Getting caught up on Ohio visits

The Maumee River at sunset

We spent last Thursday and Friday visiting the farm, the farmers and taking care of farm business. We also had meals with old friends, visited relatives and planted flowers at my parents' grave -- all the things we do when we come back home.

Our bed and breakfast in Grand Rapids was along the banks of the Maumee River at Providence Dam. We walked along the tow path left from the canals that used to run along the river, ate at La Roe's just off the path and watched the Baltimore orioles that were visiting feeders stocked with grape jelly. What beautiful birds.

My sister and I went on a 20-mile bike ride Saturday morning before we packed up the car and headed to Cincinnati, driving through a heavy rainfall. I had suggested we might do a "flip-flop" on the trail, riding backwards (north to south) to cover the part of the trip we had abandoned on Wednesday. Glad we did not as we would have been soaked.

Cincinnati Music Hall

On Saturday night, we ate supper in downtown Cincinnati before attending a performance of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at the Cincinnati Music Hall. My first visit since October, 13, 1968, when I saw Janis Joplin there.

The featured artist Saturday night was supposed to be Martin Grubinger, a percussionist. However, he called in sick and we got back to back performances of "Sheherazade," one by Ravel and the longer version by Rimsky-Korsakov. The mezzo-soprano called on to take the place of the drummer, Michelle DeYoung, was expressive with clarity of voice.

Another bike ride Sunday morning, this one for 40 miles down to the Ohio River, across on the Anderson Ferry ($1 for bicyclists), back to Covington, KY, and across the Purple People Bridge to the two Cincinnati pro sports stadiums. Fans were already gathering for the Reds game that day (another loss to San Francisco).

At the top of the list of things left to do in Cincinnati before we leave Thursday: Lunch at Skyline or Gold Star Chili for another regional treat. Checked off the list so far: shredded chicken sandwich at cousin Peggy's ice cream shop; bratwurst at Spengler's in Napoleon, OH; a first time visit to the Log Cabin, the newest restaurant in Henry County, where I saw an old friend I had not seen in almost 50 years. These are some of my favorite things -- culinary sophisticate that I am.

Little green men in the Saul Farm woods?