Friday – July 25 – Heading west along I-70, we crossed the Monongalia River
into
for a total of just 14 miles before crossing the Ohio River and finally to
After missing a turn due to very confusing route signage, we found our way back onto US-250 … which we figured, as a US highway, would be a fairly decent road on which we could make pretty good time.
SURPRISE!
For the first 25 miles this two lane road without any noticeable shoulders wound its way up and over one hill after another with dozens of sinuous turns and switchbacks.
Things occasionally became a bit dicey when one large dump truck after another came barreling around nearly blind curves.
That said, however, the scenery was extremely scenic, a welcome relief from the Interstates we’d been on thus far.
and occasionally humorous. 
However, our trip also took us through a number of towns we’d never heard of, many of which had their own unique histories.
COLERAIN – Birthplace of Josiah Fox. A naval architect, who was responsible for putting the designs for the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) onto paper and noted for his involvement in the design and construction of the first significant warships of the United States. This was meaningful to me as I was commissioned aboard the Constitution.
CADIZ – The birthplace of Clark Gable (whose portrait is displayed on a prominent building wall mural as you enter the town)
and John Bingham, a Republican congressman, the judge advocate in the trial of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, the prosecutor in impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson and the principal framer of 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
BERLIN – the oldest village in Holmes County and today, the heart of Ohio’s largest Amish community.
About noon, we found ourselves driving abreast of Tappan Lake with its vast areas of water lilies in bloom
where we were able to pull off and have lunch.
Arriving at Whispering Pines Campground, we discovered it had recently become affiliated with the Jellystone group and to Debbie’s delight she was able to meet none other than …
Tonight, we got together with Ken and Gloria Simonson, the good friends we met in Naples and the reason we’d come to this out-of-the-way part of Ohio, for dinner at the Iron Pony Saloon
… where the steaks and prime rib were as good as we’ve had in years!
Saturday – July 25 – We slept in late after a late night and copious amounts of red wine! Debbie and I decided to take a down day, spending some time wandering around the campground
Old farm equipment used for landscaping
Lilies
A gazebo and fountain on the lake
Wildlife across the street from our motorhome
Yellow finches
Hummingbirds
watching a Martial Arts demonstration
Magic Show, primarily for the kids,
Guess who was “drafted” to be the PIG in the Old Macdonald’s skit?
After a raging thunderstorm we enjoyed a pizza and wine dinner with Ken and Gloria