Grand-daughters are growing up fast! Kady was 6 on Monday and Olivia is 2 today... We all went out for a meal on Wednesday.

2 years old today...

 

I love midsummer's day, especially when the sun shines.

In a previous existence we used to go to a holiday resort in the far north of Scotland. It was still light at midnight and I wanted to ensure I was getting the maximum amount of daylight for my money.  Yesterday  I'd got a day free due to my daughter cancelling at the last moment so I decided on a drive down to the Lincolnshire coast again for a stroll around the nature reserves, followed by fish & chips at Skegness. I don't understand how some folk can last a whole week at SkegVegas, two hours is just sufficient for me. There are some hidden gems along other parts of the cost but I'm not going to tell you where they are, I don't need hordes of folks turning up spoiling my day of relaxation.

So I packed up a salad and other goodies into the cool box for lunch and set off at 11.30.

Whilst on the way down there, I took my usual Grantham avoiding route which consists of a short southbound track down the A1 followed by a sharp left-hander off at Great Poynton (where it's signposted for Boothby Pagnall), up though the village, under a railway bridge then left onto the B6403 onto a north-north-easterly track which eventually brings me back onto the A52, having avoided the tedium that is Grantham town centre. Now I've not been along here for a few months so I was astounded at what they have done to the traffic island - It appears to be a mini-Stonehenge and being Midsummer's day caused me (and no doubt countless other motorists) to do a double-take. Further down the A52 in the Boston direction they have installed a multiple average-speed camera system, similar to the ones they have around Nottingham. Could the revenue from this be used to finance GranHenge I'm wondering?

On the return trip I managed to find somewhere off the B1176 exit to park up and grab a few pictures. Late evening, sun going down. Probably should have been there at sun rise?

This is Fort Amanda, somewhere north of Wapakoneta, Ohio. Originally a settlement for American troops in the early 1800's, now a cemetery, memorial and country park.

A brisk walk around the park there yesterday, enjoying a barmy 75F and the autumn colours. The river is calm apart from the odd ripple, allowing for a picture of complete symmetry.

Today is dull and windy (but still surprisingly mild). A contrast.

We visited the Americanized version of Oktoberfest in Minster on Saturday. It seemed to comprise a large market selling food (but not an extensive selection) and crafts - very expensive and amazing how enterprising some people can be with old rubbish!

 Beer was also on offer, mainly the usual American selection of Budweiser variations and some imports. You had to queue up and purchase beer tickets at $2 each and imported beer cost two tickets. Rather than drink the usual Bud I concentrated on the imports - Bass Pale Ale from UK was good but I gave the Stella Artois a miss. There was also a selection brewed locally in Mister with some subtle flavourings and the lager was particularly good.

Heading east-bound over the shore of Lake Michigan en route to Columbus. A wet day.

On the move again, this time to Chicago and onto Columbus with American Airlines. Not flown with them before but if the quality of the boarding card is anything to go by, and the fact they code share with British Airways, then I'm hoping it should be a good trip.

Terminal 3 at Manchester is quieter and a lot more civilized than the bustle of T2. I've flown into O'Hare a couple of times and that always impresses me, particularly the neon lighting effects they have in the underground walkways. Almost three hours stopover at O'Hare then onto Columbus, OH.

This weekend is Oktoberfest (=beer) so planning to visit one at Minster, OH http://www.minsteroktoberfest.com/ . Also a home game of the Wapakoneta Redskins (American Football) against Saint Mary's so that should be interesting as I'm still working out the finer points of that game. Well I guess the US doesn't quite understand cricket either!

After having to limit myself to one checked back with Delta Airlines on my last trip, I find I can now take two checked bags on the next trip with American Airlines as my ticket was booked prior to their cut-off date.

Result.

Just arrived at NY JFK

I was checking out the forecast and weather radar on Weather Underground yesterday, hoping that I might get to see a good electrical storm to match the one I saw in Michigan City last year. Despite some heavy rainfall close by and a very optimistic forecast, it never made it here.

The clouds were interesting at sunset though.