Ohio attractions

Travel US 40 the historic National Road

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Why they celebrated the new concrete paving!

One journey that is enjoyable is following portions of the Old National Road, aka US 40. It was built between 1811 and 1834 and was the first federally funded road in U.S. history. The whole route runs an approximately 820-mile-long path through Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Anyway, near Brownsville, Ohio, east of Columbus, you’ll find the Eagle’s Nest Monument. It was erected around 1916 after a 29 mile stretch of the then unimproved and often nearly impassable road was replaced with concrete. The stretch of highway ran from Zanesville to Hebron. The large granite rock has some great markings, including a primitive Conestoga wagon.

The Eagles Nest monument

Conestoga wagon etched into the granite

 

 

 

 

 

You are 220 miles from the start of the National Road in Cumberland, MD.

Get off the interstate and travel the Old National Road anywhere along the route in any state. The signage is excellent and easy to follow, and you won’t be bored!

We shopped the famous Highway 127 Yard Sale

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Map of the Sale Route

Every August a truly massive American event takes place along the Highway 127 corridor as it stretches 690 miles across six states from Addison, Michigan to Gadsen, Alabama. This is the world’s longest highway yard sale and  is currently taking place from Thursday thru Sunday August 9th.  Sher, our son and I packed some snacks, drinks and headed towards Cincinnati , knowing we’d cross the north south running route 127 just inside the Indiana – Ohio border.

We found our first sale just before we hit 127. A steep driveway led to a fairly large yard already full of customer cars. Driveway and garage full of stuff! Found a couple of items we bought, so off to a good start.

The two important type of signs today

We centered our searches for sales in and around Fairfield, Ohio, 25 miles or so west of Cincinnati. Lots and lots of homes were taking advantage of the crowds , Yard Sale signs were everywhere. Often you could park your car within walking distance of three or four houses selling. No pictures of houses and setups for privacy.

Inside a church sale, a bit of everything available at this stop

The types of items for sale at these stops is quite frankly rather amazing. Some houses had a majority of used clothes. Some have single categories like sports cards, furniture or framed art work. Others have a mix of anything and everything. That is part of the fun of shopping at the yard sales: you never know what you’ll find.

Heavy Pewter Paperweight bought during our adventure at the 127 Yard Sale

Our eBay listing for the horse paperweight: click here

The skies darkened, ominous clouds and far off rolling thunder soon ended our shopping as folks began to cover their items with tarps or other covers. Soon there were no more houses with goods for sale. We headed back home to Indiana driving through unbelievable amounts of driving rain.  This added to our adventure for sure. But we made it home safely after a successful day of yard sale shopping.

 

 

WWII P-47 Thunderbolt pilots remembered at Air Force Memorial Park

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The Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio has a beautiful Memorial Park filled with scores of monuments honoring different units of US Army Air Corp Units from WWII through current.  One of these remembers the pilots and support personnel for the famed Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter that saw service in all theaters of the war.

 

Approach to the monument

Remembering heroes

Information plaque

Bronze P-47 tops the monument

Republic P-47N Thunderbolt in flight

 

 

 

 

 

The P-47 was used and praised for its performance in hundreds of combat missions across all theaters of the war. The P-47 was of course used for aerial combat and also for ground attacks, bombing and strafing enemy supply trains and convoys.

El Asadero Bar and Mexican Grill Reynoldsburg Ohio

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We love a good Mexican restaurant. While visiting family in Reynoldsburg, Ohio we went to a very good and, in this case, very exciting Bar and Mexican Grill named El Asadero. From the moment you walk in you know that this place is going to be interesting.

Back drop in the bar

The full bar

Exotic drink with color changing light

A wildly colorful decor and Latin music is seen and heard throughout the restaurant. We were seated quickly, even thou the place was packed. We were served the usual chips and dip, ordered and received drinks. Fancy, delicious and even lighted drinks added to the festive atmosphere of our table of nine.

Veg. Enchilada dinner

Street tacos and fixin’s

Pick three combo, 2 burros, 1 soft taco, beans & rice

The menu is quite extensive, and as expected, there is something for everyone, including kids. While we were eating the lights went out,  came back on, and very loud music started. We frankly wondered what was going on. We had already heard one of those “Happy Birthday” deals where the staff takes a cake to the B’day person. But then a new commotion broke out and we saw Dancing Robot. What a treat!

El Asadero Bar and Mexican Grill is a vibrant, fun and sometimes loud restaurant. the food is wonderful, atmosphere is exciting, and the staff and service is exceptional.

 

Chewbacca and Zorro

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These are our grand dogs living with our Columbus Ohio family.

Zorro looks dapper with his bowtie

Chewy loves laying on your feet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chewy really looks like Chewbacca of Star Wars fame when his hair is grown out each winter. Zorro is a real sweetie and is convinced he’s a lapdog. “Hey, if Chewy can sit on your lap why can’t I?”

Roosters in Ohio

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Main entrance, lots waiting for a table

No, we’re not talking about the Ohio National Poultry Show. We’re talking about one of a delightful chain of chain of restaurants that carry the self given label of “A Fun, Casual Joint”. On our way to family in Columbus, Ohio, we found a Rooster’s just off of I-71 south of the beltway. We were seated immediately, even though the place was very full. This place was full of life, covered with TV screens and interesting wall décor.

Yet another clever way to ID restroom occupants

A rather punny saying

A bit of editorial content here

 

 

 

 

 

The menu was very impressive and had appetizers for everyone’s tastes, plenty of wings and a full list of burgers and sandwiches. We decided on three items and they were very delicious and filling.

Dumpster Fries “It’s a hot mess!” Curly fries, topped with melted cheeses, bacon bits, tomatoes, green onions and jalapeños with Dumpster Dressing.

Quesadilla: Mozzarella, Provolone and cheddar. garnished with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, red onions and jalapeños.

Big Bob’s Burger: You had to grab this half-pounder with both hands!

 

 

 

 

 

 

This turned into a most enjoyable break on the way to our son’s family. The food was very good, reasonably priced and served in a comfortable establishment. There are several of these Rooster’s places all over Ohio and Kentucky. They get very busy, get there mid afternoon for immediate seating.

An emotional Ohio memorial

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Driving through northern Ohio we stopped at a small store for a travel break, Maj spotted not only an antique road grader but a tall monument topped with a proud eagle.

This is the inscription on one of the four panels below the obelisk:

IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE
VOLUNTEERS FROM HUNTINGTON
WHO OFFERED UP THEIR LIVES TO
PRESERVE THE FEDERAL UNION
IN THE
GREAT AMERICAN REBELLION

The oldest soldier listed here as mortally wounded in battle was 24

The other three panels are adorned with the names of the local boys who volunteered, where they were killed in battle, and how old they were. Reading these names, the date when their final battle occurred and the location where they were is quite striking. Brings home the impact of the American Civil War.

Turn of the century road grader

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On the grounds of the Huntington Township Administration on the intersection of OH-58 and OH-162 you’ll see a dark green long contraption that appears to be a piece of equipment.

This rig is long

Well, Maj spotted this when we were on our way with family from Columbus to outside Cleveland. We stopped at a little store for a break and this grader was displayed across the street. Naturally and not surprising off he went for photos…

So that’s what it is!

Lots of manual controls to set the blade

The Adams Leaning Wheel Grader was invented in 1890, and the company was located in Indianapolis. This design utilized “leaning wheel” which kept the grader blade from slipping while the device was pulled by any suitable tractor. This design revolutionized road base production. Previous to this road grading was performed with a blade mounted underneath a heavily loaded wagon.

This is an ad from a 1910 Adams Company catalog

It is lots of fun to find these kind of displays as you travel around the country. This road grader was in great condition and well maintained.

 

 

VFW memorial tank proudly displayed

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Many of the Veterans of Foreign Wars posts all over the country have at least one piece of retired military hardware, usually an artillery piece, a tank or sometimes even a  combat aircraft. VFW Post 9473 in Reynoldsburg, Ohio is such a post.

Well maintained tank on a concrete pad

Up close and personal

Nice details visible

Memorial Marker in front of the tank

Watch for the VFW in you area, and if you haven’t yet visited, go on in and thank the members for their service. They all have earned our praise and gratitude.