The National Road

                                                                                         

Brick Paved National Road  1920's

Top photo is Cryss in abandoned passenger train -  In 2022, we completed the Route 40 Project. Exploring the Ohio portion of the Old "National Road" from the Pennsylvania border to the Indiana border. We done this in several trips over the summer. There are still some remaining sections of the original brick paved road, a railroad depot with an abandoned passenger train and a few remnants of motels and gas stations that once thrived along what was then the nation's main east-west route. Built between 1811 and 1834, the national road was 620 miles long and connected Cumberland, Maryland to Vandalia, Illinois. In the 1920’s it became what is now US Route 40.

Another Back Road

                                                                                                  

Two girls were having a great time riding four-wheelers in these hills. Must be great... growing up here.

Old Time Hardware

These men and their wives were in no hurry. Kind of a Mayberry afternoon in front of the local hardware store. Although the one pictured here is not one of them, there are still a  few "old time hardware stores" in Ohio. "Old time" hardware’s have big front porches,  wooden floors inside with a few buckets turned upside-down so you can sit and visit. Things hang on the ceiling, nails in metal bins with an antique scale to weigh them.  You can find everything from chainsaw chains to crock pots and non-electric appliances... even a hand powered washing machine.

The Saloon

                                                               

We once found an authentic 1880's saloon, closed of course, but the bar inside was still intact with a vintage clock on the wall. We were lucky, the owner, a very nice man, lives nearby and saw us. He came over, let us in and told us about its history. It had been used as a lodge for some time but he was using it for storage. It was many years ago when we visited the Saloon, I don't know what its current condition is or if its still there. If we're in the area again, we'll check on it.

Cabin Fever

                                                                                                                      

I think I have cabin fever. I’m ready for a road trip. We’re going down to southeastern Ohio and maybe into West Virginia in a couple of weeks to visit relatives. That will get us out of the house and on the road for a while and we really enjoy spending time with the relatives there. Their houses are always warm and homey. We’re already planning some spring/summer trips. The middle of May begins our road trip season. The daily temperature is about seventy. The trees begin to leaf out when temperatures are consistently warm around mid-April and by the middle of May they are green, flowers are blooming and the days are getting noticeably longer. There’s many May festivals and events around the state but we’re not big fans of festivals. There’s a couple we sometimes visit. It’s the first of February now, so we need to be patient, spring is not far away. March twentieth is officially the first day of spring. 

Old Time General Store

                                                                                                                       

One of our favorite places to find is an old time mom and pop store. There are still a few still operating in the state. There's one authentic "General Store" still operating that we know of. There are several stores claiming to be authentic "Old Time General Stores" but they are replicas selling low quality tourist trinkets. This store is not a replica and has been open for many years but is not the one Old General Store I mentioned. Was penny candy really a penny ? Sure was,  in the 1960's. Actually, some of the candies were three for a penny. 

The Caravan

 

In 2018, we learned of a group that forms a caravan each year in the summer and fall and drives a planned route through the scenic rural areas and farmlands of northeastern Ohio. There are planned stops at interesting places along the way with a stop for lunch so people can meet and talk. On the morning of the trip, everyone meets at a pre-determined place and is given a map with the route and stops marked. You drive at your own pace and can stay with the group or take a detour and catch up with the group later. It’s up to you. The trip takes most of the day but time passes quickly and we’re always a little sad when it’s time to go home. Our first trip with the caravan was in the fall and we had a great time. The rolling hills of northeastern Ohio are beautiful when the leaves are in full fall color. Since our first trip, the caravan has been one of the things we do every year.

Wayback Burgers

 

                      We're Having Wayback Burgers !

The True "Old Fashioned Hamburger".  I call them way back burgers. There’s a restaurant chain called “Way back Burgers”,  they are very similar to Wendy’s. Their burgers are not the old time hamburger stand burgers. In spite of the hype, there is only one restaurant in Ohio that I know of that serves genuine "old fashioned hamburgers".. Wendy's you're not even close.

Hamburgers are pretty simple and all are made with the same basic ingredients but they can taste very different. A grilled hamburger taste different than a fried one. And a hamburger fried in vegetable oil taste different than one fried in lard or Crisco. The secret to making authentic old fashioned hamburgers is not exotic herbs and spices. The secret of these burgers was born in the great depression era of the 1920's and 30's.  Many foods had their beginning in this era because of the need to use what you had on hand and to economize. I often made burgers but they were never the same or as good as the hamburgers I ate at the hamburger stands when I was young, something was missing. 

Hamburgers is one of our favorite quick and easy meals. It took me many years to discover the elusive secret of the burger stand hamburgers. I finally learned how to make burgers that are tender, juicy and taste sooo good. Great burgers need great buns and you can rarely find them in the bread isle at the local grocery. We found a source for buns that don't turn waxy or doughy when moist or chewed. 

Most restaurants are better at serving up social experience on internet media than serving good burgers. Some restaurants want you to believe the perfect burger is a combination of a "mile high...multi patty, multi cheese burger served with a plethora of exotic condiments added so that you have to smash it down with your hands and dislocate your jaw just to get your mouth around it. The condiments are cheap and the size gives the illusion that a hamburger is worth fifteen to eighteen dollars. Those burgers are for gullible people that have more money than sense. It's a good gig if you can fool people into thinking any hamburger is worth more than three dollars. Kewpee’s Hamburger Stand in Lima, Ohio serves burgers that are far better than the fast food joints but is not the one authentic restaurant I mentioned.

The only condiments I use are pickle, onion and mustard. These burgers are great with homemade fries or onion rings and a homemade milkshake. We make our fries from russet potatoes and deep fry them until golden brown. We make onion rings from homegrown Candy Onions.

In the 1950's and 1960's, before the "drive-thru", there were "drive-in's", a type of restaurant where customers ate their meals on the premises without leaving their cars. In the 50's and 60's the drive-ins brought your burgers to you on a tray that hung on the window of your car. They were wrapped in wax paper, dripping with heavenly juices and often served with fries and a milkshake. No restaurant today can match the goodness of the food or the experience of those drive-in's.

                                                                                         

Road Trips

                    

                   

It’s winter and pretty drab here in Ohio now but we have many pastimes and avoid outdoor activities if the weather is really nasty. In the warmer spring, summer and fall months we like road tripping. Traveling about, seeing new places and meeting new people is one of our favorite pastimes. We do travel some in the winter, mostly to visit friends. We’ve been taking road trips for many years and have traveled in other states but like taking one or two day trips right here in our own state.

A weekend trip can be as much fun as a trip across the country. You never know what you’ll find in your own backyard. To me, some of the most interesting people and places are not in Hawaii or Grand Island, but in the small towns and farmlands of the rural Midwest. Over the years we've seen all of the attractions and tourists hot spots in the state. We avoid the tired old tourists traps. We make our own special discoveries and find the hidden gems and the oddities away from the crowds; those unique places you won't find listed on the tourism websites.

We've explored all of Ohio's Amish areas including the 160 mile Ohio Amish Byway. America has over 800 scenic roads, however one of the most unique roads happens to be the Amish Country Byway. The Amish Country Byway has scenic views along winding curves and over rolling hills.  The Byway extends across Holmes County through the towns of Wilmot, Walnut Creek, Berlin, Millersburg, Killbuck, Loudonville, and Brinkhaven. We drove the Byway in several trips at different times. Allow at least two days and one night somewhere if you want to explore it in one trip.

Over the years we've traveled in and explored all of Ohio's eighty-eight counties except three. We've met many wonderful everyday men and women while wandering about. Some have become lifelong friends.

Ohio has more than 2,500 lakes and 44,000 miles of rivers and streams, eighteen designated scenic byways and thousands of miles of back roads. There are quaint little towns where time seems to have stood still. There’s many things you never knew existed right in your own back yard, so plan a road trip and make your own special discoveries.

                             It's the journey not the arrival that matters. –T.S. Eliot

The Garden Trail

 

Ohio has many produce farms. We've been buying from them for many years. Occasionally we buy extra for friends when we're on the garden trail. We avoid the "farmers markets". As a rule you won't find good prices at these places. Produce at farm markets is usually overpriced. Some vendors are "resellers" who buy from farms, markup the price and resell it. Some sell produce shipped in from out of state but give the impression it's home grown. There are some who grow good produce on their own land, bring it to market and sell it at a reasonable price. You need to know the difference. In the past we went to produce auctions but people were bidding everything up to ridiculous prices so we don't go to auctions now. 

Many Pictures Tell A Story

Photo by SR Journeys