After starting the Harry Potter film series in my mom and Ray’s cabin, we needed to find a way to keep watching and see the final 3 films.   We brought a projector along that can hook up to a phone.  Two nights ago, we felt like the Apollo 13 scientists when we dumped out drawers to rig up the projector so that 5 people can view it. 

This is what we ended up using:

• 1 potato masher
• 3 bungee cords
• 2 towel clips
• 1 extension cord
• 1 curtain
• 3 stick-on hooks to mount our curtain to the ceiling
• 1 broom handle put in the opening on the bottom of the curtain to keep it straight

In the morning, we had plans to go rafting with a local outfitter.  Rafts seat up to six and have paddles.  Nole and I had a difference of opinion on whether it was safe due to water level, skill level, and a recent death of a boy and his father who were tubing without life jackets.  Life jackets are required for all on the Cuyahoga and tubing is not recommended when water levels are high because you can’t steer or paddle.  In the end, the outfitter agreed to refund our deposit and we went for a hike instead.

We hiked the Ledges with my mom and the Yatzecks back on May 19.  We did a shorter version of that hike because the mosquitos were bad and we forgot to bring bug spray.

This time, we went into the crevasse with the carving that I missed last time.

In the afternoon, we went on a ride on the Cuyahoga Scenic Railroad.  We got first class tickets which meant we rode in a 1940s Zephyr train car.  You could walk about the entire length of the train and at the end, there was a play area.  There was also a snack car where we got drinks and snacks. 

The tracks are national park property and the train is run by a non-profit and over 700 volunteers, from the engineers to the crew and staff.

Near the train station, there was a small toy store full of nostalgic toys both new and vintage. 

Esme bought a vintage My Little Pony from 1983.  I had this exact one when I was a kid! 

I also got a little something for Cal, a vintage  McNugget toy. 

Back at the campground, some antennas had been set up for a ham radio field day and we went to check it out. 

Here is what Google has to say about it:  Ham Radio Field Day is an annual event where amateur radio enthusiasts set up temporary stations in public locations to demonstrate their skills and preparedness, particularly in emergency communications. It’s a combination of public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and a fun contest. Field Day is held on the fourth full weekend of June.

The way the man who spoke with us described it, they are in a competition.  They have 24 hours to contact as many other stations as they can. There are different classes and their class was 3A which means they have 3 operators/antennas and are operating off a generator rather than shore power.  These guys may be the ones to save us when the grid goes down!  They had already made contact with other operators as far as Nova Scotia and Texas.

We watched the end of the last Harry Potter movie and then went to bed with a plan for Asa to wake everyone up at 6 for an early start home.  Asa did not wake up as planned so I woke everyone up at about 8.  We packed up and Asa did one final super cooled water reaction.  We have been freezing water bottles to take on excursions every day which means lots of opportunities to play with super cooled water.  Most of the time we just bang the water on the counter and watch the reaction happen inside the bottle so we can still drink it but Asa wanted to pour one to see the crystalization happen up close.

Now we are on our 7.5 hour (or more) drive to home.  The girls are excited to see the cats after 6 weeks apart.