Bike trails, Covered Bridges and Wineries

Who’d-a-thunk that Ashtabula county, Ohio would be such a treasure trove of sights and activities?!  We’ve really enjoyed our stay here.  And, we even got some exercise riding our bikes on the Western Reserve Greenway Trail.  It’s one of the Rails-to-Trails system that has spoiled us so much for bike riding.  Once you get used to these near-wilderness paved bike trails, you just can’t ride anywhere else!

A 'Rails to Trails' - the Western Reserve Greenway Trail

Jim on the Greenway Trail

Flowers along the trail

Next day we decided to check out a few more covered bridges, then have dinner at the winery that Howard and Linda of RV-Dreams had recommended.  Geeeeeezz – this country is so picturesque!

One of the many covered bridges in Ashtabula County, Ohio

Jim at the State Road covered bridge

I was really kicking myself for not grabbing my good camera before we set out on this little jaunt – I could have spent all day just taking pictures of covered bridges.  I’ve gotten so complacent with just taking out my phone (Droid) to snap photos.  For little, onscreen pictures like this – I think it does a pretty good job – so I’ve gotten lazy.

State Road covered bridge

Then it was time for the wineries.  Believe it or not, there are lots of Ohio Wineries.  We drove just a little further to the town of Conneaut which is right on Lake Erie and has several wineries.  Homes are up on a hill and this picture shows a staircase leading down to the beach.  Very inviting.  As we drove around, both Jim and I were commenting on how much we liked this area.  BUT, we reminded each other that it’s July … I’m sure this is covered in snow and VERY cold in the winter time.

Beach on Lake Erie at Conneaut

The Pièce de Résistance to end our day was dinner at the Tarsitanos Winery and Café.  OMG was it delicious!

A 'Must Stop' and 'Must Eat' place

Beyond Delicious!

Appetizer: Homemade bread, roasted red pepper stuffed with gorgonzola and Proscuto and basil.  Good, chewy, wine.  The best part was the homemade raviolis.  If Jim ever sees me licking my lips while I’m sleeping … I’m dreaming of Tarsitanos!

Ready for dinner at Tarsitanos

Basil - from the garden to your plate!

Satisfied and satiated, we went back to Kenisee Lakes Thousand Trails.  Ready to hit the road after a two week stay here.  On to Vermont and the FMCA NE Area Rally.  See our Facebook page for details on the seminars we’ll be doing there.

Rock and Roll!

By Jim

 

The music genre has been around my whole life.  DJ Alan Freed coined the term way back in 1951.  It is the rallying cry for an entire generation.

 

Cleveland is the home to the Hall of Fame and Museum.

The architecture is by I.M. Pei.  It’s very reminiscent of the Louvre in Paris.

 

 

The place was pretty crowded with a line extending outside for tickets.

 

 

Bruce Springsteen was the featured rocker.  I met Bruce and the E Street band back in 1973.  They were playing in a small venue on Long Beach Island and staying in a motel across the street from our family deli-restaurant.  I cooked their breakfast and lunch while they were there.  I had a front row seat for one of their shows and was blown away by the performance.

 

 

The museum does great job of taking you through the history of Rock and Roll with videos, pictures and artifact exhibits.

You aren’t allowed to take your own pictures or video in the museum or we would have lots more here.

The museum store is huge and few visitors get out without buying a tee shirt or some music.

 

 

Here I am sporting my purchase at breakfast at Kenisee Lakes Thousand Trails where we’re staying for the next couple of days before moving on to Essex Junction for the FMCA Northeast Area Rally.

 

Chris got a Janis Joplin video and was up late singing along.  Give her enough whiskey and she will do her Janis for you sometime, if you’re lucky.  I have blackmail tape to prove it.

 

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