We Roll Into Ohio

It was a short two hour drive to Cleveland to visit Ed's "other mother."

Rita has moved into a care facility and her home is on the market.

We were able to park on the driveway, run a 110 extension cord and be in the

Airstream near to her new home.

Yes, we entertained her neighbors backing in...

Our visit began with lunch at Pearl's Place right in the senior home.

The place is staffed with volunteers of a certain age so standing in line to order was a

comedy of errors...full of love and laughter.

Eleanor and Rita have been friends for over 50 years.  Eleanor - who still
drives at 90 - met us.  She's sharp as a tack
with a sense of humor as quick as ever.  

I could see the joy in Ed as he visited with people he loves.  

It was Rita and her late husband Eric, who welcomed Ed to the U.S. and made

him a full family member.  Rita was the one he turned to before he asked me to
marry him.I guess that means I owe my present to her...

She recognized us both as soon as we walked into her room.  It's only when the

questions repeat that you begin to realize how much she has lost.  

I think I have to frame this picture.

We took the whole mishpocha to dinner at Jack's, the local deli.

Going around the table:

Eleanor, Shelly, Rita, Ed, Linda, Edna, Jeffrey, me

Ed beamed all evening.

We had breakfast the next morning with Linda and Shelly's son Jake.

They should be proud.  He's grown into a wonderful young man!!

We said our goodbye's and headed to Jackson Center...

...when we pulled into the Airstream factory.

We found a spot in the Terraport and spent the next 30 minutes entertaining the

others Streamers while we struggled and finally succeeded to back into our spot.

We were surrounded by silver twinkies!

The older models are on display in front of the building entrance.
Ed's favorite was the 1937 Cruiser at the front of the line.
It was followed by Airstream founder Wally Bynam's gold streamer.

Jackson Center, Ohio IS the Airstream factory.
Right in the center of town - which there isn't much of.

They managed to get us in for service though we didn't have an appointment.

This is how it goes:

You unhook your services, this little green tractor pulls up, slips under the tow hitch,
hoists you up slightly, and buzzes you off at warp speed to the repair bay.  

Then, when they are finished they whip you back, also at warp speed,
replace you in your slot in the Terraport, and are gone in an instant.
They repeat the process if more needs to be done the next day.

There are Airstreams flying all over the place!

Our service was completed in one day.  Wheel bearings packed,  awning serviced
and a part  replaced (Ed and I were able to lower it less than a minute!!), and small
repairs to the shower and falling drawers.

The next day we took the factory tour.

This is not small place!   They are going to add on to it.

Airstream is having a good year...!

There were no photos allowed inside until the end of the line.

This is where they test for water leaks.

We did get to see construction of the unit from start to finish.

Ed went back to tour the next day as well when the workers left at noon.

He said he saw much more and is more pleased than expected about our RV.

We met Myra and Max Joseph the first day here.  Streamers from Florida who have been

trailering forever and have been everywhere.  We completely enjoyed their company.  

Finnegan met Cody who loves to chase balls as much as he does.
They were able to run free and run they did.
It might be enough to say that Finn slept well at night...  He never

did manage to outrun Cody.  She's not only bigger...she's faster!

Everyone here knows Finn.  He has managed to tour almost every RV on his own and 

meet every dog who then comes out to play on the grass.  He runs free when we

are at the picnic tables, and he makes short side trips...

We stayed a couple extra days just to chill out.  I admit it!  I'm old!  I needed to regroup.

This was just the right place.

I'm ready to roll again.  tomorrow morning we begin our trek to Chicago to spend

time with the Goldens.  We'll make a few stops in Indiana to visit friends before

we settle down for a bit in Mundelein, IL.

Stay tuned!