Saturday, May 30, 2015

Nautica Queen Cruise (5/30/2015)

Saturday, May 30, 2015
Despite the threat of thunderstorms, we drove down to the Cleveland Flats to take a special cruise for Media Insider Rewards members (i.e., we subscribe to the Plain Dealer newspaper).
We were early and checked out the Powerhouse, which was built by Marcus Hanna to to generate power for his own electric streetcar line; the Woodland & West Side Street Railway Co. (W&WSSR). Now it is a mixed use entertainment complex that includes the Greater Cleveland Aquarium.
Powerhouse (1892, designed by John N Richardson)
Leftover from a Rib Cook-off,
there were several Post-Its for the Cavs in the Finals!
The Nautica Queen (1981)
A cruise on the Nautica Queen includes a buffet meal (luncheon for us) with coffee, tea, and iced tea, a DJ with music and dancing, and some narration of the sights along the way. Depending on the weather and river traffic, they either cruise on Lake Erie, in the harbor within the breakwater, or along the Cuyahoga River. Because of the weather, we assumed we would be cruising on the river.
Work on the Main Avenue/Harold H. Burton Memorial Bridge (1939)
Main Avenue/Harold H. Burton Memorial Bridge
Lo and behold, we turned around and headed out onto Lake Erie where it ended up being sunny and clear.
Cuyahoga River Bridge No 1/The Iron Curtain
(1956, designed by Howard Needles Tammen & Bergendoff)
We were one of the first to be sent to the buffet tables. We dined on rather good food as the boat traveled along the Lake Erie shore to the west.
Cleveland Bulk Terminal on Whiskey Island
with iron ore loader system
Cleveland skyline viewed from the west
Lake Erie skyline
We passed Edgewater Park, then turned around when we reached some highrise buildings (Lakewood, OH).
Kent and Bob W
The clouds over Cleveland
Cleveland Harbor Main Entrance Light,
formerly West Pierhead Lighthouse (1900);
listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983
Cleveland Harbor East Breakwater Lighthouse (1909-1910)
After entering the harbor, we followed the Lake Erie shore to the east within the breakwater.
Container cargo ships
FirstEnergy Stadium/Home of the Cleveland Browns (1997-1999)
Center front is the Great Lakes Science Center (1996)
with 1925 Steamship William G Mather
Cleveland City Hall (1911-1916, designed by J Milton Dyer)
US Army Corps of Engineers
We maneuvered close to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, and then the US Coast Guard Station.
US Coast Guard Station
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
(1993-1995, designed by I M Pei)
USS Cod Submarine (1942-1943) Memorial 
Burke Lakefront Airport (1946-1947,
with later additions and renovations)
We headed into the Cuyahoga River.
The old Coast Guard Station (1940),
listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976
We passed the Nautica Queen landing and kept going up the river!
Part of the Detroit-Superior Bridge/
Veterans Memorial Bridge (1914-1918)
that has a lower deck formerly for streetcars
1976 replica of the Lorenzo Carter Cabin (1797)
of Cleveland's first permanent settler
Detroit Superior Bridge mural of Ohio City
(2008-2009, by Katherine Chilcote)
Montana Flour Mills-
Fairchild Mills Division Company Mill
The Nautica Queen turned around at the Columbus Street Bridge.
Columbus Road Lift Bridge (1940,
designed by Cleveland engineer Wilbur Watson,
bridge replaced 2013-2014)
Passed back under the Cleveland Union Terminal
(now Terminal Tower) Viaduct Bridge (1929-1935),
used by the RTA Red Line trains
The Center Street Bobtail-type Swing Bridge (1901)
starting to open
Center Street Swing Bridge fully open
Center Street Swing Bridge swinging back
Jacobs Pavilion (1987) concert venue
Former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
bascule or jackknife bridge
It had been getting dark as we returned along the Cuyahoga River to the Nautica Queen landing. The moment we docked, the skies opened up with pouring rain! We got wet running to the car, but we had been very fortunate with the weather during the cruise!
That evening, we had severe thunderstorm warnings and then flash flood warnings!

Monday, May 25, 2015

South Chagrin Reservation (5/24/2015)

Sunday, May 24, 2015
Today's hike was in the South Chagrin Reservation. We followed Sulphur Springs Creek, first having to use stepping stones to cross the water.
Photo taken later from a bridge
looking down at where we crossed the creek
Small waterfalls
Water cascading down what looks like steps
Lots of stairs on this hike
We saw a couple of these 10' x 10' enclosures;
part of an earthworm exclusion experiment 
Look About Lodge (1938, built by the Cleveland Natural Science Club)
made from more than 300 chestnut logs,
with three stone fireplaces
Next we drove north on Chagrin River Road, alongside the Chagrin River.
Stopped to see a marsh full of yellow iris
with a few cat tails
Iris pseudacorus/Yellow Flag Iris,
beautiful but a non-native invasive
Heard and saw frogs, probablyRana clamitans melanota/Northern Green Frogs

Monday, May 25, 2015
Happy Memorial Day in Shaker Heights!
We went to the Pancake Breakfast in Thornton Park, and checked out the facilities including a 50-meter pool, splash zone, current channel, water slides, and tot pool.
Swimming pool with the sledding hill behind it
There is also outdoor basketball, sand volleyball, tennis, batting cages, a skatepark, and a sledding hill, as well as an indoor skating rink.
We could hear marching music as the Shaker Heights High School band approached.
The band at the end of the Memorial Day Parade
We walked in the opposite direction of the parade, passing cheerleaders from both the high school and middle school, then Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, a few politicians, fewer military veterans, a few sports teams, dance schools, gymnastics groups, a few antique cars...
Souped up car in the parade
A spankin' new sanitation truck
Finally a fire engine and the parade was over before we had walked a couple blocks!
19620 Chagrin Blvd (1847)
built by Manx immigrants William & Jane Kewish
19027 Chagrin Blvd (1836 left section)
built by Connecticut Yankees Asa & Chloe Upson
This is how those hanging baskets
start out in Shaker Heights;
check in later for an updated photo
The hanging baskets on 8/9/2015
on Lomond Avenue