(Topic ID: 221753)
Toledo, OH
Sydney
Quoted from rotordave:Thursday and Fridays steps ... these are the two days of Pinburgh. And I don’t have my phone with me during the rounds either ...
rd
Not bad at all. I try to do 12.5k per day. When I wasn't trying, it was far less. I had a couple days in Paris where I did ~30k per day. I know why the French are so damn fit 
After we finished at ReplayFX, we headed off for a walk around the central city area of Pittsburgh.
I’ve been here 4 times now. To be honest, I’ve always thought it was a bit of a dump. The last trips have been to PAPA out in Carnegie and Green Tree, and it’s all a bit ho hum out there. Plus, it’s been winter, it’s been freezing cold and miserable and I’ve caught a cold every time, so that didn’t help.
But this time, with staying in the city, Pittsburgh has shown itself to be a city with a beating heart ... the city centre and the strip areas are vibrant, the businesses seem busy, and there are 100s of people out and about at night, eating and drinking up a storm.
Here’s some pics from today.
Random sign that took my fancy. Turned out it pointed not to a nightclub, but to an art installation on a wall in the alleyway that was made of LEDs that lit up from the magnetic signal when you make a phone call on your cellphone near it. I tried it, didn’t seem to work that well.
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I love old buildings and seem to have a fascination with fire escapes. Particularly ones that don’t look very safe. Haha
“My apartment is on fire!! Shall I stay here and burn up, or risk walking on that rusty thing? Hmmm..”
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We walked along the Allegengy River bank down to the point of confluence where all three rivers meet. Pittsburgh has lots of yellow bridges ...
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Down at the point, there’s a monumental plaque thing, and a huge fountain.
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rd
Quoted from mcluvin:Not bad at all. I try to do 12.5k per day. When I wasn't trying, it was far less. I had a couple days in Paris where I did ~30k per day. I know why the French are so damn fit
I don’t think the iPhone is that accurate in keeping steps. I know when I had a proper pedometer ages ago, I was doing 10-15k steps a day working in my furniture store etc. It was a big store ...
When the IPhone first came out with that app, I actually mapped out a route I used to walk all the time, and the iPhone was like 10-15% less.
rd
I feel like I save a lot of money with these rd travellogs because it's almost as good as being there.
Keep up the good work!
That pic of your wifey walking down the back alley looks just like what you would see in a movie or in a tv crime series.
Great pic rd.
Left the ‘burgh this morning.
Good times. Thanks again to the Replay crew and all the people I met over the weekend.
On to Cleveland!
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When we were driving to the sign, the crossing barriers came down on this cool lifting bridge. Had to stop and watch it.
Took like 5 minutes for the road to lift waaaaay up in the air ... then the boat was so tiny, I couldn’t even see it! Haha. Didn’t really need to lift it up at all. Then it took a few minutes to come back down.
Pretty cool.
0474E41C-6B9B-46BB-ADA2-B0C76B2EE99E (resized).jpegThen we went to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.
Eddie Trunks favourite place.
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First up was the Pinball exhibit.
Well done to the local guys who organised it.
You scan your wristband at the coin machine, and it spits you out 2x tokens for the pins. Each pin is 1x token. You can buy more if you want.
The Gottlieb Punk was mint - but not working today. Metallica was off too. Old KISS ate one of my tokens but we got a game in. Had a good game on ACNC with the last token.
Lots of interest from the people there. I bet the machines are getting 100s it plays a day.
rd
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But the rest of the place, not so much IMO.
Firstly, calling it the ROCK AND ROLL Hall of Fame is a misnomer. Half of it isn’t rock and roll of any sort. It should be called the Music Hall of Fame.
What sort of ROCK HALL OF FAME only has one cabinet with heavy metal guys stuff in it? Isn’t that like the zenith of rock and roll? Rock and roll taken to the extreme?
Instead, you got motown stuff and country stuff and pop stuff and rap stuff. Which is fine ... in a “music hall of fame” ...
All the exhibits are static stuff. No different than going to a Hard Rock Cafe. There were a couple of video shows, one on American Bandstand and one billed as “THE POWER OF ROCK EXPERIENCE”. (TM)
THE POWER OF ROCK EXPERIENCE (TM) consisted of watching a 15 minute video on a big screen of various 10-15 second clips of performances from the RNRHOF awards shows, with stage lights arranged around the screen to shine right into your retinas Game of Thrones pinball style, and a big subwoofer under the bleachers that shook your ass on occasions. Quite exciting if you’re visiting from the retirement home, I’m sure.
It was good to see an extended display of Les Paul’s stuff (the guy who invented the Les
Paul guitar and multi track recording techniques)
There was a little Guns and Roses bit with a pinball ...
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Hetfields guitar ...
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Rob Zombies coat ...
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Some bits of Metallica’s Justice set ...
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The Heavy Metal cabinet consisted of a few bits and bobs ...
Like Halfords coat ...
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and Dios lyrics.
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The only mention of AC/DC, one of the BIGGEST ROCK BANDS IN HISTORY (remember, this is the rock and roll hall of fame!) was one of his schoolboy jackets and hats inside the “metal cabinet”
What a disgrace.
However, there was a wall dedicated to these guys ...
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So, to sum it up ...
RDs advice, save your $27 each, and take it down to your local Hard Rock, look at their shit for free, and blow your $27 on Hard Rock Hurricanes ... with or without the souvenir glass.
rd
Added over 6 years ago:And hardly anything on LED ZEPPELIN! One of the biggest bands in Rock history!!
I do find it amusing that rd and family from NZ show us around the USA with nice pics and explanations, many places of which I have never been to, and I have lived in the USA my entire life. Thanks rd. You've had some great adventures around the world in the past 4 years or so.
Quoted from oldskool1969:That last pic, 1927? from "take on me clip?"
A-Ha (but I only know that coz I watched RAGE on the weekend) 
Quoted from oldskool1969:That last pic, 1927? from "take on me clip?"
That’s the one.
Quoted from WaddleJrJr:I guess that says something for how much (or rather how little) it appeals to locals.
The place was packed out.
I don’t know if you’re a “music guy” though Jeffrey - probably not your thing, so it wouldn’t have any appeal. Regardless, it’s the sort of place you’d only go to occasionally, even if you were into it. Once you’ve seen it, you’ve seen it.
rd
Quoted from pinstor12:Always wondered, now you have saved me $27.00 X 4, thank you!
Others may love it - unfortunately it didn’t do much for me.
rd
Pretty sad that a rock and roll Hall of Fame inducts more pop groups then rock groups annually. Saved us $54. Thanks!
The best hall of fame is just south of Cleveland in Canton, OH. Might not be your thing RD but the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a absolute must stop for any football fan!
Quoted from okayestpinballer:In NZ they call "football"... rugby?
Football = soccer. You use your foot. Makes sense.
Rugby = rugby. Used to be called Rugby football.
Rugby League = league.
On the hotels TV the other day, they had USA Pro Rugby championship. Good to see it expanding in the States.
rd
Cedar Point!
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The mission ... to ride all the coasters in a day.
Same as I did back in 2006 when I was here.
First up, Gatekeeper. Cool flying coaster.
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Wicked Twister.
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rd
“Look at allll these coasters here tooooonight!”
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Unfortunately, the rain has started and half the coasters are closed at present.
Doesn’t worry the wildlife ...
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So let’s knock off the open ones.
Mine Ride up next ...
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rd
Magnum 200XL - 28 years old and still cool.
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A newer one, Rougarou.
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Cedar Point opened in 1870, they have a little museum with some of the old stuff and some scale models of the rides. Here’s one of the new Steel Vengeance ... it’s the old wooden coaster Mean Streak which has been converted to a metal/wood hybrid hypercoaster. It’s awesome.
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rd
What’s better than 1 Hercules at Cedar Point?
2 Hercules! And both working too.
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Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for most of the other pins. Although there were 4 young guys playing them.
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rd
The goal was to smash every coaster in one day - we did that before 8pm.
14 coasters in a day. The 15th one (Millennium Force) was closed all day. Bummer. But I’ve been on that before.
Longest wait was on the brand new Steel Vengeance which opened in May, that took 50 minutes to get on.
As per before, it’s a steel track/wood frame hypercoaster that set 10 new world records when it opened.
It’s by far the most impressive coaster of the day - and maybe ever?
Heaps of hang time, negative Gs, 90 degree drop, fast as hell ... very impressive. 10/10.
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Second favourite ... Maverick. Another new one. The new ones are so smooth, and you don’t smack your head on the head restraints like the older ones (that sucks balls). 9.5/10.
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Cedar Point is big on Snoopy. Never quite got Snoopy to be honest. Never found it funny ... or saw the point. I’m sure there is one. Just didn’t spot it.
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20,600 steps around the park ... that earned me a beer!
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Good times at Cedar Point!
Coaster capital of the worrrrrrrrrrrrldddd!
rd
when in michigan you should consider going to Frankenmuth, Mi. its the most visited tourist spot in the state. German heritage town. indoor water parks, fudge, food, zip lines, paddle boats, horse carriage rides and a bunch of other happenings.
over 250 mostly high end games on location with New sterns and JJP between 4 arcades as well. The Bavarian Inn lodge has 150 games alone, 5 pools and water slides. Shopping galore as well.
Quoted from cooked71:“Rougarau” sounds like some sort of NZ landmark.
That Steel Vengeance looks incredible - in the photo it looks really old and made of wood. Yet it’s the newest and named after “steel”?
Yep ... 20 year old wood frame, with new steel tracks added to it. Enables the coaster to do corkscrews and crazy high speed turns that a wood coaster can’t — yet retains the characteristics of a timber coaster.
Watch this ...
rd
Quoted from silver_spinner:when in michigan you should consider going to Frankenmuth, Mi. its the most visited tourist spot in the state. German heritage town. indoor water parks, fudge, food, zip lines, paddle boats, horse carriage rides and a bunch of other happenings.
over 250 mostly high end games on location with New sterns and JJP between 4 arcades as well. The Bavarian Inn lodge has 150 games alone, 5 pools and water slides. Shopping galore as well.
Cool - keep the Michigan tips coming, cause I haven’t had time to research much ...
rd
Quoted from rotordave:A newer one, Rougarou.
Beware the Rougarou. 
Spending the night deep in the swamps of Louisiana can be terrifying.
http://mythologian.net/loup-garou-rougarou-cajun-legend/
https://exemplore.com/cryptids/The-Rougarou-Louisianas-Cajun-Werewolf
Quoted from rotordave:Watch this ...
Holy crap that looks like a lot of fun and a total rush. 
A visit to Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum is a must if you like nostalgia and boardwalk games. Can watch a video to see if it may be worth your time. I guarantee you will be amazed. Of course they have a few pinball machines as well.
All address info and hours on Location link.
http://marvin3m.com/ (Web Site)
(You Tube Video)
Frankenmuth is a great recommendation! !! I would also recommend Greenfield Village/Henry Ford Museum and the Ford factory tour.
Just read through this one, I also followed your last one which was mostly Cali as I recall. In fact, living in SoCal, Hollywood and Venice are 2 places we try to avoid at all costs, those places are a total disaster these days. I was thinking you are pretty much taking your life in your hands walking around LA like that, and then just shocked to see you were right there in the middle of that Trader Joe's mess. Not only did that maniac kill and nearly kill people, but LAPD took care of an innocent bystander. Around here, you are in just as much danger of getting wasted by the cops (who blindly shoot at anything and everything with no apparent ability to aim or consider their backdrop) as you are by the criminals. God what a messed-up place this is, I'm amazed people from other countries would even consider coming here. If it were me, I would stay in the idyllic confines of down under with the barbies and the kangaroos and the koalas and all that.
Quoted from MrBally:Stop at Tony Packo's in Toledo. The original on Front Street. Trust me. Hot roast beef sandwich and a hot dog.
Then enjoy the worst roads in the Country ad soon as you cross the state line on I-75.....
I'm here right now
20180801_131238 (resized).jpgQuoted from silver_spinner:when in michigan you should consider going to Frankenmuth, Mi. its the most visited tourist spot in the state. German heritage town. indoor water parks, fudge, food, zip lines, paddle boats, horse carriage rides and a bunch of other happenings.
over 250 mostly high end games on location with New sterns and JJP between 4 arcades as well. The Bavarian Inn lodge has 150 games alone, 5 pools and water slides. Shopping galore as well.
If you like Christmas, especially......Bronners is one of the craziest places I have ever seen.
(edit) Also, looks like you like to eat - Fried Chicken at Frankenmouth! There are a few famous places, I can't remember which one I went to but it was pretty good with a long line. Hopefully the MI locals can recommend the best one.
Quoted from rotordave:Actually, I’m more facinated with the story of the hipsters flocking to Detroit to turn the place around.
Will I look at old buildings? Yes. I’m a commercial property developer. I look at buildings every day of my life. I’ve loved buildings since I was a little kid.
Quoted from rotordave:Cool - keep the Michigan tips coming, cause I haven’t had time to research much ...
Since you are looking for tips, and have an interest in old buildings/development, I would recommend checking out the old train station that was recently purchased by Ford Motor. They are going to redevelop it to house their autonomous vehicle initiatives. It has been pretty much shuttered since the 80s.
https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/20/17483696/ford-detroit-train-station
And since you'll be in the area, I would recommend hitting Slows for some BBQ. It is just a block over from the train station.
https://slowsbarbq.com/locations/corktown/
And heck, let me know if you are going, and maybe the wife and I will join you.
One of my favorite places in Detroit (which is in the same area):
https://www.batchbrewingcompany.com/
Thanks for all the tips guys. A couple of those things were on the list ... we will see what plays out.
Today we left Sandusky, Ohio. (Home of Cedar Point) Sandusky sits on the edge of Lake Erie. The Main Street runs right down to the water.
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When we were last here in 2006, the old town centre was on its knees, having been superseded by the big stores a few miles up the road. Like a lot of town centres.
But I’m happy to report, it’s looking up for Sandusky town. Most of the stores were leased, there were a few coffee shops and wine bars, some new holiday apartments ... and a couple of old buildings being redeveloped. Lots of people around.
Good to see!!
rd
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Quoted from rotordave:Lake Eire
Lake Erie
Couldn't disagree more with suggestions for Frankenmuth. It's 100 boring ass miles from Detroit and nothing much of interest there to a well traveled person.
GravitaR makes an excellent recommendation with Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum. It's unique.
With your penchant for old building photography I will be surprised if you don't run out of time just taking pictures downtown. If you can only do one leg kick in Detroit it should probably be in front of the Joe Louis Monument
Quoted from Puffdanny:I'm here right now
[quoted image]
The Chicken Paprikash is pretty good there too 
I'm stuck at the Detroit airport thanks to the weather in New York.....
20180801_210049_001 (resized).jpgAfter Sandusky, we drove down to the old Ohio State Reformatory prison, about 80 miles south down in Mansfield, Ohio.
This amazing place was built in the 1870s. The East wing of cells was added in 1910.
Amazingly, it was still in operation up till 1990!
In 1995 a local society was formed to save the prison after the government wanted to tear it down. They took ownership in the 2000s. So far they have restored about half of the central administration section - the rest is “as it came”
Amazingly - you pay your $12 and they say “bye bye” and leave you to it. Just about the whole place can be explored. Very few sections are roped off. Almost as good as breaking in and looking around yourself!
The prison is most famous for being the place where The Shawshank Redemption was filmed. Pretty much all of it was filmed on site. Even Brooks’ room in the hotel was created in one of the guards rooms.
It’s a photographers dream.
See if you can spot some of the movie locations.
rd
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