Lebanon, Ohio -- Happy Fourth!!Jul 4, 2006
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Picture from our campsite.
Picture from our campsite.
Picture from our campsite.
| Pita's Diary - Lebanon, OH - Day 1 (Bill's note: On the map it will appear as Dayton, Ohio. It's a long story but that is what I remember) You might say we left Buckhannon on a wing and a prayer, at exactly 7 AM. There was thunder, lightening and torrential rains. First Dad had forgotten to tighten the sway bar. We had to stop. Then it was discovered Mom had forgotten to close the dinette window. We had to stop. Then we realized Mom had forgotten to put the stairs away when she went in the trailer to close the window. We had to stop. The rain lightened up after Clarksburg, WV. It rained real hard a couple of times in Ohio, but we made it in pretty good time despite the slow travel and unexpected stops. We got to Cedarbrook Campground, Lebanon, OH at 1:58 PM. This is a really pretty campground. There is a lot of green grass behind the trailer and lots of shade trees. Good thing, too, because it is hotter than a tick! All that bad weather had me a little uneasy today. I was so hungry when we got into camp that I ate all my dinner in a matter of minutes. After that I settled down under the AC while Mom and Dad got the wi-fi working. They went to Wal-Mart, too. The lamp shades on our lamps came apart (Dad said they were poorly made). They tried to get new shades but so far nothing they found would fit, so Dad bought two new lamps. I think I like these better. Mom says Lebanon is a really nice town. It has lots of old buildings and, again, most of the lawns aren't fenced so it looks like parkland. Mom loved Ohio when she visited before. If it weren't for the heat and humidity she'd like it even more. I can see the kids at the pool (in the campground) from the dinette window. They sure look like they are having fun. There is also a little squirrel hanging around. I hope I will get to go outside after it cools down. I'm not fond of this heat either. Well, I gotta let Mom use the computer, now, to do the banking. We called Aunt Dottie. Mom and Dad are going to a gathering tomorrow where they will see family Dad hasn't seen in 30 years. Mom saw Aunt Dottie about 5 years ago when Uncle Mike retired from the Navy. Grandma Ginny and Mom visited London, OH and Aunt Dottie and Uncle Neal came to visit them from Dayton. Day 2 Mom and Dad got up later today and Dad held out on my breakfast. It finally dawned on me that they were going to be gone for the day and they didn't want me to think I missed a meal. They are very transparent! I made sure I expressed my displeasure. I don't know how many times I need to let them know that us kitties don't live on petting or food alone. We need some structure in our lives! I'll give them another chance though because they have been trying real hard to make it easier on me. At about 9 am they left to go to Aunt Dottie's. Dad had Mavis (the GPS System) programmed to get from the campsite to Aunt Dottie's. I guess they would have been there on schedule if it weren't for the 4th of July parade and celebration in down town Centerville, a little town north of here. They finally got around in the narrow streets just in time for the rain to start again. Oh well, they found Aunt Dottie's. Her dog, Freckles was just as displeased with the fireworks last night as I was. For being a state that doesn't allow fireworks, I never heard such loud noises. Aunt Dottie led Mom and Dad over to cousin Tom's house. There they had a really enjoyable visit with Tom and Laurie, son Nick and their two dogs Daphne and Dani. Mom said those dogs were big but really friendly. Nick is 12 years old but really smart. Dad says he is a computer nerd like him. He took Dad back and showed him his computer and told him all about his games and military hobbies. I think that made Dad pretty proud. Their dogs are Great Danes. Dani is only a baby, 5 months old; and Daphne (a Great Dane mix) has been with them for 2 years. (Not sure how to spell the names, so if I goofed, please forgive me?) Tom and Laurie have a black cat named Sammy too, but he stays in another room because he isn't really fond of the dogs. Jim and his wife Ann and daughter, Michaela, were there; Deb and her husband, Dave, too. Dad got some pictures. Dad hadn't been with this branch of the family since Grandpa Haughey got sick, about 30 years ago! Everyone had just got back from a cruise in the Gulf of Mexico, I think. Michaela is just 12 (Looks older Mom says!). On the Cruise she got to swim with Dolphins and Manta Rays. What fun for her! I guess she was pretty good at bargaining with the locals in the shops too. It had been planned that everyone would be out by the pool but it rained. I guess that is why everything is so pretty and green. If we had known, we could have planned to see "The Wild" a wild animal park a couple of hours away. It has the largest collection of endangered species in the world! There is just too little time and too much to see! I guess Mom and Dad must have had a real good time today because they kept talking and laughing about it and saying how happy Grandma Ginny and Uncle Neal would have been. It's too bad they are not here any longer. I know it makes Dad sad when he thinks about it. Michaela took pictures of the "family" all together. Unfortunately they forgot to do it before Debbie and Dave left. The guys did the two finger salute in the first one. Gee, I thought only young kids did that? Ha! Luckily she got another picture where everybody was posing nice. That picture will go on our "Wall of Fame" at home. Personally I think it's funny because it looks like Dad has wheat growing out of a vase from his head. When the folks got back they did the "dirty deed" - dumped the tanks. Later they are going to hitch up so we can make a quick and quiet get away early in the morning. Tomorrow is going to be the longest day on this leg home - 340 miles. I bet I will be tired tomorrow night! If we ever do this again, I think we'll take it a little slower so we can have more fun - just got to find a way to get more money! Maybe the Haugheys came visit us in Oregon one day? I know Mom and Dad would love it. Well, we're off tomorrow on yet another leg home. I really miss my Beagle friend Peppy and his mom Ruth. Next time I'm going to tell Dad he should bring them along on our trip. I'll check in with you folks again soon! |
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