Day 38 - Granville Ohio Wed 23 July 2014 Alec Pay's House Mileage 6,573 miles

What a great day!  No where to be in any particular hurry, only to Alec and Cathy's house around 6pm. I stayed in a motel and took my time getting up and on the way. The beauty of the Ohio roads was breathtaking:

 My brother Snake had a plan for me to go all the way to eastern Ohio to ride the Ohio Dragon, but I got side tracked as I got on the back roads of Ohio.  Stopped into a place called the "Serpent Mounds".  I just had to check this out for my brother, " Serpent" I mean, "Snake"!  I had no idea what a "Serpent Mound" was, so I made a left turn down some unknown road and went 7 miles to find out.  The Historian in me was pleasantly surprised to find Indian burial grounds and unusual mounds built in the 1,000AD time frame . . .

Here is the entrance to the place, requiring a small $2 fee. . .

And below is the artist's rendition of what was on the ground right outside the museum

I went outside and started exploring

That raised portion is the start of the snake

This was taken from on top of the tower.  You can see part of the serpent's back.  It's so big you can't hardly see the whole thing with the camera

The thing is about a 1/4 of a mile long and each of the bends has some significant point of the solar system, like the Summer Solstice sunrise or the Winter Equinox Sunset. . . 

I spent a couple of hours there and had a great time talking to the resident historian about henges and mounds in general.  I loved studying the henges of England when I was over there.

But my next visit was calling and I had a dinner date with a great family, SO "on the road again" . . .

And the raise a LOT of corn in Ohio

And whatever this is ? ;-)

And more corn

My oldest friend, Alec Pay, has been waiting for many years for me to visit.  Alec was the Best Man at my wedding and we have been friends since our early Hobie racing and sailing days back in Pensacola in the late 70's, well over 30 years.  Well, Alec was insistent that I stopped and called him before I showed up.  I did, he said wait 2 minutes, and I drove into the driveway to a tumultuous roar of the fans I have never met before, except for Alec!!!

Of all my stays, this was the best welcome an old friend ever had!  Two drop dead gorgeous girls (they take after their mom ;-) and an old gray haired coot, that I haven't seen for many years.  Thank you guys!!! You made my day!!  Soon, Carly's friend, Sam showed and had to get in the act, with an "I am Sam" poster

I then proceeded to giive rides to all 3 kids, as they had never been on a big blue bike before.  Alec sent me with Riley, the 8th grader and youngest at 13, into town first.  Top speed - 25mph :-(  Hardly a curve, slow trucks all in the way . . .We were both asleep before we got back to the house.  Then the 9th grader, Carly - 14 - got on and away we went for a little more exciting ride

We zoomed down some great curvy roads all the way to another town, then the back way home.  It was a fun ride and I think I convinced her to love bikes forever!!!  Sam was up next (no homo :-) and we did about 1/2 the Carly ride, but it started sprinkling and we cut it short.. He liked it too!!!

This is the Polo field right outside his house

I was surprised just how big a Polo field really is.  The horses are actually on this field (the little dots above the middle)

Alec and Kathy took me to Mexican food at the Day and Night cafe and we had a great meal.  Thanks Alec, for picking up the tab . . . ;-)  This started a wonderful visit.  After dinner, we went home and visitied until late into the Ohio night.  Alec had to work the next day, so he went to bed and I posted a blog, still trying to catch up, and climbed in bed.  Then I got the first picture of Melissa, checking into the hospital:

It seems that the OB/GYN and Melissa and Luke decided little Kennedy was ready to come out and play.  They checked in and the doctor gave Melissa some pill to start the process.  By midnight, it had not taken effect and I fell asleep.  Thursday, in the end, will prove to be a VERY long day for Melissa . . .

Night Night

LUKE

Day 37 - Maysville Ohio, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Mileage 6,400 miles

This was a catch-up day to show you Snake and Laurie's house and around the area. Sarah had touched a hot curling iron on her arm.  We have been putting Neosporin on it and it finally blistered and popped in the shape of a heart

Cute Huh?

  Got up kinda late but in time to take young Sarah to meet her friend Aaron, at his pool.  She was happy to get to see him!

Here they are:

He seemed like a nice enough young man

I figured I might as well get in the act

A cute couple . . .  And as they walked away, I couldn't get them to hold hands :-)

But he knows his subservient place . . . ;-)

On the way home, I saw a close resemblance to my favorite Heaven on a bun and gave them a try:

They were OK, but not my Krystals

Now I was a happy camper!!!!!

When I got home, I took a few shots of the house they live in so you all can see how beautiful they have done the place up:

The guard dog, Lucy, on the front porch

From the side

Quite the castle . . .

I had my partner in crime the whole time outside

Oh, and finally, I left a last night picture out.  We were talking about Crocks, the shoe and how ugly they are, I think it was Joanne Collins' son Sean that sent me this:

I took off in the early afternoon following a trail Snake had drawn out for me through Horse Country.  As you can see, this was pretty country!  Here are some of the shots while I was driving, on either side of the road:

The pretty 4 rail fences, both black and white

Pretty flat and rolling country with farms in every direction

I drove all through horse country with the big farms raising the Kentucky Derby type horses.  Some of the barns are nicer than many houses people live in.  It was a fantastic ride, but I ran out of daylight at the Ohio border.  I stopped in and got a room at a Quality Inn Maysville KY, found a nice pizza place, ate, got in bed and talked to Luke and Mom and Jenn, all about Melissa getting induced into labor.  They started her on a pill at 10pm and she hadn't really started dialating by midnight. . .  I fell asleep . . . Wishing I was there to give moral support to Luke and Melissa. . .

LUKE Out

Day 35 and 36 Snake's House Louisville KY Sun and Mon, 19-20 July 2014 Mileage 6,242 (still)

Well, I have been on the go for over a month and it was time to relax.  We got up at the crack of 11am and had a easy lunch while Snake started packing for his trip.  He works all week flying to Toronto Canada.  He left at 2 with me laying on the couch, knowing I had to BLOG!!!! but looking at Facebook! Laurie had to go run errans, so I layed there facebooking until I dozed off.  I woke up when Laurie got home., still sleepy . . .

The Sunday morning routine at the Atwell's. . .  Paper reading and napping by the skinny one!

Checking his schedule before he hits the road and me scratching a lazy dog's belly.  Meanwhile, Sigmund sent a couple of random F-4 shots, I have to publish them!  For all the Lancers following me:

A LOT of good guys in that shot!

   Sunday night we went to the Texas Roadhouse? for dinner.  They have the best rolls with ciniminiminim butter.  We had a good meal!  Passing this Frank Lloyd Wright building on the way. . .

I guess it will have a Ruth Chris Steak House on top and this is where Ms Sarah wants to have her birthday dinner in August

It's an "eat peanuts and throw the shells on the floor" kind of place

  We got home, sat around, and pretty much hit the rack . . . Sunday down!

Monday was pretty much the same.  I worked a couple of blogs while Laurie and Sarah did some shopping.  A nap was involved and I came to life as we left for Bufallo Wild Wings for dinner.  We meet a cute family, JoAnn and her kids, Kaitlin (sp) and her friend Michael, and later that night her son Sean.  We played Trivia with Kaitlin on my team and, of course, we kicked some elementary school teacher's BUTT!  She kept scratching her nose with her finger, and I didn't know if that was her IQ or the grade she taught ;-)  When a high school history teacher could not dominate a K-eight teacher in trivia. . . well, that would be sad !!!!  They whole crowd came over and we played cards well into the night . . .  Spoons, and Egyptian Rat Screw in which Laurie STABBED me with her Coke Spoon nails drawing blood.  We made her play with gloves

Notice the blood on the heel of my hand.  I hope I don't need stitches  ;-)

We had a great time until the late night hours and everyone got to bed between midnight and 1am. It wasn't the most exciting day, but much needed rest was had!

And that ends days 35 and 36.  I get on the road tomorrow for Alec Pay's house and family.  I'm leaving Tuesday and don't need to be there until 6pm Wed night, so I have a whole day and a half to goof off. . . .  Yay!!!!

LUKE Out!