Is there ever a time with no Motorhome maintenance?

It's another day in paradise....NOT!!!! We left Cleveland on Sunday planning a one day stop in Elkhart, Indiana to get a few minor things fixed. It was only a 4 1/2 hour drive, but it seemed forever. Guess it's just being rusty after our 2 month stint in Cleveland. The first day on the road after a long stay is so difficult. The hours drag by and, of course, with a destination of Elkhart, there wasn't really much to look forward to. We arrived just before a huge rainstorm--by minutes--and John came in to hold the dog while I put the slides out. Well, I was chatting and not paying attention--and forgot that I had stuffed one of our fabric wine bags into the slider lock arm (it had been making horrible creaking noises--so this seemed to muffle the irritating sounds while we were driving). As I looked up and yelled, "F(&*", I saw the wine bag being sucked into the slider lock arm. I raced to stop it, but it was stuck and the slide arm wouldn't budge. The good news--we were at a repair facility--but we still don't have any idea of how much this little boo-boo is going to cost. So, it's now Tuesday and we were supposed to be on the road to Minneapolis---but after getting the slide arms un-budged, the new transfer switch put in, new sensors on the tanks, our headlights "polished", we made the mistake of talking to the techs and they were talking about the seals on the roof of the coach...and of course, we asked them to take a look at ours. Wouldn't you know, they found a broken antenna, cracks in the A/C covers and seals needing attending. So, we're here for another day in lovely Elkhart.

Probiotics and Wine don’t mix

Our neighbors across the way-- two women with a 45 foot motorhome came over for cocktails. We had helped them back into their site and John has been getting them a Wall Street Journal every morning when he picks up my newspapers. They were a really interesting couple--both ex-teachers- they left academia -Kathy became an investment counselor (and from the sounds of it, decided at that point to get divorced and try the "other side"). Paula was one of her clients. They got together and started doing "network marketing"....from the sounds of it, it's a bit like doing small "Avon" or "Mary Kay" businesses. They done a number of them and obviously have done quite well. Their new venture is with probiotics chocolate. (They brought some over last night- and I'm blaming my current hungover state on the chocolates--not the over consumption of wine with no dinner!...it's been so long since I've felt so bad....must be a reaction to the probiotics. They were really good--and there's a few left. I'm dying to try them, but afraid of the reaction). Their web site -"successbychocolate.com. We got the whole pitch--supposedly good for blood pressure, diabetics....

Feeling like death warmed over, I still managed to get to my 11 AM haircut with Serena. Cute little thing who convinced me to take a few inches off--can't believe how short my hair is- she just kept cutting and cutting! I guess it's a good length for this hot weather---and as John said, "You're only 8 weeks from a good haircut". Oh well.....John just got his hair cut, mine is short now- and Chloe's turn is tomorrow....

We met the Homan’s on Friday at the Garage Bar on the West Side. What a great place—dog friendly, good food and cheap drinks!

Check out the drink menu!

Cruising Lake Erie

John decided to call Dan, an old high school friend, out of the blue--they haven't seen each other in 40 years! Dan was 2 years older and quite an entrepreneur --even in high school. He started the tree service that John worked for in high school and college. John was a "climber". Well, I think the last time he saw Dan was at his wedding to Marg. Dan went from high school entrepreneur to a hugely successful business career...owns and runs about 20 companies and is still going strong in his business ventures to this day. He suggested we meet at the "Sunset Grill" on the shores of Lake Erie on a little island called "Whiskey Island". Turns out that he used to own the island- and donated it to the county for a park. It was a very hot Cleveland summer day and when we arrived, Dan tells us that we're going out on his boat for dinner. We got some wine and cheese and took off to see the Tall Ships. It was a lovely way to see the ships--and the Cleveland skyline.

They were a charming couple. They aren't your typical Americans --very well traveled-- they've been all over the world. Every two years, he takes a motorcycle trip--the last one was a trip from Xian, China to Istanbul. (We checked out the tour company coordinating these trips--a mere $30,000 -but, as John reminded me, it does include transporting your motorcycle to China and back from Istanbul. I told him not to get any ideas...there's no way I'm being a motormaid on a 3 month motorcycle trip!). Dan's next trip is from Cairo to Cape Town! Marg joins him--in the city of her choice-but not for the entire trip. Smart woman.

It's been a fun stay here in Cleveland--only a week left before we head off. We have to make a stop in Indiana --the wires on our transfer switch started smoking again. Fortunately, John had put a smoke detector in the compartment and heard it chirping. When he went to check it out, he found the wires starting to smoke- a short developed because one of the contacts came loose. John was able to get it fixed-thank goodness--the temps here have been in the 90's and humid and it was a long hot afternoon waiting for him to get it fixed. The short did damage the box --so the company is sending us a new one and we're going to have it replaced at a repair place in Indiana.

Summer in Cleveland

We found a lovely Greek/Indian restaurant in Cleveland with an outside patio where we can take Chloe. Last Saturday, we went downtown to take some photos and explore a few more neighborhoods and we found "The Mad Greek". It's in an adorable little neighborhood in east Cleveland and the patio was gorgeous--lush gardens with a waterfall--and the most amazing food. The menu was a combination of Greek and Indian and the food was spectacular! We each had a "sandwich" served open-faced on flatbread--John had the Greek veggie/chicken/feta cheese version- I had the chicken curry one. As a side, they served a Greek Salad or Tabbouleh. It was so good--and we ended up with enough food to take home for dinner that night. (What is it with portions these days?--no wonder Americans are so fat!!) I think we're going back there this weekend with Jeff and Bootie. It really is a great combo for a restaurant--we often have to forego Indian restaurants because the other couple aren't fans of Indian....but who doesn't like Greek food??!!

The Ipad!!

We got our Ipad yesterday-and before we even took it from the box, we brought it to a local electronics store to get a protective cover for the screen installed (what a hose job--$29.99 for a piece of plastic and $14.99 to install it!!) But, I had checked the installation instructions on the web and there was no way we were going to do it ourselves...squeegying (is that a word?) out the tiny air bubbles.... Then, we drove to the Apple store to check out the other accessories and sit in on a "Getting to know your Ipad" seminar. Fortunately, the manager of the store is a dog lover and not only encouraged us to bring Chloe- but was taking photos of her with her iPhone. So, Chloe got to sit in on her first seminar. She did great--by that time of the day, she was so exhausted from our other errands that she slept in John's lap the entire time.

Chloe the new Ipad expert
The Apple Store was amazing. It was Friday afternoon--a work day and a school day --and it was PACKED! The age range was amazing--everything from 3 year olds sitting on little bean bag chairs playing games on MacBooks to 20/30 year olds---to us oldsters and even some really old folks. Made us want to run out and buy Apple stock--really! I am loving the Ipad--it's truly a remarkable device. We were both gobsmacked after our hour long seminar---they covered the basics--the Wi-Fi interface, the Ipod interface, the photo capability (when you're not using the Ipad, it can be set up to run as a digital photo frame), the IBooks capability...you can even do Skype on this thing! I guess I shouldn't be that impressed--for the price ($700!!) --it should make coffee and serve you dinner. And- that's just for the basic iPad--no earphones or speakers, no docking station, no external keyboard, no carrying case, no camera interface. Needless to say, we walked out of the Apple store with a wireless keyboard and a carrying case ($69 for faux-leather!!).

The Memorial Day Exodus

After the mad rush to set up on Friday afternoon, the “KOA Kampers” are piling out in droves—hoping to avoid the Memorial Day afternoon traffic.

“Jon and Kate plus 8”-the pop-up camper and tent site with what must have been 8 multi-ethnic kids, 8 bikes of varying sizes, 8 tiny lawn chairs and group bike-a-thons all weekend have gone.

Jon and Kate Plus 8

“Pop-Up Pat” and her beer bellied husband have packed up the pop-up, their outdoor screened room, the electric fan and their b-bque grill.

Pop-Up Pat

The “Weekend Warriors” had brought everything but the kitchen sink with them for the Memorial Day weekend- and put it all outside-hammocks, grills, plastic bins, party lights, vacuum cleaners, coolers…

The Weekend Warriors

Next door, the Harley driving, tattooed guy who sat outside with his big screen TV from noon till 11PM yesterday watching the Indie 500- ignoring his wife, kids and adorable Jack Russell terriers- has started to pack up (9:00 AM-beer in hand. You can never start drinking too early on a holiday weekend). The “fire-truck rides” are over. The campfires are dying.

The “catch and release” pond is surrounded by ducks and geese instead of fathers and sons with fishing poles. The grandparents can drop off their “grandbabies”. The end of the holiday weekend—YEA!

The Amazing West Side of Cleveland

Cleveland continues to amaze us. We drove west on Lorain from the West Side Market and found a pocket of the Middle East. The markets were filled with olives and cheeses, spices and huge cans of olive oil. The owners were Palestinians, Lebanese and the clientele, some in chadors, were all speaking Arabic.

We bought home-made Pita bread and tabbouleh then went on to Lakewood to sample the Hungarian bakeries ‘cottage cheese squares’. Lakewood had a few hidden Victorian gems—Italianate style-side by side with Stick style and Tudors.
We ended the day at the Tremont Greek Festival at the Church of the Anunciation.
Food was the order of the day—gyros, schwarma, moussakka, pastitsio,baklava—from outside food tents to a huge auditorium lines with tables of food and pastries.