Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Through De Graff to Bellefontaine...



Our Location: Oakdale Campground, Quincy, Ohio


You would think we would be used to the cold mornings wouldn't you? I mean we just spent the winter in the desert where the mornings are always cold and yet this cold is different. This cold is a more seeping, invading type of cold, it steals your body heat in a very different kind of way than the desert cold. This cold also affects your mind and your thought process because unlike the desert this cold isn't gone by 10 am and we know that so we feel colder somehow. This cold lingers all day, warming slightly and almost offering the promise of warmth but not quite delivering it. A teasing cold filled with damp, freezing moisture that seems to rob us of  the ability to get warm. It does something to the brain when one looks out to see the green grass frozen and stiff, the water puddles with a frozen layer on ice on top, the bare trees or just budding trees look forlorn and the slight breeze makes them appear to be shivering.  I refer to this as the pre spring blues, I get it every year and only when the warmth of the sun has started warming all of the soil, stones, trees, and things around me do I really feel as if spring has arrived. The green and the flowers are visual signs of spring but the warm is the physical sign that I crave.

Heading into Bellefontaine, Ohio today.

Can you tell it was cold again this morning? The outside temperature read 25F/-3C and the inside temperature was in the mid 30'sF/1.6C but with the combination of our heater and the furnace it was warmed up to 50F/10C within a short time. The difference today is we have sun, a small yellow ball but at least we can see it unlike yesterday when it was hidden behind a blanket of clouds all day. The weather forecasters say we'll get warmer today than yesterday and the days ahead are looking wonderful with the nights also getting in on the warm up act. Let's hope that is indeed the case. We know that the warmth will follow us north shortly but we would prefer it beat us there.

The country side on our drive today.

We know when we return to Ontario on Saturday that the weather will once again be cold and there appears to be rain in the forecast as well. We are hopeful that the days will continue to warm quickly and the nights will stop dipping into the freezing temperatures at least.  The long range forecast does not look good for us getting back to our summer location by May 1 but we shall see how it goes.

I thought this was kind of cute on the side of building, it's not a mural.

We enjoyed our hot drinks and catching up with friends before bundling up and heading off in the Dogsled. We needed a drink for the Big Dog, and some grub for ourselves, along with a post office to drop a few things in the mail. So we headed off to the little town of Bellefontaine, Ohio. According to the GPS/Google it's less than 10 miles away. 

I think this may have been on a school or daycare but I'm not sure.

The back roads here are very quiet with few vehicles and even fewer people out and about. I don't think we noticed any more than maybe 5 or 6 people out side until we reached the village. Still too cold for folks to be out strolling I guess. I know it's too cold for me to be out strolling. 

Welcome to Bellefontaine, Ohio. 



We reached the little town of Bellefontaine without any issues after a quick stop at the dumpsters to rid us of our accumulated garbage. We topped up the fuel tank at $2.79 per gallon, taking around 28 gallons to fill the tank. We of course noticed diesel for 3 cents a gallon cheaper just down the road. Isn't that always the way. Oh well, it was needed, still cheaper than Ontario and now we're full once again. We made note that Bellefontaine has pretty much all the fast food places you could want, except I didn't see a Tim Horton's. I'm not saying there wasn't one, just that I didn't see one. We even made note of a grocery store called Aldi's that I recall seeing mentioned in other blogs. We didn't go in this time but perhaps another one. 

Lots of fast food spots.

Next we headed off to Walmart for some groceries and drinking water. We're still looking to replace the 2.5 gallon jug that some how developed a leak a few weeks ago. We found everything we wanted at Walmart and I  picked up another Blue Def since I just added one to the truck this morning. This stuff is so cheap here at less than $8 a jug. I think three will keep me for a while, not all summer but for a while. From Walmart we headed to the Dollar Tree as we wanted to get some Damp Rid for the Igloo. Once again we notice we are having a bit of condensation inside so hopefully we catch it quickly. 

Looking down Main Street, Bellefontaine, Ohio. 


 We next headed off to find the Post Office. I've noticed there are no mail boxes in which to drop out going mail, one needs to go to the post office to do that. I know back in Hamilton we're tripping over them, they seem to be on every 4th street corner. So while looking for the Post Office we toured a bit of the town. Cute little place, bright and cheery for the most part. 

Our park is very close to this little hamlet of De Graff, Ohio.

Today we used our RV GPS to find the town of Bellefontaine and I made note that twice we were taken on roads we can't travel with the Igloo. Two bridges both under 12'  would have made it impossible for us to travel the road and we would have been wedged under the bridge. Also  the GPS told me to turn left on to a one way street, except it was one way going the opposite way and I would have been going the wrong way if I hadn't quickly turned around. Now I'm not sure that I trust the RV GPS to get us anywhere, I think it's time to get in touch with the company and see what they think I should do other than an update. 

Not sure I like the colour but I love the house. On the corner in the little hamlet of De Graff. 


Back home once more we enjoyed a quiet afternoon, I did a few chores, had a 30 minute nap and just enjoyed the peace. Today new noises aroused my curiousity and I noted that across the Miami River someone is building either a small cottage/shed or some structure over there. So we can tell spring is coming, folks are building in anticipation of better warmer days. 

Another beautiful home in De Graff, Ohio.

Today's temperature were a bit warmer than yesterday, we reached 41F/ 5C this afternoon before the sun vanished. However the weather forecasters are calling for the next number of days to be very nice and much warmer. I believe Spring will arrive here at Oakdale Campground as we pull out on Saturday. 

A church in De Graff, Ohio. 


Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed your visit. Please feel free to leave a comment, I appreciate them all. 

Riley found this very funny as we past by the above church.

Until next time... take care, be safe, 

Deb




14 comments:

  1. Spring seems to be having a hard time arriving in the northeast this year. I know they are predicting snow up in our neck of the woods for this weekend.
    Figures the day you are leaving is when the warmer temperatures will arrive. It looks like a lovely small town area you are in. Really liked the 3rd and 4th picture and the houses. Though, I would agree about the color of the larger one. Take care.

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    1. I'm sure that spring will arrive as soon as we leave. Just a day or two of really nice temps but then they fall back to more seasonal norms but we'll take any warmth we can get.

      The area is very pretty and amazingly very clean with no garbage on the road sides, and what looks to be very well tended fields, yards and homes. I've always found in most places after the winter that litter seems to have accumulated on the road sides but I have seen little to none here.

      Those old brick homes are always more stately when left unpainted, I think. Beautiful little towns in the area. I would have to say that Quincy is the least appealing with more homes that are less well cared for and very old with buildings slapped down anywhere. De Graff and Bellefontaine are very pretty with pride of ownership apparent.

      Thanks Deb.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  2. You described the desert perfectly, that is what we enjoy about it, Glad we don't have a GPS to rely on just plane our route on Google maps and away we go very few issues that way, I like to check out Aldi's sometimes some very good deals an different products.
    S pretty nice day here in New Hamburg no complaints at all. Not a sitting outside kinda day but was sunny and 45f.

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    1. I've never had this kind of trouble with any of my other GPS which were all Garmins, until the last two. My current third one is a TomTom and is always correct and right on the money. These last two Garmins are very disappointing and I doubt I'll buy another. Since we are over 12' I wanted one to ensure I wouldn't get into a position of having to back up or get wedge under a bridge which the TRUCKER/RV GPS is supposed to help avoid. Oh well, I know if I stick to the interstates and the highways I'll be okay so that's what we'll be doing for now.

      I would have liked to check out Aldi's but with the cold temps we didn't want to leave HRH Miss Kitty too long without any heat and we didn't need anything else so no use going in and spending money on groceries we didn't need. Because you know we can always find a good deal.

      Glad it's warming up there in S. Ontario, keep turning up the heat, we'll be in the London area Saturday night and on into Hamilton on Sunday.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  3. I just read on face book that AZ. had their first 100 degree day today . I read a lot of blogs and a lot of the people get bad directions from their GPS 's . I don't have one and would be worried to have one. So be safe in your travels . Vern in Boise ID.

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    1. You are correct Vern, an acquaintance who is currently in NM is also commenting about 99 and 100 degree temps in that area. A nice wind from the west would help us to warm up a bit.

      As I mentioned to George above, I've had a number and I've always liked Garmin, my first couple were always right on the money, and everyone I knew that had one really raved about them. I currently have one for Canada, one for the US and one for North America. The North America is my Trucker/RV gps which is a Garmin and it giving me all kinds of bad directions, as is the one for the US which is also a Garmin but it's for regular vehicle with no worries about getting into a situation which would cause issues, only get us lost, which is fine, we could find our way out again, after all if we go in on a road, we can turn around and come out on the same road. My Canadian regular vehicle GPS is a Tomtom and is always very accurate. So we'll be sticking to the interstates and highways instead of taking back roads for now at least.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  4. For the few bumps we've had on our GPS we wouldn't be without them. We do not have enough upsets with them to wish we didn't have that help. Our GPS has helped us greatly on our travels.
    I'd love to tour that pink and blue house but I'd offer them new colour choices too!
    Ontario is not warm yet and that warm weather that was supposed to be coming is not as expected. Now they are calling for snow and freezing rain over the weekend. LOL We may be stayinig put longer!

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    1. I agree in some ways Patsy. The GPS is worth having for a number of reasons and I wouldn't be without one but I was just getting comfortable taking back roads because we'd had no issues. With being able to input the height of the vehicle this one is supposed to help us by pass those low bridges which it didn't do. So for now we'll be sticking to interstates and highways again. Not having to worry about those things is the reason I bought the RV GPS in the first place as I would like to be able to take the back roads more and get off the busy main roads. So we'll see what Garmin has to say about it.

      As you know Southern Ontario has those old houses everywhere and some of the colours I've seen them painted would almost make a person weep. However it is bright and cheery while the paint is newish and hopefully they don't let it get to the old and peeling point.

      I read about the change in weather. I read about the possibility of snow, rain and/or sleet on Sunday so we may just be staying over a day longer as well. However after that it looks to be a slow steady climb upwards to the nicer temperatures.

      Take care, stay warm!!!!
      Deb

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  5. If the first blue house had the color of the 2nd blue house it would be much better..Love both of those houses! The dream bigger is very nice too. Looks like a nice town where you could find everything you want! Nice to be able to take it slow and easy heading home. Enjoy

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    1. I agree about the colours. The bright blue just doesn't work for me, but then again, it's not my house. It's neat, clean and tidy so that's what counts.

      A great looking town with a bit of everything and it would be nice to explore a bit but this close to home we've lost our urge to get out and about.

      Thanks Shirley.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  6. Wow, those small towns are great for the houses and scenery.
    I like your description of the cold. I think it's the humidity that chills you to the bone, unlike the dry cold air in the desert that disappears when the sun comes up.
    Stay warm and safe!

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    1. I love little towns, they have so many little gems to find and folks are certainly very friendly.

      It is for sure the dampness. It seeps and crawls and invades without doubt. It's why so many of us ache in the east.

      Thanks Dave.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  7. You are so right about spring. It is a different cold when you know that it will end with melting snow and the flowers. The cold air has a spring smell to it. It is nice to enjoy spring after having 2 summers every year.

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    1. I think spring is the time we all look forward to as it brings renewal for most everything. The cold air to me has a hateful smell, but the cool air in late winter and early spring has a smell of promise, much like the nip in the autumn air has a promise albeit of different things.

      I agree it's fantastic to have two summers every year.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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