Sister Trip- Tour de Donut

Sister Trip- Tour de Donut
Arcanum & Dayton, Ohio
September 5-7, 2014

The Tour de Donut is one of my most anticipated events of the year!  We build a weekend around the occasion, visiting attractions in the Dayton area when not participating in the bike race/donut-eating contest. 

Last year Megan and I were late to pick up our race packets and almost missed out- this year we decided to pick up out bibs early on Friday afternoon.  When we arrived at the Arcanum Field House there was already a buzz of excitement in the crowd of fellow bike-riders.  We picked up our info, T-shirts and a list of nearby restaurants, deciding to dine at Pitsburg Pizza Grill just four miles away- we were famished.  We were not disappointed.  The pizza shop is a no-frills local spot with sparse décor, old booths and a bathroom door that was very hard to close but the service was friendly, the food was scrumptious and it was obviously a local favorite.  We loved it- we wolfed down quite a meal, carbing up for the race and all. 

Wegerzyn Gardens was our next stop, chosen mostly because it was on the way between the pizza place and our hotel.  But as soon as we stepped into the gardens we were amazed by the beauty of our surroundings.  Each garden has a different theme and we spent the evening exploring, captivated by the vibrant colors of the English Garden, taking in the tranquility of the succulent garden and wandering along the wooded paths that weaved between the garden plots.  From there we headed to our hotel to get some rest before the race.

We’ve done the Tour de Donut a few times now and have developed a strategy to optimize our performance.  No, it isn’t training heavily for the event.  We take a very relaxed approach to the whole thing. Instead of taking off with the pack when the starting gun goes off, we hang back for a while letting the crowd stretch out a little and cross the starting line about 15 minutes after everyone else.  As we were mounting our bikes to get our late start to the race, an older gentleman said ‘Are you two girls good and ready?’ We replied ‘We have a strategy!’ and set off.  It took just a few minutes before we were zooming past other participants in the 16-mile Mini Donut division of the race and we spent the rest of our ride focused on overtaking as many riders as possible.  About halfway through, the older gentleman we met at the starting line zoomed past us and commented that our strategy was working.  Megan and I enjoyed the ride through beautiful Ohio farmland at a good pace and ended up placing 11^th (Megan) and 12^th out of just over 120 women in our age group!

That afternoon we went to the Aullwood Audubon Center & Farm- I was pleased to find out they were currently hosting a quilt exhibit and was totally inspired by many of the amazing textile masterpieces.  We both relaxed in the bird observation area which had a huge picture window looking out to several bird feeders catering to many varieties of birds, including chickadees and hummingbirds.  Raptors were housed in an area a little further back.  We explored a few of the paths surrounding the center and followed one all the way to the Farm just about a mile away.  What a fun time!  I witnessed two pigs try to fit through one small barn door and get lodged in which was pretty funny.  They also had a huge vegetable garden, a culinary herb garden, horses, turkeys and goats- I love goats!  It was a crazy chill educational afternoon. 

At some point that weekend we’d gotten a crepe craving and, amazingly enough, Dayton has a crepe place in what has to be about the fanciest shopping center I’ve ever seen in Ohio.  That Crepe Place is one of many restaurants in The Greene Town Center in Beavercreek, Ohio- a multiuse complex that combines luxury living accommodations with high-end shopping and many dining options.  We parked on the outskirts of the commercial community and walked the few blocks past condos and retail stores to score two delicious crepes- one Bananas Foster and another Classic Parisian with butter and sugar.  They were worth the drive across town.

Our hotel, the Drury Inn and Suites Dayton North, hosts a happy hour each evening so we were able to enjoy a couple margaritas, glasses of wine and some snacks before settling in to relax after our full day.  We pulled chairs over to the window and enjoyed the view of the city in the distance as we relaxed for night.  As always, the Tour de Donut and the activities we use to fill up our weekend were a blast- we’re already looking forward to next year!

A Few Days in Western Ohio

A Few Days in Western Ohio
Toledo, Dayton & Cincinnati, Ohio
September 4-8, 2013

It never fails that if I have some big event going on over the weekend I will surely have a major project to complete for work that week.  And so it was the week before my sister Megan and I were to travel to Dayton and Cincinnati for a Girl’s Weekend.  Luckily, the shift I had for a three-day afterhours project enabled me to enjoy a little of Toledo, Ohio during the day.  I decided to visit a few of Toledo’s free attractions: the Toledo Botanical Garden and the Toledo Museum of Art.  I had a wonderful time at each.  My favorite section of the Botanical Garden was the herb garden with its savory and sweet-smelling plants, interesting water feature and intimate touches like a sundial and ivy-covered arch but each section was gorgeous.  I found couples picnicking, families wandering around the pond, single souls lounging in the shade garden.  I quite enjoyed my afternoon stroll around the property.

The Toledo Museum of Art boasts that it is one of the top museums in the country and I believe it.  As soon as I pulled into the parking lot, I was impressed with the solar panels that provide shade covering for cars, and as it turns out, combined with more solar panels on the roof of the museum, provides enough energy for the museum to be entirely off the power grid!  They allow non-flash photography of their diverse collection and feature a sculpture garden outside and a separate glass museum across the street. This museum is world class, in my opinion.

I arrived home from my business trip to immediately pack up for weekend.  Megan and I were heading to the Dayton area to participate in the Tour de Donut in Arcanum, Ohio.  I’d biked the full 32-mile Tour de Donut with Joanna last year; this year Megan and I completed the 16-mile course.  But, we did not just finish it.  Even though we got there late and started several minutes after everyone else, we rode like the wind and placed very well for a couple of recreational riders with comfort bikes- 13th and 14th out of 120 women in the race, 41st and 42nd overall!  What an exhilarating feeling! 

After the race, Megan and I headed out to the National Museum of the United States Air Force, a free attraction with a whole lot of wow-factor.  I expected to see some planes and hoped to see some helicopters.  I did not think we’d see huge hangers full of thousands of airplanes and other flying devices from time periods ranging from World War I through the Cold War and Space Program.  I could spend days trying to take it all in! 

On Sunday Megan and I headed south to Cincinnati for another much-anticipated event- trapeze class at the Cincinnati Circus Company ($45/person)!  We had a little time to kill before the class so we did a walking tour of Eden Park, striking grounds overlooking the Ohio River.  Then it was time to fly.  Our class ranged from girls about the age of 5 all the way up through a dad who was probably in his early 40s.  We didn’t spend more than a few minutes for quick briefing on safety and some procedures before were lined up to climb the ladder and try our first flight!  Really, climbing the ladder is the scariest part of the whole thing.  Everyone from the main instructor on the ground, to the people up on the platform were encouraging and supportive.  After a simple initial first flight, we were able to try different tricks as we felt comfortable.  Neither Megan nor I got our backflip dismounts but I’m sure we’ll be great at it the next time!  Two of the 9-year-olds were able to achieve transfer catches!  I had a fun time just falling to the net, then forward flipping out of it and onto the ground.  Taking the trapeze class with the Cincinnati Circus Company was the highlight of the entire weekend! 

What a crazy week!  Everything from strolling through tranquil gardens and taking in fine art to competing in a cycling race/donut-eating contest and dangling from trapeze while floating through the air- a crazy week full of amazing experiences!

Update:  In 2014, I spent several months on another project in Toledo and was able to spend even more time exploring the Art Museum, Botanical Garden and many of the area Metroparks. One of my favorite attractions was the Toledo Zoo which had the Penguin Beach Exhibit. Everyone knows I LOVE penguins!

Ohio Day Trip- Tiffin Music & Arts Festival

Ohio Day Trip- Tiffin Music & Arts Festival
Tiffin, Ohio
June 8, 2013

When my friend Steven moved across the state last fall, I lost my go-to guy to do whatever.  Steven was always up to hike, bike, paddle, see a band or partake in some sort of cultural event.  Plus, anytime we do something our plans always go a little off course.  I mean, we once went hiking and ended up singing French furtrapper songs and eating pea soup while paddling a giant canoe.  But anyway, Megan and I decided to visit Steven in his new home of Tiffin, Ohio and thought the perfect time to do so would be the weekend of the Tiffin Music & Art Festival.

Megan and I loaded up our bikes and headed out on Saturday morning.  It was a nice drive out to Tiffin taking State Route 224 West the whole way.  We met up with Steven at his apartment, toured his place, then followed him to the trailhead of the North Coast Inland Bike Path.  We biked about twenty miles along a flat, paved, easy trail through country side and small communities between Norwalk and Bellevue, Ohio. 

We were pretty hungry after our ride so Steven suggested we try a little bakery he frequented, Phat Cakes & Café (46 Clay Street, Tiffin, Ohio), for lunch.  We chose items from a menu that lists paninis, wraps and salads, all of which sounded just delectable.  When I asked about getting two glasses of wine, they suggested I purchase the whole bottle for just a few dollars more so Steven, Megan and I ended up enjoying a bottle of sparking Moscato with our lunch which made it all the more delightful.  Before leaving we all chose some sweet baked treats from the case of gourmet cupcakes and cookies to take home with us.

In the short time I was in Tiffin I noticed how important artistic endeavors and cultural activities are to the people of that community.  Murals were painted on many of the downtown buildings.  Small artscapes and interesting sculptures were placed around the city.  Steven said they have a morning yoga class in the town square.  Tiffin is obviously a thriving college town.

After lunch we headed to the Tiffin Music & Arts Festival, arriving in the early afternoon.  We all walked around viewing the arts and craft booths, talking to the Ohio Music Scene and Norml representatives and checking out a lot of local music.  Along the way we met many of the day and evening’s performers, the organizer of the event and a lot of really interesting and fun people to chat with.  Megan and I decided to lay on a blanket in the grass and take a nap under the shade of a tree in the park for a bit, then got up to enjoy some dinner from one of the local food trucks.  My dinner of mexidog, loaded nachos in a bag and a lime-a-rita was spot on!  We watched bands into the evening.  As night fell, the firedancers started doing their thing.  We were fairly exhausted when we pulled away during the last set of the night.  Spending the day with Steven was a total blast because it was a mix of all the things we love to do together and I can’t wait to visit again.

Tour de Donut 2012

Tour de Donut 2012
Arcanum, Ohio
September 7-9, 2012

I don’t know about you but a bike race that combines a 32-mile jaunt through scenic western Ohio countryside and eating giant glazed donuts sounds like an absurdly amusing way to spend a day!  When I heard about the Tour de Donut from Jason, a high school/biking friend of mine, I was so in- I mean, biking and donuts are two of my favorite things!  I convinced my sister Jo, my main sidekick in all crazy active endeavors, to join me and we made a weekend of it.



The atmosphere on race day was charged.  The weather was dismal, crowds of bikers jammed together at the beginning of the race and we witnessed some close calls and one collision with pretty harsh injuries.   But the weather cleared, the pack thinned out and the ride, at least to me, became a calm and leisurely journey along rural roads through beautiful farm land around Arcanum, Ohio.  I don’t aspire to win any of these events- I’m in it to experience them at my own pace.  I chatted with a lot of fun people including fellow Warrior Dashers, a pair of teens completing the whole ride on little BMX bikes and a dad that was doing a tandem ride with his young son.  

The object of the race is to achieve a final race time not only by pedaling your heart out but also by eating donuts at two designated donut stops along the race route.  For each glazed donut consumed (and kept down), five minutes is deducted from the final time.  The more donuts you eat, the better your final race result.  But, you still have to ride many more miles on a stomach full of heavy gooey doughness so strategy is the key.  Those were some giant, puffy, delectable donuts!   Total donut tally:  Heather-3, Joanna-2.  If only we’d been able to stuff down 12 donuts and earned coveted and prestigious spots in the Dozen Club.

 

As it turns out, Joanna had never had Skyline Chili- we stopped there for lunch and enjoyed tiny chili dogs and Greek Salad, then headed back to our hotel, the Drury Inn & Suites Dayton North.  My experience with Drury Inn has always been good and this property was no different. 

After soothing our achy muscles in the hotel hot tub we decided to drive south to the Miamisburg Mound, a burial mound likely built by the Adena Culture around 1000 BCE.  Our directions weren’t the best and we were aimlessly driving in the general vicinity of the mound when we saw it- that is a seriously big mound!  It is like you expect it to be big but are still shocked by just how large it really is.  We marched our way up the steps to the top, took in the view and then headed back into town for dinner at El Toro, a Mexican restaurant within walking distance of our hotel.  All I remember was ordering a Cadillac Margarita- that was a seriously big drink!  We just relaxed for the rest of the night and got an early start toward home the next morning.  We were a little tired and sore but we’d earned one of the coolest event t-shirts ever and shared memories of our very first bike race- the Tour de Donut 2012!

 

(*Donut photo taken by Gretchen Miller- Thanks!)

Ohio Day Trip- The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail: From Bikes to Canal Boats

The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail:  From Bikes to Canal Boats
Akron to Canal Fulton, Ohio and Back
August 19, 2012

Steven has been my go-to guy for all things outdoor recreation related.  Although we’ve known each other since high school, it is really a mutual love of outdoor activities that brings Steven and I together.  We spent our summer hiking around the MetroParks, kayaking area canals, lakes and reservoirs and biking sections of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, a multipurpose recreational trail that stretches more than 100 miles from Cleveland into Amish Country. 

One of our most eventful excursions was a spur of the moment, 40-mile ride from Akron to Canal Fulton, Ohio and back.  This included a recently-completed section of the trail that I had yet to ride.  The trail goes over a floating bridge, beside the canal, through a tunnel, into wooded areas and along the Tuscarawas River with some particularly scenic sections featuring wildlife or remnants of the canal locks.  It is also a little hillier than other sections of the Towpath Trail but nothing too strenuous.

There are many restaurants to choose from in Canal Fulton.  We decided to grab lunch at Oser’s Dairy & Deli on Canal Street.  We enjoyed eating our sandwiches and sodas at the lunch counter and indulged in a little ice cream for dessert- we figured we’d ride it off.

 

Steven and I once went hiking and ended up in a 28-foot canoe singing traditional French fur trapper songs so it is not too much of a stretch to imagine that we might end up on the St. Helena III ($7/pp), a horse-drawn replica canal boat depicting the typical vessel used to transport goods and people along the canal in its heyday.  It was a leisurely 55-minute ride up the canal listening to a guide fill us in on a brief history of the area and the canal era.  I think we both got into the nostalgia of the time and were convinced that being a canal-boater must have been a pretty sweet gig.

The ride back to Akron was fairly quick- storms had developed through the afternoon and we were pushing it to make it back between squalls.  The ride north into Summit County is generally uphill and the gradual climb and fast pace made for a good workout at the end of the day.  Conversation with Steven is never dull and that section of the trail offers scenery and history with just a little bit of heart-pumping incline- a great way to spend the day.

Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail

Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail
Between Lisbon & Leetonia, Ohio

It is no coincidence that I made an effort to bike as much as I could this season and the summer of 2012 turned out to be one of the BEST ever.   With the help of websites like Traillink.com and recommendations from friends, Meg and I explored a few new trails including the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail which runs ten miles between Lisbon and Leetonia, Ohio.  The Lisbon Trailhead has nice indoor bathrooms, vending machines and lots of parking.  The Leetonia Trailhead has Porta-potties, a gazebo and lots of information about the trail displayed.   

The Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail, which is a section of the larger, yet to be fully completed, Great Ohio Lake-to-River Greenway, was our find of the summer.  The path is paved, mostly shaded, fairly flat and very scenic- we rode past old farms, babbling brooks, a covered bridge, even a decorated Christmas tree.  But the very best part is that the highest elevations (still easy climbs) are in the middle of the trail, between miles 4 and 6, so no matter which end you start at, you’re going to be coasting down on the ride back.  Ahhh, what a relaxing way to wrap up a leisurely bike ride!

 

Ohio Day Trip- Gordon Square Arts District

Gordon Square Arts District West Side-
Cleveland, Ohio

The Gordon Square Arts District is part of the vibrant Detroit Shoreway community centered on Detroit Avenue between W. 54th to W. 76th on the west side of Cleveland. Theatres, restaurants, galleries, wine bars and shops occupy the area. The neighborhood has a diverse population and a hip vibe while maintaining laidback charm. I was first introduced to the Gordon Square Arts District while working as an environmental consultant on a restoration project in the area.

I spent my lunch hours and time after work exploring the neighborhood and find it a fabulous destination for an Ohio Day Trip. Exploring Gordon Square Arts District is best done on foot. With all the cute shops and eclectic restaurants, don’t risk driving right past a fabulous find. There is plentiful parking in any of several public lots. Groupings of funky-shaped benches are arranged on the sidewalk for relaxing, people-watching or reading the latest Scene Magazine. Community gardens now occupy formerly vacant lots. The Cleveland Lakeshore Bikeway also runs through the neighborhood between Ohio City to the east and the Lake Erie shore to the north.

Theatres
The Cleveland Public Theatre (6415 Detroit Avenue) is a group of performance spaces which bring exciting productions to the stage by showcasing plays, dance troupes, and performance artists. The appearance of the buildings and the intimate seating add to the ambiance of the theatre experience. My sister Megan and I attended a performance of the Verb Ballet, a contemporary dance company. The dancing and music were expressive and evocative and the performance was so stirring that Megan and I were moved to tears.


The Capital Theatre (1390 W. 65th Street) shows independent movies, documentaries and foreign films on three screens. The building was originally built in 1921 and was vacant for two decades before reopening as a movie house with concessions as well as beer and wine sales- my kind of movie theatre!

Restaurants

 Breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert are covered in the Gordon Square Arts District. I’ve made quite a few restaurant discoveries while working in the neighborhood. My first meal in the area was at the Gypsy Bean & Baking Company on the corner of Detroit and 65th. Since enjoying that tasty sandwich I’ve tried bagels, breakfast muffins, paninies, pizza and Greek pasta but my absolute favorite dish is the Open Face Hummus Sandwich- yum!

One of the most unique places in the area is Happy Dog (5801 Detroit Avenue), a hot dog joint that serves quarter pound meat and veggie dogs with just about any topping you can imagine. While you can get the usual ketchup and mustard you can add habanera sauce, chipotle hollandaise or baby bok choy coca cola stir fry. I had my first vegan dog with saffron aioli, garlicky escarole and smoked gouda- delish! The next time I had a meat dog with truffle mustard and bacon- tasty! A favorite of Cleveland native Iron Chef Michael Symon, they even had a write-up in the July 2011 edition of ‘Travel & Leisure’ magazine. Plus, they sell the cutest T-shirts- who doesn’t want a shirt that says ‘Happy Dog’?

Across the street from Happy Dog is another great area restaurant- Latitude 41 (5712 Detroit Avenue). Latitude serves the most delectable comfort foods with soup, salads, sandwiches and pizza on the menu. They also have a good wine selection and some delicious desserts. Megan and I shared pasta for dinner before our night at the theatre and returned afterward to discuss the performance over shared desserts- everything was scrumptious!

Another fine dessert place is Sweet Moses Soda Fountain & Sweet Shop (6800 Detroit Avenue). The shop has an old-fashioned cash register, a long counter with stools and tables with restored wrought-iron chairs. Handmade confections are sold from a large display case and homemade ice cream is served from behind an authentic soda fountain. I’m always thrilled when I can get an old family favorite, a chocolate soda! There are many more restaurants in the area that I have yet to visit. These include the Big Egg, La Boca Barrio Tapas & Wine Bar, XYX Tavern, Stone Mad Irish Pub & Restaurant and Rincon Criollo Puerto Rican Restaurant.

Shopping

I’ll just admit it- I love clothing and accessories that are glamorous, bold and edgy. Turn Style Boutique (6505 Detroit Avenue) has a unique selection of pieces with a certain type of sophisticated sex appeal. On top of nice clothing is the boutique atmosphere- the owner Terri introduced herself to me the first time I visited. I truly felt treated to high-end personal service.

Right next door to Turn Style is another great boutique- Duo Home Decor (6507 Detroit Avenue). As I first gazed in the window at the collection of contemporary and quirky furniture and home decor I thought anything inside would be way out of my price range. I was wrong. Pleasantly surprised, I found that everything in the store was very reasonably priced and of high quality- a rare combination!

In the Gordon Square Arcade building is S.P. Leather (6702 Detroit Avenue) a little leather goods shop with a nice collection for the girly biker set (in addition to the usual leather stuff). Not that I’m a biker babe or anything, but I know a cute pink-detailed fringed leather vest when I see one. They also do leather repair, a service I’m going to keep in mind as I have some boots and a few purses that I never want to see injured!

Every Saturday from June to October the Gordon Square Farmers’ Market is held in the parking lot of the Bethany Presbyterian Church at West 65th and West Clinton Streets from 10:am to 2:pm. Herbs, produce, baked goods and other local items can be purchased from local vendors.

On the third Friday of every month the 78th Street Studios stays open late for browsing the galleries, music studios and design firms. Music and live events are often hosted by galleries within the complex. As a huge fan of Canton’s First Friday celebration I look forward to getting a chance to visit Gordon Square’s Third Friday affair.

In June an arts festival is held in the neighborhood. Around this time pop-up boutiques, retail spaces which operate on a temporary basis, featuring the work of local artists, designers and craftsman fill available storefronts. I learned that everything sold at Collective Upcycle, a gift shop with items ranging from handmade clothing and jewelry to home and outdoor decor, was created from items that were repurposed as art or decoration- a classic trash to treasure story and a great shopping experience. The only downside is that it was only open for about three weeks- I hope it returns next year.

The Gordon Square Arts District is one of those neighborhoods that pulsates with a metropolitan vibe and a real feeling of urban community. While it is cultured and open-minded it isn’t pretentious or snobby. With something to do any time of the day, visiting the Gordon Square Arts District is a fabulous way to spend a day.    

Pedaling Through Amish Country- Holmes County Trail

October 4, 2008

My sisters and I love to travel around the state to try recreational trails we haven’t done before. One of the things I love most about the trails in Ohio is that each one is different and has its own unique atmosphere. The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail runs along the Tuscarawas River and the Canal and features historic locks and canal towns. The Hike & Bike Trail and northern portions of the Towpath cut through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The Kokosing Trail features rail influences. The Holmes Country Trail runs through the heart of beautiful Amish Country and was yet another exhilarating ride!

The Holmes County Trail is located in Holmes County, Ohio. It currently runs 15 miles from Fredericksburg to Killbuck, Ohio passing through Holmesville and Millersburg. There are plans to expand the trail to 31 miles running to Brinkhaven through Glenmont. It is paved on one side for hikers, joggers and bikers and chip and seal on the other for horses and buggies.

Most of the usual gang decided to come. Megan, Joanna, Janet, Jean and I all met at Jo & Megs. Joanna’s boyfriend Troy and her scuba diving buddy Matt decided to come along. We met Bonnie, her Aunt Betty and her mother at Fredericksburg.

We took US Route 30 West to State Route 241 to State Route 250 to County Road 2 all the way into Fredericksburg. The ride to the trailhead was a blast in itself. The scenery was beautiful. The leaves were starting to change, farmers had harvested their corn and stacked it in teepee formations, the sun was shining and the air was cool and crisp. We passed several Amish buggies as we drove on winding roads and climbed rolling hills through farmland. When we reached the top of a large hill and stared into the valley, white farmhouses and red barns dotted the green landscape. It was simple, quaint and breath-taking.

We parked at the elementary school in Fredericksburg and followed a short path to the trail. We soon were riding through tree cover, open fields and along babbling brooks. As Amish buggies would pass, we’d wave and exchange “Good Morning!” Unlike many recreational trails with several benches along the way, this trail is more of a main route of transportation for the Amish community and has fewer places to stop and rest along the way. We stopped about 5 miles into the ride in the community of Holmesville. It is a small area with nice homes and an agricultural supply facility. We continued on the trail and headed another 5 miles to the town of Millersburg. Millersburg is a beautiful town to visit. They have signs located near the trail with maps detailing the locations of local eateries, lodging, shopping, etc. It had historic buildings and a large Amish community- a small town with a lot to do!

We turned around at the 10 mile marker and headed back. The entire trip was about 21 miles including the trail from the school to the trailhead. After riding, we decided to visit an Amish country store in the area. Again we drove through beautiful Amish Country, over rolling hills and into deep valleys with no electric lines to obstruct the view. We came upon Ashery’s Country Store. From the outside, it looks like a cute little building with a large porch on which local patrons love to relax. Upon entering, you discover room after room of country goodies- a deli full of various cheeses and trail bologna, large freezers with homemade ice cream, a vast room that contained every imaginable food ingredient packed in bulk. Jars of barbeque, jellies and jams were lined on one shelf while pastas, grains and spices were on another. The other side of the room had candies, snacks and treats and other baking goods. Megan picked out graham cracker pretzels, provolone cheese and chocolate covered pretzels. I chose honey mustard pretzel bits and dill havarti cheese and brought home some trail bologna and smoked Swiss cheese for Josh. Jean found some apple butter barbeque sauce that I’m going to look for the next time I stop at this place!

From there we headed up State Route 241 North into Mount Eaten. We stopped there at a family restaurant called Mountaintop. It was decorated with country crafts for sale at reasonable prices. The menu was large for a family place. My grilled chicken club was delicious. Megan enjoyed her chili with salad bar and everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals as well. Stuffed and tired, we headed out to our cars and back to civilization. We were touched by the friendliness of the Amish community and discussed the fun things we experienced such as Amish children laughing as they rollerbladed along their family’s buggy, pedaling through tunnels made with hand-quarried stones and relaxing in the trailside gazebo in Millersburg. It was a great ride and one we hope to continue in the future!

Special thanks to Jean Z. for sharing her pictures from this trip!