Day 14, Painesville to Cleveland, Monday June 21

 31 miles :: trip total 457 miles

Tudor Arms Hotel Double Tree by Hilton, 10660 Carnegie Ave

A strong wind and heavy rain caused early morning drama for our hosts when the electricity went out. Happily, power was restored quickly; happy guests could get their coffee and we could get our bikes out of the closed garage.  

 

First roadside picture of the day.

 

 

Monday was a "put on, take off, put on" rain gear day as we encountered several brief, light showers. A brunch stop in Willoughby at JT's Diner brought laughter at the signs posted around the dining room. One of our favorites was: I'm sorry I pressed all your buttons. I was just trying to find mute". 

 

Lake Shore Boulevard was our main route heading west into Cleveland. Some towns had a designated bike lane on the boulevard, even threatening a $100 fine for any driver who entered or tried to pass in the bike lane. As we got closer to Cleveland, cyclists could use the full right lane. 

 

 

 

 

 

Peeking through the houses along the lakefront
(and making one wrong turn), we could get glimpses of Lake Erie.

 

Just before reaching Cleveland, our route led us through Bratenahl, a small secluded village surrounded on three sides by Cleveland. While pedalling, we got peeks through the  gates to huge houses and estates along the lakefront. A little research later explained that in the early 20th century the wealthy Cleveland industrialists built their estates here. 

 

This beautiful, quiet part of our ride led us onto bike paths beside a parkway through Rockefeller Park. In 1897 the oil magnate, John D Rockefeller and his wife deeded 200 acres to the city. This park is part of a chain of wooded urban parks that connect the eastern suburbs to the city's lakefront. Along this bike path we encountered the Culture Gardens, started in 1916. Over many years, the 33 gardens honor the multiculturalism of Cleveland and the contributions of its immigrant groups. We stopped to view and photograph several--including the to-be-built redesign off the  African-Amercan garden. 

 

Glimpses of the expansive Hungarian garden. 

As well as the Cultural Gardens, the park's 4 old stone bridges, that we passed under, are on the National Registry of Historic Places. What a beautiful entry to Cleveland! A few more blocks, past the campuses of Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic (and its Ronald McDonald House),  we and our bikes were on the elevator to the 5th floor of the old Tudor Arms Hotel.