Road Trip Pictures

Monday, August 8, 2011

I left you last week discussing reflections of a completed project and my girls suggesting a road trip. I took the road trip, totally solo, a new feat for me. How was it and where did I go?

I packed my truck and headed dead north to the lovely city of Cleveland, Ohio. Situated on Lake Erie and home of the Rock n’ Roll hall of fame I saw and conquered as much of Cleveland as I could in one day. Allow me…


I had never seen a Great Lake so I just had to. First stop, a pier right next to the R n’ R.




A fine dinner at Shula’s was in order and yes it is owned by the Miami football coach. This is where I met Rick, who apparently had just got out of the hospital and had been well informed on the difference between dry and wet cured meat.

We sat for a while chatting on where we were from and laughing at our oh so attentive waiter. At last Rick and his driver had to leave, a rather jovial woman who had had one to many martinis. But before leaving the lady asked, “So what are you ordering?”

I replied without missing a beat, “We are sharing the wet cowboy!” Get your mind out of the gutter with hers, it was a steak.

Saturday began with the West Side Market and then to the Hall of Fame. We were informed it would take 5 to 6 hours to tour this museum, so really this was all that was planned. However…


This is my take on the hall of fame, it is a rip off and for these reasons.
  1. Country is country and in no shape or form to be mistaken for rock n’ roll, why then is it included here? They have their own museum.
  2. As much as I respect Elvis he is not the king of rock n’ roll. Elvis had huge sales and made it allowable for white kids to listen to what at that time was black music. Yes, Little Richard and numerous others were preforming the music way before Elvis.
  3. There is very little tribute to the blues. Anyone who follows rock n’ roll knows how instrumental the blues were in it.
  4. The museum is full of clothing and artifacts, which you expect, however the extent of educational interaction is selecting a song from a huge MP3 player. Wow, I have been educated.
  5. No cameras are allowed. Really what do you do with a picture of Mick Jaggars tight pants? Drool?
  6. Les Paul was given some what his due however if you are a Fender lover forget it. They did not apparently contribute to the museum and thus are briefly mentioned.
  7. They do allow service dogs. Even the 2 pound Pomeranian variety. The gothic woman in front of use was allowed to enter with her 2 pound service dog and Ms. Twister would not let me ask what service it preformed.
  8. If you are the same age I am, you soon realize your concert memorabilia is museum quality.
  9. The building is fabulous, however it took us a mere 2 hours to see, read and play with their MP3 Players.  

Needless to say I was not impressed with the hall of fame. I could have sat and watched people going in all day, so now I have 3 hours to do something else. The Zoo.

Zoos are a secret love of mine and I have always wanted to design one; again I was let down. Yes it was hot and I except that some animals do not like the heat but…






The Cleveland Zoo must have been designed around our National Zoo. Way to must emphasis on people and not enough on animals. My living room has more space than the gorilla exhibit. Besides I did not see one worker that was old enough to drink.

Please realize I was just disappointed, in NO way am I slamming Cleveland because I had a wonderful time and would do it again. Why?

Because driving home I realized, it is the chance of seeing something new, being somewhere I had not been and meeting people I did not know.

So can someone explain to me, why we do not drive like we talk? Or do you turn the volume up, cut in, cut off and generally scare the crap out of people you are talking to?

RainbowPeace…


23 comments:

Corine Moore said, 

What a discipointment, to look forward to a museum tour - and not be impressed! :o At least you had the Zoo! :D
...love the photos! :) BTW. the first photo is covering your words.

August 8, 2011 at 10:49 AM  
Kathie said, 

None of the zoos I've been to have had a koala :-(

I was angry at the zoo in Colorado Springs because they had 4 cougars crammed into an area that was way too small. They were pacing around-first clue an animal is not happy. :-(

August 8, 2011 at 10:53 AM  
Talli Roland said, 

That's a shame about the museum, but the first few pics are fab! I love water.

August 8, 2011 at 10:58 AM  
Kelley said, 

The pictures are wonderful! I'm sorry it was disappointing. and I agree that most zoos are too focused on people not the animals.

August 8, 2011 at 11:06 AM  
Gail said, 

You have some good pictures, you got outta the house, you saw new sights, and arrived home safely...so, all in all, it was a great adventure.

Glad you got to go.

August 8, 2011 at 11:11 AM  
Katie Gates said, 

This makes me want to drive -- cautiously and courteously -- to some place I've never been before. Road trips have value no matter what's at Point B.

August 8, 2011 at 11:17 AM  
T. Powell Coltrin said, 

Road trips are difficult especially if you decide to go alone. I like someone to talk to so when my daughter said she'd go on mine, I was thrilled.

Here's what I think about trips, have not expectations and then you'll be pleasantly surprised if something good happens. If it doesn't then you weren't expecting anything anyway. :)

August 8, 2011 at 11:26 AM  
Bossy Betty said, 

Yahoo for road trips and yahoo for coming home from road trips!

Sorry the museum was a disappointment. Bummer! Zoos can be hit or miss.

Glad you hit the road though. That question about talking the way we drive will have me thinking all day.

August 8, 2011 at 11:31 AM  
Julie Flanders said, 

I love the pics of the lake, I've been to Cleveland a few times and always love Lake Erie. I know what you mean about the Hall of Fame, it didn't take anywhere close to 6 hours to see the place when I was there, that's nuts.

So glad you had a nice trip in spite of some disappointments, and were able to get away for a bit! :)

August 8, 2011 at 11:51 AM  
RHYTHM AND RHYME said, 

You have some wonderful pictures Jules which mean new memories.
I enjoyed your post very much.

Thanks for your visit much appreciated as always.

Yvonne.

August 8, 2011 at 1:36 PM  
Karen Lange said, 

You are a wild woman! :) Thanks for sharing your commentary; I'll remember it if I ever make it to Cleveland.

August 8, 2011 at 1:48 PM  
Mary@GigglesandGuns said, 

Some places are best shared -- the zoo is one of those.
R & R - I live close and would never go. Never been satisfied with their choice of inductees or that fact they built it here but would never ask the inductees to come to Cleveland for the ceremony.
Sorry I was in PA this weekend and missed you.

August 8, 2011 at 2:23 PM  
Golden Eagle said, 

I'm sorry to hear the museum was a disappointment--it sounds like you had an adventure, though!

Great pictures.

LOL. I hope I don't scare the crap out of people I talk to. :P

August 8, 2011 at 2:32 PM  
Green Monkey said, 

Love seeing the zoo animals but hate seeing the zoo animals confined. Ahhh... nothing like a summer road trip!

August 8, 2011 at 3:44 PM  
Alex J. Cavanaugh said, 

Great pictures, Jules! I don't want to know what service that little dog performed though. And country music in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame is just wrong.

August 8, 2011 at 4:36 PM  
Arlee Bird said, 

I'm so jealous. I want to go to Cleveland. After all, it's my home town. Well, it's where I was born, but I don't so much consider it my hometown as much as I do Maryville, TN. I haven't been back to Cleveland but a few times since we moved away when I was about 7 years old in 1958. And the times I went I was basically just passing through. Someday I'm going to see the sights and visit some old childhood haunts to see if any memories are sparked.
Loved your story.


Lee
Tossing It Out

August 8, 2011 at 6:52 PM  
Manzanita said, 

Jules, So Rick was a blast to share a steak with you. If you say your concert memorabilia is museum quality, mine belongs in the dinosaur museum. I had a good girl friend from Cleveland and I used to drive there from Minneapolis. We had a good time with her family. Thanks for bringing back that memory..... long forgotten. The zoo pictures are really interesting. Not animals you run into every day.
Manzanita@Wannabuyaduck

August 8, 2011 at 7:27 PM  
Summer Ross said, 

Love the pictures Jules! Specially the second one almost looks like chess pieces. I'm sorry you were disappointed. But at least you got out and about.

August 9, 2011 at 12:11 AM  
Samantha Vérant said, 

Hey, your blog changed. It looks nice! Oddly, in my former life, I worked on the graphics for the RRHall of Fame, but I've never visited it. When I was in NY, though, they had an exhibition of guitars at the MET. It was pretty cool. Sorry your trip was disappointing. Did you try the chili? I've heard Cleveland is known for it's chili.

August 9, 2011 at 5:00 AM  
Unknown said, 

I hate when I don't enjoy something I'm expected to. However, how cute the photos at the zoo! Love it!

August 9, 2011 at 8:03 AM  
Theresa Milstein said, 

Excelllent 2nd picture. You have a photographer's eye! And what a cute 1st animal picture.

Sounds like a fun trip. Having a wet cowboy didn't sound appetizing until I knew it was steak!

August 9, 2011 at 9:43 AM  
Velvet Over Steel said, 

I have been to a Great Lake but not Cleveland yet. Sounds fun! I would have been disappointed at the museum too; but seeing the Zoo last is a perfect end to a any road trip!! Like you, I love animals too!! :-)

Great pictures, Jules!!

August 9, 2011 at 10:53 PM  
Tammy said, 

Outstanding pictures and your museum takes were about as much fun as actually going.

August 10, 2011 at 8:05 PM  
Let's Talk, Leave A Comment

Going UP