Day 9: Cleveland Heights, OH to Barberton, OH
Tuesday Oct. 28, 2008
It was another grey and wet morning. We had yet another delicious breakfast at the Crest Bed and Breakfast. We really enjoyed staying there. The bed was comfortable, and fresh, hot breakfasts were as mentioned delicious, and the proprietors friendly and accommodating. Plus it was a convenient place to stay. We didn’t get back on the road until 11:30, and we hoped that the weather wouldn’t actively try to ruin our day at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Julie and Winston lived in Cleveland Heights for 6 years while attending Graduate school at Case Western Reserve. Winston never knew that there was a National Park 30 minutes away. Julie had a better notion, because the summer before starting at Case she lived right next to it, and would bicycle through on the weekend. To be fair though, it wasn’t officially a National Park until October 2000, and by then we were trying to graduate. So since we found out, we deliberately set aside a day to explore the park.
The weather remained mostly overcast and cold. The sun peaked through every once in a while, and light rain would fall every other once in a while. That was good enough for us. The wetness gave all the fall colors an extra shine to make up for the gray skies.
We first stopped at the Bridal Veil falls trail, and went to see the small cascade in the woods. It was a typical fall wood hike and it was great. The waterfall is about what we were used to seeing the at Cleveland Metroparks, nice but not all that impressive. We continued down the road and came to Tinker’s Creek Gorge Overlook, which from the road seem rather unassuming. But a sign by the overlook indicated that it was a National Natural Landmark. Wandering down the boardwalk we could see why. Especially in the full color from the fall foliage, it was very spectacular. Highly recommend seeing it in person if you get a chance.
We added another stamp to Megan National Parks Passport at the Canal Visitor Center which turned out to be the only one of the 5 visitor centers open that day. We then went to the Brecksville Station which also wasn’t open, but was where the Station Road Bridge which is the “oldest metal truss bridge still existing in Cuyahoga Valley”. Winston like looking at bridges, the engineering side of him one supposes.
The next stop was the Brandywine Falls. This was unlike any of the other waterfalls we’d seen in the Cleveland area. There was palatable power coming from the falls and was quite a loud rumble. Nothing like Niagara Falls mind you but you can see why they built a mill there.
The National park runs along side the Cuyahoga River, which is next to the Ohio & Erie Canal and a series of 44 locks were built along the canal for barges from to travel from Akron to Cleveland. Most of the locks no longer exist or are in state of disrepair. However a few are on display, including in front of the Canal Visitor center. Lock 29 near beaver marsh, is not nearly in such a good state.
When we travelled out the south end of park we made our way to Barberton where our friend Fred and Mary Ann showed us their new (to them) beautiful home. 72 miles over 6 hours 45 minutes. We joined them for dinner at a chinese buffet, and then did our laundry after dinner.
See the Photos
Julie and Winston lived in Cleveland Heights for 6 years while attending Graduate school at Case Western Reserve. Winston never knew that there was a National Park 30 minutes away. Julie had a better notion, because the summer before starting at Case she lived right next to it, and would bicycle through on the weekend. To be fair though, it wasn’t officially a National Park until October 2000, and by then we were trying to graduate. So since we found out, we deliberately set aside a day to explore the park.
The weather remained mostly overcast and cold. The sun peaked through every once in a while, and light rain would fall every other once in a while. That was good enough for us. The wetness gave all the fall colors an extra shine to make up for the gray skies.
We first stopped at the Bridal Veil falls trail, and went to see the small cascade in the woods. It was a typical fall wood hike and it was great. The waterfall is about what we were used to seeing the at Cleveland Metroparks, nice but not all that impressive. We continued down the road and came to Tinker’s Creek Gorge Overlook, which from the road seem rather unassuming. But a sign by the overlook indicated that it was a National Natural Landmark. Wandering down the boardwalk we could see why. Especially in the full color from the fall foliage, it was very spectacular. Highly recommend seeing it in person if you get a chance.
We added another stamp to Megan National Parks Passport at the Canal Visitor Center which turned out to be the only one of the 5 visitor centers open that day. We then went to the Brecksville Station which also wasn’t open, but was where the Station Road Bridge which is the “oldest metal truss bridge still existing in Cuyahoga Valley”. Winston like looking at bridges, the engineering side of him one supposes.
The next stop was the Brandywine Falls. This was unlike any of the other waterfalls we’d seen in the Cleveland area. There was palatable power coming from the falls and was quite a loud rumble. Nothing like Niagara Falls mind you but you can see why they built a mill there.
The National park runs along side the Cuyahoga River, which is next to the Ohio & Erie Canal and a series of 44 locks were built along the canal for barges from to travel from Akron to Cleveland. Most of the locks no longer exist or are in state of disrepair. However a few are on display, including in front of the Canal Visitor center. Lock 29 near beaver marsh, is not nearly in such a good state.
When we travelled out the south end of park we made our way to Barberton where our friend Fred and Mary Ann showed us their new (to them) beautiful home. 72 miles over 6 hours 45 minutes. We joined them for dinner at a chinese buffet, and then did our laundry after dinner.
See the Photos