Cleveland - Day 2 - A delay

Deep Lock on Erie Canal Tow Path

After a day of rock n roll, we saw the more wild side of the Cleveland area by spending time in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park http://www.nps.gov/cuva/index.htm. The area is really lovely and the park is very well thought out.

Stopping for lunch at farm market

They have a great bike and hike trail system, so we headed out for a bike ride. What makes this park extra special is that they have a train that runs along the trail, so when you get tired, you can just hop the train back to where you started! How awesome is that?!?!? No worries about planning ahead, figuring how far out to go, so that you're not too tired to get back. No worries about how to get everyone back when Maggie "just can't go another mile".

So we headed out from the Visitors Center, where they have a portion of a canal boat and displays about the history of the Ohio & Erie Canal. We biked about 4 miles south to an education center, which was next door to a great farm market! We managed to put together a delicious lunch from all the goodies at the market, the highlight of which were tomato and Herb/Garlic cheese spread sandwiches on fresh-made Italian bread. After relaxing there for a bit, we biked a little further down the trail and hopped the train back to where we started.

Maggie at the Education Center

The train is normally $15, but it's only $2 for bikers! What a deal!! And Maggie was thrilled to finally get to ride on a train, because she "had never been on one before. or a plane. But she has been on a bus." (poor deprived child)

Waiting for the train at Indigo Lake

Here comes the train

Ah, relaxing after a long day of riding. They even have food and drink service!

After getting the bikes loaded up, we went to see Brandywine Falls, the largest falls in the park.

This is the kind of day I was envisioning when we set out to plan this trip. A nice, relaxing day in nature, together as a family. Yep, just what i imagined... right up to the point where the truck broke.

Walking down the boardwalk to the falls.

After getting the bikes loaded up, we went to see Brandywine Falls, the largest falls in the park. 

This is the kind of day I was envisioning when we set out to plan this trip. A nice, relaxing day in nature, together as a family. Yep, just what i imagined... right up to the point where the truck broke. 

Brandywine Falls

 When we got back to the campground, the camp host drove up to our site and asked if we knew the shock was broken on the truck. Um, no, but we know exactly when and where it happened, thanks to Ohio's unmarked railroad crossings. So instead of leaving tomorrow morning and heading toward Yellowstone, we will be staying at least one more day in Ohio. Jim is going to try to get the truck fixed in the morning, so we can still leave on Friday. If we can't get it addressed, we'll have to stay in town for the weekend, which will mean dry camping, because they don't have any spots available. Dry camping means no electric, water or sewer hookups. Not something we were quite ready to try just yet. But if we have, we'll figure it out. Fingers crossed for a repair shop with a spot on the schedule tomorrow.

So far, the truck has been the only downside of the trip. The trailer has been great, knock on wood. The truck... not so much. The power outlets aren't working. The leak in the back window I already mentioned. The A/C has been tempremental. And now the broken shock. Maybe they can fix the power outlets while they're replacing the shock.