2015 Underground Railroad and Erie Canal Ride

9/16/15

Hudson, OH to Burton, OH

Originally today was supposed to be 66 miles but after the last couple of days we decided to break the day into 2 shorter days. Thank goodness. Today we only rode 30 miles but we did about 2500 feet in climbing. 

This is the first day that I have been unable to find a Diet Coke anywhere along the route, but the good news is that my feet didn't hurt near as much so all in all it was a good day.

We all started together from the Baymont Inn about 9:00 am. Almost immediately we started to climb. I met up with Marnie and Miriam at around the 17 mile mark and met them at the end of the ride for a wonderful lunch at a small cafe about a block away from our B & B.

We ended in Burton, OH which is in the heart of the Amish part of Ohio. We are staying at the Red Maple Inn.

This art work is right outside of the Red Maple Inn B & B we are staying in tonight. 

This is the view from our balcony.

Tomorrow we are off to Austinburg, OH. 

2015 Underground Railroad and Erie Canal Ride

9/15/15

Wellington, OH to Hudson, OH

OMG! It was a day I am glad is finally over.... After the previous day's brutal ride, I adjusted the route to cut off 10 miles and hopefully some climbing....the best laid plans sometimes never come to fruition...

We left Wellington, at around 8 am and ...Not even a mile out, my feet, which had been going numb since we started this trip, now decided that they were going to do a complete revolt and each pedal stroke was sheer agony...they hurt to pedal, they hurt to stand, they throbbed continuously...it was like pins and needles x100...

So when we realized that there was a bike shop in Medina, OH (about 5 miles off the route) we decided to detour there to get air in our tires and me hopefully get some foot relief....

After about 2 hours at Century Cycles in Medina, OH, I had a new (albeit ugly) pair of shoes which believe it or not, while it didn't totally cure the problem, made a big difference.

We had lunch at Panera and changed the route again cuz there was a Heron Rookery nearby. The last thing I wanted to do was add more miles, but alas, we did.

I didn't go to the rookery as I realized that it was at the bottom of a very steep hill, which to me translated into a very steep climb to come back, so while Marnie and Miriam went to the rookery I plotted the shortest course to the next hotel and took it.

My route cut through Cayouga Valley National Park and put me on the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath, which was a very beautiful ride. I got off the towpath in Peninsula, OH and stopped at the other Century Cycles shop and Marnie and Miriam tagged up with me there. 

Turns out the Visitors Center for the National Park was right across the railroad tracks from the bike shop. I was able to get my national park stamp and my patch! 

Peninsula is about 7-10 miles from our hotel but is really the only place to find food unless you want pizza delivery. 

We had dinner at the Winking Lizard which was also across the railroad tracks from the bike shop and it was a very good meal. The down side was that we had a 7 mile bike ride to the hotel which included a brutal climb on a busy road with construction...it almost killed me but I made it and then the road to the hotel was all torn up so the last 1/2 mile was very, very bumpy. I finally finished the day at 7:15 pm! A very long day indeed. 

We stayed at the Baymont Inn, Industrial Parkway, Hudson, OH, which was very nice, what I saw of it before collapsing into bed!

55 miles / 4085 feet of climbing

2015 Underground Railroad and Erie Canal Ride

9/14/15

Perryville, OH (Mohican State Park) to Wellington, OH

The day started late because the restaurant at the hotel didn't start serving breakfast until 8:00 am and I needed a good breakfast to brace myself for the climbing...

All I can say is that today was a 'Hike & Bike' day....I hiked up the mountains and biked back down! 

The first 20 miles were brutal with climbs I think in the double digits...had to walk some parts ... But I made it up...I really enjoyed the downhills...my Garmin registered a max speed of 38 mph! It was awesome on the way down, but that just meant that I had to climb up another mountain....no flatland today...

As the climbing continued with no end in sight, The more pickup trucks that past me the more I was willing to pay if the driver would let me put my bike in the bed and they would drive me to Wellington!

I made a command decision and adjusted the planed route which cut off 11 miles but only reduced the climbing by about 500 feet, but was at a much more doable gradient...still climbed 3500 feet...glad the day is done. Total miles 48.

Had a nice lunch in Jeromeville, OH before finishing the last 26 miles.

We ended our ride in Wellington, OH at the The Wellington Country Inn B & B, built in the 1880s and on the National Register of historic Places, run by a very nice couple, Evelyn and Gene. The building used to be a funeral home way back when.

We had dinner at Demitri's Corner Family Restaurant...good food, filling, and great service. Then it was back to B & B to call it a night.

Tomorrow we are off to Hudson, OH about 54 miles northeast of here.

2015 Underground Railroad & Erie Canal Ride

9/13/15

Delaware, OH to Perryville, OH - 60 miles

I departed very early this morning as it was a long day with climbing. It was 45 degrees when I left....brrrr!!! Definitely not in Florida any more.

I road by myself again as my pace is slower than Marnie & Miriam. I saw them at the 20 mile mark, had lunch with them at the 30 mile mark and talked to them at the 40 mile mark. Then I didn't see them again until I got to the hotel...seems they missed a turn on the cue sheets and their Gamins and did some bonus miles. Thank goodness I paid attention as today was not the day to add miles.

There was climbing as well....I did find out that if you go slower than 2.5 mph you fall down. The climbing in the last 10 miles was brutal for me, but I made it. My legs, feet, and butt hurt! Took some aspirin since I ge to do it all over again tomorrow...

Tomorrow we are off to Wellington, OH about 59 mile northeast of here with about 2400 feet of climbing.

2015 Underground Railroad & Erie Canal Ride

9/12/15

We left London, OH this morning at around 8:30 am and meandered over to the Truckstop America for a wonder breakfast. I had a delicious bacon & cheese omelet -- very light and fluffy.

Under threatening skies we left heading northeast. It was a lot cooler today necessitating arm warmers and my jacket. Brrr......

The winds that started yesterday continued today and of course the were coming from the Northeat the exact way we we are heading.

I rode alone today at my own slow pace and arrived in Delaware, OH safe and sound. Marnie & Miriam arrived about a half hour before I did.

No photos today as I was on the highway all day riding into a headwind which slowed my normally slow pace even more...let's hope tomorrow the winds are a bit more favorable.

32 miles

Tomorrow we are off to Perryville, OH about 60 miles to the Northeast....I will have to leave early as my pace is slow and the mileage is long...lol

2015 Underground Railroad and Erie Canal Ride

9/11/15

We left the Creekwood Motel in Waynesville, OH around 7:30 am and pedaled just a short distance to the Village Family Restaurant for a wonderful breakfast before hitting the Little Miami Trail heading northeast. 

A great breakfast to get us on our way!

Our first stop was at the Xenia Station just about 12 miles down the trail. 

Then it was off to Cedarville Trailhead where we stopped for a wonderful lunch at Beans & Cream just 2 short blocks off the trail. 

Good food always make the ride more enjoyable!

After a nice rest it was back on the trail to London, OH. The ride on the trail was wonderful, however when we had to leave the trail to get to the town of London and our hotel for the evening, it was a little stressful as we had to ride on a rather busy road with a lot of trucks...but we made it safe and sound to the Motel 6, London, OH...a total of 52 miles.

Miriam got a shot of Marnie and I pedaling down the trail!

I was thrilled to finally get to the hotel as both of my feet were numb and hurt like the dickens...tomorrow I am definitely not wearing my bike cleats! But I am not near as exhausted as I was yesterday, so all is good with the world.

Diet Coke's are hard to come by in many of these small Pepsi towns, but Marnie and I are prevailing.

After showers and laundry the rain came, so we ordered pizza delivery from Donato's and then called it a night.

Tomorrow we are off to Delaware, OH.

2015 Underground Railroad & Erie Canal Self Supported Ride

9/9/15

Marnie, Miriam & I spent the day walking around downtown Cincinnati, OH and touring the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. It was early to bed in preparation for the start of our journey in the morning.

We found out that pigs really do fly!

9/10/15

We departed the Hampton Inn, Cincinnati, OH around 9 am and hit the road. It was a wonderful day for riding and we spent more than 40 miles on the Little Miami Trail.

And the adventure begins!

We stopped for lunch at the Schoolhouse Restaurant, an old converted schoolhouse along the trail, which brought back many memories of Our Lady of the Lake School in Verona, NJ that I attended many years ago. I could see Sister Clara, Mrs. Wilson and Sister Anne Joseph standing in the front of the classroom. Wonderful meal consumed and it was back on the bikes for the remaining miles scheduled for the day.

The Schoolhouse Restaurant

We pedaled a total of 55 miles and stopped in Waynesville, OH at the Creekwood Motel for the evening.

Marnie and Miriam went out for dinner, but I am down for the count, too tired and exhausted to even walk across the street to McDonald's! I probably should have trained for this ride!

Tomorrow we are off to London, OH about 50 miles northeast of here.