Hello wherever you’re reading from! Co Pilot Jay here! Last we left off, we had headed into the Ohio valley, where I had grown up for the first 20ish year or so. Maine was postponed due to some COVID-19 restrictions and future plans to return to the Canadian east coast. It’ll still be there hopefully…
We spent a couple of weeks in the central Ohio area. This was particularly difficult for me due to the pandemic because of the number of friends, family and public places that I usually like to visit while I am in the area. We spent most of our time just north of the city, near where we attempted to buy a house last year about this time, in Waldo Ohio, which is a little north of Columbus.
Autumn spent her time cranking out a handful of stained-glass succulents for her online store Castle Keep of Dreams, while I did some day hikes and waited on our inflatable kayak to get delivered to our gracious host’s home.
On the bright side, while I was in town I became a great-uncle! My niece gave birth to a baby boy, which I didn’t get to see but I did get in on some snap chats. We got to spend some brief time with my immediate family but kept the socializing to a minimum. I took the opportunity to visit some of my favorite state parks in the area. Most of the Cbus metro parks (Highbanks is the best!) and of course some time down in Hocking Hills and Old Man’s Cave.
After about two weeks we headed up to the Port Clinton/Sandusky area for a couple of days and stayed at a camp site along the Portage River at a campground called Chet’s Place. We got a great tour of the area, including Johnson’s Island, It was the site of a prisoner-of-war camp for Confederate officers captured during the American Civil War.
After Labor Day weekend, we headed westbound finally! We went through IN. and stopped to get some famous Sugar Cream Pie! We stopped in a small town called Shipshewana and picked up meatloaf takeout from Blue Gate Restaurant. It became our new favorite dessert, and we will be getting full pies on our way back through.
We came to a stop a bit south of Chicago, in the suburb of Oswego. Where I am typing from currently. Our stay was with a crafty couple and the purpose was to exchange artistry knowledge. Autumn shared her stained-glass know how and our host David spent some time wire wrapping with her. There was a good amount of family bonding over resin as well!
While their artistry flowed I got to go out and stretch my legs with some fantastic Illinois parks and wildlife preserves. Including a run in with some (Chicago) Bulls that I found myself inside a fenced pasture with!
Our time in Illinois was very memorable, and we made some wonderful friends. Some deep-dish pizza and super awesome Portillos made the food list, and we are headed up to Madison Wisconsin to find the best cheese curds in existence!
Then, west into the Rockies at last! Goodbye Midwest, it’s been lovely.
