Friday - Saturday, September 9 - 10th 2022 … Two Lane Adventures Continue!

This morning, I was going to walk the trail from the campground. I started down the trail and I got to a sign, which said “Trail Closed.” So, I walked around the roads of the campground and out on the road into the campground.

After my walk, we packed up and headed out for Brown County Nashville Indiana KOA. The first time we came to was Circleville OH

Daniel Dresbach founded the community of Circleville along the Scioto River in 1810. The town received its name from circular earthworks that the Hopewell culture of pre-contact American Indians had constructed in the area, although urban development has destroyed many of those original mounds. Dresbach laid out Circleville in a circular pattern. During the 1830s, residents tired of the unusual street patterns. In 1837, the Ohio legislature authorized the Circleville Squaring Company to redesign the community with a more traditional grid pattern. The Circleville Squaring Company completed work in 1856. 

Circleville also has become world famous for its annual pumpkin show. Begun in 1903, the festival attracts more than 300,000 people a year. It is currently the sixth largest festival held in the United States, and since organizers charge no admission fee, the festival has become known as the "Greatest Free Show on Earth." The Circleville Pumpkin Show provides a showcase for Ohio's farmers and their products.

The once vacant, for 12-years, Independent Order of Odd Fellows Building is getting the restoration this historic building deserves. It was built before 1855 and took its present form in 1859, according to the Pickaway County Historical Society. The building is almost at the center of the circular earthworks, from which Circleville was named. It was the second three-story building built in the city’s center after the squaring. Columbia Lodge, No. 32 I.O.O.F of Circleville, instituted in 1844, purchased the block and in 1880, the property was valued at $20,000, “being one of the finest locations for business in the city. The lodge building is an ornament to the city, and with few exceptions, will compare favorably with any in the state,” according to a history of the county.

One of the boundaries of Circleville is the Scioto River, the Indians and Ohio’s early white settlers used the Scioto River for transportation. Water travel was much quicker and cheaper than land travel during this era. Ohio settlers used the Scioto and the state’s other rivers to transport their crops to market. A portion of the Ohio and Erie Canal also used part of the Scioto River. Both Indians and white people settled along the river due to the fertile farmland in the Scioto’s floodplain. Today, modern ships are too large to navigate the Scioto, and Ohioans primarily use the river for recreation and for drinking water.

Williamsport was founded along the banks of the Mahoning River as early as 1805 and formally listed as settled in 1827. The settlers arrived from Williamsport, Pennsylvania. William Teeters had a gristmill and a sawmill along the banks of the Mahoning. The Ohio historical marker located in Williamsport honors the Deercreek Frontier and the early history of the village. Williamsport was booming with industry and businesses in the 1950s and 1960s, but those jobs are gone today. 

The marker is located in the Williamsport Community Square, the site of the former high school in the village. The marker highlights some of the former features of the town including the high school operating from 1891 to 1964 which was later demolished; a weekly newspaper published from 1889 to 1979; and a theatrical company that toured from 1903 to 1929. The marker names David Jones, who visited sometime in 1772 or 1773. Local historian Wally Higgins said Jones, a local missionary who tried to convert Native Americans to Christianity, made some of the first contact in the area for settlers. “We’re talking two years before Lord Dunmore’s War,” Higgins said. “Jones did quite a lot of wandering around and tried to make contact with the Native Americans. It was safe to say that this one of the early frontiers where settlers met the Indians.”

Route 22 had a detour, so we took OH-138 to I-35 back onto Route 22. While we were on the detour, we went past acres and acres of farmer fields.

Plus, there was some low lying fog.

Wilmington, Ohio is the birthplace of the banana split. There's a local festival to celebrate the treat each year in June. For over 25 years, the Banana Split Festival was held the second weekend in June as a co-sponsored festival by both Wilmington Rotary organizations for the purpose of raising funds for local non-profits and Rotary Scholarship Funds. However, the long-standing Banana Split Festival was placed on hiatus for 2022 as the two community Rotary Clubs evaluate the event’s long-term future.

The City of Wilmington has a Sister City Partnership with three Ukrainian cities: Solonytsivka, Merefa, and Chuhuiv. The three communities are located in northeastern Urkaine in the Kharkiv Region. The relationship between Ukraine and Wilmington began when a group of Ukrainian officials came to Cincinnati as part of the Cincinnati-Kharkiv Sister City Partnership. Friendships were forged during this visit between the Ukrainian visitors and Mayor of Wilmington Randy Riley (t. 2012-2016). In October 2013, Mayor Riley was invited to travel to Ukraine with the Cincinnati-based group. While in Ukraine, he entered into Memorandums of Mutual Understanding or “Twinning Agreements” with the communities of Solonytsivka, Merefa, and Chuguiv. The war in Ukraine affected one of their sister cities.

There were some unique and colorful murals in this town. 

Some are homemade and others are professional!

Arrived at Brown County Nashville KOA our home for two nights with friends from our “cruise gang.” We missed the opportunity to camp with Craig & Tracy earlier this summer, because we were still in Canada, when they traveled to NY to camp with the “NY Camping FRamily.”

We were lucky, because our neighbors came and did some “hotel” camping to see us! We were excited for Larry & Marcia to meet Craig & Tracy! Since we all own homes in the same community in Florida! We enjoyed a simple evening of great steak sandwiches made by Craig, a few beers and some great conversation!

Craig pulled a muscle, so I was on my own for walking! The KOA property is long and narrow. So my walk was back and forth, back and forth! But, I did get my 4-miles in!

On late Saturday morning, we went to Story is a quaint village founded in 1851, with the grant of a land patent from President Millard Fillmore to Dr. George Story. Dr. Story was a medical doctor who hailed from a clan of timber harvesters in southern Ohio. He and his progeny built many of the structures which distinguish this town today, from the then-ample supply of domestic hardwoods. His home managed to survive the forces of entropy, and now serves as an overnight accommodation.

Story soon became the largest settlement in the area. In its heyday (1880-1929) the village supported two general stores, a nondenominational church, a one-room schoolhouse, a grain mill, a sawmill, a slaughterhouse, a blacksmith’s forge and a post office.

Story never recovered from the Great Depression (1929-1933), as families abandoned farms in search of work elsewhere. Brown County lost half of its population between 1930 and 1940. This exodus of people created an opportunity for the State of Indiana to begin the purchase of 16,000 acres of wooded hills that are now the Brown County State Park, the largest in the state.  As years passed, thousands of additional acres were acquired to form the Hoosier National Forest, Yellowwood State Forest and the Lake Monroe impoundment lands.  These vast tracts of public lands now surround Story on three sides.

Today, the entire town has been turned into The Story Inn, one of the Midwest’s premiere inns and restaurants. The Story Inn is Indiana’s oldest country inn, featuring fourteen beautifully renovated rooms and cottages, a gourmet restaurant housed in the former general store, and a resident ghost named the “Blue Lady”. Charlie & Craig did not see the "Blue Lady", but they did find two Six Foot Blondes!

We went to Hard Truth Distilling Company for a few adult beverages and a late lunch. Founded in 2015, Hard Truth Distilling Co. has grown from a small operation in the upper rooms of a pizza restaurant to an 18,000-square foot state-of-the-art distillery featuring Vendome Copper & Brass Works equipment. The distillery produces and releases a variety of premium spirits to market — including popular Hard Truth Cinnamon Vodka, Hard Truth Toasted Coconut Rum, and the award-winning Hard Truth Gin. They also distill Indiana rye whiskey and bourbon. They are now Indiana’s largest destination distillery, Hard Truth lives on the 325-acre wooded campus in Brown County. The area is an artists’ colony and tourist destination known for its natural beauty.

I was not into beer or spirits, so I found me a cider. Over yonder a few counties or more, up the road perhaps a piece or two, across the water which runs clear, where the sky melts blue and the apples grow large like lazy cats, it sits. Beanblossom. This little unincorporated town in Indiana is a music lover’s paradise filled with eccentric folk, who quite spectacularly create, in a time honored way, hard cider — carefully, beautifully, passionately ... Beanblossom style. I enjoyed a bottle of Peach Beanblossom Hard Cider. It is made from the juice of gently-pressed Midwestern apples, it was crisp, light, exceptionally delicious and perfectly refreshing. Crisp and light.

Charlie and Craig started on Six Foot Blondes at the Story Inn, so they stayed with “the girls.” It is an American Blonde Ale brewed by Quaff ON! Six Foot Blonde’s light, golden malts and hint of hops come together for a crisp, refreshing beer. This handcrafted American blonde ale is highly quaffable. Yes, I am told that is a word! Tracy enjoyed some Hard Truth Spirits in the form of Vodka!

We dined at the Big Woods way at Hard Truth Distilling Company. We ate on the upper deck outside, every seat offers gorgeous views of the surrounding trees and one of the music stages!

 

We enjoyed Big Woods favorites including burgers and I had a salad big enough for 2!

While we were at the Hard Truth Restaurant, we shopped the store area for BWQOHT swag, or stop in to the bottle shop for Hard Truth and Quaff ON! treats to take home!  I found a tank top I really liked, but they did not have one in my new smaller size and I refuse to buy the bigger size anymore! But, we found this shirt that our friend, Dana would wear!

After all the touring and drinking, we were all ready for a short nap before our evening fire. It has been a great few days with Craig & Tracy. We will see them in about 6 weeks in Key West on the Yankee RV Tours rally!

It has been another enjoyable time with great FRamily!

Thursday, September 8th 2022 … Two Lane Adventures Continue!

This morning, Janet & I got out for a walk again. Janet did 2-miles and I did 4-miles. When I got back from my walk, Charlie was already packing things up. We have a long drive today to get to our ½ point of meeting our friends, Craig & Tracy in Indiana. It was a short, but great visit with Brian & Janet! We will see them in Florida soon!

We departed the Village Green Park & campground on OH Route 193. The north end of this route is just north of the campground by Lake Erie. It runs almost 58 miles due south along a rural course through Ashtabula County to the city of Youngstown along the West River crossing northwest of Downtown.

Amish Country Ohio is located in northeast-central Ohio and contains the largest community of Amish in the world. The Amish community is over 40% of the county’s current population being comprised of Amish people. The area is generally referred to as Amish Country Ohio. There are many opportunities for delicious Amish country meals, pastries or produce. And the beauty and simplicity of country life can be found in the small farms and homesteads that dot the landscape. For those interested in the history of the local people, be sure to stop at the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center & German Culture Museum.

Known for scenic views and a simple lifestyle, Ohio Amish Country is the perfect road trip destination. Their winding country lanes are a wonderful way to explore the beautiful landscape that sets our area apart. One of the most popular routes is the Amish Country Byway. As you travel this road through the hills and beyond, you’ll gain an appreciation of the uncomplicated simple Amish way of life.

We used US Route 6 as a go between to catch a different “north-south” route. Along Route 6 is Cherry Valley. The Township of Cherry Valley became the property of Samuel Mather, Jr., upon his acquiring title from The Connecticut Land Company on November 8, 1798. The name "Cherry Valley" was suggested by Josiah Creery, who came from Richfield, NY. He purchased land in the township in 1823, but stopped first in Andover and did not move his family into the log cabin he built in Cherry Valley. His family had many descendants in Ashtabula County, many of whom were mill men and expert mechanics. John Fenn built both the first frame barn and the first frame house, the former in 1818 and the latter 7 years later. Both were situated on the Creek Road, on the farm which later became that of Horace Lindsley. The family was interested in the anti-slavery movement and helped many fleeing slaves. During one winter prior to the Harper's Ferry raid, Brown secreted about 200 Sharpe's rifles in the King Brothers Cabinet Shop in Cherry Valley. Later these weapons and other war material were moved to Wayne, and in 1859 taken in four wagon loads to Hartstown, PA and shipped by canal to Chambersburg, PA.

We took OH Route 46 south of Ashtabula County to Cortland. A six-story cross stands tall at God’s Country ATV Tours in Ashtabula County. Drivers may have seen it driving near Route 6 and 11. The steel cross costs $60,000 and took six months to put up. God’s Country ATV Tours has been developing and expanding for years, from bison on the land to this statement of faith. The owner, Mike Kromer, worked on this dream for years while working as a teacher. “There’s no doubt that this country is in need of God to recognize his sacrifice and what he did for us,” he said. “If anyone knows about sacrifice, it’s Jesus. Hopefully, it serves as a symbol to reflect inward.” Kromer said he wants the cross to be a reminder of Christ and his love.

Split in half by Mosquito Lake, Mecca is a largely rural town with a handful of gems an awesome lake views. Mecca Park offers a "Tree of Life" September 11 memorial. Who would ever want to live on a lake named after the pesky biting bug, we all hate?!

The history of Cortland really began with the purchase of land in 1804 and 1805 in Bazetta Township by Edward Scoffield and John Budd who became the first permanent settlers. With the impending railroad came more people, more money and more commerce. One who came was a traveling minister, Orrin Gates, who formerly had lived in Cortland, NY. Gates settled in Baconsburg where he became the regular minister of the Disciple Church. The oldest church in Cortland, it had been founded by members of the Baptist faith in 1818, and became a Disciple Church in 1832. Baconsburg soon became a thriving town of 614 persons. There were three churches, two newspapers, stores, mills, industries and a variety of businesses. There were two livery stables, a smithy, and two hotels for the accommodation of traveling salesmen, railroad workers and coach travelers. As one result of the growth brought about by the coming of the railroad, the village fathers set about the task of incorporation. After a four-year period, the petitioners accomplished their goal on May 7, 1873. Minister Gates, who by this time had acquired some influence in the community, managed to give the name of his former home in NY State to the newly incorporated village which now became officially known as Cortland. The incorporated portion contained a one square mile area, and so it remained until the 1950's when annexation produced the existing village limits.

Niles Ohio was founded in 1806 by James Heaton, who owned one of the first iron-ore processing plants in Ohio. The town originally went by the name of Heaton's Furnace but was later renamed Nilestown, after Hezekiah Niles. In 1843, the name was shortened to Niles. Never mind about those "old guys." How about the "Big Iron Guy" of Niles? The big Iron Worker statue was made by the children of the Niles Iron & Metal scrap yard owners, and was given to their parents as a 40th anniversary gift. The current owners are the fourth generation for this family business.

Also located in Niles is the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Library and Museum. It is the national memorial to President William McKinley. The memorial is a marble monument with two wings. One wing houses the public McKinley Memorial Library, and the other features the McKinley Museum with exhibits about President McKinley and an auditorium. The McKinley Birthplace Home and Research Center is located near the Memorial at 40 South Main Street. The historic house museum has been furnished for the period when President McKinley was in office.

  

I love the patriotism we have seen in Ohio, from the flags along the side of the road to the flags hanging on the memorial roads and bridges.

Also on the oil rigs!

Our overnight stop is AW Marion State Park, just outside Circleville Ohio. It was right off US 22. It is a rural park offers rolling woodlands and the quiet waters of Hargus Lake. Once part of the state's prairie peninsula, the park's 310 acres showcase a variety of native landscapes and wildlife. A great way to see the park is to hike the Hargus Lake Perimeter Loop. It’s a 4-mile trail with a self-guided tour of 14 points of interest. Called the perimeter loop, because it traverses the entire lake shoreline. Sadly, the campground is on one side of the park and the trail was closed, so I could not walk it L

Tomorrow, we hook up with our friends and fellow land owners at ACPZ, in Florida!

Tuesday - Wednesday, September 6 - 7th 2022 … Two Lane Adventures Continue!

Before we left Chemung County, I enjoyed my final walk. Since there was so much rain on Monday, I ditched the trails and stuck to the roads. I am glad I did, because on my way to the beach I met a single deer and she stood still as I passed.

The sky still looked ominous but the weather does not call for rain. I guess it will just be an overcast day to travel.

I walked the parking area by the beach and climbed the hill to the overflow RV parking and picnic area and on the way toward the park entrance I ran into these three deer munching on the leaves of these bushes. Again, they stayed there as I quietly passed.

We just wanted to get to Brain & Janet’s, so we took I-86 across the southern portion of New York. This highway that cuts across the southern extremities of central and western New York, connecting Binghamton on the east with the Pennsylvania state line on the west. Historically signed as New York State Route 17; being gradually consumed by Interstate 86. It was a good choice, because Route 6 in Pennsylvania would have been treacherous with this fog!

I find it interesting that there are schools that are changing their mascots because they were called “Chiefs” or “Indians.” But the New York State Southern Tier Expressway sign still sports a Native American-themed logo years after other highways got rid of theirs.

Sadly, just west of Bath is a wind turbine graveyard! This wind energy is supposed to be all the rage … but what happens to the parts when they are worn out? Almost 9% of the total electrical energy produced in the US comes from wind power. With so many wind turbines being installed, what happens to the wind turbines when they are decommissioned? 

Wind turbines are made mainly of metal and can readily be recycled into high-value goods. However, the wind turbine blades are an exception. Wind turbine blades are huge and strong, so they’re difficult to grind up and reuse. And they’re made of a mix of glass and plastic fibers that are tough to separate, so most end up in landfills. In Ireland, they’re using large pieces to make a bridge on a pedestrian and bike greenway. And at a wind farm in Kansas, there are plans to try placing old blades vertically in the ground and using them as electrical transmission poles.

It was a day for transporting “big” things … we saw more than 12 halves of manufactured homes heading east.

We also saw this oversized cylinder, I am thinking it is a piece of a wind turbine. But, I could be wrong!

Chautauqua Lake is a popular inland lake for recreation including boating, sailing, paddle sports and fishing. The lake is 17 miles long and up to 2 miles wide at its widest point. It is speculated that “Chautauqua” (She-talk-wa) means “bag tied in the middle,” “place where fish are taken out,” or “two moccasins tied together.” The reason for the ambiguity is that the name comes from the now-extinct Erie language.

The local lore favors “bag tied in the middle,” a reference to the unique shape of the lake, a south and north basin that come nearly together at the halfway point, where the Village of Bemus Point is located and the I-86 Chautauqua County Veteran’s Memorial Bridge. This is where we crossed the lake.

We left New York and crossed into Pennsylvania without fanfare, no signs … just the exit numbers reset. This portion of the highway, in Erie County, is known as the Hopkins-Bowser Highway and is signed as such. My research could not determine why it was designated as such. I did learn there is a Hopkins-Bowser Highway in Super Mario Brothers!

Ohio wanted us to know that we had arrived! They gave us a BIG welcome! Conneaut is the first town we pass through in Ohio. This town’s claim to fame is their port. The Port of Conneaut continues to be the northern loading point for train cars bearing iron ore for Pittsburgh area steel mills making it an international shipping port. Conneaut is also the home to the Lake Erie Correctional Institution, a privately operated prison governed by the State of Ohio.

We arrived at Village Green Park campground, in North Kingsville to see Brian & Janet Jones. It is our home for two nights. After we got set up, we visited for a bit and then we headed out for some dinner. 

We went to Breakwall BBQ back in Conneaut. 

 

Charlie & Janet had the wings and fries. Brian had a salad and I had the jalapeno grilled chicken with brussel sprouts. 

        

Janet & Charlie were not impressed with their food, so we filled out bellies, but Janet & Brian won’t be back for a while!

After a bit of touring the area, we arrived back at the camp. I needed to get out and walk, so Janet joined me. We did a short 2-miles, but it was nice to catch-up with Janet as we walked.

We enjoyed more time around the campfire with Brian, Janet and Sammy!

Tuesday morning, Janet enjoyed (maybe she really did not enjoy it) a 2-mile walk with me. I finished out the last 2-miles on my own. She has some decent and safe areas to walk at her campground. She is right next to a public golf course, too bad she can’t walk on that!

In the early afternoon, we headed out to explore a few wineries! Our first stop was a recommendation from a friend of ours, Craig & Tracy Lam, the Winery at Spring Hill. Craig & Tracy stayed there with the Harvest Host program. It is located in both the Grand River Valley and Lake Erie wine growing regions. It is a country winery with a friendly, relaxing atmosphere. Their warm and friendly staff was waiting to greet us at the door. Many choices awaited us at the wine bar. They offer handcrafted wines, unique hard ciders and craft beers. Their handcrafted wines feature grapes grown in the Grand River Valley, the unique hard ciders, craft beers from the best small breweries in the area, and cocktails using spirits made in local distilleries.

Their story begins in the spring of 1953 when the farm was purchased by Tom White, who owned and operated orchards in Chardon, Windsor, and then Geneva, Ohio. In later years he consolidated all operations into one location and expanded production at Spring Hill. The name Spring Hill, came from the numerous natural springs on the 200 acre farm. 

The third generation of the family, decided to change the operation. Tom had done processing for some of the local wineries and thought perhaps that might be a new opportunity for the family. At a Chamber of Commerce Dinner one evening, the seeds were planted during a conversation he had with a local businessman about starting a winery. 

Our winery journey started after the first of the year 2008. Jim & Judy Pearson, Tom Swank and his sister Cindy Swank, and Richard & Debbie Trice began the planning of The Winery at Spring Hill. Each brought to the business their own area of expertise, leaving few gaps of knowledge.

They remodeled some of the interior, added stonework, changed the red to a taupe color, and built the patio and outdoor seating areas. They opened March 7, 2009 with a staff of friends and family to a full house! As they finish their thirteenth year they have come a long way from their beginning in 1953, growing apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, plums, cherries, berries and vegetables, to their full line of wines and ciders. Look closely, do you see the heart in the sunflower?

I loved that we could get close to a few of the grape vines! Ohio has some ideal areas for grape production near the great lakes and in the Ohio River valley. Grapes also perform well in the rest of the state with careful cultivar selection and site preparation. People have successfully grown grapevines in Ohio since the early 1800s. A grapevine can live 40 years or more and provide as much as 20 pounds of fruit every year once established.

Our next stop was Old Firehouse Winery in Geneva-on-the-Lake. Old Firehouse Winey can be found just footsteps off The Strip, situated in the Village’s first fire station. 

It was a unique and fun place, located right on the Lake Erie shoreline, but it was more like a restaurant that served wine than a winery.

There were several buildings on the property and a ton of outdoor seating. We sat in one of the Gazebos. We wanted some food with our next set of wine. We got a big order of fries and nachos to share.

Janet & I each got the sampler of their sweet wines. The best tasting one was the slushy, made from a couple of wines mixed together.

Charlie enjoyed a sweet red and Brian was the DD and enjoyed his ice cold water!

The Old Firehouse Winery has the historic Erieview Park Ferris Wheel, made in 1956 located on their sunset patio. It is called "#5 Big Eli," but why? It was considered their "Fifth" model made from the original patents from George Ferris. 

William Sullivan, a steel bridge builder, saw the original "Ferris Wheel" at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He was intrigued with the concept after riding the wheel and meeting with Ferris, and eventually patented the design. His company, the "Eli Bridge Company", still uses the patented design today. It was purchased new by the Pera-Woodward family in 1956 and placed in the now defunct "Erieview Park". After it's closure in 2007, the winery completely rehabilitated and rebuilt the wheel and relocated it to where it now sits at Old Firehouse Winery

When we got back to the campground, Charlie took a short nap and we enjoyed another fire! Tomorrow morning, we head out for our next #TwoLaneAdventure