NORTH ADAMS TO CLEVELAND

"READY TO ROLL"

SEPT 23   AFTER THE USUAL FRENETIC PACKING AND CLOSING UP THE HOUSE, WE HEADED OUT FOR THE 560 MILE TRIP TO CLEVELAND VIA ALBANY.  THEN, SHUNNING THE BORING NEW YORK THRUWAY, WE OPTED  FOR THE ATTRACTIVE "SOUTHERN TIER EXPRESSWAY" THROUGH BINGHAMTON, CORNING AND THE SENECA COUNTRY BELOW THE FINGER LAKES SKIRTING THE NORTHERN PENNSYLVANIA BORDER.

THE FALL COLOR IS WELL ALONG THROUGHOUT THE FINGER LAKES AREA AND THE STREET TREES IN DOWNTOWN CORNING CAST A GOLDEN GLOW ON THE

HANDSOMELY REDESIGNED MAIN STREET WHICH HAS INTERESTING PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIONS TO THE RIVERFRONT AND THE FIRST-CLASS CORNING GLASS MUSEUM.

THIS COOL ART DECO STREET CLOCK GRACES THE MAIN INTERSECTION IN CORNING, BUT IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE AT 8:45!

CORNING'S AWARD-WINNING MAIN STREET RESTORATION HAS A HEALTHY VARIETY OF INTERESTING SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, ART GALLERIES  AND SERVICES WITH ALMOST NO VACANT STOREFRONTS.

    BACK HOME IN CLEVELAND

WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER I COULDN'T WAIT TO GET AWAY FROM CLEVELAND, BUT NOW I ENJOY GOING BACK AND THERE IS A NICE MIX OF NOSTALGIA AND SUPRISE AS I REVISIT OLD HAUNTS AND SEE NEW THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE I LEFT OVER FIFTY YEARS AGO.

BEFORE DARK, BUNGEE PAID OUR RESPECTS TO THE OLD FAMILY HOMESTEAD ON LINCOLN BLVD IN CLEVELAND HEIGHTS AND A GUY ABOUT MY AGE NAMED GORDON MIEND STOPPED TO CHAT. HE FILLED ME IN ON WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OF THE FOLKS WHO USED TO LIVE ON THE STREET AND TOLD ME ABOUT SOME OF THE NEW PEOPLE. I HAD NEVER MET HIM BEFORE AND IT TURNS OUT HE IS ALSO A CITY PLANNER AND COLLECTS PAINTINGS DONE IN THE 1930's BY GEORGE ADOMEIT, WHO WAS MY GRANDFATHER'S BUSINESS PARTNER.

EARLY IN THE MORNING WE EXPLORED THE DOWNTOWN, STOPPING AT THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME WHERE A HIGH SCHOOL BAND WAS SETTING UP FOR A TV SHOW. AFTER CHECKING OUT THE REST OF DOWNTOWN WE HEADED ACROSS THE RIVER TO ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES, THE WEST SIDE MARKET WHICH HASN'T CHANGED IN ALMOST 100 YEARS AND IS ONE OF THE FEW TRUE CENTRAL EUROPEAN STYLE FOOD PALACES IN THE COUNTRY.

THE BEAUTIFUL OLD MARKET BUILDING WHICH LOOKS LIKE AN ELEGANT RAILROAD STATION HAS THREE MAIN AISLES WITH SPOTLESS PERMANENT STALLS SELLING EVERY IMAGINABLE TYPE OF FOOD.

MORE VARIETIES OF PASTRY THAN I EVER IMAGINED

AND PICKLES GALORE... SOME THINGS THAT I NEVER KNEW YOU COULD PICKLE!

A BIT BEFORE NOON AS THE HEAT CAME ON STRONG (90+) WE  TOOK ONE LAST LOOK AT THE CLEVELAND SKYLINE AND RELUCTANTLY GOT ON THE INTERSTATE TO  ZOOM OFF FOR INDIANAPOLIS.  AFTER TOMORROW IT WILL BE BACKROADS,  MOSTLY.

.