Combined Sewer Overflow sign

After many miles of driving on our trip’s second day, Dad and I needed a little time out of the car. We decided to look at Lake Erie while we were passing through Cleveland, Ohio. The day was fairly pleasant and the overcast sky made for lovely photography weather.

We took Lakeshore Drive and couldn’t find any sign pointing to Lake Erie, although we passed many “No Outlet” signs. Eventually, the light dawned. “No Outlet” meant the street ended at the lake.

We turned off Lakeshore Drive onto the next street marked with a “No Outlet” sign and, sure enough, it ended at the lake shore. When we got out, I burst into laughter. A big sign read “Caution: Combined Sewer Outlet”. Only in Cleveland.

Well, maybe not.

Apparently, the cities along Lake Erie have antiquated sewers that combine sewage with storm drainage. In storm seasons, that results in overflow, straight into Lake Erie.

This situation is reminiscent of the tagline from  Jaws 2 : “Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water…”. But, of course, the water was frozen, so we weren’t going anywhere near it.

lawn, lake and Cleveland skyline

The best views of the lake were probably from this yard, but it had a large “No Trespassing” sign at the entrance. Instead, I shot from the end of the street before turning east along a sidewalk running more or less parallel to the lake.

sad-faced gargoyle

This gargoyle sitting on the yard’s gate post seems sad that he must keep me out. He reminds me of a “See no evil, think no evil, speak no evil, have no fun” figurine that I once had on my desk. He’s the “have no fun” gargoyle.

streetlights on walkway to Euclid Beach

We came to this lovely walkway down to the beach. A few other folks were walking also, but none approached the beach.

Dad in front of lifeguard stand at Euclid Beach

We were fascinated by the height of these drifts. Were they made over time or did one storm cause the heavy accumulation?

horizon at Lake Erie, Euclid Beach, Euclid, Ohio

The haze made it seem as if the lake continued forever, fading into the sky. I didn’t expect to see the Canadian shore about 50 miles away, but I haven’t seen a “shoreless” body of water since 2008.

The lake with an invisible shore could be a metaphor for how much longer we had to drive that day. Niagara Falls, where Lake Erie joins Lake Ontario, was our destination. “Oh, so far away from me!”

After we left the lake, we ate lunch in Mentor, Ohio, home of James A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States. A sign to his home was right outside the restaurant. I would have enjoyed visiting Garfield’s home, Lawnfield, but the Falls were calling.

Garfield was the fourth of eight Presidents who lived at some time in Ohio: William Henry Harrison, Ulysses Grant, Rutherford Hayes, Benjamin Harrison, Garfield, William McKinley, William Taft, and Warren Harding. Sadly, half of them died in office. W.H. Harrison died of pneumonia, Garfield and William McKinley were assassinated and Warren Harding apparently had a heart attack, dying instantaneously.

W.H. Harrison, who rode into office on the strength of his victory at Tippecanoe, has two dubious distinctions among American presidents: He gave the longest inaugural address in history and had the shortest administration. Weakened by exposure to a snowstorm during his two-hour, 8,445-word address, he contracted pneumonia and died April 4, 1841, less than a month into his term.

Virginia also claims eight Presidents, including four of the first five: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe. Virginia also lays claim to W.H. Harrison, who was born there; John Tyler, Harrison’s vice president; Zachary Taylor and Woodrow Wilson.

This is a slide show of Lake Erie:

To order, click on the gallery link in the slide show or go here.

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