A Stop At Mentor Headlands

Our outing to the James A Garfield home in Mentor was followed by a stop at the Mentor Headlands. We had never been there and found it very interesting. It was a hot day and there were plenty of people on the beach. The lake looked beautiful and I'm sure many enjoying the cool water. 

The Headlands is actually a state park and under the care of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. It is a 35 acre beach on Lake Erie. The combination of lake, wind, and sand has created a rare lakeshore sand dune habitat for an interesting variety of flora and fauna.

It is a premier birding location and apparently there is a nesting bald eagle near there although we didn't look for it. There is also a resident red fox and in the fall, the Headlands is said to be a great place to see migrating monarch butterflies. 

There is a Nature Preserve next to the State Park. The sand dunes provide the perfect environment for switchgrass and beachgrass. There are marked trails through it.

Off in the distance is a scenic Fairport Harbor Lighthouse. There is a museum there as well and another place to add to our local places to visit. 

We needed to make our visit short to the headlands since we wanted to try out a recommended restaurant, Brennan's Fish House. When we got there we were disappointed to realize that it didn't sit at the edge of the Grand River with a view but since it was highly recommended, we still chose that over the restaurant across the street that sat on the water's edge. 

Inside was very nautical and very busy with customers confirming the recommendation that the food was good. Lightly breaded perch was our choice and we enjoyed every bite, 

Castle Noel -- The Streets of New York

Mark Klaus and his wife Dana have made several trips to New York to secure quite a collection of window displays from stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord and Taylors. In one room set up like a small theater, we watched a movie that showed the tremendous effort it took to box everything and load it into a truck to bring it to Ohio.


I found out later that Klaus had even made a trip when he had to travel prone in a vehicle because of some physical problems he was having. He was determined though to add to his collection. His love of Christmas and wanting to share the memories knows no bounds, I guess.


The series of windows that feature the story of the Nutcracker are amazing. The costuming and details of the characters and the setting are beyond description. Other windows included a fancy glittered shoes display and several deliciously displayed cakes, cookies and candies.


We were gathered into another theater venue and watched a crazy video of Klaus lip syncing "Let It Go" from the frozen movie as he was pictured in many of the places in the museum we had visited. At one point, it snowed in the theater to the delight of young and old--especially since it wasn't cold and it melted quickly.


One of the other amazing places we were led through was a large room where many of the things not yet put into displays were stored including, to my delight, the toy soldiers featured in the Santa Clause 2 movie.


Nearing the two hour mark in our tour, we paused before two huge doors and were told on the other side was the Grand Hall. With a little fanfare, the doors opened automatically and we were ushered into a wondrous huge hall that featured many of the things from the How The Grinch Stole Christmas movie.





The climax of our tour was Santa's mountain at the end of the hall. It was recreated by Klaus from the A Christmas Story movie. And yes, the slide was included. Santa waved to us from the top and we were all separated into families or groups to climb the stairs for a picture with Santa and then to take a trip down the slide. I made my husband and son go first because I knew I would need help getting up after the trip.




I took off my jacket (none are allowed on the slide to avoid metal scratching the sides) and placed it along with my purse between my feet that were tucked into the pocket of the  felt sack that I sat on. With a little scoot, I took off down the slide, screaming all the way. It was a thrill and yes, I felt like a kid again even when they helped me to my feet.



Pictures were available to purchase on our way out from our slide experience. Thankfully, no one bought the one with my mouth wide open as I sped down the red slide.


We explored the gift shop a bit and walked out into a beautiful fall day, feeling good about our trip back through Christmas past and looking forward to Christmas present.

 [For tickets and information go to the Castle Noel website]

Touring Castle Noel -- Oh The Nostalgia

Our tour of Castle Noel in Medina, Ohio, continued inside after our visit with Cousin Eddie's RV from Christmas Vacation. Our group of twelve squeezed into a small two story foyer area and looked up at a giant clock that displayed animals as it chimed.


We lingered a bit in a long hallway lined with autographed pictures of stars from Christmas movies and artists who performed Christmas music. Once through the hallway, we began to experience the magic of seeing some of the sets used in animated Christmas movies and a few window displays from NYC.


Then it was time to go through the vortex. As the story went, once we passed through the vortex we would be children again, returning to the age of ten. There were two kids with our group and the young boy turned to his mom and said, "But Mom, I'm ten now. What's going to happen to me?"


I'm not sure how his mom explained it but once we had navigated the spinning environment, holding tight to the rails because the tunnel that was spinning put your equilibrium off, he was still ten years old. The rest of us however were transported back to our childhood or at least to remembering the toys we'd given our kids.

Several showcases exhibited all sorts of toys mostly from the sixties and seventies. One showcase held the track for Hot Wheels cars that is exactly like the one (of three) that we have in our toy closet for the grandkids. It was the favorite of the son who was with us. I wondered if he felt ten or just felt old looking at his favorite toy in a museum.


We moved on to see several showcases with costumes from some of the famous Christmas movies. I recognized the robe worn by the ghost of Christmas present and of course the costume worn by Buddy the Elf. I didn't know that there was another costume worn by Buddy though. There was a purple outfit that was worn in a scene that was cut from the movie.


Eventually we came to an area known as the Santa training ground. It looked a bit like being under an over-decorated Christmas tree but in the center of the passageway were two stone walls made to look a bit like a chimney might if cut in half and the middle of it was padded with inflatable red cushions that made it a tight squeeze to get through--like the feeling Santa might have going down the chimney.


Well trained, we were now on our way to the streets of New York to view the Christmas display windows.

Castle Noel - Oh, The Christmas Movie Memorabilia!

It was a nice sunny half hour drive to Medina to our destination, Castle Noel For the last several years I had heard about the museum dedicated to Christmas memorabilia from movies and New York City's famous windows.

Along with our son who was visiting for Thanksgiving, we arrived about ten minutes before our appointed time for the tickets we had purchased ahead of time. We were checked in and signed a disclaimer because there were steps to manage and of course, a trip down an infamous Santa slide. After waiting a few minutes for others in our time slot to arrive, we were led into the first room and given some history of the museum.

Mark Klaus, a nationally renowned artist and sculptor, and his wife Dana have spent quite a bit of time accumulating enough artifacts to fill the museum that covers half a city block. In an article I read, Klaus attributed his interest in all things Christmas to his mother and father, who resembled Clark Griswold in his fervor to decorate at the holidays.

Klaus' talent for sculpting can be seen in the work that is displayed for sale in the gift shop. The Christmas ornaments and figurines he has there are intricately designed. He was commissioned to design the official ornament for the Times Square Millennium Celebration.

By 2002 his reputation allowed him access to those who held the artifacts he was interested in collecting and he began to acquire Christmas movie props and costumes. In 2013, his museum dream was realized as the doors opened to the wonder and delight of the visitors who have come to see his collection and, as the adults are promised, become kids again. Our golden tickets were marked "Youth" because we would feel like a kid again once we were done with the tour.

Once we had learned a little about how the museum came to be from Dana, Klaus' wife, she led us outdoors to one of the best props we had waited to see, Cousin Eddie's RV from the National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation movie starring Chevy Chase. We took the appropriate picture and learned that the RV was actually made of aluminum and fiber glass and the rust on the outside was actually painted on. Thankfully Snots, the dog, was nowhere to be seen and we didn't have to rub his belly.

We followed Dana, our guide, into the next building and another tour guide took over, What awaited us would amaze us on every turn we took.

Time For Some Velvet Ice Cream?

Visitor's centers are to the travel addict like candy stores are to the candy lover. We happened to stop to peruse one as we waited to meet family for lunch halfway between our place and theirs. I picked up several pamphlets of attractions and things to do in the area. I live in Ohio but I am still discovering new places to see. One of the pamphlets showed an old grist mill with an ice cream factory. A little history and a great treat. What better combination?

On our way to Columbus that next week, we decided to stop off and check out the grist mill and factory. We'd been to the Mount Vernon area often but never traveled Route 13 further south than that. It was beautiful countryside on a clear and sunny day. The grist mill turnoff was well marked near Utica just past the Route 62 junction. We pulled in and found we had arrived just in time for a factory tour.

Our energetic guide took us out of the shelter where a video of the history of Velvet Ice Cream usually plays and suggested that she give us the information herself since we seemed to be invaded by some pesky wasps. She did a great job of filling us in as we sat on a stone wall and enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine.

In 1914, Joseph Dager began Velvet Ice Cream in the basement of a confectionery shop in Utica, Ohio, using a hand cranked ice cream maker. He would make just enough to quickly run out and sell it before it melted. Finding a supply of ice eventually led to a wider distribution and the business began to grow. In the 1930s a small factory was built behind the confectionery and Dager expanded even further reaching groceries and restaurants as far away as Columbus.

When they needed to expand, the next generation of Dagers found an old 1817 grist mill near Utica that fit their company's reputation of old fashioned goodness and moved their factory next to it. It became their trademark.

Our guide took us into the viewing area of the factory where we watched as ice cream was put into containers, capped and sent off to an instant freezer that freezes the mixture within minutes.

We stopped in the restaurant and enjoyed terrific trail bologna sandwiches being careful to save room for ice cream. I tried the sweet and salty caramel flavor that was heavenly. As we enjoyed our cones, we wandered through the small display of old ice cream makers.

All in all a perfect oasis for a summertime outing.

Remembering the Island Airline's Tri Motor

[There is a restoration project going on at the Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton. Great museum if you visit the area!]

A deep rumble permeates the plane and its passengers as they taxi to the end of the airstrip. A pause. A turn. The pilot, Harold Hauck, looks back at his passengers, grins, and then turns to the controls as the Ford Tri-motor he pilots gallops down the runway and finally lifts into the air. It is a thrill I fondly remember from my youth in the late 50s and 60s as my family made our weekly visit to their vacation home on South Bass Island in Lake Erie.

The Ford Tri-motor, or the Tin Goose as it was nicknamed, was a major mode of transportation for the Island Airlines of Port Clinton, Ohio, for over 50 years. At one time I believe they owned three. It carried passengers and cargo to the Lake Erie Islands of South Bass, Middle Bass, North Bass, and Rattlesnake. In the winter, it was the only means of public transportation to the islands and was used as a “school bus” for the children on the outer islands who attended school at Put-In-Bay or Port Clinton on the mainland.

My very first plane ride was in the Tin Goose whose corrugated metal sides shone brightly in the sun. The Goose had room for two pilots and seventeen passengers who sat on small metal seats padded lightly with vinyl cushions. The back of the metal seat barely made it to the small of an adult’s back (the restored version appears to have much more comfortable seats) and most hunched forward to look out the windows as the plane flew its scenic route. Often cargo was stacked on one side of the plane, passengers sat on the other and when the plane banked, hands would go up to be sure the cargo stayed in place.

The most exciting trip for me came later when my husband and I hitched a ride on the mail route on the Tri-motor. We lifted off and touched down at each of the islands where mail pouches were exchanged. Landing and take-off at Rattlesnake Island was as exciting as any amusement park ride could be. The airstrip was cut across the little island and the pilot had to judge his landing quickly at the start of the runway so that he had enough distance to brake and turn before falling off the cliff at the other end. Take off was equally exciting as the plane gunned engines at one end of the runway and took off with a burst of “speed” while everyone held their breath to see if we could lift off before reaching the lake on the other side.

There were only two crashes that I know of in the islands. One took place on Kellys Island in 1954 and the other at Port Clinton in 1972. The pieces-parts of the Island Airlines Tri-motors are shown here in a series of photographs taken in Vicksburg, Michigan, where the plane was being restored.

There is a restored Tri-motor that tours in the summer and offers rides. What a privilege we had to ride at a $5-10 rate when we were kids. Fond memories.

What's New At The CLE Met Zoo?

It was a chilly day but a beautifully sunny day and too tempting to pass up a chance to take a walk through the Cleveveland MetroParks Zoo. It's one of our favorite ways to get some exercise and fresh air and be entertained at the same time. What we didn't expect was how crowded the zoo would be. It dawned on us that it was spring break week for many but that just made it more entertaining. Nothing evokes smiles more than seeing parents with young children handling all the questions and energy. We can look back with fond memories since we are past all of that now.


As we neared the Fulton Parkway bridge over Big Creek, we noticed a fellow with a big lens on his camera pointed at the underside of the bridge. As we neared the area where he was, we saw a brand new sign and stopped in front of it. It was information about a pair of peregrine falcons that have nested under the bridge. Apparently they are the fastest animals on earth. They can fly between 40-60 MPH and when diving for their prey, can reach up to 220 MPH! I hope they have good brakes.


It was time to test out my new camera. When we spotted the bird I zoomed in and hoped for the best. The bird, which our camera friend said was the female, was a bit in the shadows but I did catch a fairly good shot of her. Our friend, who was obviously a bird enthusiast and somehow involved with the zoo or the birds or both, said that they had put up a nesting platform for the birds to build on. It will be exciting to watch a new bird family.


Another new to us animal in the zoo was the takin. I don't recall seeing them before. They look like real characters. I think they come from the Himalayas and are also known as gnu goats. Big goats!


Most of the furry large cats were just being lazy and enjoying the warm sunshine and no one woke up the bears. We spent about an hour and a half and then decided to head home.

 Lots to look forward to as the weather warms. Have I told you before? I love the zoo.

Ohio's Castle

Palaces and Castles abound abroad in Europe and Russia and many other countries. In America many of our large mansions could probably qualify as being labeled palaces or castles. One in particular just outside Cincinnati, OH, in Loveland was built as an actual castle by a man named Harry Delos Andrews.

Andrews was a World War I veteran who enlisted in the service as a medic because he did not like the weapons of "modern day" warfare. He would rather the war be fought on a more personal level as in the medieval days of knights with sword to sword combat.

After a long bout with meningitis and a failed engagement to be married, he became active with the scouts. His troop began camping out on some land that was donated and when the tents and equipment his troop had established on the land was lost to weather and vandals, he decided his troop needed some "stone tents." He built two structures on the land from stone.

Troops in the day were given names like bears, lions, etc. Andrews troop was known as the Knights of the Golden Trail in keeping with his love of medieval lore. Eventually Andrews decided to build a caste for his knights and the Lovelenad Castle came to be in the 1920s.

Today the castle is still guarded by the Knights of the Golden Trail. Scout troops are allowed to book a stay overnight at the castle and there are tours of the castle and its gardens for the public. Check out the details at the Loveland Castle site.

Maria's Field Of Hope

It had rained for several days so when the first day that promised to be sunny and pleasant came along, we decided to do something I've wanted to do for a long time--see the field of sunflowers that borders Interstate 90 in Avon, Ohio. The field of sunflowers was begun in 2014 by the Prayers from Maria Foundation as a way to gracefully draw attention to the lack of funding for childhood cancer.

Maria McNamara was a six year old girl who in 2006 was given the awful diagnosis of an aggressive and fatal brain tumor. Like many families who stand up and try to fight against the odds, they researched and exhausted all the avenues they could find to give them hope. In the end, they discovered that there was a lack of funding for this type of cancerous tumor called a glioma that strikes youngsters and takes their lives much too soon. Their beautiful Maria suffered through 14 months before she died. Her full story can be found at the Foundation website.

The foundation the family established is called Prayers From Maria because though she was so very ill, she still wanted to pray for other children who were suffering as well. The foundation is dedicated to funding global research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for childhood brain tumors known as gliomas. The family is dedicated to raising public awareness and funds to give as grants for research to bring hope to those families who are or will be affected by this awful disease.

The 25 acre field bloomed a little early this year. Each year it is planted in June and the blossoms usually emerge early September. The media each year covers the news of the blooms and this year reported that new construction in the area may be the end of the field of hope if a new location cannot be found. I think many would be sad to see that happen. Hopefully someone will step up with a solution.

We couldn't walk through the field as the pathway was a mud pit from all the rain we'd had that week. Volunteers were putting down a mulch so that you could at least get closer to the field up front. There were signs we could see off in the distance along the path but we couldn't read them from our vantage point. Some sunflowers had dedications attached to them (tags were available at the gift shop).

It was an awesome experience. The sunflowers were stunning. The message deep. There is always hope.

And Then There's The Cheese Trail

A few years ago I would have loved this adventure. Unfortunately cheese is no longer a friend to me but that doesn't mean that following this trail wouldn't be fun.

The cheese trail spans about 60-70 miles between Akron and Sugarcreek. There are only five stops along this trail and unlike the donut trail in Butler, there is no passport or T shirt at the end of the trail.

To find the list of cheese stops and a map, go to the Only In Your State website. 

There's also a wine and cheese trail I happened upon but I wouldn't suggest sampling and driving. That's one you may want to designate a driver for.

Butler County's Donut Trail

Got a hankering to feed your sweet tooth? Butler County Ohio has a unique way to do it--by following the trail. No, you don't have to hike although with all the donuts you'll eat or at least purchase, you may want to get the exercise.  Let me explain.

First of all, you'll need to pick up a passport. You can get one at whatever donut shop you start your sweet adventure. Each place you visit after that will give you a stamp in your passport and you can start collecting some of those delicious treats as well.

When you have finished the 80 mile trail and have made at least eleven stops, you go to the Butler County Visitor's Bureau in West Chester and show them your passport. You then get the T shirt!

Butler County is located between Dayton and Cinncinnati. Go to the Butler County Visitor's Bureau website to find the map and list of shops. Have fun!

Oktoberfest - Put In Bay, Ohio

Every October Put-In-Bay, Ohio, sponsors an Oktoberfest. We have been going for quite a few years now. It's a great autumn celebration with lots of food, a band, (which this year was outstanding) and a time for us to visit with family that lives there.

This year it seemed it was a preview for our river cruise that is coming soon on the Danube River. I'm looking forward to the schnitzel. I remember from years ago the schnitzel that filled a plate and all the trimmings that went with it. This year though at PIB I opted for a knockwurst which was delicious along with the kraut, cabbage and potato pancake.

Bob enjoys apple dumplings and there is one booth at the Oktoberfest each year that features them. He insists on going to Oktoberfest on Saturday because the one year we went on Sunday, the apple dumplings were sold out. He got his wish this year and delved into the dumpling and ice cream with great appreciation.

The 25 piece band, The Deutscher Musik Verein, according to its facebook page is from the Cleveland area and is a non-profit that performs about 20 times a year. They were so much fun and the music was terrific!

If you are looking for a great getaway for a day or a weekend in October check out the possibilities at Put In Bay. Book early though if you are staying overnight. This is becoming quite a popular venue. We live close enough to make it a day trip but were amazed at how full the Miller Ferry was at 10:30 when we arrived. The festivities start at 11 so I guess everyone was thinking that was a good boat to catch. For more information on Oktoberfest and the island, check out Put In Bay. com.

FIRST Robotics Competition - Cleveland, OH

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology or FIRST was founded back in 1989 by Dean Kamen. It is an amazing organization that gives kids an opportunity not only to advance their skills in science and technology but to learn to work together as a team, become leaders, improve self-confidence and so much more.


My husband, Bob, has volunteered to help out with their Buckeye Regional robotics competition for several years. This year we got home from Florida a little too late for him to participate but he wanted to see what was going on so we ventured down to the Wolstein Center on the Cleveland State campus last weekend to check it out. It was my first glimpse of things in person and I found it very interesting.


Each year in January, teams are given the requirements for their robot's functions. This year they had to be able to pick up discs that were actually gears and put them on a pulley that sent them to a person who assembled them to start their "rocket ship" propellers moving.

Another activity was to shoot nerf balls into a funnel that I think was to add fuel. The last minute of the round was a mad dash to a rope that the robot had to climb to hop on board the rocket or space ship before it took off. The alliance team (made up of three individual teams) who got the most points won.It became obvious that the gears and the climb got the most points because we didn't see but one robot who was very good at shooting the nerf balls.

It was amazing to think about all the components that went into making the robot function to fulfill all the requirements. Not only did the mechanics have to work but their was a thirty second time where the robot worked off of a pre-programmed function. After that the kids controlled the robots.


We stopped down to the pit area where booths were set up for each team to work on last minute details and adjustments. Another area was the practice field where certain components of the competition were set up for teams to practice on. It was fun to see the robots up close and watch as the kids and their mentors worked to solve problems and improve efficiency.

All in all an inspiring event. It gives you confidence for the future.

A Look Back - Geauga Lake Park

The jacket hangs in our hall closet. The smell of funnel cakes has finally faded. The blue jacket was part of the uniform worn by my son on one of his first jobs--funnel cake maker at Geauga Lake Park. But it is also a reminder of good times once had at the amusement park not far from where we live.

Geauga Lake is all but gone now. I believe the Big Dipper roller coaster has been taken down. It was all that remained to remind those who had enjoyed warm summer days there of the enjoyment the park had brought.

The park, located in Aurora, Ohio, dated back to 1889 and went through several transitions as ownership changed. One of the favorites was when Sea World opened up across from the amusement rides on the other side of the lake. Shamu, the sea lions and of course the dolphins brought a day filled with wonder and education.

The amusement rides of Geauga Lake included not only roller coasters but more nostalgic rides like the old fashioned cars that ran on a rail. How many of us remember our first driving experience on that track when your parent had to push the gas pedal because you couldn't reach it?

But alas, Sea World is gone. Geauga Lake Park is gone and even the water park that ran a few more years is gone. What will replace it can only be imagined. Many though will pass by and say, "Remember when. . .?"

Celebrating 48 Years!

This year was our forty-eighth wedding anniversary. Many times we have been on the road or out at sea celebrating but this year we were between trips. My wonderful and clever husband decided to surprise me with an overnight stay at one of the nice bed and breakfasts in our area.

The Inn at Brandywine Falls is actually on Cuyahoga Valley National Park land and is a top rated B&B. The neat thing too was that about 25 years ago when they were first getting started and I was still writing for a small local newspaper, I got to interview the couple who own and operate it. I was excited to see how things were going.

Katie and George Hoy are still the quintessential hosts. The house was built in 1848 and has been renovated but kept true to its original design. An out building has also been restored and made into two suites called The Granary. We stayed in one of them for our anniversary night.

The Loft, as our suite was called was very rustic and certainly country with all of the chicken themed accessories. There were two futons in the sitting area, a table in the area that was glassed in and resembled a wall of a greenhouse that looked out into a shaded area of the yard. On the table was a bowl of fresh fruit, two homemade cookies and best of all, two homemade chocolate buckeyes. If you are a buckeye, especially an OSU buckeye, you know the delight of the peanut butter/chocolate treat.

One other unique feature was the train that ran on a track above our heads. You could turn it on with a light switch by the door. We left it off. I was afraid it would make me dizzy.

We went for a walk to the falls which were about five minutes up the bike trail from the Inn. A photography class was all set up at the lower viewing area taking pictures. The falls spread out almost like a bridal veil train. After all the waterfalls we saw in Iceland it was still special to view this one.

Back around the Inn we enjoyed watching the variety of chickens and a couple of goats that reside in the yard of the Inn before heading out to dinner at a local restaurant. It was a quiet evening when we returned.

While our evening was nice, the best part of our stay was breakfast. The Hoys and their staff put on quite a spread. There was cinnamon/apple oatmeal with toppings and fresh fruit, orange juice in a fancy stemmed glass, a sausage meatloaf with herb-seasoned scrambled eggs and George's fresh baked oatmeal bread. Add to all that a great cup of coffee with bottomless refills and you have some of what made this breakfast great.

George joined us while Katie served up the hot meal. She then joined us as well and the stories began to flow. There were historical notes about the area and tales of adventures of being a B&B host and the guests (there were ten of us around the table) joined in with their own stories. An hour and a half later we all decided we'd better get on our way or we'd be there for lunch.


It  was back to reality for us--the grocery store and home just a half hour away. Such fun and an anniversary to remember and we didn't even have to drive far to enjoy it.

Kayaking The Crooked River

Looking for a fun outdoor activity to do with our visiting granddaughter, we decided to revisit a place from our youth leader days. About thirty-five years ago (or so) we would take the teens from our church for a weekend canoe trip at Camp Hi in Hiram, Ohio. It was not a fancy place to say the least back then--outhouses and basic canoe equipment. The first time we did the overnight trip was when I learned what "primitive camping" was. I thought it meant the facility had an outhouse. That sounded primitive to me. Not so. We ended up hanging up a blanket for the girls to have some privacy. We had one teen who never came again even though we found a better camping spot in the following years.

Well, Camp Hi had changed but not a lot. The grounds had a lot more picnic tables and the outhouse was a lot nicer. Is there such a thing as a modern outhouse? And along with a lot more canoes there was also the option of kayaks.

We arrived shortly before ten in the morning. Bob had reserved three kayaks but once there, our granddaughter decided she didn't want to have her own kayak so she and I chose a two-man (or rather woman) kayak. We picked up life jackets and paddles and found the last three seats in the van for the ride up the river to the drop off point.

One canoe and several kayaks went into the river before us. We were the last in and let everyone get a good head start. It was like having the river to ourselves. The Cuyahoga wasn't running too fast since we hadn't had a lot of rain in the last few weeks. There were a few places where the current picked up and I got to rest a bit. Our granddaughter rested between a couple strokes here and there which got more frequent as she got hungrier and wanted to get to our picnic lunch.

A seven mile trip that took us three hours fifteen minutes revealed lots of water lilies and other marsh flowers as well as a huge blue heron, several turtles and a glimpse of a river otter. While it promised to be a hot and humid day, there were large sections of shade and a nice breeze blowing most of the time. It was relaxing and peaceful and something we will always remember sharing with our granddaughter.

Exploring a Geode - Crystal Cave

It's been many years since we have taken a tour of the Crystal Cave at Put In Bay, Ohio. Looking for something new to do with our granddaughter as we visited the island and some family we have there, we decided to introduce her to one of South Bass Island's more unique sites.

The cave is actually a geode that was discovered by workers in 1897 who were digging a well for the Heineman Winery above ground. The walls of the cave or geode are covered in strontium sulfate, a bluish mineral called celestite. The crystals are not as blue as they once were because of the lights that work with the natural moisture in the cave to create a greenish algae.

The crystals of the cave range in size from 8 to 18 inches. Some have been removed to allow enough room for visitors and create a floor to walk on. The removed crystals were used for manufacturing fireworks. It gives off a bright red color.

During prohibition days, the family owned winery was helped to pay its bills by offering tours of the cave since it was not allowed to sell alcohol.

An $8 ticket gives you a tour of the cave and the winery and a token for a small glass of wine or grape juice. We skipped the winery tour since we were running short of time but we did enjoy a glass of grape juice while we waited for our tour to start. Heineman's grape juice has a unique taste totally different than Welch's from the grocery store.

I don't know of anywhere else in the world where you can walk inside a rock. If you can manage the 42 steps down and back up take a look. It's worth the effort.

Through My Lens - Put In Bay, Ohio