Day 1 -- to Cleveland

Here we go again! Fasten your seat belts.

If you're just joining us, we are the Long family, party of five, hitting the road in our Toyota Swagger Wagon, Teardrop trailer in-tow, for a three-week tour of New England and the Canadian Maritimes.






I am more nervous about this trip than I was last year, when we took off for points west for four weeks. We had planned that trip for months. Most of our camping reservations were set in April, and I knew exactly where we'd be every step of the way.

This time around, it's been a bit different: I was online making campground reservations last night, taking a stab at it and hoping that we'll be in the vicinity of, say, Edmundston, in the northeast corner of New Brunswick, somewhere around the 4th of August. Because otherwise we just made a $27 contribution the provincial park there.

Compared to last year, this is definitely by-the-seat-of-our-pants. We hope it goes well.

We rolled out of the driveway around 7:30 this morning. Our departure was a little later than we had planned, so we had to push hard -- no dawdling -- to get to Becks Mills, Ohio, about two hours northeast of Columbus, to pick up Natalie at "farm camp" by 3 p.m. But really, who wants to dawdle anywhere between Lafayette and Columbus, Ohio? It was a long drive, but we made it in time, and Charlie and Clare, each with a row of seats to themselves, made no complaints.

The Country School Farm is tucked into the middle of Amish Country, and a trip to farm camp is like a trip back in time, as we pass more horses, buggies and wagons than cars and trucks. The Amish farms perched on the hillsides are immaculate, and the countryside is so peaceful. We were thrilled to see Natalie at pickup time, and she climbed happily into the van and chattered on about her week feeding baby lambs, milking goats, picking blackberries, baking bread and jumping off the hayloft.






We drove into town for the traditional stop at Guggi's Ice Cream Parlor for last good-byes with TSCF friends, before getting back on the road for Cleveland.

About two hours later, we pulled into the driveway of the home of Keith's Aunt Mary Ann and Uncle Tom. Mary Ann knew just how to welcome us: with cold wine and beer. The kids explored their huge, leafy back yard, which slopes down to a lovely pond, while Keith, Mary Ann and I threw burgers on the grill. (Uncle Tom, unfortunately, is away on a golf trip this weekend! We will miss him!) After a wonderful dinner on the patio, the kids made friends with the next door neighbors, who have an equally enormous back yard and the added bonus of a trampoline, a playhouse and a play set. We were finally able to tear them away about an hour and a half past their usual bedtime. But hey, we're on vacation. Who's keeping track of bedtimes?

So here we are, enjoying Mary Ann's generous hospitality and our plush accommodations upstairs at Casa Long. I'm sure we'll all sleep well tonight; we've got lots to do tomorrow!