Toledo, Ohio - March 12, 2011

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Lacking transportation alternatives, I drove to Toledo to attend an All Aboard Ohio meeting at Central Union Terminal. The westbound Lake Shore
Limited, due at Toledo at 5:55am but delayed by a track washout and detour in New York State, was at the platform when I arrived at 9:30am.

Viewliner sleepers and a baggage car bring up the rear.

Saturday's New York Times, headlined with news of the 8.9 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

After the meeting, I picked a street and followed it to see where it went. The morning had started
sunny and pleasant, but by 11 0'clock overcast was building and the wind was picking up. The
day quickly turned cold, damp, windy, and unpleasant.

The siren echoed through mostly-empty streets.

By the time I got to the Erie Street Market, the winter farmers' market already had closed for the day. The Libbey Glass Factory Outlet was open,
though, and doing a brisk business. I sought respite from the cold wind and found some things I liked, on sale.

From the market I saw this imposing old building and went to check it out. The faded letters
painted on the bricks said "Fireproof Storage" but I wonder if it had an earlier, more interesting
use. The style reminds me of some late-19th century powerhouse buildings for large factories.

I had a flashlight in my pocket, and in younger, more reckless times I might have been tempted
to explore. Now, not by myself.

A burnout next door.

This might have made the firefighters nervous.

Good Shepherd Catholic Church.

Been here long?

Kessler Park, a pocket park off Main Street. The script above the arch says "Lucas County Power Station."

Former Movie Theater?

Acme Power Plant, inactive since 1993 and undergoing partial demolition. I'm not a fan of drive-by photography, but by this time I felt like I was on
the brink of hypothermia, notwithstanding multiple layers under a jacket that's resistant to wind and water.

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