Impromptu Visit to Columbus Ohio

The air line pressure alarm went off for about 20 minutes yesterday.  The air gauge showed that we had no air in the back of the rig.... False reading, as without air pressure, the air brake immediately comes on and we would coast to a stop.  (I know all of this info because Eric and I took the class on the air system in motor homes on Friday.)  So....  Eric called Freightliner (the company that made our chassis and built the system for the air brakes and air bags)  in Gaffney, SC.  

I'm a huge fan of technology.  I'm driving.  Eric is calling Freightliner on the phone and has his IPad out to look for dealerships west of where we were driving.  Eric made sure we have Internet while on the road and his efforts payed off.   Once he has an address, Eric inputs it into the GPS and we've got a new destination. 

We are at Fyda Freightliner in Columbus, OH and have decided to go for a new part to prevent false air loss readings. And the amazingly loud, piercing alarm that stays on and on and on.

It's time for an impromptu tour of Columbus, OH.  Off to the Internets I go to find some stuff to do on a Monday. Big rewards -  The Ohio State House has free tours; Columbus Commons and there's more gardens near downtown.  Off we go.  

Columbus Commons is tucked in amongst buildings in downtown Columbus, just two blocks from the Ohio State House.

One of the gardens in Columbus Commons

 The Ohio State House has an incongruous exterior.  Five different architects worked on the building during its 22 years of construction. 

An interesting building

The rotunda

Rotunda from the stairs

Senate Chamber

I was surprised that I could walk into a State Capitol and not go through security check and kept in a specific area before the tour of the building.  The state trooper was very pleasant.  He gave us instructions on where to go to meet the tour guide and off we went.  The tour was an hour long.  Most of the rooms and hallways are painted pink because in the 1800s any shade in the red family was considered a strong, powerful color.

We thanked our tour guide and then Eric and I left for Gay Street and ate lunch at Due Amici.  The Watermelon Gazpacho as wonderful!  The bread had a crunchy crust and was doughy on the inside.  The oil used for dipping was very high quality.  We ate Egg Plant Fries and an Ohio Pizza made with corn, bacon, chunks of tomato and cheese on a very crispy crust.  We had dessert wines for dessert.  Eric had a sweet, almost fortified Chianti and I had a very sweet Sauvignon Blanc. 

Our State House Tour Guide recommended we tour the Ohio Supreme Court.  The very nice guard let me in without my driver's license, because Eric presented his and vouched for me.  (Note to self:  Bring driver's license every day.)  This Court House is a beautiful At Deco building that was completed in 1933. 

Ohio Supreme Court

Supreme Court Chamber

 The lower level of the building houses and educational center that presents several cases that came before the Ohio Supreme Court including the settlement of a case where an Amish hunter was ticketed for not wearing an orange vest while hunting.  The Amish hunter's religion didn't trump safety while hunting.

On our way back to the garage where we parked out car, we walked into a Romney Rally outside the State House.  The rally had been scheduled for 3 pm.  About two hundred people were there.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio

I thought the event would be ticketed and was surprised to be about 50 feet away from the dais. 

Senator Rubio was running late.  The local politicos lead the crowd in God Bless America and America the Beautiful while we waited. 

After we found a young man selling Romney tee shirts about a block from the rally and Eric gave him his flag, hoping the young entrepreneur could make a few extra sales with an American flag decorating his table.