At Mandi and Marks.  Having a great time with the family.  Went to some of kids instrumental practices.  Went moped riding with Mark, both of us.  Had Ice cream in Calidonia which was very good.  Here are some pics of  activities.


THese are murals on the sides of buildings in Wilmington Ohio

New rocking horse for the kids from Al.

Cutting the rug with the kids.  Fun

Helping Malachi fix his breaks.

Ice cream, everyone screams for Ice cream

Made it through Ohio and are now in Indiana.  Had good night sleep, sun is shinning for a change and we are headed to Mandi's and Marks and the new baby today.  Should be there by noon.

Here we are in Wilmington Ohio.  Having a great time.  Over the last few days we have been hiking and exploring water falls and nature. Sorry for the time between blogs, but have not been where we can,  we are in the boonies.  Awoke this morning planning to head to Mandi's  but have 2 inches of snow on the ground.  We will head out tomorrow hopefully.
Spent Two days with John and Cheryl here and they took us around to see the sights.  Had lots of laughs and reminiscing about old times.  Just before we got here John got word his sister, Susan passed away.  She was 66.  They left for Wichita area yesterday. 
Had to fix the hot water heater yesterday.  Other than that all systems seem to work well.  Did laundry, got propane so we are ready for what ever.
Notice the large paw prints in the mud compared to our dogs

BJ doing her hair after I unplugged the camper electricity.

Water fall and Hiking up and down hills'

Tree that grew in an arch

What a great day we had yesterday.  Great castle in Akron Ohio.  All interior was original antiques.  Very large, probably the largest we have seen. We are now in Loudonsville Ohio for a couple of days.  Lot to see here and explore.  The weather has changed a lot.  You will see later.

Great room 

Harpsicord

 

Gathering room and looking down hall way.

This is a harp/piano

Formal dining room with original china, crystal and silver.

Pool, referred to as the "plunge" in the basement.

mens pool room

Arrived just in time for the night.

 

Awoke in the morning to this and 25 degrees and had about 30 to 40 mph during the snow storm

But we are having FUN

 

A lot has happened since we last wrote.  Today is April fools day but our fools day happened a day early.  We were at a castle in the morning and then traveled for a long time trying to find another castle but could not find it.  So looked for a camp ground on the garmin mapper.  Found one called Camelot.  How romantic.  Drove  for a long time to get there.  It was a beautiful drive.  Finely got to the drive up to the camp Camelot.  It was a muddy and narrow drive and a little up hill.  Got to the gate and read the sign that said" Closed For Good". 
      That was fool #1.  Choice was to back down the hill on the narrow muddy road or turn around and that was fool #2.  Got stuck, trailer bottom out in the back, truck slid sideways into a depression and we were in a real pickle.
       A lady came out from the other side of the gate saying we were not the first ones.  The camp had been closed for 10 years and the owner refuses to take down the signs on the roads that lead to this place.  After some time of jockeying around, using the leveling squares, and removing the load levelers which made the trailer lift up, got the trailer and truck back on the muddy road.   They opened the gate so we could pull into the camp and find a turn around point.
     That's not all.  Then the lady led us to another camp ground because we didn't know the area.  Guess what, that one was close until May 1st.  The lady at the hillside camp was nice and let us stay in a rocked area for the night, since it was dark by now.
     Fool #3
      Now it is April 1st and we have another great day.  Because everything got so muddy, we decided to find a car wash after breakfast.  Found a reason not to travel with dogs.  Got the truck washed and went to move the trailer forward to wash it.  Told BJ to get back in the truck but it was locked.  The dogs had stepped on the door lock and my keys are in the ignition.  "Well BJ , use your keys"  "I could but they are in my purse in the truck", she says.
      Try telling a dog to unlock the door, right.  They would step on the lock but seemed unable to understand the command "unlock the door"
       Tried to call the police department but the phone was always busy.  I tried to use a hanger, self made key, but after 45 min. I gave up.  Called a tow service, he got it open in less than a minute.

       Again, not just a vacation but an adventure.

Finally got on the road and saw a great castle called Glamorgan Castle in Alliance ,Ohio. We are in a camp ground now, safe from any more April fools phenomena .  Pics to follow.

First castle from 2 days ago.  Castle was never finished

 

This guy got us into our truck so I could scold the dogs.  More training necessary.

 

Front door to Glamorgan castle

 

 

Dome room

 

 

Family living room

 

 

Hand carved chair and pillar.  Very intricate carving. 

 

Top of dome room

Swimming pool in basement.  There was also a two lane bowling alley that was covered over to make  an office.

 

Just before I was about to publish this, got a call from home and we have 4 sheep in our pasture now with the two horses.   Will April fools never end.

All this is true and is not an April Joke.