We drove to Cleveland from Beloit, WI in about seven and a half hours. The trip was uneventful other than paying tolls, although I must say that Indiana and Ohio have much more efficient toll systems than does Illinois. In Illinois you pay tolls every twenty minutes or so. In Indiana and Ohio, you only pay when you exit the toll road. Of course, paying tolls anywhere does not make much sense when some states (like WI) have toll-free highways.
On arriving in Cleveland, we searched for our destination, a B&B in Ohio City called the Clifford House, pictured below (just click on it to see a bigger version):
To get there, we drove through some iffy neighborhoods, but there was no feeling of danger, just poverty. Along the way, we noticed that people in Cleveland do *not* like to use turn signals.
Clifford House is owned by Jim Miner, and we found him to be a very calm, friendly, agreeable guy. He has a nice decorating sense, making his home comfortable but not fussy. In fact, he even allowed us to put our bicycles in his living room; very cool.
Also cool are his pets, Missy Kitty, a Siamese who does exactly what she wants, no matter what you might suggest to her, and Fulton, pictured below, a very charming poodle. Fulton is shown in the 3rd floor suite we stayed in, which came complete with a coffee maker and coffee, homemade cookies, a fridge with a six pack, a queen-sized bed, our own bathroom, a large closet, a phone, a fireplace, a couch and two exceptionally comfortable chairs, a TV and VCR, and plenty of brochures about the surrounding area (discussed on the next page).
(click on this photo for a bigger version)
Jim is also an excellent cook--much too modest! In the three days we visited, he made pancakes and bacon, omelets, a fruit salad, fresh pastries, and always had juice and fresh coffee (made in a really nice copper coffee percolator). He also knows everything about the surrounding area; he directed us to many excellent locations and was not afraid to tell us where we probably shouldn't go either. If you go to Cleveland, we highly recommend the Clifford House--way better than any hotel or motel.
Check out the next page to find out about the little mishap below...
