Update July 25-28

July 25, 2011 Delaware, Ohio

Last night we walked up town to dinner at a local pizza place. Cedarville is the home to a Baptist College. Across the street from the college is a Presbyterian Church.  We actually had to use an umbrella because the rain storm continued until late into the evening.

We were able to sleep for the first time without the air conditioner.  Just a ceiling fan, window open and outside sounds to lull us to sleep.

We left at 6:40 am and had breakfast provided by the Inn.  They packed us a breakfast the night before—such kindness.  It was about 72 degrees as we left for the trail.  We get to bike 30 miles on the trail today.  I am so excited to be able to ride the trail—it is so peaceful. Doves and other birds are singing as we go—for some reason the Cicadas are making their entrance later each day.

Most of our day was on county roads through corn and soy fields, low traffic, rolling hills, shade trees and open spaces.

Arrival time 2:00 pm

Stats for July 25, 2011

71 miles, 11.6 mph, 6 hours and 6 minutes ride time, 1400 feet elevation gain.

Critter Count

11 Rabbits

1 Chipmunk

2 dogs (well mannered Ohio dogs.  I learned from a dog trainer on the Ohio-Erie trail that if I yell “Leave it” they will back off.  They did!)

July 26, 2011 Mansfield/Mifflin, Ohio

Got up and out the door by 6:30 am today with breakfast all done.  The temperature is only 69 degrees with a misty covering over the fields and roads. A beautiful day ahead of us—high is only going to be 89 degrees.

We ended up with 2 road closures today.  The first one was redoing a bridge; we were able to walk through the construction with a little mud.  The second closure was not as “walkable” so we had to take a detour.  Our trusty GPS managed to get us around the construction and back on route.  (I think we are going to name the GPS “Big George)

I love biking in Ohio.  Yes Ohio has hills!! We encountered 3 today.  We walked 2 out of the 3.  The weather was perfect to walk up hills. Pushing a bike J

We realized today that we will be flying home a week from Saturday.  We talked about how we can’t believe the trip will be ending soon. 

Our bike chain is wearing out-the rear one. So we had to have a taxi take us to a bike shop that was in downtown Mansfield.  Oh well...we got a chain for the rear and a new front tire.  The original front tire was new (Yes Terry we started with brand new tires) but it was wearing funny-the core was showing.  Bruce put on the NEW spare, but felt we should have a good spare to go. 

Stats for July 26^th

Arrival time 2:40 pm

68 miles, 10.7 mph, 6 hours and 19 minutes, 3000 feet elevation gain

Critter Count

1 Blue Heron

4 dogs (nothing like Tennessee dogs)

1 Presbyterian Church

July 27, 2011

We were up and out by 6:25 am.  No breakfast we will eat on the road today. It was 63 degrees this am and for the first time we put on our long sleeves shirts.  It felt so good to feel the cool morning air.

In Jeromeville we had the BEST breakfast yet.  Jermoneville is about 900 people.  We arrive in town and spot only a small gas station! Bruce inquires for a place to eat breakfast.  We are directed to the American Legion Hall.  No signs, M-47 tank out front and cars.  We walk in and feel so welcome.  At one table there are 4 retired guys playing a game of Hearts, a couple of other folks eating breakfast and a mom and her son.  There is no menu, no sign board indicating specials and an open kitchen.  Everyone is welcoming us and asking questions.  The card players are giving each other playful jab (Just like my step Dad Charlie and his friends) and asking us questions.  The waitress asks us what we want—pancakes, eggs and sausage-just one order.  Well she brings us EACH 2 sausages, 2 eggs and 3 pancakes with all the coffee we want.  Bruce and I had a great start to our day.

As we travel we begin to see lots of “horse droppings” on the road.  Lo and behold we are in Amish Country.  We encounter at least 4 horse and buggies.   We begin to know which houses are Amish because there are no electrical lines going into the homes.  We also notice no cars or tractors in the fields.  One thing that was interesting to note is that their corn was not nearly as tall as the hybrid corn we have been seeing along the way.

We celebrated a milestone today.  We passed the mileage for the longest bike tour on Bernice we have done.  1410 miles so far on this trip.  We believe we will have 1800 by the end of the trip.

We are staying at the Shurtleff Cottage B and B.   It was the only thing in Oberlin that had room.  (We are finding it a little more challenging to find places to stay as we head northeast).  We are taking a rest day in Erie, Pennsylvania this week-end. 

Oberlin is the home of the Oberlin College.  There are about 2000 students.  The campus is around a plaza that is filled with gorgeous elm trees and walk ways.

Oberlin is considered the abolitionist “hotbed” and major stopover for the UGRR.  Abolitionist view ranged from prayer is the answer, political measures and some violence.  Giles Shurtleff was a professor and army general (We are staying in his home.) who led the Abolitionist movement in Oberlin. 

We were able to visit the Little Red School house in Oberlin.  It is one of the oldest school houses in the United States.  They have been able to preserve its entire contents down to the McGuffey Readers. The Readers had a publishing date of 1896 which is about the 5^th printing.  For a teacher it was a cool experience.

We were able to do a walking tour of Oberlin.  Through the campus, dinner and back to the B and B. 

Stats for July 27, 2011

Arrival time 12:45 pm

50 miles, 10.9 mph, 4 hours and 35 minutes , 2300 feet elevation gain. 

Critter count

1 Blue Heron

2 dogs

July 28, 2011 Hudson, Ohio

We started at 6:30 am.  The hostess of the B and B prepared us a little sack breakfast.  There is a slight rain falling  and it is 72 degrees.  We evidently put on our rain jackets and keep an eye to the sky incase  the clouds decide to “gather.”

One of things that we consistently see in the house windows is a candle.  This as we learned earlier marks a safe house.  It is a comforting sight as we bike in the early morning. 

I am noticing a lot of Lutheran and Methodist Churches.  There has been a decrease in Baptist, but not much on the Presbyterian.

Stats for July 28, 2011

Critter Count

15 wild turkeys (3 adults and 12 babies)

1 deer

Arrival time 3:00 pm

59 miles, 9.9 mph, 6 hours and 1 minutes, 2500 feet elevation gain