July 10: LaGrange, KY-Memphis, TN

After our slow driving day, we needed to make up some time.  We didn't make a lot of detours, just kept on driving.  We did make a stop in Nashville to visit the Grand Ole Opry.

Entering Tennessee

Not 25, not 20, the speed
limit is 24!

One really really big guitar!

Really we felt like the Opry was a big disappointment, so we didn't stay very long.  We weren't willing to pay a huge amount of money for a tour and it was too hot to walk around the complex for long.  So we hit the road and headed to Memphis, where we stopped for the night.

After a long day of driving, we went swimming after dinner and then headed to bed.

July 9: Lancaster, OH-LaGrange, KY

In spite of our best efforts to be packed and ready, we didn't get on the road until 11:45 am.  Fortunately, we had planned 3 days to get to our next stop in Arkansas, so we had plenty of time.

We had looked at the map and decided rather than taking the Interstate, we wanted to take the Ohio River Byway, which runs along the Ohio river all across the bottom of the state.  It was still a little drizzly, but the scenery was wonderful.

 As we drove, we spotted a ferry, so we turned around to go take it.  I was really glad that Jay was driving--the dock just fell off into the water, and it was a little nerve-racking driving onto the fairy!

The ramp to the ferry.  Eek.

View across the river.

Here comes the ferry!

We made it and lived to tell the tale!

 Augusta was a pretty little town with lots of interesting architecture.  We took a drive around to check it out before getting back on the ferry.

Rosemary Cloony's Home.  We didn't stop for a tour.

Back to the ferry.

 We got back on the road and wanted to find a lock to look at.  We first ended up at the old lock house, where we found out that all the old locks had been consolidated in the 1980's.  The new ones are more efficient, and under extreme security, so we couldn't see them.  We did stop at the facility and drove along to look at the lock from a distance.

Kentucky!

We didn't make it very far, but we had an interesting driving day!

July 8: Columbus Zoo

The Columbus Zoo is one of our favorite places ever.  When we lived in Lancaster, we went several times a year (since we homeschooled, we could go almost whenever we wanted) and had the zoo layout memorized.  We were super excited to go visit again!

In contrast to our day at the Philadelphia zoo, it was cool, cloudy, and threatening rain as we left.  We made sure everyone had a sweater!

Columbus skyline

On our way to the zoo, we stopped at the Columbus Temple, which is where Jay and I got married.

4 kids in front of the temple.

Gorgeous landscaping!

It's a quick hop from the temple to the zoo.  We bought our tickets and headed in.

There were a few things that were different, but this zoo is still amazing and one of the best we've ever been to.

Hello, polar bear!  The keeper was doing a talk, so
the polar bears were very active and playing.

The last time we measured against the bears, Jonathan
was Sun Bear size and Abigail was in the stroller.  Look
how everyone has grown!

The keeper was in with the cheetahs too!  They are Jonathan's favorite animal, so we stayed and watched them for a long time.  The cool weather meant a lot of the animals were up and moving around, which was great!

That cheetah has hijacked
the keeper's jeep!

Jonathan wants that job!

We didn't feed the giraffes, but enjoyed seeing them up
close as other people did!

A Moose!

Feeling very patriotic with this whole flock of
bald eagles.

Buffalo!

He doesn't look it, but Benjamin was
really excited to find "Real
Poconuts!"

Abby loves animals of all shapes and sizes!

Ben wasn't too sure at first, but then decided he liked brushing
the goats.

This guy was as interested in
the kids as they were in him!

Abby and red pandas

One great thing about the cool weather was that all the
animals were super active.  We had never seen red pandas
so excited before!

The zoo had a new pirate themed ride, so lots of pirate stuff
everywhere. We put these ones in the stockades!

The misty rain turned into real rain, so we picked up
some ponchos to be able to keep going.  Don't we look
adorable?!

Flamingos!  The piles of mud are nests.

Benjamin was getting really tired
of walking and being rained on.
This nook is by the penguin
enclosure.  He really just wanted
to stay there.

Sailing, sailing!

One of our favorite places at this zoo is this gigantic
aquarium.

Waiting for the animal show.

Tired and a little damp, but still happy!

We finally gave in to the rain and headed for home.  It wasn't exactly the day we'd planned, but we had a lot of fun.

In the evening, Chris and Scott and the boys came over to say one last good-bye before we left in the morning.  Our Ohio adventure was sadly coming to an end!