Mike at the London Coffee Peddler had frowned on the idea of taking the van out of Columbus when there was a purported marked bike route the entire way to our start. We’re not purist. City traffic is never fun, bike route or not, and it would have been a 70+ mile day. My main concern was for traffic on the roads leading to Coshocton when I knew the route through New Albany, Newark, and Frazysburg was very good. Today was fine but if I were to do it again I’d take the New Albany route.
So it was that first sag Bob drove us to the Huffman Road Trailhead of the Heart of Ohio trail, part of the OTET (Ohio to Erie Trail) which was the first site I could find to access the trail that did not have some detours. The day was cool and overcast so we all had on extra layers. Trail conditions and scenery were excellent. Jimmy was nominated to set the pace as he could lead yet not run off and leave me. I say me because Tom and Ross were on ebikes and not dropable.
We breezed along on trials for the first 20 miles, including an excellent rest station at Mt Vernon I had missed in planning to the little town of Gambier which by all appearance is totally composed of Kenyon College. As the last for sure civilization till Coshocton, I had scheduled a regroup there. My bad. Access was up a super steep climb that had me, and then Bob walking.
Then we found an open coffee shop that made the otherwise needless climb worthwhile. Lattes, bagels, and muffins later we rejoined surface roads on Ohio 229 for 12 miles. The road had a small shoulder, no rumbles (yea!) and very light traffic.
What it did have were continuous PUC’s. One was so long and steep I had to walk the last 29 yards. Tom had waited on the summit. Just as I had remounted and about to reach Tom a wasp entered my helmet, buzzed around inside, and stung my R eyelid before exiting. Mild pain but the swelling never got enough to affect my vision till now, an hour after ride’s end.
The most annoying thing about that section was the occasional driver who would not pass when given perfectly safe opportunities. That’s usually because they wait for an opening that lets them pass every cyclist they can see. For the rest of that section I hung back about 500 yards and cars did pas me more reliably. Or that’s my story. I probably could not have followed their wheels in any case.
Shortly after turning onto US 36 we had our next regroup at a Family Dollar where I removed my polyester base layer. The temp had risen to 64F but a mild headwind and an overcast sky remained. Then just after Newcastle we began the longest fairly straight downhill I’ve done east of the Rockies. WE just kept descending, crossing at least 3 long bridges after which I expected the dreaded payback. It never came. The Dari-Land in Warsaw did exist and is a full menu carry out place. I got my best cheeseburger of the trip there. Then Jimmy led us the next flat dozen miles to our motel. US 36 has maybe 18” of shoulder but no rumble and cars passed us easily.
Our cue sheet had the wrong motel. It took some searching my phone email to got us right. The lodging sheet was correct. Apparently the other motel was first choice but got changed and never recorded on the cue sheet.
Now its charge all devices and off to supper at The
Warehouse in the nearby Roscoe village. The Warehouse was closed at 5:00. Instead we did the Boathouse.
Bruce
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