BOB AND ME ON THE ROAD - TO OHIO AMISH COUNTRY

For the past year or so I have not been traveling or blogging because my brother Charles and I have been looking after the sweetest, nicest, funniest little woman I have ever known, "my Mom".
My mother, Geneva Burr has been suffering with COPD for a little more than a year. On her birthday, February 22, 2010 she passed away and is now at peace. She was 89 years old.

Even though I have not been taking any long trips, I have taken a few short trips to Ohio Amish country and it is time to go again, just me Ray Charles, Dean Martin and Bob. "Who is Bob" you ask? Bob is my 2007 Ford Escape. I love Bob, he took me cross country last year on route 66 and we had a great time.
Bob was a little upset because I didn't take any pictures of him. So I promised Bob that from now on he would be included. So look for Bob in my blogs and if you happen to see us on the road, stop and say hello and if Bob is in a good mood I'm sure he would love to have his picture taken with you.This is Bob sneaking in the back gate of Don Kings house in Geauga County, Ohio. I told him to let me out, so Bob went it alone.This is Bob leaving the King estate after being told to never show his face around there again or they would call the biggest meanest tow truck they could find. (You gotta Love That Bob).

COVERED BRIDGES OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO

Living in the greater Cleveland, Ohio area, two of my favorite places to photograph are Covered
Bridges of Ashtabula County and The Ohio Amish Country. So after Bob stopped fooling around, we drove about a mile west of the King house to one of Ashtabula's most picturesque bridges.
The Windsor Mill Bridge

This bridge spans Phelps Creek a tributary of the Grand River.The Windsor Mill Bridge is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is on of 17 Covered Bridges in Ashtabula County.

Mechanicsville Road Bridge

Since this photograph was taken in the mid 1990's the Mechanicsville Covered Bridge has been renovated. Built in 1867 to span the Grand River, this bridge is the second longest single-span covered bridge in Ashtabula County.

Mechanicsville Road Bridge
after renovation.

Ashtabula County has 17 covered bridges, so if you are a covered bridge enthusiast, you can't go wrong taking a day tour of the Ashtabula County, Ohio covered bridges. Go to www.coveredbridgefestival.org for more information and where to pick up a Covered Bridge Driving Tour Map.

Before we continue on this trip I would like to point out one thing. Whenever I pick up a travel magazine or watch travel show on cable, they seem to want us to believe that in order to get great photographs or do some great shopping or eating, you have to go to some far away place. Well I'm here to tell you, that is just not true. In these economic times most of us don't have the funds to travel to another country or in some cases even another state. There are great places to eat, shop and even get some great photographs right in your own back yard.

I am a professional photographer, ( if you know anything about professional photography, you know I don't have a lot of money) when I travel my number one priority is to my photography.
Ok, finding great food is also very high on the priority list. But know matter how close or far from home I am I try to make each trip an adventure. So do just a little research on the state you live in and the states around you and plan some great adventures that won't break your bank.

Ohio Amish Country

I have visited the Amish country since the 1970's and it has become very commercial and touristy over the years. Lots of shops, restaurants, and tour buses. Now don't get me wrong,
some people love that sort of thing. If you are one of those folks, you'll have a great time in the Amish Country of Ohio.
Wayne County, Ohio has several Amish communities, Berlin, Walnut Creek, Sugar Creek, Kidron and Dover are all great places to visit and you can do them all in one day form the Cleveland, Ohio area.

If you like to shop, and I mean shop for anything and everything you'll more than likely find it at Lehman's in downtown Kidron, Ohio.

Lehman's has plenty of parking for the 32,000-square-foot retail store containing from old fashion toys to hardware, books, stoves, lamps, you name it, Lehman's has it. Even a Buggy Barn Cinema where you can relax and learn about organic gardening, oil lamp restoration or wood stove maintenance.

While I like to spend an hour or two looking around Lehmans, Bob likes to hang out with the horses at the hitching post talking about the good old days.

Another one of my favorite places to visit is Ashery Bulk Food Country Store in Holmes County, Ohio. Just about a 15 minute drive from Kidron.

I buy all my spices here, they are a fraction of the price I would pay at my local supermarket and they carry just about every spice you would need.

Here's another little tip for you, take along an empty cooler, Asher is loaded with meats, cheese, butter and all kinds of items that you might want to keep on ice until you get home.

OK, now that i have all of my touristy stuff out of the way, I do what I really came to do, and thats is to photograph the Amish and the Amish countryside.

When I photograph in the Amish Country I try to operate by two rules of thought, the first is to get off the main roads and follow the buggy tracks on the unpaved roads into the farm land. The second rule is to have respect for the Amish way of life. I stay a respectable distance and whenever possible I try not to show faces. With some shots that just is not possible. If you keep these two things in mind, will leave with some pretty good shots. These are just a few of the ones
I have taken.

I love this pizza shop.

If you like to travel (personally, I like to drive) but you don't have the funds to take a trip to Spain,Italy or some other exotic destination, try looking closer to home and I bet you'll have some great adventures.

©Gary Burnett Sr.
Photographer



Bob