The Last Leg

So now we're onto the last stretch of our journey. We've got one big drive left, heading for James' Uncle's family near Boston but it's too much to do in a day so we've got a stop half way in a place called Auburn. It's another place we've found on Airbnb and we were sold on the English breakfast that was offered in the description, mmm...a taste of home! Despite this rather large clue we're still really surprised when we knock on the door and the host welcomes up in with a very familar voice. She's English!

We share stories of home and travelling with Jennie and Zack and decide that we're going to spend our time here socialising with our hosts rather than going out exploring, I think it was the offer of a BBQ that swung it. There was one downside of spending time outside though; the house is shared with a very excitable German Shephard 'puppy' called Beauford who went loopy at the opportunity to play with new people. First he tried to get a piggy back from Christine, ripping all her clothes in the process, then he tried to jump up into James' arms leaving trails of mud all over him!

Looking innocent

Meeting someone English meant that we had a few extra things in common and when Christine pointed out that it's Eurovision night back home Jennie got all excited and ran off to find a way to get it on TV but (un)fortunately we only caught one performance before it was time for the scores. It was pretty obvious that the bearded lady was always going to win anyway.


We had a great evening and a wonderful breakfast (apart from cheese mixed in scrambled egg??) with Jennie and Zack and left feeling refreshed, very much looking forward to seeing James' family later on.

Canada's Wonderland

Since we missed out on going to Cedar Park in Ohio we've managed to find another theme park to visit while we're over the border. What a way to make the most of being in Canada! It's opening day of the season at Canada's Wonderland so we're excited to make the most of what should be a fairly quiet day on the site. As the coasters start to appear in the distance we get excited, all we've got to do is park and get our tickets, then it's excitement all the way!

After picking up discounted tickets from a local shop (gotta love cheeky internet tips) James has decided that there's no need to pay for parking on site because there are loads of residential streets near by so we can just park on those. Unfortunately as we drive up and down we keep seeing signs warning vistors to the park not to use those streets and threatening being clamped or towed. So we drive up and down, down and up for what seems like an eternity looking for a street we can use. We're about to give up when we find one...at last! It does feel like we should have just stumped up $15 for parking after all that hassle though, especially as we now have a 20 minute walk to get to the park. Never mind!

The attendants at the gates are a bit confused by our tickets, neither of them have ever seen them before but we don't have a problem getting in, a quick scan of the barcodes and, beep beep, we're in. It's so quiet, the car park mostly had school buses in with just a few cars so we know we won't have any problems getting on rides. We head straight for the nearest one, a dangly leg affair a bit like Nemesis back home at Alton Towers and walk straight up to the ride. No queue, woohoo! Two minutes later we stumble away from the ride both clutching our ears...that was painful. This place has definitely gone for the economy options on the cushioning, we probably won't be going on that one again!

We spend the whole morning running from ride to ride, never queuing for more than ten minutes and, fortunately, not having any rides as painful as the first one although we weren't exactly comfy on the one that whizzed round with everyone standing up. For our well earned lunch we head out of the park and over the road to a nice little rib and wing bar and make the very sensible decision of stuffing ourselves full of food and beer ready for an afternoon of spinning round again.

By the end of our day we've been on pretty much every ride at least twice and we even managed to spend the last hour simply running back and forth between our favourite two and since we seem to be the last people in the park there's no queue at all, we don't even have to get off the rides before they start again. Despite threatening clouds hanging over us all day it doesn't start to rain until the final minutes of the day. That's the time we discover why theme parks are quiet on rainy days...so much pain! Trust us to be on the highest, fastest ride with the rain lashing us in the face and we whizz round trying to shield our faces (PS a hoody doesn't help, it just makes it worse).

Exhausted but very happy we head back to our host's place ready for a good sleep. When we get in she looks guilty and apologises profusely to us...her Mum pinched our cabbage out of the fridge! We have a good laugh together and try our best to assure her it's no problem.

Crossing the Border

For the first time in what seems like forever we're leaving the States today! We're heading for Canada via Niagara Falls and for an extra treat we're going to see it from both sides. The American side is pretty cool but misses the best of the Falls. We get to the observation deck just in time to see it being locked up, even though it's only 4pm! James sweet talks the attendant into letting us get on for just a minute to see the view but it only makes us want to get over to the Canadian side even more!

So over we go on the Rainbow Bridge and into Canada! We park up and walk along the length of the falls. Unfortunately the Maid of the Mist boat isn't running yet, it's too early in the year. We're informed that the massive chunks of ice down by the falls make it too dangerous so we have to settle for watching a staff boat float up to the falls and take in the amazing views from the top. I guess we'll just have to come back one sunny summer day and do the things we couldn't. At least we're treated to a beautiful site as a rainbow emerges from the falls and the Sun starts to set for the evening.

We have to drive to Toronto for the night but we keep putting it off. We wish we could just stay around here for the night and enjoy the views. Plus it's going dark and we don't know exactly where we're going. As it turns out we probably should have stayed! Our Sat Nav gets us lost about a mile away from our host's place and we don't arrive until nearly 11pm. The adventure's not over either as we struggle to find a way out of the underground car park, trying 5 different doors all in opposite ends of the car park until we find a way out. Luckily our host is very understanding (and still awake) and gives us a warm, fruity welcome (banana and mango flavour).

Bed...at last!

"Cleveland? Why would you want to go there?"

That's what people kept asking us when we told them our plans. We were starting to get worried about what we'd find, especially since we originally planned on going to a theme park which actually doesn't open until the day after we leave!

We've booked in with a couchsurfing host for a couple of nights but he's double booked for the first night so, really generously, he gives up his bedroom to us for the night. Thanks Jesse! Since he's obviously a good guy we take his advice and head to the University Circle district of the city to take in some of the sights. Parking is a bit of an issue and James drives round the same block more times than we can count, each time missing a space by a few seconds. By the time we've parked we're definitely ready to stretch our legs so it's just as well that it's a nice green area here, with the Natural History Museum (alas just closed when we arrived), the botanical gardens and the Art museum, which looked very old on one side and very modern on the other. We're not convinced! After having a nice long wander round we find a nice lively bar with a usefully timed happy hour and indulge ourselves before heading back to the house for a manly tea of steak and chips.


Ohio wildlife

Visiting wildlife

We've been told we can move into our basement apartment this morning, the Germans who were staying had to be on the road at nine so Christine gets a bit of shock when she walks in and they're still there. Luckily she's quiet and they're asleep or things could have got weird. As soon as they've gone we throw our bags downstairs and head for the bus to take us in to the city. It's one of the more historical looking cities we've seen in America and there's a mix of grand statues and old buildings that reminds us a bit of Germany. The first thing we head for is the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in Public Square which is an impressive enough on the outside but there's a door so we head inside and are greeted by a very enthusiastic worker inside who seems very excited to have visitors and shows us round inside.

Even though it's his city, he too seems confused why we've come to Cleveland! Next it's across the square to the imaginatively named 'Old Stone Church' and as we get to the door we're approached by a greeter with long grey hair and no teeth who starts to tell us about the church but quickly changes subject to his 26 years in prison! We can't get a word in, he just keeps going on and on, back and forth between stories about the church goers and prison. We're nervous... one minute there's smiles as he's telling us about the 94 year old woman who brings him bread on Sundays then the next minute he's telling us people have no sense of humour when it comes to shooting cops...we think that's what he did, he's hard to follow. We manage to get away when a homeless man comes into the church and our new friend escorts him out. Phew! We have a bit more of a walk, see the fountain of eternal youth (we'll know if it works in a few years), the view across Lake Erie from the top of the Civic Centre and head for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Fountain of Youth

World's Largest Free Stamp

What a place! It's huge and takes us nearly 3 hours just to get around the first floor. Luckily this is the only day of the week it's open until 10 tonight, we're going to need it! So with a food break in the middle we work our way round videos, instruments, outfits, really cool exhibitions about Elvis, Hendrix and The Wall.

Jump!

Ultimate Elvis Jukebox

Janis Joplin's Amazing Automobile

Christine wonders if there's any way she can get out with Jacko's glove and Kurt Cobain's guitar and James gets told off for using his flash. We could easily spend another day in here, we'd have to if we wanted to see and read it all but we speed up as the evening goes on and finish our visit watching a presentation on all the previous inductees and get amazed by how wide a range of music 'Rock and Roll' covers. We're kicked out around 9pm and there's just time to take in the lights of the Cleveland skyline before heading back for a beer and a catch up with our host. We leave a note in Jesse's visitor book telling future guests to invite him to the Hall of Fame with them, as it turns out he's never been.

Think Pink

Rock and Roll Baby!

Off to Ohio

It's a long way to Cleveland so we're stopping halfway somewhere today. It's a shame to leave such a pretty place but we can't get away to quickly as the car has a slow puncture. We stop to get air but there's no pressure gauge at the petrol, sorry 'gas' station. Or at the next one, or the next, or the next, so we finally give up and have a guess at how much to put in. Since we have to swap the car we stop at the nearest airport (luckily it's on the way) and make a quick change. They give us a Chevrolet Impala and although it's brand new the inside looks straight out of the 80's - plastic wood everywhere but even worse it handles like a boat!

As we rack up the miles and our stomachs rumble, we decide it's time to stop for food. Anything but McDonalds, which is hard in America and especially in Tennessee. We drive for what seems like hours and then notice a restaurant logo on a sign that we've not seen before, anywhere over here...it's a vegetarian cafe! The owner is really friendly (as a weird coincidence it turned out her parents live in Tehachapi where we stayed in March) and makes everything from scratch to order so we're glad it's not busy and thoroughly enjoy giant portions of vegetable things that haven't been anywhere near a deep fryer. We feel instantly healthier!

We find a motel to stop for the night in a town called Hillsboro. There's not much going on so we rest up for an early start tomorrow. Cleveland here we come!