In mid-August Amaris and Fox took a trip to Huntington, New York, on Long Island to visit Amaris' family in the Empire State. During the drive to New York and on the return trip stops were made in Ohio. The first stop in Cuyahoga Valley National Park on the way out was unplanned while the stop in Holmes County, Berlin and Millersburg, on the way back to Chicago was more or less planned. As a result of the unexpected gem we found in Cuyahoga Valley it was decided that we would begin taking alternative routes to the interstate highways when possible and did just that on the way from New York to Holmes County a week later.
Following an enjoyable dinner in Elkhart, Indiana at The Vine on the way east we stopped at a hotel just south of Toledo, Ohio. As we had recently begun 75 Hard we knew we had to get in a morning workout before the driving started otherwise we would not get both forty-five minute workouts in for the day. With a little bit of research, we discovered that the Cuyahoga Valley and the Brandywine Falls were only about fifteen minutes out of the way so we decided to go on a hike / job through the woods. This unexpected stop exceeded what little expectations we had and confirmed that time spent exploring side roads is well worth the investment.
The valley boasts over 125 miles of hiking trails, Boston Mills and Brandywine Falls Ski Areas, and is easily accessible from I-80 for anyone traveling through the area. After getting turned around slightly we arrived at the Boston Mill Visitor Center where we began the roughly two mile hike to Brandywine Falls via the Stanford Trail. Jogging through the woods was incredibly enjoyable and empowering as we hiked up steep inclines before reaching the boardwalk close to the falls that leads into an observation platform. The sixty five foot tall falls are incredibly powerful and we were genuinely surprised at the force behind the water as it tumbled over the rocks. A swift downhill jog got us through the woods and back to the truck in good time before being so famished we devoured leftover steaks like a couple of savages.
A brief rest was taken with the steak and a couple other snacks before we were on our way eastward again through Western Pennsylvania, the Pocono Mountains, the outskirts of New York City, and finally reached the destination of Long Island, New York. A wonderful week was had enjoying the "Real Long Island Experience" with Amaris' family before the trip back through Ohio.
Rather than taking the slightly more direct route of I-80 we decided to take I-76 to Pittsburgh before turning off on US-22 through West Virginia briefly before reaching Holmes County, Ohio. Prior to making it into Pittsburgh we stopped for some wonderful lunch at DB's Smokin' BBQ near Doolittle Station. The route was relaxing as the woods passed by and stops were made to enjoy lakes and lily pads near Laceyville, PA on the Susquehanna River. Ultimately, we arrived to Berlin Main Street, which was bustling with activity as travelers were visiting all of the shops along with the famous Sheiyah Market.
A brief visit was made to some close family friends' homestead that has been in their family since 1860, when the barn was originally erected, or earlier. The folks in Holmes county are some of the finest in the country with a great deal of pride and self reliance within the community. The seventy acre farm has a couple dozen head of cattle, hay, and a large vegetable garden.
After catching up, we took a short drive to Millersburg Brewing Company for some delicious food and no beer due to 75 Hard. As always, it was great to see people who are essentially family and hear their perspective on the current state of affairs. Gaining insights into various perspectives continues to be one of the most valuable benefits throughout the journey.
On the way out of town we were in for a couple surprises that added joy to an already wonderful afternoon. The first surprise was a road side farmer's market called Harvey's Market that operated on the honor system while no attendant was there. The selection was wide with all sorts of locally sourced fruits, vegetables, honey, and even fishing bait. We took the opportunity to stock up on produce and were back on the road in no time.
The last surprise happened when construction forced us off of the highway onto back roads for a few miles. Upon exiting out of a neighborhood we were faced with a massive stone correctional facility. Upon further review, it turned out this was the Ohio State Reformatory, which was featured in The Shawshank Redemption, and was somewhat eerier to see from the outside. The sun continued to set as the road west unfolded with miles to go before we would stop for the night in Indiana.
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