Most people know that I was born and raised in Ohio, but North Carolina has long been home. I’ve lived there almost twice as long as I lived in Ohio, having moved south right after graduating from Bowling Green State University. My parents and siblings relocated to NC while I was still in college. However, I have relatives in the Warren area, and we also have full‑time RVing friends spending the summer near Lodi to be close to their granddaughters.
That made Ohio a natural and meaningful stop as we headed west.
Our first visit was with my aunt and uncle, whom we hadn’t seen in six years (we did see them briefly in 2024 for my mom’s surprise birthday party). Spending a couple of days with them was a gift—easy conversation, shared memories, and simply catching up on each other’s lives. From there, we met up with our friends Dennis and Mickey, whose company we’ve missed more than we realized.
Dennis and Mickey greeted us with a surprise cookout that turned into an even bigger surprise: a celebration of Carl’s 70th birthday. Their family and friends gathered, and it was wonderful to meet everyone and to see their granddaughters again—now taller, more confident, and clearly thriving. We first met them years ago when we met Dennis and Mickey, so seeing them grow up has been a sweet full‑circle moment.
Of course, no Ohio stop is complete without a little nature. We spent time in Cuyahoga Valley National Park—a beautiful gem tucked right into the middle of the state. We visited Brandywine Falls, tripped along the Towpath Trail long enough to say we were on it, and hiked around The Ledges with Dennis and Mickey. The cool air, shaded paths, and dramatic rock formations were exactly the kind of reset we needed.
Two quick stops, but full of connection, familiarity, and the kind of respite that reminds us why we travel in the first place.
[The last picture – a pair of pants that we found deserted by the trail path as we finished up The Ledges hike!]
P.S. – Other posts about our Summer 2026 travels: New York – New Stops and an Old Favorite, Summer Boondocking in Killington, Vermont, and Maine: Before, After, and Still Calling Us Back
