Erie, PA

Continued our trip through Indiana and into Ohio on US 6.  Great traveling the backroads and seeing the countryside (think I've said that before).  Anyway, along US 6, there are a lot of manufacturing, food processing plants, and supporting businesses to the local population.  The only problem is that a synonym for Spring time is Construction time.  Lots of work being done on the highways and byways.  See below for a huge elevator complex along the highway.



At one point, we passed what we thought was the Devil's Highway - both US 6 and OH 66 ran together.

As we passed through Clyde, OH, there was a huge plant which we found out was the Whirlpool factory and distribution center.  At least now we know where our appliances came from.  Farmers were all working their fields and the wind was whipping up the dirt.  We had heavy winds from the south all day.  In the middle of Ohio, we transitioned from US 6 to US 20, but it was pretty much the same - at least until we got to the environs of Cleveland.  Then it's all suburbs and shopping.  We managed skirt Cleveland to the south and then headed north to pick up I90 on our way to Erie.

When we arrived in Erie, we drove down to the waterfront before checking into the hotel.  Neat waterfront with a big convention center and lots of touristy type activities.  This was the Sheraton Hotel connected by an overpass to the convention center.

Didn't climb the lighthouse, but I don't think they would have let us anyway.

After checking in, we went over to Presque Isle Casino and Race Track which is one of the Eldorado's latest acquisitions.  First time in a casino in a while and it's not much different from those in Reno.  We ate dinner at Brew Brothers (see, I told you it wasn't much different).  Their Brew Brothers is located on the second floor overlooking the race track - no races going on while we were there.

An interesting side note was that Erie was the scene where Commodore Perry met the British Fleet and coined the phrase - "We have met the enemy and they are ours". History lesson for the day.

Tomorrow we head for Rochester - should be a short trip day.

p.s.  If you go back to the Christine, ND post, you'll see the group photo which was taken at Ken and Melanie's.