Monday, May 23, 2011 - Frederick, MD to Dayton, OH

So there was a thing. It was loose. Todd put on his metaphorical mechanic hat and went to work!


The store in Morgantown, WV reminds the High School seniors of some basic information.


Hey look! It's Pleasant Valley Rd! So we had to listen to some Tied for Last CDs. Hi TFL!

And we even got to see Pleasant Valley! It wasn't Sunday, but it was a sunny day...


And we humbly thank the Methodist Church in Pleasant Valley for letting us use its parking lot to reattach the loose thing under Todd's car.

Because we had to drive right past Sherwood Forest.

Hey! Slow down! People are trying to WALK here!


Uh-huh
And then we drove past a sign that said "Polymer Alliance Zone."

Bike lanes on the highway - share the road!

Um...Todd? Where are we?


OH!


Welcome to Ohio - now turn around.

We drove around Ohio for a while and Todd said, "Ohio's not as funny as West Virginia." So Stephanie put away the camera. Then we drove past a propane tank that had "Torch, OH" painted on the side. Next was a hand-painted sign: Redneck Archery Zone. Finally, when Stephanie missed the Coolville City Limits sign, the camera came back out.


Wow


We would not like to live here.


Right next to the road!


We had places to be.


And biscuits to eat.

No stopping, even for tycoons!


Heaven on earth


Even the birds think so - they want to live here!

This is what we're getting Todd's father for his birthday.


Shack hill?


Where it all began.


Mannequins of the couple themselves


Truly a holy roller. Bob makes the best biscuits ever.


The 1969 Ohio Pork Queen

All Stephanie can think about is the chickens her landlord got that live outside her window. And how far she can shoot them out of a mailbox.

Stephanie, rockin'

Bob Evans #1

Well fed and happy, we made it to Dayton. Evidently, this is a baseball town!


Outside the ballpark


We are at the Dayton Dragons (A for the Reds) to see them play the Lake County Captains (A for Stephanie's beloved Cleveland Indians).


Good to know.

Stephanie wanted this shirt.


Todd obeys the rules.


Look! It's Ohio's state "flag!" Really more of a pennant...actually a burgee.


And they rolled out the red carpet just for us!

He was born this way.


Well THAT's good to know!

All sorts of mascots...

So we just walked up to the window and bought these seats. This is with no zoom on the camera. They cost $30. For two.


Between-inning game: Hip Hop or not?


We guess those were Hip Hop lyrics...


The kid announces the next batters.


Uh-oh


STORM COMING! EVERYBODY RUUUUUN!

And it was a doozy.


But he was happy.
And the players started bowling from dugout to dugout.

Which didn't disturb the ducks at all.

This is what they were using as bowling pins.

The dragons just snorted their derision.

The players threw baseballs to knock down the "pins."

FULL rainbow!

The weather got so bad for a while that all the lights went out in the concourses and they actually had people take shelter. Stephanie apologizes for mocking the signs.

We lasted an hour and a half into the rain delay but gave up at 9pm. The game was only in the bottom of the second at that point, and we've got a 10am game in Columbus tomorrow. Even though there were clear skies in the distance. Oh well.

Turns out the Lake County Captains won that game 6-2 after a two and a half hour rain delay. Go Tribe!

A thought on the National Anthem at Dayton: perhaps because Dayton is the home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, but it was truly remarkable to experience the total silence and respect for the flag. When the Anthem began, no one moved, no one spoke. There was an older gentleman who stopped halfway up the stairs and didn't move a muscle until it was done.