8/17-Wildlife on the North Bend Trail!

I noticed the further east I get the earlier I can leave. This morning I was ready to go at 7:30. It was 4 miles through Parkersburg to get to the North Bend Trail where I would spend the rest of the day. 

The surface varied, but was generally pretty good until later when the rain came. 

The North Bend Trail has many bridges and many tunnels. The bridges would cross the same creek multiple times, then another creek multiple times, and so on.

Shhh!

I lost track of how many tunnels I went through. Here’s some photos. 

The first of two Pennsboro tunnels had an extra special water feature. 

As you can see, it was water covering the whole tunnel floor. Now, at this point, my feet were still dry. I wanted to keep it that way. See the sides? I decided to walk along the left side, and push Wanda through the water (it wasn’t that deep). The walk way was kind of narrow. I realized my yellow shirt (my nice clean yellow shirt) was cleaning the side of the tunnel. Hopefully next time I wash it, it will come clean. 

I saw lots of wildlife today. First I saw a fox, then I saw a deer, then two turkeys, more deer, and…a BEAR! Unfortunately I couldn’t get a photo because it was a good bear and turned and ran as soon as it heard me. 

The deer? Not so much.

It was exciting to see a bear. I imagine I might see more as there are a lot of black bears in WV. Maybe I’ll be able to get a photo. 

I stopped in Ellensboro for some lunch at McDonalds. It was right next to the trail. As I continued on, it started getting g darker and darker. Uh oh, we know what that means! I put my rain jacket on, but not the shorts. Pretty soon it was absolutely pouring. It was hard to see. Wanda did a great job maneuvering around the branches and through the water. There had been numerous waterfalls. Now there were even more. 

I had hid out for a bit in this tunnel. When I came out, it was only lightly raining, but the waterfall was really going!

I finally made it to Smithburg. I was going to camp at Doddridge County Park. 

When I got to the park, I noticed they had yurts. I asked if any were available. Yurt 3 was, so I got it. There has been a woman named Sarah who has been slowly catching up to me. Vivian said she had to meet me. We’ve been in contact with each other, and finally ended up at the same place. I told her I got a yurt, and she was welcome to stay in it too. She arrived not too much later. It’s been fun comparing notes. Dana even came by to see us (what took us all day to ride took him an hour to drive)! 

Things are drying out. My shoes are soaked once again. Tomorrow, Sarah and I will ride together. I’m only going to Shinnston. It’s too far to go to Morgantown like I planned. I will eat up that extra day by taking two days to Morgantown. Shinnston is about halfway.

Best thing about today was seeing a bear! Worst thing was more rain! I’m so tired of all the rain and flooding. It just needs to stop!

T-minus 9 days to Nolan and DC!

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