Ohio continued

Linda made reservations to fly from Columbus, OH to home, so she could babysit our grandson, Caden, for a week.  Our daughter and son-in-law were to attend a business meeting in Chicago and take a mini vacation of the a long weekend.  We traveled from the Holmes County area on Wednesday, July 16 to Columbus.  Linda flew home the next day, while Tim remained behind in Columbus with our cat, Muffin.  The RV park we stayed at is Alton RV Park.  It it located on the west outskirts of Columbus, but only a few miles from the beltway.  We like it because it is quiet and next to a cornfield.

Trailer in Alton RV Park next to cornfield

Tim had read a few years ago about a bluegrass festival just south of Columbus.  Being a fan of bluegrass, Tim decided to attend.  Most of the proceeds from the festival go to the fight against childhood cancer.  This is a link to their website: Musicians Against Childhood Cancer.

Bluegrass festival stage

Over 36 artists/groups played during four days of the festival.  Performances would start each day at Noon and sometimes run until near Midnight.  Each performance was allotted about 1 hour.

Group performing at bluegrass festival

Hundreds of campers were on the grounds ranging from tents to a Prevost bus (not ours).

Campers at bluegrass festival

It was very hot during the festival.  Daytime temps reached the upper 90s.

Bluegrass fans seeking shade at the festival

There were many booths at the festival where you could buy musicians CDs or instruments to pick.

Musical instrument booth at bluegrass festival

Some people would say Tim is crazy to sit in the extreme heat and listen to banjos playing for 10 or 11 hours a day for 4 straight days.  Yep, Tim is crazy.  Tim did take the last night off and indulged in another passion.

Soccer game. Crew vs New England Revolution

Yes, Tim loves soccer.  What a combo, bluegrass and soccer.  He must be crazy.  Saturday night he attend the Columbus Crew vs New England Revolution soccer game at Crew Stadium.  It was a great evening.

Soccer game under beautiful skies

After the bluegrass festival and soccer game, Tim & Muffin drove the bus back to Holmes County on Sunday.  Linda would return on Wednesday, the 24th from home to Akron/Canton airport.

An event that we're never attended is the Rainbow of Hope Auction.  This auction held at the Mt. Hope Auction Barn raises money to assist area residents pay for catastrophic health care costs affecting infants and children.  Hundreds of thousands of dollars are raised at this huge auction.  All the items and services are donated.  You can buy anything from fry pies to a barn built on your property.  Tim didn't need a barn, so he went for the fry pies.  Half of a huge tent had thousands of fresh fry pies on Saturday morning.  What was the price....a donation box waited for your contribution.

Fry pie

Just about any filing could be had in the fry pie.  Tim grabbed an empty dozen dount box and started filling it with fry pies of different flavors.  They also freeze well, so some went in the bus freezer.
A huge hay sale was held in the auction parking lot.

Hay sale at auction

There is also a livestock sale.  Tim enjoyed the Amish workers pet the barn cat, who looked like our old, departed, Snoopers.  Everybody had to play with the cat.

Amish livestock barn workers petting barn cat

Part of the flea market at auction

Kids cart at being auctioned

New buggy being auctioned at Rainbow of  Hope Auction

Playground set for sale at auction

Amish buggies attending auction

One thing we've never seen is Amish girls playing volleyball.  Part of the charity auction was a huge volleyball tournament.  At least 18 courts were setup on part of the auction parking lot.  A vast majority of the teams were Amish girls, but a few boys teams also played.

Amish volley ball tournament

Amish girls volleyball teams

Cement mixer at Rainbow of Hope Auction

Another event going on only a few miles away near Charm, OH was the Doughty Valley Steam Days.
 We've attended this event previously, but wanted to check it out again.  The steam days shows antique steam tractors and engines in action.  They are actually doing work....saw milling, pumping water, plowing fields, and threshing grain.  It's all done by steam engine.  Smoke, sparks, and sounds fill the air.

Steam engines at work

Amish spectator wagon at Doughty Valley Steam Show

Some people might think the Amish are serious all the time.  We have found they have a great sense of humor as shown by these items we found at the steam show.

Amish iron

Amish toaster

Amish drink mixer

Amish Coca Cola delivery wagon

Another item displayed was a model of a "cook shack" that was used in the fields for the crews.

Cook Shack poster

Cook Shack

Cook Shack bench for feeding steam engine crews in the field

Cook Shack stove and table

Small steam tractor

Amish bikes at Doughty Valley Steam Days Show

As you can tell we love Holmes County.  The people and the sights are wonderful.  Below are a few more.

View of rolling hills in Holmes County

Amish young work horse in pasture

Goat in yard

Amish helicopter

Corn

The last few days touring Holmes County during the day by car we ran across this barn.

Beatles mural on barn

Vintage Airstream motorhome by tribute to rock music barn

Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, & Elvis murals on barn

Yep, you can see just about anything in Holmes County.  We can't wait to return.  After spending most of the month of July in Ohio, it was now time to start heading home.