Day Twenty

Woke up at 8am and Ann was still asleep, so closed my eyes again. Woke up at gone 9am and Ann was still asleep. Got up and had breakfast. Sat around until Ann eventually woke up.

Eventually we headed out at around 1pm as Ann had been feeling rough. We had a few options of things to do: the USS Cod, a submarine; Great Lakes Science Centre; International Women's Air and Space Museum; The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. 

We decided to start with Rock n Roll as it is the one thing that you can only do here in Cleveland. We've been on other subs and in other science museums as you can find them elsewhere but the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame can't. Parked at the airport which is close to all the things and only costs $7 for all day.

Rock n Roll baby

Walked in only to realise they don't sell tickets. You have to book online. But as you walk in there are QR codes to scan. So we did that and then bought tickets and then got in.

It is over six floors. We were told to start at the bottom and move up, so we did. The bottom floor is all about the history of rock n roll and the music which influenced it through to modern day. We wandered around taking it all in.

Ahaha thank you very much

The actual jacket from Thriller

Lionel Richie's 1984 Olympic closing ceremony jacket

Slash's guitar

A Metallica drum kit

It took us an hour and a half to do the bottom floor. Went and had a drink and a snack at the cafe to discuss what next. Decided that as it was now 3.30pm that we wouldn't get to anywhere else with enough time so we would stay put here until it shut at 5pm

Decided to skip the advice and go straight to the top floor and work down, mainly as it was the one thing I wanted to see. Went up to the top to the Bon Jovi Forever exhibition which took up the whole floor. There was footage playing as well as artefacts.

The Jovi

Saw Jon wear this jacket in 1995

The set list from the night after seeing them

Jon's Guitar

Richie's guitar

Having spent a lot of time up the top,we gradually worked our way down through the other floors. There was a lot less to see on them. Stopped at floor 2 where you could go and play instruments: guitars, drums and piano. There were multiple stations each with their own sound system. Couldn't pass up the opportunity so went and played a Fender Strat. There was a TV screen where you could choose to have a lesson or play along depending on your skill. The choice of songs to jam to was not great but had a ago at a couple before having a free play.

Jimmy Page?

Think I may well have played my way into be inducted into the 2026 Hall of Fame. Wanted to have a go on the drums too but there were only two kits and they were both busy and then suddenly it was 4.55pm and the museum was about to shut. Nipped to the shop. Ann bought everything.

Walked back to the car and then went to exit the car park. Computer said no and kept the barrier down. Kept declining the card. Tried a different card. Still no. Moved out the way as others were waiting to exit. They got out fine. Only other way to pay was with coins which we didn't have. Ann said she would go into the airport and get change. So I drove her to the far end of the car park. She came back saying no one was in there. Drove her to the other end of the car park and she then went off to the USS Cod museum which was right next door. Man said this often happened and that right at the far end of the airport was a desk and to go there. So I drove her all the way back to the other end and off Ann went again. 

This time she came back saying the bloke said yes they have this issue all the time but the parking is nothing to do with them and they just tell people to drive over the curb and go out without paying. Ann asked him if we would get fined for doing this and he said no, the company have bigger fish to fry than worrying about $7.

So we drove out as instructed and then drove home to have dinner.

States visited - 11

Guitar watch - high