Travels with Bentley

Travels with Bentley
Bentley - our Heartland Bighorn

Friday, October 5, 2018

Sunday, September 30, 2018 - Monday, October 1, 2018 - Sandusky, OH

Sunday, September 30, 2018 - Monday, October 1, 2018 - Camp Sandusky - Sandusky, OH


Sunday, September 30, 2018


We left our campground in Iilon, NY after spending a short time with Matt and family this morning, as I mentioned at the end of the last post.

As we passed through Cleveland I snapped these pictures:


Lake Erie at Cleveland, OH
Skyline of Cleveland, OH


Cleveland Browns Stadium

Continued skyline - Cleveland, OH


We left the campground in Grand Island just before 9:30a and arrived at our campground, Camp Sandusky, OH just before 3:30p.   When we stopped at the office to pay I picked up a few brochures on things to do in the area.

We have full hookups here with a little time to get some chores done - one of them - my laundry hamper is full.  It didn't take long to get the first load going.  While we had sewer hookups at our last stop - it was not convenient to get to, so I'll make use of our time here.

This evening we took a drive down to the Sandusky waterfront on Lake Erie.  There were some really nice park areas along the water, and a large amusement park - jutting out into the water.  I bet this is a huge attraction during the summer months.  

No pictures this evening but we've got a big day planned for tomorrow.  Stay tuned.


Monday, October 1, 2018

One of the brochures I picked up yesterday morning really caught my attention....The Shawshank Trail Driving Tour.  I really wanted to do this so I could share pictures with my son, Marc, however we are really limited on our time today.  

Dean told me we before we left Iilon, that we really need to replace the front tires on the truck.  He made an appointment to have it done here in Sandusky at 3:00 today.  If we did the Driving Tour, it would take us an hour and fifteen minutes each way to Mansfield, plus the time of driving the trail which includes visiting a few other nearby cities.  We were afraid we wouldn't have enough time to do all of that and return before 3:00; so we decided to visit Sandusky and the Lake Erie Shores instead.  We will be within thirty minutes or less of the campground which makes it easy to make sure we make it back for the appointment.

After breakfasts, showers and getting the last load of laundry hung up, we finally left on our excursion for the day.  Since we drove the road along Lake Erie in Sandusky last night we headed north on Highway 2 across Sandusky Bay to what is known as Catawaba Island.  Here we chose to head right on the Shore Road that took us around the entire "Island".  

Our first stop was here at a fishing marina.  As you an tell there were some pretty dark clouds but they soon burned off and it turned into a great day.  


They had a huge parking area for vehicles pulling boats and a pier with an area for fisherman to one side.  Dean and I walked clear to the end of the pier and back - trying to get in a little exercise for the day.


Taken from the pier looking back at the marina.

It's always amazing to see trees growing out of rocks - there were several along this pier.


Beautiful place to stop and watch the waves.  


Marblehead Lighthouse

I apologize it's difficult to read this - sun was not in a good spot for this picture, but interesting facts about the lake.,

and the fishing,

and the lighthouse.



Historical Marker with Lake Erie facts

Around the perimeter of the lighthouse they laid this beautiful rock providing a wonderful place to sit and enjoy the beautiful view of the lake.

Marblehead Lighthouse.

Look at those waves - not like we saw at Schoodic Point, Maine, but it was still pretty amazing.  

Pointing out the islands from our site here at the lighthouse.

Yours truly

Loved this side of the lighthouse and the lighting for this picture was great.

The lightkeeper's house

This view is towards Sandusky where you can see the amusement park that I mentioned in yesterdays post.


Us Lifesaving Station at Marblehead Lighthouse


Dean on the shore at Marblehead Lighthouse

Village of Marblehead, Ohio Offices
We drove through the Village of Marblehead 









From Marblehead we headed to East Harbor State Park
Part of East Harbor State Park



Sometimes I am so surprised at the pictures I just happen to get.  I was trying to get the group of geese on the right of the tree but I got so much more.  Love this picture.



Look close along the road....do you see it?

There it goes!
Had to take a picture of this Street Sign:
Reminded me of my girl - Misti!

We turned around here to go back to eat at Dianna's (took this picture for grandson Jaxson)

Lunch today was at Dianna's

We forgot to take pictures of our lunch but it was very good.  What a menu they had.  I had the Russian Rueben and Dean had a BLT.  We would not hesitate to return here.  And oh, the desserts - they looked wonderful but we passed them by - we were too full from our lunch.  

I loved this - everything on it was a local business in the area.


Ferry coming into port

Cars waiting for the ferry

Catawaba Island State Park

Boats in docks

Golf course immediately adjacent to the boat docks
We returned to the campground after leaving Catawaba State park so Dean could drop me off while he went to have the new tires put on the truck.  I wanted some time to work on the blog.




Above pictures are ones I took in the campground.  The area behind us are all 30 amp on grassy sites.  We are in the 50 amp area with graveled sites.  This is a large campground and they have a number of cabins for rent as well.  The cabins are very minimal - a place to sleep.  No restrooms or cooking facilities.  There are very nice showers/bathrooms available for use.

We needed to get a surge protector power strip, so after dinner, we drove to a nearby Best Buy.  With the new chairs (we got lazy and had them add electric controls) we need the power strip since our only outlet is too far away to use, and the power strip needs to have enough plugs for our phones, Kindles, computers, etc. I know it's going to mean another problem for me - since I won't be able to stand all of these cords, so now I'll have to find a way to hide them.  (I've already started googling ideas, and checking out Pinterest, seeking a solution).

As we left Best Buy, I was searching on my phone to find a Dairy Queen - when Dean said I think there is a Dairy Queen near by - do we think alike or what?  LOL!!

Google Maps routed us to this beautiful new Dairy Queen - we pulled in, but it wasn't open!; and it was only 7:00p.m.  Hmmm!



So we found Toft Diary's ice cream parlor instead - where they make their own ice cream.  It was delicious!




When searching for a different  place to stay along Lake Erie on our way to Shipshewana, I thought Sandusky looked like a good location but I didn't know anything about the community itself.  It turned out to be a gem!  I hope we return here again someday.






















Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Friday & Saturday, September 28-29, 2018 - Visiting Son Matt & Family in Grand Island, NY

September 28-29, 2018 - Visiting Son Matt & Family in Grand Island, NY

Friday, September 28, 2018 

It was almost 9:30am when we left Ilion, New York for Grand Island, New York.  We arrived at Cinderella Motel & Campground shortly after 2:00pm.  It rained all night and into the early morning in Iilon, but it seems to have passed on and we are thankful not to be driving in the rain all day again.  In fact it turned into a beautiful day.  

 

A few leftover drops from early this morning on the windshield.

Sky is clearing

Megan sent a text as we were getting close to GI, asking when we thought we would arrive.  She'll let us know when she gets home and we'll go on over to their house.  We arrived a little after 3:30.  Matt won't be home until about 5:00 or so.  Papa played a game with Josh and Sarah, and we had a good visit with Megan and little Sam.


Once Matt got home we visited for awhile, before loading up and heading to The Original Pancake House near Buffalo.  We really like this place.

If Megan had not reminded me to take a picture - you would have missed out on this.  The waitress prepped this for me, first with butter, fresh squeezed lemon, powdered sugar and finally adding the strawberries.  And it came with a warm strawberry sauce.  Oh my, it was SOOOOO delicious!  It's called a Dutch Baby - similar to a crepe but thicker.  It has to be baked and it caused us all to eat a little later than usual, but not too long!

Dean had this ham and cheese baked omelet.  He said it was really good.
This is by far one of the best places I've ever ate at for breakfast and they serve it all day.  Here is a link so you can read more about them.  After dinner we went back to Matt &  Megan's where we visited until about 9:00.  Megan, Josh and Sam have been feeling a little puny, so they need to get some rest.


Saturday, September 29, 2018

Megan had to work this morning but should be home around noon.  Dean and I got to their house about 9:00.  Since we are only spending two nights here in Grand Island it's a little easier to just park at the nearby (Passport America) campground and drive to their house.  It's less than a mile from their house.

We had a good time playing with the kids and enjoyed visiting with Matt, and Ruth, Megan's mom before she left to do some things with Megan's niece.

When Megan got home, we all went to The Comic Book Cafe here on Grand Island.  We were surprised we had not been here before.  The food was pretty good and they had a great menu.

Sarah

Josh

The Comic Book Cafe - notice Spiderman on the roof!
Later back at the house, Megan and I were talking about Halloween.  Josh ran in the other room and returned with his costume from last year when he was Kion from The Lion King.  

Kion, aka Joshua Dean, being funny.
 
Love this picture...serious, and posing for the camera!

Then there is little Sam - he has such a beautiful little smile.

We had a good time playing.  Poor little guy didn't feel real good but he still can light up the room with that smile
 .
As Miss Sarah does also - she wanted her picture taken too.  Sweet little girl!

When I told her to smile - this is what I got!  I LOVE it!

Dean and Matt took our truck and went to the campground to get the loveseat out of Bentley.  We are leaving it with them.  I won't go into the discussions on where it should go and where it ended up - it may be moved around a few times before it finds the "right spot" to land.  Lol!  Now, we have to go three whole days sitting in our lawn chairs.  Ugh!  They are fine to sit outside but I have a feeling it won't be so comfortable when it's all we have to sit in.  Oh well, it's only 3 days - right?  We pick our new recliners up in Shipshewana on Wednesday Oct 3.

We left a little earlier this evening.  Megan, Josh and Sam were all feeling puny.  Hopefully they will be feeling better tomorrow.  We'll stop by for goodbyes before we leave the Island.

Sunday, September 30, 2018

We stopped by long enough to say goodbye and get hugs from everyone.  Josh is buried in the blanket next to Sarah - he didn't feel well through the night.  

Papa and Sarah

We plan to see them in Kansas for the holidays so we've got that to look forward to.

Back at the campground as we were getting ready we visited with our neighbors Dan and Brindle, and their two boys, who were also getting ready to pull out.  They too, are recent full-timer's.  I really enjoyed visiting with Brindle and gave her one of our cards.  She mentioned they would be staying in Howe, IN - how funny, it's the same campground where we are going to stay overnight after our two day stop in Sandusky, OH.  Howe is just a few miles from Shipshewana, a perfect overnight stop for us, before we pick up our chairs around 8:00am Wednesday.  Who knows, maybe we'll see them there.