Skydivers Over Sixty Ohio State Record 2024

I thought about calling this post “Prison Break,” but decided that would be too clever and obscure. Kathryn and I recently finished binge watching five seasons of a television show with that name on Netflix. But that really has no connection with this post.

It is late September 2024, and I fly on American Airlines from Ontario to Cleveland via Dallas. I check my carry-on size suitcase and carry on my skydiving rig in its rig sleeve. My “personal item” is a small duffel bag in which I keep items I might want on the plane, like snacks and noise canceling headphones. It also contains my weight belt with 3 pounds of lead shot sewn into pouches, since I know from experience that it will be scrutinized. At both ends of the trip, I encounter new TSA agents who have never seen a sport parachute before. Both summoned their supervisors. Both supervisors asked if I had the CYPRES card showing what the scan should look like. I had not brought it, since on previous trips I had proffered it and met with zero interest. On the return trip, I was able to find the image on my phone, but too late to be of any use. No matter, my rig passed inspection and I was allowed to carry it on. I did hear the standard jokes from other passengers about me being the only one prepared for a midair emergency.

This trip is to participate in the attempts to set a Skydivers Over Sixty (SOS) large formation record for the state of Ohio. The previous record is only 12, and a Twin Otter airplane holds 22 plus a videographer, so the record seems within reach. My friend Mike Canary organized the event, and invited me when I visited him in July. I knew in advance that the weather might not allow us to jump. Hurricane Helene hit the southeast United States that weekend, bringing lots of rain and wind, even in Ashland, Ohio, home of the AerOhio dropzone. But I went anyway, figuring it would be an adventure either way, and giving my wife the chance to miss me.

I have occasionally joked that I want to set the world record for setting the fewest world records. I am still on track for this. The weather did not allow us to make any state record attempts. Still, I got to visit with Mike, and met Ebby from Florida and Terry from Pennsylvania.

Ebby and Terry each separately journeyed home once it was evident no skydiving would occur that weekend. So Mike and I had a rainy Ohio day to occupy. We decided to tour the Ohio State Reformatory, in nearby Mansfield. It was the prison where The Shawshank Redemption was filmed, one of Mike’s favorite movies.

Here is a gallery of photos I took on our self-guided tour. Parts of the prison were closed to us, because of the annual Blood Prison Halloween haunted house-style event. The idea of sharing a cell smaller than a walk-in closet is horrifying enough, without imagining it to be inhabited by ghosts.

I purchased a t-shirt or me and a water bottle holder for Kathryn in the gift shop.

After seeing the prison, I searched for a restaurant in Mansfield where we would both find food we would enjoy. We stopped at a Chinese place called Happy House. The menu looked good, but when I told the counterman I was vegan, he discouraged us from eating there.

We went to Lotus Restaurant in Ashland, which had a large pan-Asian menu, including Chinese dishes, sushi, and others. Mike had Kung Pao shrimp and a sushi roll. I ordered a sushi feast with several rolls. I noticed something called “sweat egg” on the menu in the list of available vegetables for sushi. I asked the waitress if that was a typo meant to read “sweet egg” and she agreed it was. I asked if it was actually a vegetable, and she said it was, something like a mango. I had never had that, to my knowledge, so I decided to try it. I requested that some of my sushi have “sweet egg” in it, but not tempura, since that is battered and fried. The chef wrapped my rolls in soy paper rather than seaweed. The waitress said that was to avoid cross contamination, but I would not have minded the nori wraps even if they had be touched by fish. I enjoyed the sushi very much, taking about half of it with me to eat for dinner. But the “sweet egg” tasted just like scrambled eggs, not like some kind of mango-like substitute. Later, I learned from a Google search that “sweet egg” is the English for Tamago egg, which is made from—you guessed it—eggs.

We went back to the hotel for a much needed nap, and reconvened in the evening. Mike taught me a dice game, which I won through beginner’s luck, and a rummy card game, which he won. Sam Adams Oktoberfest beer was consumed, and a good time was had by all.

Breakfast at the hotel was not very good, so we decided to have a Sunday Brunch at Panera Bread, where I knew I could get a good veggie sandwich, plus whole grain bagels for my travels. I forgot to specify “no cheese” when I ordered, and the sandwich had feta cheese all over it. The cooks cheerfully replaced it, even though it was my responsibility. It was endearing to see families eating together in their Sunday best, presumably following an after-church tradition. Mike and I had an amiable discussion about presidential politics, about which we disagree. We have differing nuanced opinions, and we both think our friend has been influenced by misinformation from slanted news media.

Then it was time to drive my rented Altima back to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. I stopped along the way at billboard-promoted Grandpa’s Cheese Barn and Sweetie’s Chocolates, which were an “attraction” not far from the hotel we had stayed in. It was still under construction, but had a number of mobile-home type buildings and was quite busy with tourists. It reminded me of Tom’s
Farms near where I live. I found nothing to buy, but the restroom was welcome.

I had left plenty of time to find the rental car return and take the shuttle to the airport terminal. I checked my bag and made the long walk to my gate. My flight was delayed. Along the way, I stopped for a “superfood salad” at an airport vendor called Currito. It was the healthiest and tastiest, the all-around best meal of the trip. It comprised arugula, kale, romaine, garbanzos, edamame, slivered almonds, quinoa, golden raisins, and shredded carrots, with light, sweet dressing I requested be on the side. I remembered to specify, “no cheese!” Delicious, satisfying, and very healthy—five stars!

I took a picture at the airport of campaign kitsch, likely unauthorized. Notice the coffee mugs, shot glasses, and chocolate bars, as well as caps and t-shirts, for both candidates

The delayed departure from Cleveland resulted in a very tight connection in Dallas. I just made it to the gate in time to board the delayed flight out of Dallas. I was the last passenger to board, and I found my seat was being held for me by a giant stuffed unicorn. After a jolly game of musical chairs, we sorted out the seating assignments.

Back at Ontario airport, I went to the wrong baggage carousel, even though only two were in use of the four at the terminal. I finally got my carry-on size suitcase. Then my Lyft driver was delayed by his previous customer changing destinations during the ride. I made it home safe at 1 am, thankful to be there with my wife, dogs, and cat.