First week's recap

Writing a blog about our travels didn't occur to me until we were already a week or so underway. So, here's a quick recap:

Day 1: New Orleans to the Natchez Trace

Day 1, leaving NOLA

Typically, we head to Natchez so we can do the Trace in it's entirety. But we felt we might not make it to Cleveland without having to put in  long days, which was something we make a mighty effort NOT to do.

Lake Davis was a wonderful lake, and judging by the swimmers, warm.

Russ did a little kayaking, however.

Day 2: The Trace

Day 2, on the Trace

The Natchez Trace is the longest National Park in the US. However, it's only as wide as the road. While today it's a roadway, it used to be a stage coach trail. Before that, first nations used it for migration. Before that, wild game used it for migration. Before that, dinosaurs used it for migration. No joke. It's been around a while.

We stopped in Nashville and had some BBQ at a place called Edley's. Crazy good! Across the street was a food truck selling peach cobblers. Crazy GOOD!

At the camp (another great lake place) we'd just set out some chairs to sit outside when it threatened to rain. It didn't just then, but during the night, big rain. Russ tried to kayak in the morning, but thunderstorms flared up out of the blue.


Day 3: Arriving ARV

Day 3, getting to Cleveland

A longer day by design. We wanted to get to ARV at night, but had no reason to get there early. Our appointment was Tuesday morning. So we took some smaller roads, ate at a meh restaurant called Henning's in Lebanon.
















Day 4: Athens, Ohio

Athens, Ohio

We met with the ARV folks, then rented a car. With the dogs in the back seat we headed for Athens, which was Russ's college town. As we drove into Athens there was a tremendous thunderstorm. We had to pull over and wait for it to lighten. We couldn't see out the windows with the wipers running full blast.

Finding a hotel with the dogs was a little trickier here, since the town lacked many hotels. We ended up staying at the fancy one nearest the university. The Ohio University Inn and Conference Center.













Day 5: Russ's home town

Flat tire day

From Athens we wanted to go visit Barnesville, Ohio, Russ's home town. We took small roads that winded through the hilly terrain of eastern Ohio, retracing some of the old travels Russ used to do. After a stop at a grocery store, our rental warned us that a tire was low. We filled it. About 30 minutes later, it warned us again that same tire was low. This time we inspected the tire to discover it had a screw embedded in it.

Being mindful we contacted Avis, hoping they would use roadside service. The offered to drive a new car to us. It would only take 3 hours. That would kill our day, and we needed to return to Cleveland that nigh. They then asked us to put on the spare (the tiny, clown car kind) and drive it to Columbus. Russ asked if there was an Avis in Canton, which would be on the way to Cleveland. After being put on hold, they said Canton had no cars available.

We drove to Canton. They had cars. We got the exact same make and model. Putzes.

However, we didn't get to Barnesville. Russ thinks the universe is telling him NOT to go back. Ever.

Willoughby

Day 6: A day in Willoughby

The coach wasn't ready, which wasn't a total surprise. ARV had a comfortable guest area, complete with water and donuts. What more do you need? Mike Neundorfer, the owner of ARV, took us out to lunch.

We spent that night in out coach -- on a lift. They lowered it, of course, but it was a little creepy sleeping in a cavernous mechanic's workshop.