{"id":500,"date":"2009-07-02T19:48:15","date_gmt":"2009-07-02T23:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/snapshotchronicles.com\/roadtrip\/?p=500"},"modified":"2009-07-02T19:48:15","modified_gmt":"2009-07-02T23:48:15","slug":"lucas-do-dah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snapshotchronicles.com\/roadtrip\/2009\/07\/02\/lucas-do-dah\/","title":{"rendered":"Lucas “Do-dah”"},"content":{"rendered":"

After a rather sleepless stop over in Rochester NY, we decided to pull up our bootstraps, buckle down the hatches and head to our\u00a0friends in Sullivan OH, an hour southwest of Cleveland.\u00a0 At the time, we had no idea just how smart of a decision this was.\u00a0\u00a0Due to technical difficulties, our visit was extended by a couple days but thanks to Cindi and Bill, nothing dampened our vacation spirit!<\/p>\n

Dennis drove all the way from MA to OH, so when he asked me to take over the wheel somewhere west of the OH border, I gladly obliged.\u00a0 Most of the roads to this point were long, long stretches of straight highway with little traffic so as a novice RV’er I figured even I could do this.\u00a0 Little did he know (…or did he?…) we were only about 15 miles outside the Cleveland city limits.\u00a0\u00a0 After hours of silence, Betty (we named our GPS) starts screaming at me to prepare for a left exit, then a right exit, then a keep on the current road followed by a highway change.\u00a0 We went from 2 lanes to 4 lanes down to 3 lanes – traffic entering from every direction!\u00a0 I’m still not sure the real reason for Dennis’s sinister laugh – maybe he was nervous for me? Maybe because my knuckles were the same shade of white as my grandmother’s hair? Maybe it was my colorful commentary about each vehicle that came within 200 feet of us?\u00a0 Or maybe it was his relief that I was behind the wheel and not him?<\/p>\n

\"Ohio

Ohio Amish<\/p><\/div>\n

Either way, we made it to Sullivan without a scratch and a promise that I’ll never have to do that again!<\/p>\n

Central Ohio was more beautiful than I expected.\u00a0 Acres upon acres of rolling corn fields and dairy farms intertwined with Amish farms.\u00a0 It wasn’t uncommon to see horse and buggie traveling past the house.\u00a0 We decided to take a drive to Akron and see the Cleveland Indians AAA team, the Akron Areos.<\/a> For sports fans, I highly recommend minor league ball games.\u00a0 The cost is a fraction of major league games, parking is a breeze and the crowds are minimal.\u00a0 The kids were jazzed that we were only 6 rows behind home plate.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Winning

Winning smiles<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

There were enough open seats that the adults scooted back a couple rows to spread out and give the kids some much appreciated independence.\u00a0 We were close enough, however, to hear the laughter when the announced the first batter for the opposing team…”Now batting, number 34, Lucas Duda”\u00a0 and Luke’s new nickname “Do-dah!” was born.<\/p>\n

\"Future

Future Inductees<\/p><\/div>\n

The next day, we took the opportunity to head to the big city.\u00a0 This time Dennis drove and we were both mentally prepared.\u00a0 We set the GPS to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Downtown Cleveland<\/a>.\u00a0 I visited the Rock Hall last time I came to see Cindi and\u00a0 I was very excited for the kids to see everything.\u00a0 It did not disappoint.\u00a0 Cam loved Bon Jovi’s motorcycle and Dennis and Luke bonded over the stage props from Pink Floyd’s The Wall.<\/p>\n

\"Anything

Anything to make Mom happy<\/p><\/div>\n

For our last full day in OH, we decided to take in the local sights.\u00a0 Passing through a small portion of Amish country<\/a>, we visited an old fashion cheese barn and candy store<\/a>.\u00a0 Luke said he was so excited he felt like a kid in a candy store, literally!\u00a0 I couldn’t resist the blueberry cheesecake fudge.\u00a0 Yum!\u00a0 Dennis got a real chuckle out of the local version of the washer toss gamed called “corn hole board.”\u00a0 He may have even bought one if it wasn’t $75!<\/p>\n

Next stop is Mount Rushmore for the July 4th Celebrations.\u00a0 If the moon and stars align, we should be there in plenty of time to see the country’s largest fireworks display Friday night.\u00a0 Internet access may be limited but we’ll get something posted as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n

Thanks again Cindi, Bill, Maddie and Zack.\u00a0 We loved every minute of our visit and can’t thank you enough for being such wonderful hosts!!!<\/p>\n

TIPS:<\/p>\n