Saturday was our day to take the old Honda Civic Hatchback in for service. It needed an oil change but had also developed a nasty squawking noise in its rear end. After the oil change, strut replacements, and a new radiator hose (a leak had been accidentally discovered) we stopped by the dealership to pick up the car. It drives great again. While we were there we took a look at the Honda Fit cars parked in the lot. We're planning to replace our 1997 Civic and have been looking for a suitable candidate. We'd wanted to buy a mileage champ but discovered, to our dismay, that the premium for a car that meets our transportation and mileage needs comes to something over $10,000. So we've pretty much decided to "settle" and purchase a new vehicle that turns in performance no worse than what we get now. The Fit's 27 miles per gallon city and 33 MPG highway matches our minimum. A sales guy saw us peering through the windows of the locked cars and, smile and all, came out to see what we were about. We got to sit in a car, fold down the rear seats, check out the very large rear door, and we have become very interested in that car! Reviews of all sorts give the Fit high marks so we'll test drive the car soon. I'm concerned about freeway acceleration performance and how well it climbs the steep hills around here — the engine's a little smaller than that of the Coupe. It would also be nice if the next car could easily transport my telescope gear and I think it would fit in the Fit. Whatever we purchase, She will delightedly take my Civic Coupe (seriously, She's lusting after that car) and I will receive the new vehicle. We also hope to get a crack at the soon-to-be-released "new" Honda Insight — our last chance at hybrid ownership on this go-round (it's supposed to carry a lower price than comparable cars).

All day long I watched the skies and the forecasts: Saturday night was the "rain" date for the first Observatory open night of the year, rescheduled from the week before. The day began with some sunshine and for most of the day it was sunny and mild. As the hours passed, however, the skies and the forecasts changed. As evening arrived so did an opaque layer of clouds blanketing the region with no clearing expected until after Midnight. I canceled the event and we cocooned in front of the TV, catching up on some recorded shows. After She retired I watched a very entertaining movie, Out at the Wedding. Then it was off to bed with me. 

Engine #365 in Peninsula

On Sunday we lounged around the house a bit but felt compelled to get out… the weather was sunny and mild, and altogether too nice a day to spend indoors. Out we went to a yummy lunch at Subway in a neighboring town. Then we drove to the Observatory to generally check on things and empty the always-filling dehumidifier bulk tank. With a little help from She Who Must Be Obeyed, I toted the very heavy tank out to the Observatory's front yard and dumped it on the greening grass. I reset the wall clock for Daylight Saving {ick!} Time. Noted birds were again nesting in the dome slit and dropping nesting materials inside the telescope chamber. Then we headed out, and back towards home.

Along the way, however, we made a planned stop in Peninsula, Ohio. It's a dot on the map but a hub of activity for recreational tourists visiting the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Friends own an extremely popular bicycle rental place there. She visited the bike shop. I stayed outside to greet and photograph the afternoon's first run of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad train which stops in town.

She finished up in the shop. I finished up with the train… er, really, it pulled out of town and then I was finished. We then took a very pleasant walk on the park's Towpath Trail. It's still late winter. There is some greening in the woods and some very early spring flowers blooming here and there. The River, however, was muddy and cold looking. Still in all, it was wonderful to be out of doors, taking in the fresh air and feeling the warming sun on our faces.

Winter's grip is loosening and not a moment too soon!

Mossy Rock

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