June 23, 2016 Rock 'n' Roll, Lake Erie

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Heavy rain and lightning much of the night, but it cooled things down.  65 degrees at 7 AM.

We first find Monro Muffler/Brake in Stow, where we get the oil changed, tires checked etc.  Charles, the manager, tells us the traffic to Cleveland shouldn't be too bad since it is close to 9 when we head out.  Yesterday, Cleveland celebrated their NBA Championship with a huge parade.  Population of Cleveland: 390,000.  Parade-goers: 1.3 million!  Charles beams and says he is proud of "my boys".

When we get to Cleveland the only remains, other than a few signs, is confetti along some streets and street cleaners.  We drive to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame which is on Lake Erie and park next to this submarine.

The Hall of Fame was formed in 1983 and folks are elected yearly.  2016's class includes: Chicago. Bert Berns, Deep Purple, Steve Miller, NWA and Cheap Trick.  Performers are eligible 25 years after their first recording.  Songwriters, producers, dj's, and musicians out of the spotlight (backups) are eligible as well.

The stage and tent in front are from the parade.

The first part of the Hall is early influences, like Muddy Waters, Les Paul (built first solid body electric guitar in 1941), Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and others in blues, rockabilly and other genres.

 Many displays include audio and video as well as instruments, costumes, album covers, etc.  This is Rick Nielsen's (Cheap Trick) 5 neck guitar.

And here is Ringo Starr's drum kit.

Elvis 1964 suit

 There is a display about Music Videos as well...

Remember Max Headroom ?

 If you can think of a well known group or individual performer you will probably find him/her here.  As a young teen, my favorite was Herman's Hermits. Amazing how many of these "old farts" are still performing.

Bruce Springsteen, Simon and Garfunkel, ZZ Top, Rolling Stones, The Who, Animals, Metallica, Derek Trucks, The Hollies, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Bob Dylan, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Prince, Stevie Nicks, Kiss and many many more.

There was a special Film entitled Louder than Words, which touted music's universal appeal and the many concerts held as benefits - George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh, Africa Aid, Farm Aid, Amnesty Int'l, Sandy Relief, etc.   Also a display on political campaign songs.

 There was also a display and write-up on Pink Floyd's The Wall.   I never knew it was a film as well as a song.

The Wall

Greg wondered out loud what today's teenagers would think of this place.  There was some representation of rap music but not a lot.

 I suppose in 25 years it will look quite different.

From Cleveland we head west to Sandusky's Merry-Go-Round Museum. Apparently Sandusky's "thing" is painted lighthouses, as there are several in the area. Quite a few real ones around Lake Erie. Add this to our list of painted: bears, dolphins, horses, cows, groundhogs, eggs (Egg Harbor), whales, catfish and more.

Great old post office building from 1920.

 Gale, a volunteer, and Bonnie showed us around.  Greg mentioned that we did a blog and that seemed to spur them to show us more, like this musical Military Band Organ built in 1920 and once part of a Merry-Go-Round.

Quite a collection of animals, some of which were featured on US Postage Stamps.

This reindeer, with real antlers, was part of a  recent White House Christmas display.

We even get to go for a ride!

Driving further west, Greg comments that if he had to describe Ohio roads in one word, it would be "patched".  Quite different from the smooth South.

 Gale told us about Toft's, Ohio's oldest dairy with the BEST ice cream, so we stopped there.

 These were SMALL servings!!  Very tasty but couldn't eat it all!

We cross the Thomas Edison Bridge to the peninsula and Marblehead Lighthouse State Park.  Beautiful little park with a lighthouse built in 1821, keeper's house and picnic area.

 The waves from Lake Erie are pretty rough!

 We search all the literature and signs and don't see anything that says no overnight parking, so we chill here for the evening. A few folks come and go as the sun sets.

Cedar Point Amusement Park across the water.

About 1:30AM - a first! -we get a knock on the door and are informed that we can't park here overnight. Pleasant but firm local policeman.  So, we say goodbye to the trees, waves and blinking lighthouse, and drive on down the road to a Walmart in Fremont.  The only sign there said no semi's, so we spent the rest of the night in peace.