A new appreciation for Ohio

In years past Ohio has been a state to get through on our way to somewhere else, traffic was always bad and we never lucked out on decent hotel rooms for a long time. We've been know to drive to IN just to get out of OH, our boys could tell you stories of their dad ranting about the traffic and drivers,  The only time we did anything fun in OH was a few years back when we stopped at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. A definite must if you grew up in the early years of rock n roll and loved the music, one room is a continual video, played out over a large screen, of the Hall of Fame inductees through the years. You sit in a room with sofas of the 60's era, wavy backs and very comfy with music all around you. Guess you can tell we enjoyed our visit :)  We are now forming a new opinion.

I was born in Cincinnati, we moved to TX a month after I was born, but came back every summer to visit my grandparents, so I do have good memories of Ohio but for Dave it has never been a state he has anything good to say about. We enjoyed our stay on Lake Erie, checking another Great Lake off of the never ending list of places to visit, and are now enjoying our stay in north central Ohio. From the shore to a small park, 838 acres with a  93 acre lake, miles of roads to bike and a mountain bike trail that we didn't ride. There is a disc golf course and lots of trails, 16 miles worth, to walk on and I'm sure in the summer there are lots of programs going on. We haven't seen anything since we've been here and leave tomorrow to move on down the road another 150 miles to another OH state park. Our day has gone as many have gone this past week, get up in the 6am hour-much better than the 4am  hour- spend an hour or two awakening and figuring out how the day will go. A bike ride before the gas run, then as Dave would say it was time to rub some meat, dinner Tuesday was a pork rib done with his own rub. After he lovingly rubbed his meat (sorry but that's my husband a little crazy-pictures next time I hope) we let them refrigerate for awhile, before heading out to paddle Findley Lake we put the ribs in the slow cooker on low.

 Dave decided to spring for a fishing license so off we went in search of fish, we started from the launch near the campground and headed up the lake, since Dave was fishing he put me in charge of steering. Not always a good idea but off we went anyway, for the most part after a bit I was steering fine, helped to have a tailwind but I knew for sure I wasn't wanting to steer on the way back into the wind. We spent a good hour or so floating along the shoreline while Dave tried his hand at fishing with no luck, thankfully no worms were sacrificed in this futile attempt. We changed jobs for the ride back, I can do fine steering when we float along but trying to it when Dave is in the front and we trying to move along the water. Between the bike and canoe I think we've exercised most of the body for one day.

 

 Fall foliage starting at Lake Findley

Enjoying the sunshine

 Blue Skies :)

Returning to camp the aromas coming from our home were mouth watering, the wait till dinner was a long one but as usual well worth it.

Findley State Park getting ready for their fall festival

Today we head to Grand Lake St Mary's State Park where we will spend 2 nights, with family obligations westward we have to keep plodding along. Most of our days are under 250 but in a few weeks we will have a 370 mile day but the reward at the end will be well worth it. We are meeting up with friends we haven't seen in 18 years, Mark & Nancy have a goal next year  to spend 100 nights in their camper. Full timers one day? Mark and I have know each other since high school, Nancy and I spent the first six years of our kids lives being a support system for each other, Dave and Mark went on a few manly fishing trips back in the 80's, we've all vacationed together, lots of history and we're looking forward to making some more memories with them. We'll be camping in WI for 6 nights with them, can't wait.

We have reservations at a COE campground next week, wonder if my folks driveway is long enough to fit us. Guess we have some things to think about over the next few days.

 Until next time......