Travel Log 6/6/2018

Travel Map

Cleveland, Ohio

Thursday 31- During our 3 night stay in the Cleveland area we operated out of West Branch State Park, which is southeast of the metro area near the small town of Ravenna. It is heavily wooded, but does have lake access and a disc golf course. I didn’t make it over to play the course here.

20180531_120806 — This site was a little small for us!

20180601_202638 — Scooter enjoyed exploring the grounds

20180601_203318 — There was a very nice swim beach

We spent some time exploring Cuyahoga Valley National Park. I had never heard of this park until we got to Ohio. It is a park established in 2000 largely due to a grassroots effort of local citizens to protect the natural setting in the valley lying in the Cleveland/Akron metropolitan corridor. Besides the flora and fauna, the valley has a history of human settlement and was the starting location for the Ohio & Erie canal, which stretched from Lake Erie south all the way across Ohio to the Ohio river, which forms the boundary between Ohio and Kentucky. The canal was built in the 1820s and was a part of the extensive eastern U.S. canal system which supported the transportation of goods prior to the coming of the railways.

20180531_133436 — This old Boston (OH) store now serves as the visitor center

20180531_134229 — This model illustrates the canal and the canal boat building process

20180531_133735 — A bike/walking path follows what used to be the towpath next to the canal

20180531_160233 — These cross-cutting rock layers were formed in alluvial fans running from the ancient mountains to the east (evidenced by the coarse rock particles in intertwined streambeds)

We also explored Cleveland a little and went grocery shopping at the West Side Market, and indoor/outdoor food market that has been in operation since 1840 (1912 in its current location). It was fun to see all the vendors and the variety of goods available there.

20180601_112557 — These towers help identify the location of the West Side Market

20180601_112642 — Lots and lots of produce

20180601_113320 — Inside were lots of meats and baked goods

20180601_123644 — A lighthouse in Lake Erie off the coast of Cleveland

On Saturday, June 2, we traveled 190 miles east to Evangola State Park, just southwest of Buffalo, New York.

Buffalo, New York

Evangola State Park is right on the shore of Lake Erie. It has a nice, open campground, a swim beach, and a disc golf course.

20180602_162026 — Lake Erie is just beyond those trees

20180602_165600 — It was too cool to swim (~60 degrees)

20180604_132052 — The wind was stirring up the waves

20180604_163619 — Scooter and I played disc golf

20180604_162120 — We only played 10 of 18 holes because it was rather muddy

On Sunday, we attended the First Baptist Church in Silver Creek. The church has a beautiful old building with a pipe organ and stained glass windows. The people in the congregation were very friendly and welcoming to us. The pastor preached a sermon on Philippians 2:1-4 on church unity and the treatment of others.

20180603_105901 — One of 4 stained glass windows at FBC Silver Creek

20180603_111230 — Sadly, the pipe organ wasn’t being used today

We also went to see the most recent Star Wars movie (Solo) at a movie theater in Angola. This theater was originally opened in 1924 as a silent movie house. It has updated sound and digital project equipment, but it still has the look and feel of an old-time theater. They show one movie per day and switch out the movie every 3 weeks. The theater is owned and operated by sasi, inc., which provides services and employment to people with disabilities.

20180603_161859 — The “New” Angola Theater

20180603_134908 — The movie was still a sharp digital image

While in the Buffalo area, we got to see Niagara Falls. This is a classic destination. The Niagara Falls State Park is right next to the falls. We rode the Maid of the Mist boat, which takes you right along the base of the falls where you are surrounded on three sides by the thundering water.