More travel photo's

Monday we were in Mansfield and visited the Ohio State Reformatory. This is where they filmed the Shawshank Redemption. It was quite the place and we did the behind the bars tour. The history was quite interesting in that it opened back in the 1870, before it was really finished and the prisoners (1st time criminals for boys 17 and over) actually worked to finish it and it was a self sufficient place with everyone working and learning a trade and getting educated. They got their high school diplomas and could take college courses. Later in the 1920's they opened it up to other prisoners, and it went downhill from there. It closed Dec 31, 1990 as it was unlivable. I declined to do the bell tower with the extra steps, and meandered to the museum of the movie. They actually have filmed parts of 4 movies there over the years.

It was hot, and only the museum area was in the AC. We headed to a local restaurant for lunch at the Reindeer Cafe. It was yummy. From there we drove a few hours up to Niagra falls and got there a bit after 7PM. Finding parking was fun but we got tickets to the Maid of the Mist and took our 20 minute boat ride to the falls. It was amazing the wind force, water and the view. We got soaked... I think my sneakers have finally dried out! Good think I brought an extra pair.
 

The after photo - Aidan loved it.

The before photo.

We travelled another hour or so that night and stopped in Rochester, NY for the night.

Our next stop was in Syracuse for the Erie Canal Museum. It was pretty neat and the kids learned a bit about the process and what is around Syracuse. They did not know about the salt influence there. The guy at the desk was great and chatted with us for a bit selling his city. Aidan wore his Tampa Lightning hat, and of course he said, you can wear that hat in here! They have their minor league team in town. I'll post some photos I took inside in another post, great quilting designs!

From there Aidan drove us to Vermont through the Adirondak mountains and the curvy, windy roads into Vermont and to Graniteville to my parents house.

Emily loves the soft grass and no fire ants in sight! Our grass in Florida is pokey, so they enjoy it up here. Shortly after we arrived, my sister Joanne and my brother and SIL Mike and Kathy showed up. One dropped off tickets for Thunder Road on Thursday and the other dropped off some stadium seats for that night. My sister Terri and her hubby Bob and Charlie (my nephew) are going with us and Joanne will be there. Free tickets as it is sponsored by her work that night. Thanks Jo!

The next day, I helped the parents get packed and loaded up and moved out to camp. 

After a late lunch (we picked up KofC), the kids unloaded both cars in the heat and humidity and promptly relaxed on the porch. Aidan reclaimed the couch last night and ended up sleeping out there overnight! It was 62 degrees when I got up this morning.

We did a boat ride after Aidan finished mowing the lawn out here. Dad wanted me to drive. I did not crash the boat and the docking was fairly good!

I'd better get dressed as we need to grab a few things in town and then I can maybe get a little hand stitching in by the lake later this afternoon, before we head into the races tonight.