Day 74, Thursday, August 19, 2021, Dayton, OH (54 miles)

We departed Columbus and headed towards Dayton, the birthplace of aviation.  We checked into the Enon Beach Recreation Park Campground (50 amp, W, DS) about 20 minutes outside of Dayton. We then visited the Warped Wing Brewing Company where after a couple samples, I bought a six pack of its 10 Ton Stout, in cans of course. We drove around  downtown Dayton a bit and then drove by Hawthorn Hill, the Wright family mansion. It was not the only mansion in the obviously well-to-do neighborhood. For dinner we picked up bento boxes at C J Chan and took them to the nearby Hills & Dales MetroPark picnic shelter to eat. After dinner we visited the Carillon Brewing Co. located at the Carillon Historical Park. This is the only brewer in the US owned by a Historical Park and the only one using wood fire to make historical beer from the 1850's era Dayton. I had a flight of four beers. Yeah, the photo is after I had tasted one. Too anxious to taste I guess.

Day 73, Wednesday, August 18, 2021, Columbus, OH 

An early start with a trip to Cabela’s for a bug zapper racquet to replace mine which ceased to work. Then it was onward to Block’s Bagels in the Bexley neighborhood to pick up our online order of 10 sesame, 3 black Russian and a couple rugelach. We then visited the Ohio State House for a guided tour. The State house is in the Greek Revival style and was started in 1839 but not completed until 1861. The House chamber was completed first and was very ornate which grew some criticism so the Senate chamber was then built less so. The parking garage is beneath the building and the tour did not show us the way out of the building nor is there a pedestrian path out of the garage. So we did not get to take photos of the exterior which we only viewed from the car on busy downtown streets. We picked up lunch from Katzinger’s Deli, a large Reuben and cherry kugel which was enough for both of us. Food was very good. In the afternoon we went to  Otherworld which a friend had recommended. I do not know how to describe it so here is how it describes itself: 32,000 square feet of immersive, psychedelic and interactive art installation / a surreal world of science fiction and fantasy. 

Day 72, Tuesday, August 17, 2021, Columbus, OH (70 miles)

After a very pleasant stay, we departed Mansfield and headed to Columbus with rain on the way. Our goal was to stay at the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds which was first come, first served. The Fairgrounds were very near the center of Columbus and would be very convenient for our stay. Other campgrounds were 20-25 minutes out of town as is the case in most large cities. As we arrived, the road into the Fairgrounds was blocked by barricades stating “road closed” and a police car just inside the barricades. We stopped right in the middle of the road because just a few hundred yards ahead was a low clearance of 12'9", about 3" too short for us. Unable to back up towing the car flat and no room to turn around, I got out and spoke to the police officer. He had recognized our predicament and was already on the radio to his sergeant. Turns out there was a big rock concert that night in the stadium on the Fairgrounds. While the campground was open, the officer advised we may not want to stay there due to the loud music and rowdy crowd. Upon inquiry, he indicated the music would end at 11:00 which is before we go to sleep.  So the officer and I moved the barricades and we checked into the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds Korbel East Campground (50 amp FHU). To my surprise, we were the only RV there except for one that was obviously there full time. In the afternoon, we visited the North Market, had Kung Fu Bubble Teas and drove around OSU. Going back to the coach about 4:30, we got stuck in the concert traffic entering the Fairgrounds. The concert was loud but we played our own music which drowned it out so it was not a problem.

Day 71, Monday, August 16, 2021, Mansfield, OH 

We extended our stay at Charles Mill Lake Park Campground another day. The advantage of a first come no reservation policy is to extend it we are always first come. A day of rest, a most unusual thing for us. Father time may be catching up to us.

Day 70, Sunday, August 15, 2021, Mansfield, OH

A visit to the Mohican State Park near Loudonville. We pulled into the Clear Fork Gorge overlook which offered a nice view of the tree covered hills but we could not see the river below which carved out the gorge. We hiked the Big and Little Lyons Falls trail, a moderate 2.2 miles. When we got to the Big Falls, we did not realize we were there at first. The waterfall was a mere trickle. Not even enough to wash your hands as Rosemary stated. The Little Falls were the same. Turns out the falls are “seasonal” meaning the water source is snow and not too much of it in August. Still, the hike was pleasant as the weather was cool and the trail is tree covered. The trail includes passing the Pleasant Hill Dam and walking down a stairway from the top of the dam to the bottom. Fortunately, we did the loop in the correct direction so not to have to ascend the stairs. A brief drive around the Malabar State Park and back to the coach.

Day 69, Saturday, August 14, 2021, Mansfield, OH 

Today we visited the Ohio State Reformatory for a self-guided tour with an audio wand. Completed in 1896, its purpose was to rehabilitate young male offenders. It later became a maximum security prison. The exterior is a very ornate and beautiful which combines the Victorian Gothic, Romanesque Revival and Queen Anne styles. The inside, however, is a very different story.  The cells are 9'x7' and held two men in each. One inmate’s interview revealed that the cell blocks are made of steel, there is no ventilation and the steel would heat up by the sunlight making conditions extremely hot. Showers were few and far between making a horrible stench. Conditions in isolation known as “the hole” were even worse. I cannot fathom how this was not cruel and unusual punishment even before it was shut down in 1990. The prison is noteworthy as it has been the site of several Hollywood movies including Air Force One and most notably, one of my favorites, The Shawshank Redemption. Several of my pics are from scenes in the movie including the office where the warden blew his brains out. I rate this a must see if near the area for Shawshank fans.

Day 68, Friday, August 13, 2021, Mansfield, OH (71 miles) 

We departed the Streetsboro/Cleveland KOA and headed to the Charles Mill Lake Park Campground, near Mansfield, OH. The campground is first come first serve and we arrived about 11:45 and got the last 50 amp FHU site. After lunch, we visited the Kingwood Center Gardens, the historic garden estate of Charles Kelley King, an industrialist and visionary at the Ohio Brass Company. The walk around the beautiful gardens was relaxing. The tour of the mansion, built in 1926-1929, was self guided.  We next visited the Blueberry Patch, a farm store about 10 minutes out of town. We left with a tea timer for Rosemary and two blueberry donuts for me. After a drive around downtown Mansfield, we decided to order dinner at Dan Lew Exchange. The lettuce wraps, sushi and hunan chicken were great and the service was fantastic.

Day 67, Thursday, August 12, 2021, Streetsboro, OH (Cleveland) 

With bad weather forecasted, Rosemary stayed in the coach while I continued my crazy grave hopping tour. I drove to Cleveland’s Lansing Cemetery and visited my great-great-grandparents, David and Dora Hammer, who had immigrated from Russia. I then drove to the Knollwood Cemetery in Mayfield Heights and visited my great-great-grandparents, Christopher and Wilhelmine Nelson, and my great-grandfather, Christian Nelson, who all had immigrated from Denmark. Fortunately, the only rain I encountered was during the drive into Cleveland. 

 Day 66, Wednesday, August 11, 2021, Streetsboro, OH (Cleveland)

Today we spent in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  It is a bit unusual for a national Park as it is long but narrow as it mostly follows the Cuyahoga River. Since rain was forecasted, we began at our most desired site, the Brandywine Falls. The falls is a nice 60 foot waterfall with a short hike to viewing platforms at both the top and bottom of the falls. We also hike the falls gorge trail, a 1.4 mile easy hike through forest along the river. We were about a 100 yards from the car when the downpour came. We carried umbrellas so we did not get too wet. We drove to the next site, the Ledges, as the rain ended. The Ledges trail is a moderate 2.2 miles that starts through forest on the top of cliffs and works its way down to walk along the base of the cliffs. The trail has ample rocks to climb. I believe this trail was the highlight of the park and definitely had the “wow” factor. Walking along the base of the cliffs some of which were directly overhead was very exciting and well worth the visit. Next we went to the Beaver March trail which offers sightings  of wildlife but all we saw was a great blue heron who must have followed us from our home backyard. We ended the day at the Metro Park just north of the National Park and viewed the Bridal Veil Falls.