Monday, May 14, 2007
BykerEd
Sunday 13, Mother’s Day. What a cold night. I got up and put on a shirt and we stayed close. It was 6:30 when we got up. Miriam made a sort of French Toast with more eggs than normal – tasty.
Not being able to get a response from the African Methodist Episcopal Church about times of services, we left at 8:30 and arrived at nine. Not a soul was there even though Sunday school was to begin 9:30, but several soon showed up and warmly welcomed us. The reason for our trip always makes Black persons happy.
SS was interesting. Ed commented a bit but mostly we listened to them. One woman is new in the faith just beginning to come out of alcoholism. Worship service began at 10:45 and concluded at 1:15. What a worship service, so joyful, exuberant and expressive. We were introduced and another explained are trip. We were so warmly received. I hope we so cordially welcome minority persons to our services.
We ate lunch in the MH of soup and sandwiches. E&R decided to do a short trip of twenty miles yet today. They had a head start of about 30 minutes. We soon passed them.
We drove through many miles of vineyards right along Lake Erie. The forsythia, tulips, daffodils, azaleas and many trees are blossoming, but it is cold.
We found a lovely camp ground operated by a very nice family just past the Pennsylvania line 100 feet and into New York. They are so friendly. He went running for a picnic table when I thought it was too cold. He also got me the code to get into their WiFi. It works great.
Judy had a funny Mother’s Day email card. Arlene Yager had a positive response from my email earlier today. That will be a great conclusion to this trip. I emailed her back agreeing that Maurice needs to send us directions. Jamie had beautiful photos of Elijah holding Asher. What nice Great Grandchildren.
We checked out the Lancaster Newspapers for local news and discovered a triple murder in Blossom Hill on Saturday. Parents and a teenage son and there is no indication of a killer. It is not far at all from E&R’s home in Manheim Township.
Ed and the rest of us watched the big Golf Tournament and snacked on corn chips with salsa, peanut butter on cookies, ice cream and coffee. That was supper tonight.
We called and talked to Judy and Glenn. There was no response from Marilyn or Renee. Jim called.
As usual we worked at plans for meeting tomorrow evening. This time it is a bit unusual – we are uncertain where, either in Hamburg or Orchard Park, NY. Never before had we not decided on the town. There were times we looked for a place to meet in a specified town and then called and told them where we are. There are no camping sites indicated from here to Buffalo. The next is just inside Canada at Fort Erie. Buffalo is 85 miles the sign said and 90 by bike. So it seems clear that we will boon-dock Monday might.
We watched 60 minutes and then some of Nature but as the sun was setting out over Lake Erie we decided to get some more photos of that. At the last few moments the sun went down behind a cloud cover or perhaps lake fog. That was attractive too. But it was really cold standing out there. Saw that a possibility of frost existed in Lancaster. Wow!
Even though it was already nearly nine we decided we needed to play a few games of Rummikub. This has practically become our official game.
At 10:30 we stacked another blanket on our bed and turned the heat to sixty. E&R have toasty sleeping bags. We should have brought ours but they are so large and bulky. This is the first time we put it on at night. It was so nice to cuddle in between those good warm covers.
Not being able to get a response from the African Methodist Episcopal Church about times of services, we left at 8:30 and arrived at nine. Not a soul was there even though Sunday school was to begin 9:30, but several soon showed up and warmly welcomed us. The reason for our trip always makes Black persons happy.
SS was interesting. Ed commented a bit but mostly we listened to them. One woman is new in the faith just beginning to come out of alcoholism. Worship service began at 10:45 and concluded at 1:15. What a worship service, so joyful, exuberant and expressive. We were introduced and another explained are trip. We were so warmly received. I hope we so cordially welcome minority persons to our services.
We ate lunch in the MH of soup and sandwiches. E&R decided to do a short trip of twenty miles yet today. They had a head start of about 30 minutes. We soon passed them.
We drove through many miles of vineyards right along Lake Erie. The forsythia, tulips, daffodils, azaleas and many trees are blossoming, but it is cold.
We found a lovely camp ground operated by a very nice family just past the Pennsylvania line 100 feet and into New York. They are so friendly. He went running for a picnic table when I thought it was too cold. He also got me the code to get into their WiFi. It works great.
Judy had a funny Mother’s Day email card. Arlene Yager had a positive response from my email earlier today. That will be a great conclusion to this trip. I emailed her back agreeing that Maurice needs to send us directions. Jamie had beautiful photos of Elijah holding Asher. What nice Great Grandchildren.
We checked out the Lancaster Newspapers for local news and discovered a triple murder in Blossom Hill on Saturday. Parents and a teenage son and there is no indication of a killer. It is not far at all from E&R’s home in Manheim Township.
Ed and the rest of us watched the big Golf Tournament and snacked on corn chips with salsa, peanut butter on cookies, ice cream and coffee. That was supper tonight.
We called and talked to Judy and Glenn. There was no response from Marilyn or Renee. Jim called.
As usual we worked at plans for meeting tomorrow evening. This time it is a bit unusual – we are uncertain where, either in Hamburg or Orchard Park, NY. Never before had we not decided on the town. There were times we looked for a place to meet in a specified town and then called and told them where we are. There are no camping sites indicated from here to Buffalo. The next is just inside Canada at Fort Erie. Buffalo is 85 miles the sign said and 90 by bike. So it seems clear that we will boon-dock Monday might.
We watched 60 minutes and then some of Nature but as the sun was setting out over Lake Erie we decided to get some more photos of that. At the last few moments the sun went down behind a cloud cover or perhaps lake fog. That was attractive too. But it was really cold standing out there. Saw that a possibility of frost existed in Lancaster. Wow!
Even though it was already nearly nine we decided we needed to play a few games of Rummikub. This has practically become our official game.
At 10:30 we stacked another blanket on our bed and turned the heat to sixty. E&R have toasty sleeping bags. We should have brought ours but they are so large and bulky. This is the first time we put it on at night. It was so nice to cuddle in between those good warm covers.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Friday 11. Today we conclude one month since we left home – a great thirty days.
As agreed last night we did not get up early this morning – 7:45. After one of Miriam’s fancy pancake breakfasts – blue
berries, nuts, whole wheat flour, etc. – they were on the road by 8:30 with three of the left-over pancakes, two tangerines, and two bananas which is traditional. In addition to that they will stop a number of times for sandwiches, ice cream, Gatorade, and just to take care of hynnie-it is, etc. The horses need to be fed to keep up the energy. About fifteen minutes after they left the camp the owner arrived walking her dog and with homemade maps highlighting a better route. What a caring owner
Miriam baked a cake before we left and Paul caught up on the journaling.
We left camp about 9:30, going a couple miles to the Aurora Mennonite Church. There was a car there so we rang the bell. The woman who came to the door was all smiles, “Your friends have already been here.” We talked a bit about the biking. Her name was Stutzman and Friday the pastors, Mr. & Mrs. Jim Engle are off. As I imagined his father is Bible professor at EMU and Karis Engle our Florida friend is his sister.
We went leisurely on north following Annie’s direction. It is pretty country up and down some steep little curves during which the big drawer under the oven kept opening.
We shopped at a Giant Eagle supermarket again and this time we signed up for one of their little discount cards. I hate being bothered by those cards just like Oregon Dairy does too. About two blocks beyond we found a Wal*Mart Supercenter – too late.
In the village of Austinburg we quickly located the rails-to-trails bike path – beautiful with many bikers and hikers going to and fro. We read the signs describing UR activity in this area while we waited for E&R who arrived at 4:30, hot and tired after a 65 mile day.
They cleaned up and then we went to look for a nice restaurant for our weekly dinner out – cook’s night off. We found a nice reasonable place about six miles east in Jefferson. They had all you can eat Pollock or muscles. Miriam & Ed had the fish and I the muscles – delicious.
We decided the parking lot at the restaurant looked nice enough to boon-dock. Permission was readily granted. Tonight we watched, laughed and wept over Patch Adams. What a great movie.
It was ten when we turned in.
Saturday 12. We were up soon after six, had a simple cold cereal breakfast and then drove back to Austinburg where they picked up the bike trail again and were off about eight on a cold morning – brrrr. In spite of being in a parking lot this was one of the quietest nights ever. It was a small but nice crossroads town.
We washed the dishes and went slowly on our way. Some of the time we were driving along Lake Erie today and it is cold. We noticed the tulips, daffodils, Azaleas and a number of flowering trees are in full bloom – beautiful. What a long beautiful spring we are having.
Today we crossed back into good old Pennsylvania. That does feel kind of good even though we are at the far North West corner of the state.
Going through Erie we discovered it to seemingly be a manufacturing town. The map gives the population as 103,000, larger than I thought. We found a Wal*Mart and replaced the faulty pencils and I got another watch.
Our site at Sara Coyne’s campground is right on the Lake Erie beach front where we can watch the waves on this cold windy day. While it is pretty here on the beach this camp is a sort of has been and the most expensive yet -- $42. There a lot of junky looking RV’s cramped in together. This is the first time a camp owner would only take cash or traveler’s checks. They are way behind the times. That was hard on my cash supply. We did three loads of wash including E&R’s. The bikers arrived about 4, cold and tired. For a while they rode in rain and then got so cold they holed up in a restaurant for an hour or more until the rain ended. Weather wise this was likely the worst day. It is really cold here.
Miriam is making a good hot soup supper for a cold day with a nice spinach salad. Along with it there was pizza.
We worked on how far and where to go to church tomorrow and agreed to an AME Church.
After supper we finished watching the last segment the Africans in America. It is just excellent. This AME church was active in the underground railroad. Our American history desperately needs correcting. It was near eleven when we hit the sack.
As agreed last night we did not get up early this morning – 7:45. After one of Miriam’s fancy pancake breakfasts – blue
berries, nuts, whole wheat flour, etc. – they were on the road by 8:30 with three of the left-over pancakes, two tangerines, and two bananas which is traditional. In addition to that they will stop a number of times for sandwiches, ice cream, Gatorade, and just to take care of hynnie-it is, etc. The horses need to be fed to keep up the energy. About fifteen minutes after they left the camp the owner arrived walking her dog and with homemade maps highlighting a better route. What a caring owner
Miriam baked a cake before we left and Paul caught up on the journaling.
We left camp about 9:30, going a couple miles to the Aurora Mennonite Church. There was a car there so we rang the bell. The woman who came to the door was all smiles, “Your friends have already been here.” We talked a bit about the biking. Her name was Stutzman and Friday the pastors, Mr. & Mrs. Jim Engle are off. As I imagined his father is Bible professor at EMU and Karis Engle our Florida friend is his sister.
We went leisurely on north following Annie’s direction. It is pretty country up and down some steep little curves during which the big drawer under the oven kept opening.
We shopped at a Giant Eagle supermarket again and this time we signed up for one of their little discount cards. I hate being bothered by those cards just like Oregon Dairy does too. About two blocks beyond we found a Wal*Mart Supercenter – too late.
In the village of Austinburg we quickly located the rails-to-trails bike path – beautiful with many bikers and hikers going to and fro. We read the signs describing UR activity in this area while we waited for E&R who arrived at 4:30, hot and tired after a 65 mile day.
They cleaned up and then we went to look for a nice restaurant for our weekly dinner out – cook’s night off. We found a nice reasonable place about six miles east in Jefferson. They had all you can eat Pollock or muscles. Miriam & Ed had the fish and I the muscles – delicious.
We decided the parking lot at the restaurant looked nice enough to boon-dock. Permission was readily granted. Tonight we watched, laughed and wept over Patch Adams. What a great movie.
It was ten when we turned in.
Saturday 12. We were up soon after six, had a simple cold cereal breakfast and then drove back to Austinburg where they picked up the bike trail again and were off about eight on a cold morning – brrrr. In spite of being in a parking lot this was one of the quietest nights ever. It was a small but nice crossroads town.
We washed the dishes and went slowly on our way. Some of the time we were driving along Lake Erie today and it is cold. We noticed the tulips, daffodils, Azaleas and a number of flowering trees are in full bloom – beautiful. What a long beautiful spring we are having.
Today we crossed back into good old Pennsylvania. That does feel kind of good even though we are at the far North West corner of the state.
Going through Erie we discovered it to seemingly be a manufacturing town. The map gives the population as 103,000, larger than I thought. We found a Wal*Mart and replaced the faulty pencils and I got another watch.
Our site at Sara Coyne’s campground is right on the Lake Erie beach front where we can watch the waves on this cold windy day. While it is pretty here on the beach this camp is a sort of has been and the most expensive yet -- $42. There a lot of junky looking RV’s cramped in together. This is the first time a camp owner would only take cash or traveler’s checks. They are way behind the times. That was hard on my cash supply. We did three loads of wash including E&R’s. The bikers arrived about 4, cold and tired. For a while they rode in rain and then got so cold they holed up in a restaurant for an hour or more until the rain ended. Weather wise this was likely the worst day. It is really cold here.
Miriam is making a good hot soup supper for a cold day with a nice spinach salad. Along with it there was pizza.
We worked on how far and where to go to church tomorrow and agreed to an AME Church.
After supper we finished watching the last segment the Africans in America. It is just excellent. This AME church was active in the underground railroad. Our American history desperately needs correcting. It was near eleven when we hit the sack.
Friday 11. Today we conclude one month since we left home – a great thirty days.
As agreed last night we did not get up early this morning – 7:45. After one of Miriam’s fancy pancake breakfasts – blue
berries, nuts, whole wheat flour, etc. – they were on the road by 8:30 with three of the left-over pancakes, two tangerines, and two bananas which is traditional. In addition to that they will stop a number of times for sandwiches, ice cream, Gatorade, and just to take care of hynnie-it is, etc. The horses need to be fed to keep up the energy. About fifteen minutes after they left the camp the owner arrived walking her dog and with homemade maps highlighting a better route. What a caring owner
Miriam baked a cake before we left and Paul caught up on the journaling.
We left camp about 9:30, going a couple miles to the Aurora Mennonite Church. There was a car there so we rang the bell. The woman who came to the door was all smiles, “Your friends have already been here.” We talked a bit about the biking. Her name was Stutzman and Friday the pastors, Mr. & Mrs. Jim Engle are off. As I imagined his father is Bible professor at EMU and Karis Engle our Florida friend is his sister.
We went leisurely on north following Annie’s direction. It is pretty country up and down some steep little curves during which the big drawer under the oven kept opening.
We shopped at a Giant Eagle supermarket again and this time we signed up for one of their little discount cards. I hate being bothered by those cards just like Oregon Dairy does too. About two blocks beyond we found a Wal*Mart Supercenter – too late.
In the village of Austinburg we quickly located the rails-to-trails bike path – beautiful with many bikers and hikers going to and fro. We read the signs describing UR activity in this area while we waited for E&R who arrived at 4:30, hot and tired after a 65 mile day.
They cleaned up and then we went to look for a nice restaurant for our weekly dinner out – cook’s night off. We found a nice reasonable place about six miles east in Jefferson. They had all you can eat Pollock or muscles. Miriam & Ed had the fish and I the muscles – delicious.
We decided the parking lot at the restaurant looked nice enough to boon-dock. Permission was readily granted. Tonight we watched, laughed and wept over Patch Adams. What a great movie.
It was ten when we turned in.
Saturday 12. We were up soon after six, had a simple cold cereal breakfast and then drove back to Austinburg where they picked up the bike trail again and were off about eight on a cold morning – brrrr. In spite of being in a parking lot this was one of the quietest nights ever. It was a small but nice crossroads town.
We washed the dishes and went slowly on our way. Some of the time we were driving along Lake Erie today and it is cold. We noticed the tulips, daffodils, Azaleas and a number of flowering trees are in full bloom – beautiful. What a long beautiful spring we are having.
Today we crossed back into good old Pennsylvania. That does feel kind of good even though we are at the far North West corner of the state.
Going through Erie we discovered it to seemingly be a manufacturing town. The map gives the population as 103,000, larger than I thought. We found a Wal*Mart and replaced the faulty pencils and I got another watch.
Our site at Sara Coyne’s campground is right on the Lake Erie beach front where we can watch the waves on this cold windy day. While it is pretty here on the beach this camp is a sort of has been and the most expensive yet -- $42. There a lot of junky looking RV’s cramped in together. This is the first time a camp owner would only take cash or traveler’s checks. They are way behind the times. That was hard on my cash supply. We did three loads of wash including E&R’s. The bikers arrived about 4, cold and tired. For a while they rode in rain and then got so cold they holed up in a restaurant for an hour or more until the rain ended. Weather wise this was likely the worst day. It is really cold here.
Miriam is making a good hot soup supper for a cold day with a nice spinach salad. Along with it there was pizza.
We worked on how far and where to go to church tomorrow and agreed to an AME Church.
After supper we finished watching the last segment the Africans in America. It is just excellent. This AME church was active in the underground railroad. Our American history desperately needs correcting. It was near eleven when we hit the sack.
As agreed last night we did not get up early this morning – 7:45. After one of Miriam’s fancy pancake breakfasts – blue
berries, nuts, whole wheat flour, etc. – they were on the road by 8:30 with three of the left-over pancakes, two tangerines, and two bananas which is traditional. In addition to that they will stop a number of times for sandwiches, ice cream, Gatorade, and just to take care of hynnie-it is, etc. The horses need to be fed to keep up the energy. About fifteen minutes after they left the camp the owner arrived walking her dog and with homemade maps highlighting a better route. What a caring owner
Miriam baked a cake before we left and Paul caught up on the journaling.
We left camp about 9:30, going a couple miles to the Aurora Mennonite Church. There was a car there so we rang the bell. The woman who came to the door was all smiles, “Your friends have already been here.” We talked a bit about the biking. Her name was Stutzman and Friday the pastors, Mr. & Mrs. Jim Engle are off. As I imagined his father is Bible professor at EMU and Karis Engle our Florida friend is his sister.
We went leisurely on north following Annie’s direction. It is pretty country up and down some steep little curves during which the big drawer under the oven kept opening.
We shopped at a Giant Eagle supermarket again and this time we signed up for one of their little discount cards. I hate being bothered by those cards just like Oregon Dairy does too. About two blocks beyond we found a Wal*Mart Supercenter – too late.
In the village of Austinburg we quickly located the rails-to-trails bike path – beautiful with many bikers and hikers going to and fro. We read the signs describing UR activity in this area while we waited for E&R who arrived at 4:30, hot and tired after a 65 mile day.
They cleaned up and then we went to look for a nice restaurant for our weekly dinner out – cook’s night off. We found a nice reasonable place about six miles east in Jefferson. They had all you can eat Pollock or muscles. Miriam & Ed had the fish and I the muscles – delicious.
We decided the parking lot at the restaurant looked nice enough to boon-dock. Permission was readily granted. Tonight we watched, laughed and wept over Patch Adams. What a great movie.
It was ten when we turned in.
Saturday 12. We were up soon after six, had a simple cold cereal breakfast and then drove back to Austinburg where they picked up the bike trail again and were off about eight on a cold morning – brrrr. In spite of being in a parking lot this was one of the quietest nights ever. It was a small but nice crossroads town.
We washed the dishes and went slowly on our way. Some of the time we were driving along Lake Erie today and it is cold. We noticed the tulips, daffodils, Azaleas and a number of flowering trees are in full bloom – beautiful. What a long beautiful spring we are having.
Today we crossed back into good old Pennsylvania. That does feel kind of good even though we are at the far North West corner of the state.
Going through Erie we discovered it to seemingly be a manufacturing town. The map gives the population as 103,000, larger than I thought. We found a Wal*Mart and replaced the faulty pencils and I got another watch.
Our site at Sara Coyne’s campground is right on the Lake Erie beach front where we can watch the waves on this cold windy day. While it is pretty here on the beach this camp is a sort of has been and the most expensive yet -- $42. There a lot of junky looking RV’s cramped in together. This is the first time a camp owner would only take cash or traveler’s checks. They are way behind the times. That was hard on my cash supply. We did three loads of wash including E&R’s. The bikers arrived about 4, cold and tired. For a while they rode in rain and then got so cold they holed up in a restaurant for an hour or more until the rain ended. Weather wise this was likely the worst day. It is really cold here.
Miriam is making a good hot soup supper for a cold day with a nice spinach salad. Along with it there was pizza.
We worked on how far and where to go to church tomorrow and agreed to an AME Church.
After supper we finished watching the last segment the Africans in America. It is just excellent. This AME church was active in the underground railroad. Our American history desperately needs correcting. It was near eleven when we hit the sack.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Wednesday 9. Seventy four years ago today my brother Carl was born. So sad he is gone. What might we both be doing together now were he alive and both of us retired?
The Geese! They were a nuisance all night. The three young bikers said they had a terrible time sleeping as the honking was close by them and the honking went on all night. We heard them too but not being as close and inside a house we slept quite well.
It seems as if ever since we were on Central time for a few weeks we have been getting up later. But it must have been soon after six when we got up today because E&R were on their way by 7:30 following Miriam’s breakfast of eggs, home fries and onions. Of course there is always grapefruit and coffee.
Our meditation from II Corinthians 5 was apropos for our journey. The commentator in Rejoice spoke of their camping trip in the wilds and then how we can return to nice homes again whereas the refugees of Darfur and other places have little hope of anything for the future and their tenting is far more primitive than our three young biking friends. How blessed we are, or is it a noose around our necks that strangles us from seeing Jesus as the source of all our need?
The three young men left camp with a cheerful wave about 8:30. I sent their photos and more stuff for the Blog.
I put a little water in the tanks not being sure of our next facilities. We were on the road after ten.
Today we drove through some of the saddest looking Amish homes and farms -- dilapidated – that we have ever seen. Is it by choice to be humble or are these just extremely poor people. The farming implements were very antiquated compared to the Lancaster Amish.
We arrived at Findley Lake State Park about 11:30. There was no one on duty so we had to find a site and fill out the papers. They were closed from noon to one so we parked in a lot to have lunch. A park officer stopped by and we paid the money to him. It is a most lovely park but there is no water or electric on site. We needed to go to their maintenance shed to load up.
We parked and relaxed in the mostly shaded spot. I read more of Phil Clemen’s book on the Sermon on the Mount. It is a most refreshing book.
E&R arrived about 4:30 after an 80 mile day. They also noted the same thing we did about the Amish.
We used charcoal and made fish tonight. It was great plus the rice mix Miriam made.
This evening it took a long time trying to come up with tomorrow’s camp site. We all want to go to Oberlin College that has a significant museum on the UR. It was an early college that took in Blacks. From there they do not want to go too far like today. We settled on an expensive KOA South of Cleveland.
We watched the 3rd segment of the 2 CD DVD “Africans in America.” These excellent programs (4 shows totaling 6 hours) are produced by PBS. Hopefully they can be run at LH or shared with friends. We were all tired and some dozed a bit. It was 10:45 when we hit the sack.
Thursday 10. Today it is four weeks since we left home. It has been a great four weeks.
I must have been awake at four or earlier and could not sleep. For a while there was a Barred Owl calling “Who-cooks-for-you-who-cooks-for-you.” It has been a long time since we have heard that call – nice.
We were all up at six and after a hefty oatmeal breakfast, we all gave each other our usual goodbye hugs and kisses. They were off at 7:30.
We took some time to read the Mennonite Weekly Reviews and then pulled out of this lovely camp site about 9:30. We drove around to see some more of this large campground.
We arrived in Oberlin, 14 miles north and made several circles around the college campus looking for either the UR museum or the rail tracks. When we pulled over to the side a man out for a walk came and favorably commented on the MH. We asked if wanted to see inside. He was pleased and said this is just what we need, if I can convince my wife. We are just about retired. He stayed and chatted quite a while and then told us how to find the tracks just about two blocks away, where we had driven by before but looked the wrong direction. Miriam took photos of these railroad tracks with ties coming up or perhaps going down into the earth figuratively representing the Underground Railroad. He didn’t seem to indicate that there was much in the museum about the UR but talked about quite a number of houses with secret passages where slaves hid until they could get to the boats on Lake Erie just 8 miles north to cross over into Canada.
We left heading across country nearly directly east for a Wal*Mart and then the Streetsboro KOA campground. No Wal*Mart Super center so we settled for a Giant Grocery store. Our local Giant Store card would not work in this Giant so the women in back of us let us use hers. It seemed that the GPS took us way out around. They seem programmed to take you on Interstates as much as possible. As expected the KOA is nice, if a little pricey. It is relatively level but shade-less on a rather warm day.
When we called to let them know the camp site number, E&R said they had a shifter break down and spent some time in a bike shop. At 1:30 they estimated there were still 30 miles to go. It will be about five when they get in, hopefully.
I worked to get on the strong WiFi here without success. In the process all my customary AOL settings disappeared and it would not let me have the “Broadband” setting. I worked a long time at it and have no idea why AOL should have changed.
We took a walk – a long one from our campsite way out at the end – to get some tissues, check out their home made fudge and see about the WiFi. They gave me a brochure from their WiFi Company with numbers to call, none of which were operational. Finally another 800 number showed up. When I called it, I was told I need to sign up for the service and pay to the tune of $2.69 per hour of use. Forget it.
The cyclers arrived at 5:30 and told their story. They spent three hours in a bike shop getting repairs. The cable to the rear de-railer broke. After leaving the bike shop they discovered that the camp address was not correct and were told they had another six miles to go. It turned out to be only two, but those were two miles off the bike route, not something they are enthused about. This was another 80 mile day and they were beat. However, after showers and clean clothes it is always amazing how they feel so refreshed Anyway, they arrived safe.
We had a delicious supper of leftovers to clean out the frig out on the picnic table. It was a bit cool, but endurable.
We continued at the table to work out the next several days’ stops. Again the plans are for a couple of short days – 50-60 miles. To accomplish that we will look for a spot to boon-dock tomorrow near Austinburg and then call them with the location.
A woman pulled up in one of those John Deere “gators” and stopped and talked. She was working a cleanup. We asked her if she was the manager. “I’m the owner,” she said. She continued, my husband left me and I got the campground, but the Lord helped me. She came over and sat at the table with us and talked about the business and its operation. She also asked about the bike ride and gave E&R some directions for leaving via a better route. I said to her, ”From something you said earlier it sounds as if you take your faith seriously?” She picked right up on that. She had been a faithful active member of a church but her husband turned out to be faithless. She did not indicate if that was true before marriage or happened later. Gradually church involvement fell by the way. When her husband left in her desperation she searched out and found a church and a faithful woman who hung with her praying with her every Tuesday morning at breakfast. She did not know how she could have gotten through her loss without the support of this new congregation and this faithful Christian woman who still prays and shares breakfast with her each week. Now she is very involved in the church. It turned out to be a very refreshing evening. By the time she left it was dark and she needed the headlights on her gator.
As big a day as the bikers had they still needed a few games of Rummikub to unwind. “We feel just fine after showers and Miriam’s good supper and we do not need to get up early tomorrow. So we played until eleven. Everyone won a game but poor Paul.
The Geese! They were a nuisance all night. The three young bikers said they had a terrible time sleeping as the honking was close by them and the honking went on all night. We heard them too but not being as close and inside a house we slept quite well.
It seems as if ever since we were on Central time for a few weeks we have been getting up later. But it must have been soon after six when we got up today because E&R were on their way by 7:30 following Miriam’s breakfast of eggs, home fries and onions. Of course there is always grapefruit and coffee.
Our meditation from II Corinthians 5 was apropos for our journey. The commentator in Rejoice spoke of their camping trip in the wilds and then how we can return to nice homes again whereas the refugees of Darfur and other places have little hope of anything for the future and their tenting is far more primitive than our three young biking friends. How blessed we are, or is it a noose around our necks that strangles us from seeing Jesus as the source of all our need?
The three young men left camp with a cheerful wave about 8:30. I sent their photos and more stuff for the Blog.
I put a little water in the tanks not being sure of our next facilities. We were on the road after ten.
Today we drove through some of the saddest looking Amish homes and farms -- dilapidated – that we have ever seen. Is it by choice to be humble or are these just extremely poor people. The farming implements were very antiquated compared to the Lancaster Amish.
We arrived at Findley Lake State Park about 11:30. There was no one on duty so we had to find a site and fill out the papers. They were closed from noon to one so we parked in a lot to have lunch. A park officer stopped by and we paid the money to him. It is a most lovely park but there is no water or electric on site. We needed to go to their maintenance shed to load up.
We parked and relaxed in the mostly shaded spot. I read more of Phil Clemen’s book on the Sermon on the Mount. It is a most refreshing book.
E&R arrived about 4:30 after an 80 mile day. They also noted the same thing we did about the Amish.
We used charcoal and made fish tonight. It was great plus the rice mix Miriam made.
This evening it took a long time trying to come up with tomorrow’s camp site. We all want to go to Oberlin College that has a significant museum on the UR. It was an early college that took in Blacks. From there they do not want to go too far like today. We settled on an expensive KOA South of Cleveland.
We watched the 3rd segment of the 2 CD DVD “Africans in America.” These excellent programs (4 shows totaling 6 hours) are produced by PBS. Hopefully they can be run at LH or shared with friends. We were all tired and some dozed a bit. It was 10:45 when we hit the sack.
Thursday 10. Today it is four weeks since we left home. It has been a great four weeks.
I must have been awake at four or earlier and could not sleep. For a while there was a Barred Owl calling “Who-cooks-for-you-who-cooks-for-you.” It has been a long time since we have heard that call – nice.
We were all up at six and after a hefty oatmeal breakfast, we all gave each other our usual goodbye hugs and kisses. They were off at 7:30.
We took some time to read the Mennonite Weekly Reviews and then pulled out of this lovely camp site about 9:30. We drove around to see some more of this large campground.
We arrived in Oberlin, 14 miles north and made several circles around the college campus looking for either the UR museum or the rail tracks. When we pulled over to the side a man out for a walk came and favorably commented on the MH. We asked if wanted to see inside. He was pleased and said this is just what we need, if I can convince my wife. We are just about retired. He stayed and chatted quite a while and then told us how to find the tracks just about two blocks away, where we had driven by before but looked the wrong direction. Miriam took photos of these railroad tracks with ties coming up or perhaps going down into the earth figuratively representing the Underground Railroad. He didn’t seem to indicate that there was much in the museum about the UR but talked about quite a number of houses with secret passages where slaves hid until they could get to the boats on Lake Erie just 8 miles north to cross over into Canada.
We left heading across country nearly directly east for a Wal*Mart and then the Streetsboro KOA campground. No Wal*Mart Super center so we settled for a Giant Grocery store. Our local Giant Store card would not work in this Giant so the women in back of us let us use hers. It seemed that the GPS took us way out around. They seem programmed to take you on Interstates as much as possible. As expected the KOA is nice, if a little pricey. It is relatively level but shade-less on a rather warm day.
When we called to let them know the camp site number, E&R said they had a shifter break down and spent some time in a bike shop. At 1:30 they estimated there were still 30 miles to go. It will be about five when they get in, hopefully.
I worked to get on the strong WiFi here without success. In the process all my customary AOL settings disappeared and it would not let me have the “Broadband” setting. I worked a long time at it and have no idea why AOL should have changed.
We took a walk – a long one from our campsite way out at the end – to get some tissues, check out their home made fudge and see about the WiFi. They gave me a brochure from their WiFi Company with numbers to call, none of which were operational. Finally another 800 number showed up. When I called it, I was told I need to sign up for the service and pay to the tune of $2.69 per hour of use. Forget it.
The cyclers arrived at 5:30 and told their story. They spent three hours in a bike shop getting repairs. The cable to the rear de-railer broke. After leaving the bike shop they discovered that the camp address was not correct and were told they had another six miles to go. It turned out to be only two, but those were two miles off the bike route, not something they are enthused about. This was another 80 mile day and they were beat. However, after showers and clean clothes it is always amazing how they feel so refreshed Anyway, they arrived safe.
We had a delicious supper of leftovers to clean out the frig out on the picnic table. It was a bit cool, but endurable.
We continued at the table to work out the next several days’ stops. Again the plans are for a couple of short days – 50-60 miles. To accomplish that we will look for a spot to boon-dock tomorrow near Austinburg and then call them with the location.
A woman pulled up in one of those John Deere “gators” and stopped and talked. She was working a cleanup. We asked her if she was the manager. “I’m the owner,” she said. She continued, my husband left me and I got the campground, but the Lord helped me. She came over and sat at the table with us and talked about the business and its operation. She also asked about the bike ride and gave E&R some directions for leaving via a better route. I said to her, ”From something you said earlier it sounds as if you take your faith seriously?” She picked right up on that. She had been a faithful active member of a church but her husband turned out to be faithless. She did not indicate if that was true before marriage or happened later. Gradually church involvement fell by the way. When her husband left in her desperation she searched out and found a church and a faithful woman who hung with her praying with her every Tuesday morning at breakfast. She did not know how she could have gotten through her loss without the support of this new congregation and this faithful Christian woman who still prays and shares breakfast with her each week. Now she is very involved in the church. It turned out to be a very refreshing evening. By the time she left it was dark and she needed the headlights on her gator.
As big a day as the bikers had they still needed a few games of Rummikub to unwind. “We feel just fine after showers and Miriam’s good supper and we do not need to get up early tomorrow. So we played until eleven. Everyone won a game but poor Paul.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Bykered
We had plenty of time to go take refreshing showers before the bikers arrived.
Son Jim called and said he is feeling down today. He went to both the viewing and the funeral of 64 year old auctioneer Bob Martin. He said that is so sad and such a loss to him. Bob was such a warm caring guy on the board of the Open Door Youth Center and did a great job at their annual auction.
E&R pulled in about 3:30, much earlier than we expected so we had another nice long evening together. Ed began breaking up bread crusts and feeding the ducks which seemed to come running from everywhere. Somehow they spread the word. There were about ten of them. Then two Canada Geese came too, but they did not get nearly as close.
Around five we had a special treat. Three young men on bicycles pulled in. They are Canadians and taking the trip the opposite direction, from north to south. They began near Toronto instead of further north at the beginning of the route in Owen Sound. They just graduated from college and decided to do this to celebrate together. They made their own supper on a little canned heat they carried and set up their tents.
Miriam made chicken breasts with rice and I put together another salad. We had her delicious left over cottage cheese and coconut crust-less pie.
Rhoda noted that she has a disease that can readily be cured by stopping the bike about every hour and stretching. She has diagnosed and named it “Hynie-itis” It primarily affects the lower extremity that resides on the bicycle seat.
After our suppers we invited the three guys; Robin, Aaron and Noel over to our picnic table. We had a great evening together sharing biking stories, telling what to expect from the various directions we each have come, warning of dogs in the south, etc. Ed made three bowls of popcorn which went well with the biking stories. It was about 9:30 when we all went to our abodes.
Back in the MH we soon discovered there are major down-sides to the water foul – bird crap every where we walked with our shoes picking it up and bringing it into the house and the three complaining about it on their bare feet. Another was the constant loud honking of the geese constantly chasing each other. Perhaps it is mating time and they are protecting their territory. With darkness we thought it would end, but no such thing. We wonder do they make such a constant fuss back at Landis Homes or are we too far away to hear it? As we went to sleep after ten we still heard them. I'll try to send photos.
Son Jim called and said he is feeling down today. He went to both the viewing and the funeral of 64 year old auctioneer Bob Martin. He said that is so sad and such a loss to him. Bob was such a warm caring guy on the board of the Open Door Youth Center and did a great job at their annual auction.
E&R pulled in about 3:30, much earlier than we expected so we had another nice long evening together. Ed began breaking up bread crusts and feeding the ducks which seemed to come running from everywhere. Somehow they spread the word. There were about ten of them. Then two Canada Geese came too, but they did not get nearly as close.
Around five we had a special treat. Three young men on bicycles pulled in. They are Canadians and taking the trip the opposite direction, from north to south. They began near Toronto instead of further north at the beginning of the route in Owen Sound. They just graduated from college and decided to do this to celebrate together. They made their own supper on a little canned heat they carried and set up their tents.
Miriam made chicken breasts with rice and I put together another salad. We had her delicious left over cottage cheese and coconut crust-less pie.
Rhoda noted that she has a disease that can readily be cured by stopping the bike about every hour and stretching. She has diagnosed and named it “Hynie-itis” It primarily affects the lower extremity that resides on the bicycle seat.
After our suppers we invited the three guys; Robin, Aaron and Noel over to our picnic table. We had a great evening together sharing biking stories, telling what to expect from the various directions we each have come, warning of dogs in the south, etc. Ed made three bowls of popcorn which went well with the biking stories. It was about 9:30 when we all went to our abodes.
Back in the MH we soon discovered there are major down-sides to the water foul – bird crap every where we walked with our shoes picking it up and bringing it into the house and the three complaining about it on their bare feet. Another was the constant loud honking of the geese constantly chasing each other. Perhaps it is mating time and they are protecting their territory. With darkness we thought it would end, but no such thing. We wonder do they make such a constant fuss back at Landis Homes or are we too far away to hear it? As we went to sleep after ten we still heard them. I'll try to send photos.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
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