The Total Route

Here is a map of the whole route traveled.  It was 17 miles short of 6,000.

Hat pins

I did not find all the state pins of the states we visited but I will keep looking.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jog!

Lucky we arrived home before the rhododendron had lost their bloom.

New York State

While over the past three weeks we had passed through 17 other state, New York State still offered beautiful scenery of its own.  May and early June is a wonderful time of the year to tour this wonderful country of ours.

Pennsylvania

Before long we were in Pennsylvania, but not for long.

Our Last Hotel

Most of our stays were at La Quinta's.  This was our last hotel, in Macedonia, Ohio.

Last Day's Route

Today was pretty much a get-her-done day.  We left Macedonia, a suburb of Cleveland, at 7:30 and arrived home at 2:00.  Our only stops were pit stops.

Horses

I peaked out the window and saw these horses.  After this we were hunting again for a Amish or German place to eat.  We tried Dravenstott's in Orrville, but the name fooled us.  Oh well.

Bargello Quilts

There were quilts display about the store.  This Bargello quilt was my favorite.  It's called "Mountains and Valleys."  Nancy bought some fabric, contending the quality and price was better than what she can find at home.

Pine Tree Fabric

After being told at Lehman's that the nearest fabric stores were back where we had already been, we set out to just fish for interesting stores.  Before long we saw a sign for the Pine Tree Fabric store.  We found it a half a mile away behind a barn.

A Bulk Food Store

We stopped next at a bulk food place and this Amish carriage was outside.

Woodcarvings and Antiques

Here's a small sampling of you can see in Lehman's.  We bought a new hummingbird feeder, small ladles, a hat and hotdog skewers.

Lehman's

If you haven't been to Lehman's, it is quite the experience.  It is part antique display, hardware store, kitchen store, stove store, etc.  You have to try it.

An Old Windmill

This windmill was outside Lehman's.

Strawberries and Sheep

We stopped to buy some fresh strawberries from two Amish (or Mennonite) girls who stood by the side of the road in front of their farm house.  This sheep, among others, was grazing in the field across the road.

An Ohio Farm

Here is one of the more picturesque farms we passed, complete with windmill.

Amish and Mennonite Items

The top picture is of Amish men's jackets.  The middle one has Amish bonnet forms on the right and Mennonite on the left.  The bottom is, of course, of men's hats.

Mt. Hope Fabrics

Our first shopping stop was Mt. Hope Fabrics.  Nancy found some interesting notions and button for the sweaters she's presently working on.  I bought a CD of gospels music done by a cappella male sextet.

Week Three: Friday's Route

We left Cincinnati and headed northeast to Columbus and Ohio Amish Country beyond it.  Our object was to hit Lehman's and various Amish shops, particular fabric shops.  Some of Route 62 was supposed to be a Scenic Byway, but by that standard 38B should be a Scenic Byway.  We had hoped to find an Amish or German sort of restaurant for lunch in Millersburg, but no such luck.

Bridges

It was a very pleasant day for a boat tour.  Afterwards we did have to battle rush hour traffic to get to our hotel north of the city, but since we had no reason to hurry, all was fine.  All in all a satisfying day.

Cityscapes

The first cityscape is of Newport, Kentucky, and the second is Cincionnati.

The Paul Brown Stadium

This is the football stadium where the Bengals play.

Great American Stadium

While we were getting ready to leave the captain announce that the Reds were playing San Francisco but losing 6 to 1.  By the time the tour was over, so was the game, the score remaining 6 to 1.

Barnes and Noble

I took this from the boat.  It's where we spent some time, along with eating lunch at Five Guys, before we boarded the boat.  It's in Newport.

A Swallow

This swallow was entertaining us while we waited for the boat to disembark.

The Riverboat

Newport River Row

To take our riverboat tour we actually had to cross the Ohio into Kentucky--Newport, Kentucky to be exact.

Library and Parlor

Taft's paternal grandparents lived with the family and used to read the newspaper to Taft and his brothers in the library.  This window dressing is a recreation but it was very beautiful, so I had to take a shot.

Aesop Fireplace Tiles

On one of the house fireplaces were these tiles.  I took this picture because we were told that the Tortoise and the Hare was one of Taft's favorite.

William Howard Taft Portrait

Taft had a reputation of being very ethical and forthright, and his own man.  Teddy Roosevelt found this out once Taft became president.  Because Taft did not just continue Roosevelt programs and policies, Roosevelt challenged Taft in the next primary, lost, ran as a third party candidate, split the Republican base and allowed Woodrow Wilson to win.

The Front Door

William Howard Taft Home

The front half of the house was purchased by Taft's father Alfonso before he was born, but he had the house doubled in size by the time Willy was born in 1857.  Taft is the only president who also served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Welcome to Ohio

Since Cincinnati is the lower southwest corner of Ohio, we were almost at our destination by the time we passed under this sign.

Spiderwort and Canada Thistle

This shot was taken at the same rest area as the teasel--still in Indiana.  In the foreground is the spiderwort and behind it is Canada thistle.

Teasel

It's too early for the teasel to be blooming but this specimen looks quite lush.  Just don't touch--very sharp.

Week Three: Thursday's Route

Before long we were on our way to Cincinnati, with two stops planned: the William Howard Taft House and a riverboat tour on the Ohio River.

Welcome to Indiana

And so shortly before noon we were on our way to Indianapolis.  When we arrived, we checked in and asked if there was a nearby park were we could just go for a walk.  The woman at the front desk sent us off to Leonard Park, which turned out to be very pleasant.  She also recommended Grindstone Charlie's for dinner, so that's where we ate after our walk.

Butterfly Weed

Butterfly weeds--related to milkweed--is one of my favorite flowers so, of course, when I saw it grow in the Dana Thomas House garden, I had to take a picture.

Design Detail

This incredible metal design work was in various places on the outside of the house.

Front Door

Wright did not like to have a main entrance but the woman he was design it for insisted so that her guests could ride up in their carriages and go right into the house.