Canton, MA Tuesday, 19th August 2014   So, our holiday here is almost at an end. This is the last full day we will spend in the US. Day 20 of ‘20 posts for 20 days’. No plans as yet for today, just letting it roll out before us.   Over the last 6 years we have made 3 trips over the water:

2010 – Road Trip – New York / Boston / Toronto / Niagara Falls

2012 – Florida – Orlando / Miami / St Petersburg

2014 – Boston, Massachusetts to Cincinnati, Ohio

Although we have been to the US many times before, as Shelly’s family all live here, these three trips have been particularly special.

If we could spend time here every year we certainly would.

  Blue Jays and Grey Squirrels are fighting over territory in the garden – so noisy! Four dead squirrels have been found over the last few months – have the Blue Jays done this?

Houghton’s Pond is a spring-fed kettle hole pond formed by receding glaciers around 10,000 years ago. The Massachusek Indians fished the pond and hunted in the surrounding forests. Absolutely boiling there today. Had a swim and an amazing turkey, bacon & lettuce hot sandwich !      

A quick trip to Target to buy some gifts to take home…& then back to the house for drinks before heading off to Ninety Nine Restaurant for dinner. The final dinner in the US on this trip !

Canton, MA Monday 18th August 2014 The penultimate day of our trip, then only one more full day to go before we have to pack ! Making the most of the good weather and sitting out on the deck in the cooler morning sunshine.

Had a brilliant visit this morning to an Airstream dealership in nearby Stoughton. 

Airstream of New England, Stoughton, MA

Such an iconic piece of Americana

Who wouldn’t want to own one of these? 

The rep. was really helpful and showed us the interiors of several models. As visitors from England he probably knew we were not there to buy, but was incredibly hospitable nonetheless. All very much appreciated.

   

Uncle Milty’s Army & Navy Store in Stoughton,MA 

 

 

This has been my holiday reading…amongst other stuff ! John Adams lived in Braintree, which is around 8 miles from Canton, MA – so has been appropriately local reading for this trip…

Victor, NY to Canton, MA Sunday 17th August, 2014

Left our hotel at 11.00am to continue the drive home to Canton. The hotel was really packed as there was an air show in Rochester – ‘The Rochester International Air Show’, which probably accounted for the crowds. After several short stops for toilets and gas, we arrived back in Canton at 18.00pm.

Victor

Rochester

Canandaigua

Syracuse

Utica, in the Mohawk Valley

Schenectady

Albany

Hudson River

Springfield

Worcester

Boston

Canton

Some images of the day…

Canandaigua, is a city near Rochester, NY, founded on the site of a Seneca Iroquois Village

Schenectady, NY at 14.25pm –

Originally, the region that is now Schenectady was the home of the Mohawk Tribe. The Schenectady Massacre took place here in 1690

I am certain I saw an Otter by the roadside ! 11.35am

Saw a ‘Bambi’ Silver Stream RV –

…not the image above…11.20am

 

Crossed the Hudson River at 14.55pm.

A great road bridge…on Interstate 90…

   

Crossed the Appalachian Trail at 15.30pm

Crossed the Connecticut River at 16.05pm

Crossed the Quaboag River in Massachusetts at 16.28pm

Saw a family of Wild Turkeys at the roadside…17.50pm

 

 

West Chester, Ohio Saturday 16th August, 2014

Started our journey today back to Massachusetts, after a great visit to Shelly’s parents in West Chester, but to round off the trip we made a journey to Yellow Springs,   in Greene County, Ohio, to meet up with extended family for breakfast at Young’s Dairy.

 

Xenia, Tornad0 Super Outbreak 1974

Yellow Springs

Columbus

Mansfield

Cleveland

Ashtabula

Erie

Buffalo – The All American City

Rochester

Victor

Today & yesterday, we saw some very unusual cloud formations…which of course I didn’t photograph. ‘Jellyfish Clouds’, aka ‘Altocumulus Castelanus’ …they were mentioned on the evening news !

  We saw around 10 White tailed Deer on the way…just grazing in the green zones around the highway…wonderful !   Arrived at Victor, just outside Rochester, New York State at around 19.30 and checked into our rooms at the Holiday Inn Express before going out to The Olive Garden for dinner. We like the restaurant as it is mentioned a lot in the ‘Big Bang Theory’. Bath & bed !

West Chester, Ohio

Friday 15th August 2014

Another quiet day to rest today. Tomorrow we embark on a two day journey back to Canton.MA.

Bob Evans for breakfast –

Actually this was Steve’s breakfast, not mine – see below…

Visited a couple of thrift stores  – another Vincent dePaul Charity store, but no purchases, although I did see some interesting glassware.

 

Weather – brilliant and hot all day. Very clear skies . Wonderful end to the Ohio leg of our journey.

 

 

 

West Chester, Ohio Thursday 14th August 2014

 

King’s Island today – big funfair / amusement park with many roller coasters including The Beast, the longest, largest and oldest timber roller coaster in the US.

Some of the family know the place really well having grown up here in Ohio, so we were able to  get around the park really easily. Also, being mid-week, it wasn’t too busy so everyone went on loads of rides. To put it into perspective, Michael Ascolese (16), who came with us, has been to the park on many occasions and once, only managed to get on two rides, due to the long queues. Our family tally for the day was:

Nell – 20 rides

Rose – 19 rides

Steve – 17 rides

Michael – 16 rides

Chris – 5 rides

Shelly – 3 rides

Lesley – 1 ride

…although to be fair on Lesley, she had all the bags, mobiles, sunglasses, food & drink to look after ! 

The rides we took were:

Drop Tower

Banshee

Invertigo

Diamondback

Vortex

The Windseeker

The Beast

FireHawk

BackLot Stunt Coaster

Eiffel Tower (more a lift than a ride !)

The Racer

Whitewater Canyon

The Bat

Dodgem Cars

I went on Diamondback & felt ill for an hour after !

 

 

 

What a brilliant day all round !

We stopped at Bob Evans for dinner on the way home.

We obviously like it there…this must be the 4th or 5th time this trip ! 

On the drive back through the fields at dusk, Shelly saw a very large White Tailed Stag…I wish I had seen it !

 

West Chester, Ohio Wednesday 13th August 2014   Finally I have caught up with myself & am posting on the right day in real time ! Sat in the garden of my parents in law in West Chester, Ohio. The rest of the family have gone over to Yellow Springs where my sister in law’s husband Steve originates from.  As much a I would have liked to go to Yellow Springs with them, I really need some down time.   Spotted this great trailer in a nearby front yard !  

 

 

Vulture

Hawk

Hummingbird Moth

Yapping dogs

Valley Thrift Store, Evendale, Ohio. A great morning had visiting thrift stores in the local area.

…and then on to the nearby Vincent dePaul charity store…

Shelly bought this wedding dress. We think it is 1950’s.

 

There is a house I really like, quite near to my parents in law in West Chester, Ohio. It is called the James D .Conrey House. 

It may have been modelled on the Jefferson plantation house at Montichello.

The image  of the house below, came from the U.S. National Register of Historic Places

 

 

West Chester, Ohio Wednesday 14th August 2014 Yesterday was the event we had all been waiting for – the baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds & the Boston Red Sox at the Great American Ball Park on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati. This was my first baseball game & it was fantastic.

West Chester, Ohio

Tuesday, 12th August 2014

 

Very sad news today…

 

 

Monday was  my father in law’s 80th Birthday Celebration. We had a party for him at the Ascolese’s house. Before that, Shelly & I had an appointment at the Art Academy in downtown Cincinnati. We met with Kim Krause, Dean of Faculty. He was incredibly accommodating and showed us all around the building. A truly interesting and creative place to begin an art education. Made me wish I was 30 years younger and brave enough to start again !

Made a quick call into the Contemporary Arts Centre, by Zaha Hadid Architects

Almost fifteen years ago we went up to the Observation Deck of the Carew Tower.  It is still the most handsome and assured building in town. Had coffee in Fountain Square.

This beautifully ornate building on Vine St was built for The Cincinnati Enquirer in 1928. It is currently undergoing a massive refurbishment and conversion into two hotels.

Nobby’s Custom Tailors at 14 West 7th Street

The Last Passenger Pigeon, by John Ruthven on Vine Street, Cincinnati. This city has the most gable end murals I have ever seen.

Scotti’s Italian Restaurant at 919 Vine St, Cincinnati

 

 

West Chester, Ohio

10th August 2014

First full day in Ohio. Staying at Shelly’s parents house. Family friends, the Ascolese’s invite us over for the day to use the pool !