8/16-A Lot of Obstacles for a Not Too Terrible Day!

I didn’t sleep so great last night. The humidity was oppressive, and the neighbors were making a lot of noise…very late. However, I did get to see some fireflies!

In the middle of the night it started raining. That meant the rainfly door had to be closed. Even more uncomfortable. There was a fair amount of thunder and lightning. Around 5:40, it really came down. Since I could feel a few drops from the rainfly into my tent, I packed my quilt away. I wasn’t using it anyway. 

I looked at the forecast. It said it would stop by 8:00. I packed everything up inside my tent, and even ate my breakfast. At about 7:15 it seemed to be lessening. I got my rain gear on, and started packing stuff onto Wanda. 

I was ready to go at 7:45, and it wasn’t raining! I had to backtrack about 2 1/2 miles to where I could access the Moonville Rail Trail. I was, of course, concerned about flooding on the trail, but the alternative would have added about 7 miles to an already 60+ mile day. When I got to the turn, I saw the sign for the Moonville tunnel. It said it was 2.6 miles (on the gravel road) to the trailhead parking. I decided to take the road as I was not confident the trail would be rideable. That may or may not have been a mistake. The road was good (hilly), until I came to this. 

Ruh roh!

At first it was only about 6 inches deep. But, after the high spot, and into the trees, it got deeper…much deeper! It was up to my thighs! I carried Wanda (she helped by floating a bit) as much as I could. The whole time I was saying, “We got this, Wanda! I can see the road ahead! Just a little further!” We made it to the other side! The tunnel trailhead was just up the hill (this is why the trail might have been better…it might have been high enough). 

The Moonville Rail Trail

Moonville Tunnel (I was expecting something longer)

More water, but sun!

It was still not raining. I took off my rain gear. I continued on the trail.

This tree had called on the trestle and I could go under it.

There was one more tunnel. I think they call it the King Tunnel. 

It didn’t have a name on it.

I finished the trail. Now it was time for some road riding. The hills from yesterday continued today. Mostly short, but a few pretty steep ones. Soon I was coming into Athens. I rode on the river trail past Ohio University and this big dome arena. 

I knew there was a Kroger just off the trail. I headed for it to get a snack. But then, I saw a Tim Horton’s! I went there instead! 

Back on the trail, near the end there was another obstacle of a downed tree. This one was a little harder to get through. I had to lay Wanda down, push myself through, then pull her through. 

Not an easy one!

The trail ended, and I was back on the road. There was a sign ahead saying the road was closed. Fortunately, it’s Sunday, so if it was for road work, they wouldn’t be working. Plus, Ben had told me he had been able to get through all the closures in Ohio. Soon I came to it.

Mostly it was just muddy. 

My cleats got a little dunked up, but otherwise, we made it through.

We had to keep going because we had to get to this road. 

It’s Bethany’s road!

Continually thinking about roads by creeks/rivers, the next turn had me looking at the route to see if it would be better to stay on the highway. On the route, both were paved. One was on one side of the creek, and the route was on the other. I stayed on the route. Well, it wasn’t paved, but it was okay. I came to where I was supposed to get on the Athens/Belpre Rail Trail. It looked a lot like the lesser improved part of the Moonville Trail. It ran directly parallel to the gravel road. It would be higher, but could also have downed trees. I chose the gravel road. One reason was because I had already seen a vehicle on it, so I knew it was passable. 

I came up to these people pulling a couple of poles. A truck had already turned around. I went ahead. The couple let me go through. 

Another obstacle cleared!

Further down the road there was another big puddle. I decided to try and ride it. It got a little splooshy deep at the end, but Wanda and I made it through. Then it was just some mud. We made it through that too.

Not the puddle, but how’s this for lakefront property?

I was back on the route when the route rejoined the road from the trail. The forecast had called for rain at about 2:00. Right on schedule, a thunderstorm and heavy rain joined the party. Since I was already soaked from the humidity, I didn’t bother to put my rain gear back on. I wasn’t cold. 

It lasted not too long. Then the sun came out. Now it was roasting hot, and so humid! I just kept counting down the miles. I was really gunning for a Marathon station that wasn’t too many more miles. It was heaven when I saw it! A big bottle of Gatorade and an oatmeal crème cookie, and I was ready to finish the last 10 miles!

In Belpre, my last Ohio town, I rode down along the Ohio River. 

The route came around to the bridge over to…State #11, West Virginia!

Don’t you like my creative “11”?

I was in a hurry to get to my hotel because I was meeting Dana McKnight, the guy who got the GAWR accepted onto Bikepacking.com, for dinner. Sure enough, just as I got to my room, I got a text from him asking if I was in Parkersburg yet. We made our plans for dinner, and I got to work on my chores. Shower…check! Laundry…check! Charging…check! Drying my tent…check (well, it’s still drying), and lubing poor Wanda’s chain too. 

Dana and his wife, Robin, picked me up at 6:30. We went to a Mexican restaurant. We had a great dinner, but even more than that, it was great to get to talk to him in person! It is no small feat to get a route onto Bikepacking.com. He’s put so much work into it, and continues to update it. 

So, even though there were a number of obstacles today, overall, the day was good, and it finished great!

8/15-We’re Not in the Midwest Anymore!

At least as far as the terrain goes! It was a hilly one today! Oh it was flat for the first 18 miles from Hill Lake to Chillicothe. I finished the Painted Creek Trail in Chillicothe.

A little foggy

This part of the trail had just been fixed

Hopewell Mound Group

The Cathedral Mound

Scioto River in Chillicothe.

Since Chillicothe wasn’t that far into the day, I waited until I was on the other end to get a snack and resupply. There wouldn’t be anything else until almost the end in Zaleski, some 50+ miles later. I saw a Tim Hortons. I stopped and had “real” breakfast (my banana and protein cookie were just to tide me over). They even had chocolate milk!

There was a Dollar General next door. I picked up some stuff for dinner. As I was leaving town, I saw a country market. I stopped there too and got another banana for breakfast tomorrow. 

Finally I was back out in the countryside. Today was more road riding than I’ve had for awhile. And, as I said, it was hilly. At times I felt like I was at home. 

Nice country road, going up!

What are those bumps over there? Oh, they are hills!

The route went through the Tar Hollow State Forest. Now I really felt like I was riding the D-Line through Capital Forest at home!

There was even a creek running next to the road

I don’t think we have these weird caterpillars though.

Okay, this climb was like the D-Line off Bordeaux. It hit 17%! I walked.

Pretty steep!

Uh oh!

The nice thing was, at the top, there was an equally steep descent! I think the descent was longer than the climb!

The other thing that was nice about today was the curves. No super long straight roads. 

I said, as I passed, “You’ve got a line behind you!”

Surprise gravel number 1

Nice scenery!

I came to a second surprise gravel section. This one definitely showed evidence of flooding.

Pretty high water still

Very wet road. 

Then I came to this mess. 

The only way around it was through the flooded ditch

Ah…soaking wet shoes again!

I had another climb, then a nice downhill into Zaleski. 

I stopped at the Moonville Market and got a snack. I asked the guy how far the state park was. He said three miles. Then I said, “I suppose it’s up a steep hill.” He said it wasn’t. 

I got on the Moonville Rail Trail. Let’s just say it’s not the most improved trail I’ve been on.

Walked around this one. 

“Muscle Power Only”

Just mostly grass

Then sandy stuff, but firm from the rain.

I got off at a “trailhead” to go to Hope Lake State Park. The camping area was actually 5 miles, and it WAS up a long steep hill, the longest hill I had climbed all day! Dude at the market lied!

I went into the office. The camp host was there talking to the  boss lady. I asked about a tent site for the night. Glen, the camp host asked if my bike was dead, thinking it was an e-bike. I told him it was not an e-bike, and I had pedaled it up the hill. He asked where I was riding, how long, and all that. I told him. When I asked how much I owed for the campsite, Glen pulled out his cash and said, “I’m paying for your site tonight!” How nice was that! He had the gal put me on a site close to the showers, and restrooms. Showers are free in Ohio State Parks!

I was kind of hoping on this, Day 64, that I would ride 64 miles. Then I could say I rode 64 miles on Day 64, and I’m 64 years old. Alas, I only rode 59.8 miles. Oh well, they were definitely not Midwest miles today!

Day 64 and 11 days until I arrive in DC

8/14-I Found the Blue Sky!

It took me all day, but I finally found it!

Almost forgot what it looked like!

Here’s a couple of photos from Dayton. My hotel was right next to the ball park. 

I was somewhat nervous about today. I really didn’t want to have another day in the rain. I was concerned because my dry bag isn’t keeping my quilt dry. I came up with a solution! I put the quilt and my pillow in the dry bag. Then I put the dry bag in a plastic bag, then in a thin plastic trash bag from the hotel. I secured it closed with the Titan strap I picked up off the side of the road in Montana, and then buckled into the harness on my handlebar. Knowing my quilt would stay dry eased my mind about the rain. 

When I left the hotel, it was actually not raining! I knew I couldn’t go down by the river where the route was, so I just rode straight across town until I intersected with the Creekside Trail, and the route. After awhile, there was even a bike lane! 

I was also a little nervous about a trail that had “creek” in the name. Would there still be flooding, or flood damage? Turns out, it was fine. Almost all the time, the trail was well above the creek. Plus, the creek was not that flooded. 

All good in the underpasses

This was a maybe a river, but notice it’s not a torrent. 

Things had really settled down, even though there was some rain overnight. 

I stopped in Xenia for a snack break at a BP station. I’d had chocolate milk at breakfast, so I just did a good ol’ sugar dump of Dr. Pepper and a honey bun. I saw these signs at the trailhead. 

I followed the orange one (the USBR 50 part). Not going to Columbus.

I think maybe my friend Stephanie did the red one back in June with Bebeth. 

After Xenia, the trail was called the Jamestown Connector Path. You can guess where it went. It continued through Jamestown for a bit, then it was out to the road until Washington Courthouse. 

Another one of those one lane sly dog roads.

Yes, the town is called Washington Courthouse!

By now I was almost at 50 miles, and wanting another snack. Right at a turn, there was a gas station. Perfect! Refueled for the last 20 miles, I worked my way through WA CH (for short). I have to say, it was a weird route through the town! For a moment, I thought I was just going in a circle!

Bike path

Oh, and here it felt like I was riding in someone’s backyard!

Eventually, I came to the final trail for the day, the Painted Creek Trail. There’s that word “creek” again, but it too was fine. Turns out they painted the creek…brown.

I would have gone with a more exciting color…

Nice covered bridge

I think this is one of Phil’s cousins. I saw three of these groundhogs today.

The final town was Frankfort (yes, there is Frankfort, Illinois AND Frankfort, Ohio…there’s much more to the one in Illinois). Since I didn’t need to go into the town, I just stayed on the trail for another couple of miles to the turnoff for Lake Hill campground. There’s operative word for this campground is “hill”. It was a steep climb! I had to ask where the office was. It is in a round house! I talked with Julie, the owner. It’s $40 per night. She asked cash or card. I said let me see how much cash I have. I only had $35. She said that was fine, and she even gave me a dollars worth of quarters for the shower (I only needed one).

This site had a platform. I figure if it rains, I’ll be good!

Today was 71 miles, and I finished at about 2:30. Tomorrow there will be some climbing, but I only have 60 miles. Now I’m under 600 miles to go!

Day 64 11 riding days to go (there is a cushion day, so 12 to DC).