miles away. Back on the road we get to the park with no more problems, register and get set up for our three night stay. Once again I don’t have an internet connection that will hold for more than a minute before getting dropped so with laptop in hand I head over to the office where I can make sure I have directions to my Aunt Kay’s place.

When I got back to the coach I called my Aunt Kay and we made plans for the evening. Turns out our RV Campground is only about five miles away so we made it over to her apartment in Tecumseh in less than ten minutes. We visited for several hours then had a delicious dinner. Aunt Kay had made a really good hunters stew with Ciabatta rolls followed by peaches with cookies and tea for desert. Yum! By 7:30 PM it was time to head back home so we made plans to get together again tomorrow morning and go for a drive.

To see all of todays photos, click on the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mjdolanski

Distance for this leg (with detours), 140 miles. Total for the trip so far, 7,424 miles.

Trail Rides

Monday the 18th

Another beautiful day dawns with a promise of temperatures in the 70’s. We decided to do some more bike riding and take in some wildlife areas. After reviewing our tourist info for the area we decided to drive up to Marblehead with the bikes and catch the ferry to Kelly Island. The whole island is a park with birding areas, marshes and other opportunities for wildlife viewing. Since it also has a small town in the center of the island we could stop for lunch.

After doing our morning chores we loaded up the bikes and headed out. Marblehead is only about five miles from the park so ten minutes later we pull off the street and find a parking spot, unload the bikes and mount up.

We ride down to the dock and up to the ticket office. As soon as we got to the ticket booth and started figuring up the fees for the five mile crossing, Tina looked at me and said, “Are you sure we want to spend $50 bucks for a ferry ride?” Even though this is a round trip fare on a privately owned ferry service, it felt pretty exorbitant. So we decided to bag that idea and try something else.

We rode back to the car and stopped at a little store where we could ask about bike riding in the area. The lady behind the counter recommended “Meadowbrook Marsh” and gave us directions on how to get there.

So we loaded up the bikes and following her directions drove across the isthmus and turned back towards Toledo. Five miles later we saw a sign announcing the Meadowbrook Marsh Preserve. We doubled back and pulled off the road onto a small narrow driveway of chipped bark and wood. It looked more like a private driveway but we pulled into a clearing and parked. I got out and checked to see that there really was a trail going somewhere – there was. So once again we unloaded the bikes and mounted up.

The trail was more like a jeep track covered with the same tree chips without the jeep ruts. The trail led down to a large pond and marsh area with a grassy verge that has recently been mowed. We rode one of the trails along the marsh and out into the back woods. The trails were all fairly wide and either mowed grass or chips but only ran for a mile or two. After winding around through the woods we looped back to the marsh and back to the car. At this point we decided to give up and head back to the coach.

By now it’s about 1:00 PM so we had a nice lunch then I decided to go out and ride some of the trails here in the park. Some run to the lake some across swampy areas on boardwalks, some have bird viewing stands and some are very, very muddy.

All of the trails are about eight feet wide and mown grass is the trail surface. I covered about five miles of trails before I came to a sign that said, “Trails Closed To Snowmobiles”.

Now I knew why the trails were shaped the way they are – in winter they are opened to cross country skiing and snowmobiles. I got back to the rig and washed the mud off my feet, put the bikes away and called it a day.

To see all of today’s photos click on the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mjdolanski

African Safari Adventure

Sunday the 17th

Cold and sunny this morning, we waited until 10:30 AM before we headed out; first to WalMart to return some purchases then we went to the African Safari Adventure.

This was somewhat of a bust. We were expecting something more like the place down in Eatonville where you drive your car through a very extensive network of roads with different animals in a dozen different areas or like the San Diego Zoo where you ride through the park in a high top bus.

Instead, there are a series of small enclosures you walk past with some monkeys, macaws and a few other species out behind the gift shop ticket area. Then you drive through a gate into a large savannah like area about an eighth of a mile square. Immediately on passing through the gate we were mobbed by several packs of small antelope, some larger elk, llamas, alpacas and what look like reindeer. They have come to the car because they know you have a large slurpee sized cup of feed pellets and probably a bag of carrots purchased at the gift shop.

The animals have become habituated and you can’t leave your window down, you have to break off pieces of carrot and pass them through the partially opened window. Meanwhile the windows are getting a tongue washing from those crowding in for their share. At one point we were so surrounded that Tina couldn’t move forward. Eventually we passed beyond the initial onslaught and there were fewer animals vying for attention. As we came around a large berm covered with small “Dyk Dyks” we came face to face with several bison and some type of long horned cattle. The horns on these guys were so big you had to wonder how they could keep their heads up. At this point we were definitely up close and personal with some pretty big animals but not many from Africa.

Our last sighting was some camels in a different enclosure about a hundred feet away and a couple of Zebras. The whole experience took about thirty-five minutes and for $42 quite disappointing. But you never know for sure until you go. Like my dad used to say about a bad meal, “It’s only one meal”. And this was only one experience among many out of our six months on the road. After this disappointment we went back to camp and spent the afternoon relaxing.

To see all our photos click on the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mjdolanski

Marblehead Lighthouse

Saturday the 16th

Cold and rainy this morning. Tina is going shopping, I’m doing laundry. By 1:30 PM it cleared up and the sun came out. Still chilly, but nice enough to go for a drive. We decide to stay close and head out to the Marblehead Lighthouse. Built in 1821, it took just eleven weeks to complete construction. Then in 1903 and additional fifteen feet were added. Built by William Kelly and his crew, they used native limestone and built the original structure for a cost of $6,520. The lighthouse wasn’t open today so we continued our drive around the end of the peninsula and back to camp.

To see all of today’s photos click on the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mjdolanski

South Bass Island

Friday the 15th

It stayed warm all night, the furnace never once came on, so I dressed in shorts and a light shirt. At 9:30 AM I went outside and put the bike rack on the car and loaded the bikes.

Tina took the dogs for a last walk while I pumped up the tires on the bikes, grabbed our helmets, camera, and ferry landing map. Then we set off for Millers Ferry Landing.

After a short drive from the State Park we got to the Ferry and parked about three blocks away. With the bikes down and the rack in the trunk we set off to catch the ferry. Just like to Whidbey, the ferries here run every half hour. We purchased our tickets and after a fifteen minute wait we boarded. It’s a little small, with a boxy barge like appearance but it has a high bay, big enough to hold a dozen cars or four big transport trucks.

We laid our bikes on the deck behind the last car and went upstairs to be out of the wind. Twenty minutes later we approached the landing on South Bass Island.

As the ferry docked at the end of the island we walked down to the car deck, put our helmets on and waited for the cars to unload. With the last vehicle pulling onto the dock we got the nod to go ashore. Walking up the hill we passed the ice cream shop and gift shop and mounted up for the ride into town.

Since we’re at the top of the island it’s a fairly flat ride as we pass the local airport. About two miles later we reached the small community of “Put-In-Bay”. A really pretty place with lots of restaurants and shops surrounding the town park which fronts on the bay and marina.

We rode along the bay and around town then went out into the residential areas before returning to town for lunch. We ended up eating at a small cantina. Our table was on the deck looking over the marina to one side and out to the “Perry Monument” on the other. Tina had a Pulled Duck Sandwich with cole slaw and fries. I had Fish (Walleye) and Chips. We shared each other’s lunch and it was good! Since we planned to get an ice cream on the way back we passed on desert.

After lunch we rode over to the Perry Monument commemorating Admiral Perry’s victory over the British in the War of 1812. This is the third highest monument in the National Park system at 335’ tall. We got tickets and rode up to the viewing station at the 317’ level.

The monument has a railed deck that runs around the monument with etched maps in the four corners identifying the local islands as well as documenting Perry’s course to battle. We were able to look out over the town and marina seeing many of the places we had ridden our bikes.

By 2:00 PM the clouds were moving in and the temperature was starting to drop so we descended from the heights and rode back to the ferry. There was one docked and just starting to load but we stopped for an ice cream cone figuring to catch the next boat. Unfortunately the ice cream shop wouldn’t be open until tomorrow so we remounted and rode to the bottom of the hill and onto the ferry. We were the last ones on! Heheheh, just like catching the Mukilteo ferry on a Friday afternoon.

After leaving the ferry and riding to the car, it was just a short drive back to the coach. As soon as we opened the door the dogs bounded down the steps and as usual when we get back, danced all around Tina, yipping and jumping and being vocal about being glad to see us home. So we took them for a walk and settled in for the rest of the day. Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy in the morning and cold later so we’ll plan to do laundry and shopping.

To see all of today’s photos click on the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mjdolanski

East Harbor State Park

Thursday the 15th

What a difference a day makes. I got up early so I could take a shower before everyone woke up. The air was very still. There had been a few showers over night but nothing substantial. But, after I was dressed and got the kids ready for their morning walk there was a sudden burst of wind that rocked the motor home and was followed by a blast of rain hitting us sideways. Twenty minutes later the rain tapered off so I took the dogs out for a quick walk. Then the rain came back again and was heavy off and on for the rest of the morning.

Since today is a short distance travel day we weren’t in any hurry to head out. Fortunately I had dumped the tanks yesterday afternoon, put the bikes on the racks and hooked up the car. That way I only had to disconnect the water and electric and set the auxiliary brake in the car. By the time we were ready to leave it had stopped raining so we caught a break. With a last walk for the dogs we dropped off the gate key at the office and got on I-80 headed west.

Before long the rain was back in full force. At one point it was heavy enough that I slowed down to around thirty before the rain started to slack off. Twenty minutes later it stopped all together and within an hour the sun was out making the rest of the drive to Sandusky a real pleasure – except for one thing – the condition of the highway paving is atrocious. And this is a toll road. Of all the states we’ve been in so far, Louisiana and Ohio are tied for the worst road conditions both on and off major highways.

We got to East Harbor State Park, set up and planned our next few days.

With the sun out we decided to go for a bike ride out to the lake. With trail map in hand we headed out. Naturally we got turned around and ended up riding on “Red Bird” trail which ran along the shore of the lagoon. Eventually we ended up in the right place and made it out to the shore of Lake Erie. We stopped for a while to walk on the beach. The shore is really nice sand with a very shallow slope. Deciding to follow a couple of trails we mounted up and headed along a service road that paralleled the shore.

At one point we pulled into a quiet picnic area and walked over to the lake. As I came up over the berm and walked toward the water, Tina pointed to the water and said, “Careful, that’s a snake.”

I said, “Where?”

“Right there in the water in front of you,” She replied.

Sure enough, there was a water snake swimming along the shore in about two inches of water. So I snapped a picture.

We looked at the map and headed out towards one of the trails that showed a boardwalk. After riding through a swampy area (only a couple of inches of squishy bog and water) Tina got stuck and suggested I had got her into another fine mess. Well, she was partly right, we did have mud on us and it looked like it would get worse before it got better. So we turned around, rode back along the boggy section and back out to the service road. We stayed on the road and traveled back to the camp.

It’s very pleasant. We’re in shorts and light shirts with temperature in the low 70’s. Very nice. Tomorrow we plan to take our bikes to Millers Ferry Landing and do a bike ride around South Bass Island with a stop at “Put-In-Bay” for lunch.

To see all of today’s photos click on the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mjdolanski

Distance for this leg, 84 miles. Total for the trip so far, 7,284 Miles.

Hudson and Peninsula

Wednesday the 13th

What a difference a day makes. Today dawned bright and early (lots of Punky kisses) but with much warmer temperatures even though it was partly cloudy. Our plan was to visit the small town of Hudson about five miles west of Streetsboro then move on to the small town of Peninsula which is in the heart of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

We took our time with a leisurely breakfast walking the dogs etc., before heading out. We got to Hudson and like the town of Burton, there was another large oval roundabout surrounding a beautiful town park with large mature trees, pathways, gardens and a large gazebo. We parked in front of one of the stores lining half the roundabout (the other side having homes and City Hall. We walked down the business side visiting several shops and eventually went around the block to walk up the back side. Amazingly as we turned the corner to start back up the alleyway to our left was a brand new town center complex with high-end shops, hotels, restaurants and another large park still being developed. Surrounding the business complex were several large housing complexes with apartments, condos, town houses and several new single family areas. Once we completed our walk back to the end of the older business district a stop for coffee was called for before returning in the car. Back on the road we explored the surrounding community discovering many beautiful stately homes along tree lined streets before heading for Peninsula.

As we pulled into the small town of Peninsula we drove down a side street past the train depot and visitors center. Turning around we parked in the “Number 29 Lock” parking area, a trailhead entry point for the “Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail”. It is also home to the Cuyahoga Scenic Railway which runs for 110 miles between Cleveland and Canton following the river all the way. The towpath trail follows the historic Ohio & Erie Canal route through the Cuyahoga River valley and continues both north out of the park and south to Akron and beyond. We hooked up the kids and went for a walk along the river on the trail which is nicely paved and has informational placards placed at strategic points describing historical events.

We kept it to a short walk crossing several small bridges across the old canal works and up to a spot looking across the canal at the old Mill building site, then went back to the car and got our lunch to take back to a picnic table along the river. We had lunch beside the river then walked back to the visitor center. While we were there a big semi came around the corner with a lowboy trailer. The train had “Thomas The Tank Engine” piggy backed on the trailer and sat on a set of rails. Apparently the Park will be celebrating a May festival and Thomas will be pulling a passenger car for children’s entertainment. It was fascinating to watch the big rig position itself over the tracks to let old Thomas down.

Since it would take another couple of hours to actually get Thomas off the trailer we got back in the car to drive around and explore the area a little more. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is incredibly rich in recreational opportunities from cross country skiing and horseshoeing in the winter to camping, horseback riding, hiking, biking, fishing and swimming. It is also home to the Cuyahoga Scenic Railway which runs between Cleveland and Canton following the river all the way. We took several runs up into the hills and it was all very beautiful. Eventually we decided to call it a day and headed home.

To see all of today’s photos click on the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mjdolanski

Amish Country

Tuesday the 12th

Got up this morning at 6:30 AM to the sound of wind whispering through the trees and the crackling of grass taking on a coating of frost. It wasn't quite white on the ground but it was close. And of course, as soon as the dogs heard me moving around they just had to get up and go out. So I quickly grabbed some winter clothes, got dressed and off we went for our morning walk. It was short. Even they weren't too thrilled to be out for long. But the weatherman promised a nice day so we made our plans to go to Burton and Middlefield about 25 miles north of here to see more Amish Culture.

After cleaning up the breakfast dishes while watching GMA and catching Regis & Kelly we decided to get started. Tina took the dogs out while I tidied up. When she came back she suggested I might want to change into something lighter. I stepped outside and she was right. In a couple of hours we went from the low thirties to the low sixties, so I went and changed into one of my aloha shirts and a pair of shorts. Cool! We paccked up the kids grabbed our map and itinerary of places to see and headed off.

Our first stop was in Burton where the town has recreated a typical small Amish community with a store, school house, dressmaker shop, Sherrifes office, several houses, farm, blacksmith, train depot and community square. This was a really lovely place with lots of trees, grass and shady lanes winding through the community. Since this was a weekday there weren't any artisans working and most of the buildings were closed but it was nice to be able to get out and walk around.

From Burton we drove east towards Middlefield where we stopped at "Mary Yoder's Amish Kitchen and Bakery" for a few items. This place was part gift shop, part restaurant and part bakery. With the smell of fresh baking wafting through the air, it was difficult to leave. So we bought some gifts, some bread and pastries then hurried to the car before we decided we needed to go back in for something else.

Next we drove to "Millers Holtz Haus" where they have lovely Amish handmade furniture - rockers, chests , porch swings, unique wooden toys and crafts. But with a tourist bus parked in the driveway we decided not to stop as there was a bus full of tourists there. So we by-passed Miller’s Holz Haus and went on to the “Middlefield Cheese House and Museum” which is a combination of retail outlet, museum and cheese manufacturer on the order of Oregon’s Tillamook Cheese but without the restaurant and sweet shop. We just had to buy some Jungfrau Baby Eye Swiss cheese and a package of Uncle Mike’s Beef Sticks. The Museum was closed so after making our purchases we headed up the road to the Middlefield Market Complex (giant flea market) which was closed.

As we headed to our next stop, we had to pull off the road so Tina could take a picture of a sign showing a “Buggy On The Road”. Naturally, no sooner did we get back on the road than a buggy and driver came trotting up the road towards us. Quickly pulling off the road Tina got a picture. A little further on down the same road was “Countryside Furnishings” another Amish fine furniture manufacturer and retail outlet. Here we visited with the owner and spent some time looking at a lot of really beautiful furniture. There was a coffee table and end table combo along with a couch and love seat for about $2,000 before shipping – we probably should have bought them, but with our future plans up in the air we decided to take a pass. Oh well, you never know which was the right decision until later. While we were there Tina took a picture of a “Buggy Parking” sign.

From here we went to the “Amish Home Craft Shop” where we almost got a really nice tall back bent wood rocker for the deck, but again we took a pass – no place to carry it anyway. Next we went to the “Ridgeview Farm and Culture Center”, a large working farm with a flower, fruit and vegetable stand, petting zoo (several goats, a couple of lambs, some rabbits, a baby Herford and a couple of piglets) and a semi museum in the upstairs part of the barn (above the petting zoo) set up like a meeting room with benches and Amish clothes, appliances and other household items. It was interesting but without someone to talk about what we were seeing it wasn’t very informative. We bought some homemade pickles and black licorice then moved on. There were lots of Amish buggys out on the road going about their business, sometimes with two people, but mostly with one. All the men wear straw hats, white shirts, black pants (usually with suspenders) and the women all wear bonnets and very plain dresses.

Our last stop was going to be “Yoder’s Furniture” so we headed out down another road through Middlefield, not really a town, more of a geographic area where there is a collection of Amish farms and stores of various types. We got to Yoder’s and they were closed so it was time to think about a bite to eat. We had seen a really nice place when we were in Burton so we looped around and drove back to the town of Burton. We parked along the town square, a large oval commons with a park and square in it. This functions as a large roundabout with one way traffic around it and four or five streets radiating off of it. Retail shops and businesses are on the outside of the oval with residential and professional offices above. Almost all buildings are two story with three or four foot alleyways placed every couple of buildings for pedestrian access to additional parking. Street parking in front of the businesses is almost always angled head-in. These are really common in this area and provide a restful park and gathering place right in the center of town for locals and visitors to enjoy.

We enjoyed a very nice lunch at a small café then headed home following back roads through the countryside. This is a really beautiful part of the country with farms and pastureland all around. The homes are all very well kept up and when you get into the small towns there are plenty of large older homes, most with fresh paint, nicely landscaped and set back from tree shaded roads and sidewalks.

Later in the evening I drove to Talmadge to play in a Nine Ball pool tournament at B’Mers Billiards. This was a nice place set up similar to Houdini’s Billiards but with ten nine foot tables set to tournament specifications (very tight pockets). The tournament was Nine ball, race to three, double elimination format with BCA rules. Twenty-four people signed up. I jumped out to a 2-0 lead in my first match only to lose as my opponent came back with some fine safety play and took the next three games. This sent me to the losers bracket where I won my next five matches. My sixth match was against one of the better players. He took the first game then I came back and won the second game. With some good safety play and finally getting focused on my stroke I took the third game. On the fourth game I broke and ran to the nine but got out of shape and had to make a difficult cut shot. I missed but left a fairly easy bank which he made, tying us at two games each. The fifth game he broke but didn’t make any balls. However, the nine ball was in jawed in the corner pocket with the two ball only six inches away. Coming to the table I had a very difficult length of the table cut on the one ball or a poor opportunity to make a safety. Rather than leave the nine where it could be made on almost any combination I chose to play the two-nine combo to get the nine ball re-spotted and, having made a foul, give my opponent ball in hand. Even though he was playing well I didn’t expect him to run out, but that’s what happened. He shot well and by pocketing the nine closed out the match 3-2. So I ended up in 5th place, not bad for not having played for almost two months.

Since it was now 11:20 PM I was ready to leave. After thanking the owner for running a nice tourney I headed back home. As I got ready for bed Tina told me about her falling down the steps while I was gone. She was taking the dogs for a walk when her foot slipped off the last step and down she went, banging down the stairs to land on the ground. She was pretty banged up with several large bruises and a couple of scrapes. I got the liniment with lavender out and gave her a back rub to take down some of the swelling. Hopefully she will heal with a minimum of pain.

To see all of today’s photos click on the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mjdolanski

Knox to Streetsboro

Monday the 11th

After our usual morning routine we cleaned up the rig and got set for traveling. we're headed for the Streetsboro KOA. we pulled onto I-80 around 9:30 AM, got off to get gas, got back on and completed the 102 miles to our exit with only two short construction zones. Ohio is definitely different than Pennsylvania. The hills aren't as high and there are longer periods of flat running.

We got off the freeway at our exit and immediately headed the wrong way - toward Cleveland. Fortunately we got turned around within five miles and headed in the correct direction. Our route took us through a really nice small town called Hudson. We plan on exploring it tomorrow.

After arriving at the KOA and getting to our site we walked the dogs then set up for a three night stay. With the rig squared away we drove into Streetsboro for lunch at Bob's Big boy and grocery shopping across the street. After we got the shopping done we headed home, put things away and went up to the laundry to wash clothes. After folding and putting things away we had dinner, walked the dogs again and settled in for the evening.

No other photos today.

Our drive for today, 107 miles. Total for the trip so far, 7,200 miles.

Mothers Day

Sunday the 10th - Happy Mothers Day!

Very chilly again this morning with a frost advisory still in effect until 10:00 AM, with winds still in the mid teens, I guess you'd call it cold and blustery.

We spent most of the day doing nothing more strenuous than watching TV or reading. Later in the afternoon we walked over to the barn, part of the 200 acre Wolf Camping Resort facility, for a Mothers Day Brunch. The barn is a huge building built in 1856 and remodeled in the 1930's to handle community get togethers. It looks like a big Black Angus restaurant. We had turkey, pork, prime rib, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans and corn with turkey gravy. There was a salad bar set up as well as a desert bar. After dinner we went over to the desert bar and liberated a piece of blueberry pie, apple pie, cake and a couple of chocolate chip cookies! Yum, yum!!

Eventually we reached our limit and headed back to the coach to vegetate for the rest of the evening. Well that was the plan but the kids made sure we got our after dinner exercise - heheheh!

No other photos today.

Knox, PA

Saturday the 9th

A day for a drive, it's chilly but not raining. We basically just drove around out in the rural area of the Allegheny River within a thirty mile radius of our KOA campground. We started by driving north to the small community of Knox, a very pretty little town. Then we headed west to Lamartine and Mariasville before heading south along the Allegheny to Emlenton to check out a bike ride along the Allegheny River Trail (http://www.avta-trails.org/allegheny-samuel-trails.html). a Rails-to-Trails conversion. We were hoping to get in a bike ride the next day. The trail looked nice but the town of Emlenton has seen better days since the Quaker State Refinery closed in 1990.

From Emlenton we drove south along the Allegheny past Foxburg and down to Parker where we crossed the river on the Perrysville Bridge. Once across the bridge we drove through beautiful rolling hills, dotted with fields in various states of planting - from the brown of newly tilled soil, to the golden stubble of corn fields not yet plowed and fields of emerald, newly emerging alfalfa, some fields with cattle or dairy cows. Really very pretty.

Eventually we reach Callensburg where we turn north towards Turnip Hole, Alum Rock and Turkey City before turning east towards our campground. It was a nice drive and with an iffy day weatherwise, one we enjoyed.

No photos today.

Drive To Knox, PA

Friday the 8th

Nice day today. Sunny and about 65 degrees. We got on the road about 9:30 AM for the drive to Knox, PA about 120 west of Bellefonte. Easy drive on I-80 except for two construction zones where we were down to one lane, one narrow lane. And there were lots of big trucks on the road. But we got here with no problem, got set up and had lunch.

I only have internet at the campground office, so I'll check in periodically. we're here for three nights so we can do a Mothers Day brunch here at the campground.

Our drive today, 125 miles. Total for the trip, 7,093 miles.