August 4-6, 2015, Tuesday-Thursday, Hendersonville, NC
Day 96-98
260 miles from Beckley, WV, to visit Staci and Jon. Both Rosemary and I came down with colds. Just chilling and got some much needed rest. Visited our favorite spots, Umi (Asian) and Flat Rock BBQ.
August 3, 2015, Monday, Beckley, WV
Day 95
Purchased 2 new chassis batteries at Interstate All Batteries in New Versailles (Pittsburgh). Old batteries were 6 years old and one failed. Replaced both given the age of batteries. Travel day. Overnight at Walmart in Beckley (approx. 275 miles from Fox Den).
July 31 through August 2, 2015, Friday through Sunday, Pittsburgh, PA
Day 92-94
A must stop according to Rosemary. An enjoyable visit with kids and grandkids including trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo. Grandkids are getting bigger every time we visit. Adam loved our gift of his very own motorhome with moveable interior arrangements. Ari loved the stuffed bat we gave him. Stayed at the Fox Den Acres Campground.
July 30, 2015, Thursday, Columbus, OH
Day 91
Morning found us at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Special exhibits included a Chihuly Collection and “Big Bugs” sculptures. The butterfly garden was loaded with many varieties of butterflies and many that I had never seen before. For lunch we went to the Smokehouse Brewing Co, a microbrew and bbq. The mixed greens were fantastic which is not what I should be writing about. Unfortunately, the bbq was only so-so but the Scottish Ale was good. Next up was a visit to the North Market. This is how to do a market! Just about every ethnic food you could want plus many different dessert places and all indoors and air conditioned. We regretted coming here when we were stuffed with bbq. Anyway, bubble teas for two. Next stop, Land-Grant Brewing Co. After 3 samples, ordered a “Hellion” which was a black saison (French style beer). Not bad but the French should stick to wine making. Hustled back to the Visitor Center before it closes to pick up my trophy, a Columbus Ale Trail glass. I shall always treasure it. Next, we headed to the German Village for a walk around the area. Included was a stop at The Book Loft, 32 rooms of books, a stop at Jeurgen’s German Bakery to purchase a cheese strudel. We headed back to the coach for supper. We were still so stuffed, we had a salad and some cheese (Maytag Blue) and crackers followed, of course, by strudel and rugalach. Tough life!
July 29, 2015, Wednesday, Columbus, OH
Day 90
Departed Cincinnati for about 2 hour drive to Columbus and checked into the Alton RV Park. At the Columbus visitor center we learned of the Columbus Ale Trail and the 20 breweries in town. Visit all 20 and you get a t-shirt and your photo added to the Brew Book Hall of Fame. Visit 4 and your get a free pint glass. So many breweries and so little time. We catch the free C Bus and head to the Short North area. First stop is bubble tea. But second stop is the North High Brewing Co. for a stout, with nitro. Bartender suggests another brewery close by as he stamps my passport. To my surprise, Rosemary is game to go for four. What a great gal! Next is the Seventh Son Brewing Co. for a Soothsayer Stout and a second stamp on my passport. Suppertime finds us at Katzinger’s Deli. We share a “deli-size” Reuben, 2 cheese blintzes and a huge piece of apricot kugel. All were excellent and the Reuben may be the best I have ever had. And another thing, 2 barrels, one of dill pickles and one of garlic pickles is all you can eat. I had one of each, could have eaten more but I have to watch my figure. But not so much that I couldn’t take home some rugalach.
July 28, 2015, Tuesday, Cincinnati, OH
Day 89
Began the day at the Mount Adams shopping area supposedly a San Francisco like hipster area. Not much doing in the morning so we move on to the Krohn Conservatory. The palm room made us feel like we’re home, especially the heat and humidity. Next was the Findlay Market which was billed as an open air market. Surprisingly and fortunately, it was mostly indoors and air conditioned. Rosemary had Vietnamese for lunch. I had a falafel sandwich from Dean’s Mediterranean Imports. Dean’s is run by a friendly Lebanese fellow who reminded me of my Lebanese “brother” Robert. We bought some almonds, dates and halvah from him all after a generous sampling of each. After some Coconut and some Vietnamese Coffee gelato at Dojo, we headed to the Cincinnati Museum of Art. We finally finished a museum before closing time and we returned to the coach about 4 pm. Supper in the coach followed by dates and halvah, yum!
