The American and a part of the Horseshoe Falls from the deck of the Maid of the Mist.

eh?

Tues 16th: Went to see the falls! Parked in the park-n-ride, and took the bus down to the Horseshoe Falls. Walked down to the American Falls and took the Maid of the Mist boat ride – everyone enjoyed it, even Jonathan! We walked back and up the hill to the Imax theater, and watched the movie about Niagara, very cool, one of the best Imax movies I’ve seen, I guess especially as we’d just been there. We went to have dinner, as it turned out a tightrope walker went between two hotels right where we were eating, so we had a ringside seat. Then we went back down to the falls to see them after dark with the lights on, and then back on the bus to the campsite.
Wed 17th: Packed up and headed back across the border. We spent our $10 or so in leftover Canadian change on a bunch of Cadbury’s chocolate, but somehow we managed to choke it down. Drove over on I-90 to Schenectady, found a Cinnabon with no Cinnabons, found a beautiful campsite right next to the Mohawk river - our site is maybe 100 ft from the bank. Toasted marshmallows and told stories by the campfire.

So, it was interesting going to Canada and seeing the differences, eh? The accent, noticeably different despite just crossing a river, the prices, noticeably higher - $3.10+ for a gallon of diesel, $50+ for a night at a campsite ($23 tonight in NY). But then, what price would you pay to be able to buy Weetabix, Chocolate Digestives, and maple-flavored Cadbury’s chocolate, listen to CBC Radio 1, and see that view of the Falls? Priceless!

Thu 18th: Richard went to Benet Labs - the place where they make big guns for the DoD – a lot of tank cannons and bigger. Serious metalworking. In the evening we went out with some GE folks to eat, a park for the kids to play, and watched an outdoor concert, which just happened to be a praise and worship band. An excellent evening.
Fri 19th: Richard had a good time visiting GE and seeing old friends and making new.
Sat 20th: Traveled over to Connecticut and found a park near the coast by New Haven.
Sun 21st: Had a frustrating time trying to go to church in Cheshire, failing to find the church… Spent the afternoon swimming at the lovely swimming pond at the park, maybe 300ft across. Elizabeth was very pleased that she managed to swim all the way to the fountain in the center and back.

What a cutie!

Rain? Fall? Must be Canada

Tues 9th: Headed back up to Lima, parked outside Darren and Mary’s house.

Wed-Thu 10-11th: Hung out in Lima, Quinton and Patty arrived from Israel with their son Amos. Dismantled the fuel line going into the gas tank to rescue the piece of metal that had fallen down in there, which was preventing the tank from filling…! Played golf in Darren’s yard, pitching into their trampoline net. Stayed up ‘til 5am talking… Ate more yummy sweetcorn, and fresh green beans. Left Thu afternoon, drove across on US 30, up 71 to Cleveland, around Dead Man’s Curve, and along to Geneva. Stayed at the Indian Lakes campground. We arrived at 10pm, played putt-putt, went to bed at 12…

Fri 12th: Fished in the morning at the lake at the campground – for the first time ever we even saw some fish, and had some nibbles on our line! Didn’t catch anything though. Drove on to Niagara Falls, went across the bridge into Canada, and stayed at the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park – complete with Yogi, Boo-Boo, Cindy and Mr. Ranger!

Sat 13th: Took a pony ride in the morning, a drive through Niagara to see the sights, which led to the decision to come back on Monday, as the crowds were just huge. Went swimming, cleaned, and bought groceries, all that fun stuff…

Sun 14th: Rain, rain, rain, our first real rainy day. Survived well enough, did the laundry, made some videos of the kids being super-action-heroes.

Mon 15th: Went to Toronto for the day, checked out some strollers, saw the CN tower and the big skyscraper made of gold!

Brother, can you spare a dime?

Monday 8th: I always knew there'd come a day when my kids would eat more than me. I never figured that it would happen when Jacob was only six years old. Yet it happened today. Just as an example, take breakfast. Lael had two eggs on two pieces of toast. Jacob ate the same. About five minutes later my cinnamon rolls were done, and I ate two. Jacob ate three. Thus he ate more than Lael and I combined. Yet he weighs maybe 240 pounds less than our combined weight. Go figure. Those of you with teenage boys are laughing right now, I know.

Mile 8,463

Saturday 6th: Headed down to Columbus, met GregK and went to see the the Columbus Clippers beat the Richmond Braves 3-2. A rousing rendition of "New York, New York" ended the evening.
Sunday 7th: Went to church in Logan. Fantastic morning and evening services - the evening service was a "singspiration", combination of songs and testimonies. Afterwards we went to the Yeske's new log home, where Brian gave Jacob and Em a leg-ride, and then to Dairy Queen, where Jonathan had his first taste of ice-cream, courtesy of Sis. Connie! He seemed to enjoy the caramel topping...

There was great activity late one night on Cremean Road, Lima. When I went out for coffee the next morning I found out why - a house had been all dressed up in loo roll. 1 hour later, when I returned, it was all gone.

Emily found a frog one night, and just decided to pick it up. She was so thrilled!!

Elizabeth took one of those boxes that makes six cherry turnovers, and made one big one from it. Dee-licious!

Swimming in the air

Tues-Thu 26-8^th: Hung out in Columbus, went to see Hamish, swam, looked at real estate (way cheaper than Arizona), played shuffleboard, roasted marshmallows. Emily was all upset when she realized that we didn’t get to stay in the model home that we visited!

Friday 29^th: Went up and parked outside Darren and Mary’s house in Elida. Ben and Matt came over for dinner – fresh “Incredible” sweetcorn, mmmmm.

Sat 30^th: Modified the Excursion using a .22 shell, end cap cut off, 5/32” hole in the side, as an extension tube on the turbo pressure sensor – promises to increase airflow and thus horsepower. At least I think it's the turbo pressure sensor! Raymond, you’d’ve been proud! Is it the only Excursion in the world that utilizes a .22 shell in the engine? Let me know! Richard almost broke a rib doing it as he fell nicely on the engine…

Sunday 30^th: Church, then Chinese buffet in Findlay. Bro. Chuck was in fine form. I particularly enjoyed this one he told: A man and his wife needed a new car. “We should get a pick-up truck”, the man insisted. His wife was equally adamant that they should get a fast car for zipping around town. They argued back and forth for weeks, then the day before her birthday, the wife came to her husband, put her arms around his neck, and said “It’d be lovely if I woke up tomorrow morning and found something in the driveway that can do 0 to 200 in 4 seconds”. When she woke up next morning she went outside and found, sitting in the driveway………… bathroom scales.

Mon 1^st: Washing. Even the best trips need clean clothes.

Tues 2^nd: Looked at real estate in the Lima area – extremely affordable – 4,600 square feet for $219K.

Wed 3^rd: Moved on to Yeshai and Jennifer’s house.

Thu 4^th: A memorable day in the Grylls family’s history – Elizabeth decided she wanted to learn how to swim, and she did. Feet, hands, breathing, she learned it all in 10 memorable minutes. She did maybe 6 laps across the 30’ pool!

Random observation: What it means to be an American. Dean Alfange, Who’s Who in America, 1984-85, vol. 1, p 42

I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon – if I can. I seek opportunity – not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations, and to face the world boldly and say, this I have done. All this is what it means to be an American.