Cooperstown-Baseball Mecca

It poured all the way to Cooperstown-and it was cold!  We thought that we would hit the baseball museum in the morning and the Norman Rockwell museum on the afternoon. Little did we know that 140  little league camp games were cancelled because of the rain!  It took us four hours to go through the museum and it really was fun to see the excitement of all those young ball players.  

After having had my equality awareness raised just the day before, I was conscious of the minimal role women play in our national pastime.  

We had fun looking for everything Giant!

I just can't understand why there is so much emphasis on all those other teams:)

Seneca Falls-A Reminder

It was pouring rain as we powered on to the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, NY.

That's me and Susan B.  This was a small national park building that was very inspiring.  In summary all I can say is ALL women and men are equal and we all would be better off if we were more conscious about it.  

We drove a bit more and stayed at a little family- owned motel in Vernon,NY.  The only memorable thing about the evening was our dinner at Vernon Downs CSino and Race Track ! Every so often during dinner the trotters would trot by the window!

In the morning we had a standard egg breakfast at Apple Betty's and we were off to Cooperstown!

Niagra Falls

What can I say?  Spectacular, commercial, must see, and done.

Yeah Linda!

Linda and I have not seen each other in 13 years and we picked up our conversation as if we had spoken yesterday!  She welcomed Michael and me, offered us her washing machine and gave us a cozy guest room.  We stayed up late talking and sharing a delicious Cabernet .  

In the morning we dried out the tent and re packed the car with all our clean clothes - thank you Linda !

It was hard to leave on Friday morning, but we were committed to reaching Niagra Falls so off we went.  Some connections are there forever- at least I hope so. 

Return to Athens

I left you when we were camping outside of Cincinnati. It was a beautiful setting.  There were a few scattered campers around and a lovely lake.  At night we saw more fireflies than I have ever seen before and they twinkled all night!  I now know where the idea for fairy lights comes from. 

We packed up the tent and drove to the shower building where we saw two maintanence men taking the water heater away!  No showers:(

After camping in 90 degree heat I was really looking forward to a rinse.  Oh well, a quick wash and off to Athens!

The campus of Ohio University has really grown in 40 years!  The main green is still the same, but many buildings have been expanded, repurposed , or rebuilt. We needed a map to find things!  The new student center is gorgeous and goes from "down the hill" up to the green.  Shively Hall has been redone and is airconditioned.  We got a tour because it was open for Orientation! No more giant window fans!  

For those of you who were there, the golf course is still behind the South Green- although I don't know if it is utilized at night anymore.  

We visited Stewart MacDonald, the instrument makers, and checked in on the Hillel - but it was closed for the summer . 

14 Brown Avenue, our home for 2 years was there , but it is a different house!  Not as cute and clearly a student rental. 

In the evening we had dinner at a great brewery, Jackie O's.  On the way back to the car we heard music and found the Athens Community Band playing a concert!  A lovely end to our evening in Athens.

We camped out a Stroud's Run state park.  It was pretty, but there were only 3 spots taken out of 81.  It felt pretty deserted.  Pit toilets that were gross, no showers, and iffy water. To add insult to injury, it started to rain just as we were finishing breakfast. We threw everything into the car and headed for Cleveland - hoping that our friend Linds  would take in this bedraggled couple . 

Cincinnati

Michael was not keen at first about visiting Cincinnati , but it turned out to be a good visit.  We went to see the house on Atlantic Avenue- where the Civil War swords were found and met Jane who had lived in the house for 20 years.  

She and Michael talked about some if the neighbors that they both knew.  We found the Aulesboro house, but that one did not hold the same level of memories. 

The last place we visited was Withrow High School.  As we came up to the school, the president of the alumni association saw us and let us in!  Michael  was most pleased about seeing the great auditorium and beautiful library. The student population is only half what it was when the Tuttles were there. Jack, the alumni president , knew Joe and Jon- Michael's brothers.  This visit was much more emotional than we had anticipated!

We left the city and are now camping at Stonelick State Park.

Louisville

What a nice day!  We left the awful hotel where the "breakfast " had curdled milk, and headed to the Louisville Slugger factory.  We loved the place!  The tour was very informative and the factory was laid out so well for visitors.  We even got a private tour of the Bat Vault!

What was not to like?  We touched Babe Ruth's bat!

Launch was at a small local place called Boomer's, named after a deceased dog. Michael was getting into the comfort food  zone with homemade tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich.

On The Road Again

As youAfter a restful night at the Lee's Summit Comfort Inn, we connected with the local Subaru dealer.  We only needed a new gas cap and by 11:00 we were on our way to the Arch!

As you can tell, we were awed by this fete of engineering .  It was meltingly hot , 97*, but we took the cable car to the top for the view. The Missussippi River was so high that all cruise boats were cancelled for the week. 

Leaving St.Louis around dinner time we decided to drive like crazy to get to Louisville.  It wasn't a bad drive, but we had so any bugs on the windshield that it looked like rain!

We entered Eastern time, lost the hour and arrived at the Fern Valley Hotel and Convention center.  Do not ever go to this place.  We survived and I cannot wait to learn how to tweet about our experience.  I wrote  Tripadvisor review, but the poor people don't even know how to get in touch with the owners. The hotel is enormous and falling down around them.

Last post continued

The next day we did two interesting cave tours.  The first was Jewel Cave, a National monument and the Wind Vave National Park.  At Wind Cave we were able to stand by the original opening where the cave "breathes."  It blows out or sucks in depending on the barometric pressure. The Lakota tribe believes this is the spot where their creation story begins!

On Saturday morning we left the Black Hills stopping one more time at Mt. Rushmore. 

Next were the Badlands with all their stark beauty.  We had to stop at most of the turnouts to ooh and aah!

We drove all the way to the KOA at the edge of South Dakota in Sioux Falls.

Sunday morning started off well.  It was a big driving day and we thought we could make it all the way to St. Louis! Unfortunately, the warning lights on the dash went on and here we are in Lee's Summit waiting to hear from the Subaru dealer.  The good news is it was only a. 20 mile tow!  Hopefully we will be on our way by this afternoon! 

From Custer South Dakota to Lees Summit Missouri

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We fully enjoyed or stay in the Black Hills and then the Badlands!  We rented a cute cabin in the KOA in Custer, SD.    

Turns out this was a good choice .  We picked the cabin instead of the tent because of a severe weather watch.  We never did get rain there, but we saw lots if intense lightening  just over the hill. It turned out that in Hill City, just over the hill there was grapefruit sized hail that broke car windows!   

We went to Mt. Rushmore  the first evening and were impressed by the patriotic program.  I have such mixed emotions about patriotism. 

The Yellowstone Grand Tour

On June  17th we did the circle tour of the park.  We had done lots of geyser gazing the day before, so we decided to focus on the other features of the park. We left the Old Faithful area and proceeded up north to Mammoth Hot Springs.  Every stop in this park is breathtaking.  Note to Marilyn, the map room no longer exists!  The visitor center was remodeled :(.  It is nice , but no maps.  We headed on to the canyon area  and thanks to Judy's recommendation we took a ranger walk to see both the upper and lower falls in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.  The lower falls are 3 times longer than Niagra Falls! 

The Yellowstone Inn

Hat a beautiful and vintage place!  We had a room in the "Old House." Some people don't like these room because the bath is down the hall , but it is totally worth it because the place is do spectacular !  A great way to spend our 41st anniversary.  We watched Old Faithful 5 times during our stay - sometimes from the balcony, once from the car, and once closer up.  

Bad. Blogger it is now June 19th

PIdaho falls was lovely. A man-made falls for power, but they are picturesque. We stayed in the Motel West, a local motel that was just fine.  We were 50 miles closer to Yellowstone and that was to prove to be amazing!  We picnicked by a stream, watched bison NSA their calves graze and forge the stream, and even saw an adult elk bull with a full rack!  Did you know that they grow a new rack each year and the older they are the larger the rack!  The antlers grow more than an inch a day. 

Pocatello? No- On to Idaho Falls

So....beautiful ride today through Nevada and Idaho.  We reached the Pocatello KOA - with thunder storms and tornado warnings . After careful deliberation we decided... No tent.! We are having a lovely dinner in the Portneuf Valley brewing company and then driving to Idaho Falls and a motel this evening.  :) Can you see the rain?

Putting up the tent

First pole out broke.   Luckily Michael had a repair kit.

It all fit! Accept the case of Coke, but not bad if we had to sacrifice something!  Off we go- adventures are fun, right?  We are still smiling so it is an auspicious beginning.

Ready to Go!

One of many stacks!

The Day Before

We are leaving tomorrow morning!  Not packed yet, but clothes are clean and there are stacks and stacks of things around the house.  We are looking forward to exploring new places and visiting with friends and family all summer long. We hope to hear from you along the way.  This is my first blog, so I'll apologize now for you to have to experience my learning curve!  Away we go!!!!