Miles 2931 to 3034, 103 miles (+3 more bonus), 3800 feet of climb (+488 more bonus), max speed 39 mph, avg speed 14 mph, all back roads, some very rough, at least 20 hills with greater than 12% grade
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| Judy the Master Gardener |
The problem with long rides is that there are too many gems to write about! Let me first tell you about Judy the master gardener. Her flowers gardens along Warrensburg Road were so stunning in color and composition that it demanded I stop. I had not seen anything of such beauty anywhere west of here. We had a wonderful conversation, and then I asked about a possible local custom that I knew of from when I was a young man, the vertical welcome mat. I remembered that if there was a broom across the back door it meant that “I’m not able to come to the door, but come on in anyway and make yourself some coffee.” I described such a house to Judy, complete with a back door broom, and she immediately named the 95 year old lady who lived there. I was doubly blessed by my stop there. She said she would remember my blessing on her: “May all your bouquets be beautiful.”
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| Crib filled with Corn |
The ride today was very tough. Instead of ‘rollers’, Ohio has killer ‘bathtubs’. Rollers have their steepest declines and assents closest to the bridge at the bottom of the valley. Ohio’s version of rollers is steep at the top, shallow on the way down, a long flat valley, shallow starting up the other side, and almost vertical brinks to get back to the top. These didn’t start until around mile 70, and then they wouldn’t stop. Okay – I admit it. I was the last one in by almost an hour. On two of these double-ugly ascents I actually had to stop, wait until my heart was back in my chest, and then mashed the pedals to the top. Enough complaining. On the good side – there were an abundance of churches, farms, lakes, dams, rivers, animals… just a lot of neat stuff. One curious thing along the Lincoln Byway was an original horse watering station by the “L” milestone that identified the Lincoln Road. The spring was still providing water outside the downtown Mifflin church. One other thing I particularly enjoyed was an old wooden corn crib that was in many ways similar to the one I played in on my Uncle John’s farm when I was a teenager. What memories.
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| Family, Friends, Fun, and Faith |
The most unexpected things happen to me. I found a big old maple tree on the side of the road as I was approaching exhaustion (and another very steep hill) around mile 94 today. I was standing still over my bike and in a bit of a daze when I heard a child’s voice ask, “What is your name?” I didn’t notice a fenced yard filled with a fun playground area for kids. A grandma soon came near, her name being Alice, along with two of her grown daughters. Eventually I ‘woke up’ and we started a most pleasant conversation that lasted almost a half hour. I couldn’t help but notice the wood carving tacked to the porch that said “Family, Friends, and Fun”. It was very obvious that they were fulfilling their motto. Actually, a fourth “F” could be added: Faith. They were a church going family and attended services in Wooster. I eventually left the shade of the maple refreshed in body and spirit – and caused the AbB staff to start to wonder if I had fallen into a ditch somewhere. Within moments of leaving my time with them the AbB search party found me. I was hot, tired, still had water, and certainly was not going to accept a ride to the hotel. The goal is to ride every inch of road between the Pacific and Atlantic.
Bottom Line: Tough day. Maybe the toughest so far, but filled with gems.
Happy Friday to ya! I pray that it is not as hot there as it is here. Have great day tomorrow!
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