Here we are in Wapakoneta, Ohio marking time until the eastern Gypsy Journal Rally in Celina. As an aside, we have been corrected by a local couple (they were having a garage sale and we had a great visit) and learned that Celina is pronounced Cel (long i) na rather than Cel (ee) na as we have been saying. They also informed us that it is Lima (like the bean) rather than Lima (like the city in Peru). Then they corrected our pronunciation of Wapakoneta saying Wapako (net) a—rather than Wapako (neet) a—as we had been stumbling around (with difficulty I might add).
For whatever reason, both Phil and I have had a hard time remembering the name of this town where we are staying in a very nice Coast to Coast and AOR RV park for $9.00 per night. Celina is just about 35 miles west of us and we drove over there yesterday to check out the fairgrounds where we will spend four days at the rally. It looks like a very unorganized and poorly set up location but hopefully, our fearless leader, Nick Russell will make some sense of it all when his parking crew finds a spot for all the rigs coming in. As we cruised the grounds, weaving our way through hundreds of Gold Wing motorcycles at their rally we found a wide-open field where if worst comes to worst, we can boondock. Most RVs are self contained and capable and we are set up to do that—but again—who knows why—we rarely do.
While in Zanesville, we had a full agenda. That is a wonderful area of Ohio with lots of things to do and see. We drove to Columbus to visit the state capital and were surprised by what we found. Unlike so many we have seen, it is understated and easily accessible with street parking all around. After parking, we circled the edifice, checked out the statuary then walked through the rotunda, took pictures and were back in the truck in 30 minutes.
Our friends and fellow Escapees, Bill and Diane pulled into Wolfie’s Campground and together we did some sightseeing for the next several days before we went our separate ways until the rally where we will see each other again for a few days. We ogled and photographed the famous “Y” Bridge over the junction of the Licking and Muskingum rivers from a viewpoint in a city park. Ripley’s Believe it or Not featured the Y Bridge as “The only bridge in the world where you can cross and still be on the same side of the River.” And, in the days when pilots relied on landmarks to navigate, Amelia Earhart called Zanesville “The most recognizable city in the country.” because of the Y Bridge.
Another day we headed for the Longaberger factory in Frazeysburg, OH, which was a rare treat! I am a reformed basket collector (no room in Penny so they had to go) and I felt like a kid in a candy store until I started checking prices. WOW! I know they are hand crafted in the USA but holy cow, the smallest baskets start in the $30-$40 range. The bigger ones are in the hundreds of dollars. I liked them a lot but not enough to spend that much for a memento! Admittedly, I was impressed with the factory over all and the smooth operation considering the lack of automation. Another thing we noticed was even with the millions of maple wood strips being cut, dyed and manipulated on the tables into signed works of art there was no dust. There must be a state of the art, air filtration/circulation system in the building—no masks or respirators in sight. We ended our self-guided tour from the mezzanine that runs the full length of the factory in the “seconds” store where I found the “affordable” prices were still way beyond what I wanted to spend. There was a pretty good sale going on in the Crawford “Barn”, a retail outlet in the Homestead complex down the road from the factory where I bought a nice backpack (I have been looking for one) for a reasonable (on sale) price.
We ended our tour by having “linner” in the Homestead Restaurant where they were no longer serving their advertised signature ice cream flavor, Maple Caramel Walnut (which just happens to be my favorite) so although the food was pretty good (but not great), I was disappointed. So, we went looking for ice cream when we got back to Zanesville. Our first stop did not have Maple Nut but we found it at “Tom’s Ice Cream Bowl” at the recommendation of our dear friends in WA, Les and Gloria. Thanks guys! It was good :)!
The weather had been lovely! The fall colors are more prominent every day so we will be slowly but steadily moving south after the rally.
Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time,
For whatever reason, both Phil and I have had a hard time remembering the name of this town where we are staying in a very nice Coast to Coast and AOR RV park for $9.00 per night. Celina is just about 35 miles west of us and we drove over there yesterday to check out the fairgrounds where we will spend four days at the rally. It looks like a very unorganized and poorly set up location but hopefully, our fearless leader, Nick Russell will make some sense of it all when his parking crew finds a spot for all the rigs coming in. As we cruised the grounds, weaving our way through hundreds of Gold Wing motorcycles at their rally we found a wide-open field where if worst comes to worst, we can boondock. Most RVs are self contained and capable and we are set up to do that—but again—who knows why—we rarely do.
While in Zanesville, we had a full agenda. That is a wonderful area of Ohio with lots of things to do and see. We drove to Columbus to visit the state capital and were surprised by what we found. Unlike so many we have seen, it is understated and easily accessible with street parking all around. After parking, we circled the edifice, checked out the statuary then walked through the rotunda, took pictures and were back in the truck in 30 minutes.
Our friends and fellow Escapees, Bill and Diane pulled into Wolfie’s Campground and together we did some sightseeing for the next several days before we went our separate ways until the rally where we will see each other again for a few days. We ogled and photographed the famous “Y” Bridge over the junction of the Licking and Muskingum rivers from a viewpoint in a city park. Ripley’s Believe it or Not featured the Y Bridge as “The only bridge in the world where you can cross and still be on the same side of the River.” And, in the days when pilots relied on landmarks to navigate, Amelia Earhart called Zanesville “The most recognizable city in the country.” because of the Y Bridge.
Another day we headed for the Longaberger factory in Frazeysburg, OH, which was a rare treat! I am a reformed basket collector (no room in Penny so they had to go) and I felt like a kid in a candy store until I started checking prices. WOW! I know they are hand crafted in the USA but holy cow, the smallest baskets start in the $30-$40 range. The bigger ones are in the hundreds of dollars. I liked them a lot but not enough to spend that much for a memento! Admittedly, I was impressed with the factory over all and the smooth operation considering the lack of automation. Another thing we noticed was even with the millions of maple wood strips being cut, dyed and manipulated on the tables into signed works of art there was no dust. There must be a state of the art, air filtration/circulation system in the building—no masks or respirators in sight. We ended our self-guided tour from the mezzanine that runs the full length of the factory in the “seconds” store where I found the “affordable” prices were still way beyond what I wanted to spend. There was a pretty good sale going on in the Crawford “Barn”, a retail outlet in the Homestead complex down the road from the factory where I bought a nice backpack (I have been looking for one) for a reasonable (on sale) price.
We ended our tour by having “linner” in the Homestead Restaurant where they were no longer serving their advertised signature ice cream flavor, Maple Caramel Walnut (which just happens to be my favorite) so although the food was pretty good (but not great), I was disappointed. So, we went looking for ice cream when we got back to Zanesville. Our first stop did not have Maple Nut but we found it at “Tom’s Ice Cream Bowl” at the recommendation of our dear friends in WA, Les and Gloria. Thanks guys! It was good :)!
The weather had been lovely! The fall colors are more prominent every day so we will be slowly but steadily moving south after the rally.
Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time,
Hi Joy, I always love reading of your gypsy life. (:
ReplyDeleteMy mother was born in Zainesville! My family comes from Wooster for the past 4 generations. Since my grandmother's passing last February I've been mourning the fact that we no longer have family in that area. I have many many happy memories of time on my grandparent's farm on Silver Rd. All my relatives are buried in Wooster, and I hope to one day make a trip.
I'm a conflicted homebody... though I like to go see things and place, after about a week away, I'm ready to be back home! LOL xx Vicki
Sounds like you had a good week. Love the fall colors. Its my favorite time to go to TN. and to te Smokey Mts.
ReplyDeleteWe're always a day late on your text. We get the pix on Suday and the text on Monday. That's because we do all the computer stuff first thing in the morning. Not complaining, just saying.
ReplyDeleteTell Nick and Miss Terry "hello" from us!
I've been following you across the country the past few months -- & now you are near --
ReplyDeleteI live approx 15 miles southwest of Wapak(oneta) Welcome!!
Dena
Dena,
ReplyDeleteHow can I contact you? We will be here until Sat or Sun.