Summer 2021, Day 27

I opted for an earlier-than-necessary start from the hotel this morning in order to have time for backroads rather than interstates I’ve driven on so many times between Columbus and Cleveland and Erie. In retrospect, I wish I’d taken a photo of the SUV from Kentucky that backed up so far into a parking space at last night’s hotel as to block most of the sidewalk … but between handicap plates and being from Kentucky, I guess I was feeling nice …

At the point where the route first approaches Lake Erie, I stopped at Geneva State Park for some archery at that park’s archery range. This is the third time I’ve been there and the second I’ve shot – on my second visit, the entire range was just standing water and mud after several days of rain.

I didn’t get a good picture of the entire range because there were other people there, but you can see part of the ground-level range as well as the tower which has its own two dedicated targets. I started from the target and it’s definitely a good experience – aiming is very different when you’re so much higher than your target!

After playing around up on high, I switched to the lower range and was quite pleased with my shooting overall. Considering how little I’ve shot in the last couple of months, I though this grouping at this distance was more than acceptable.

I’m staying in Erie PA tonight, the last night of the trip before I’m back at home. My hotel is on the “bay front” – the bay formed by Presque Isle State Park jutting out into Lake Erie. In this photo, the land visible on the other side of the water is Presque Isle. It’s picturesque, but full of people, which sort of ruins the effect, to be perfectly honest.

After the original posting, I went for a walk to the end of the pier where I got this photo looking across to Presque Isle:

Of course, anyone that’s been around Lake Erie knows that the real truth lies in a look down at the water, and here’s hoping you’re not feeling queasy already because you certainly may be after seeing this:

At least the water doesn’t catch on fire periodically like it did in the bad old days!