Goodbye Ohio

I crossed the the Pa state line around around 2:30. I will miss Ohio. The parks and trails are some of the best that I’ve seen. I won’t miss the mosquitos though. They were the worst of the trip so far.

It was a nice ride getting to Pa. Mostly quiet roads. For a while in the morning there was a strong tailwind which made traveling at 14 mph easy. I’m glad I left as early as I did. 6:30 am but, just up the road from the Warmshower host I stayed with I stopped in a park and made coffee.

The host last night packed us all lunches.With my coffee I had cookies and a boiled egg

While sitting at the table a guy came by walking his dog and talked a little bit. I told him I was headed to West Quoddy Head Maine next. He got pretty exited and started showing me pictures on his phone. Him and his wife had just returned from there. As I drank my coffee I watched a Coast Guard ship slowly head out until it was a tiny speck.

After my breakfast I hit the road and was really making good time with the tailwind helping me. Neil Hanson said, A tailwind, on the other hand, is one of the most beautiful experiences you can have on a bike.

I loved this road. There was no traffic and it was in excellent condition. When your cycling the same speed as a tail wind, its like your in a little bubble. For once there is no wind roaring in your ears and your able to hear things that are normally drowned out. I heard Redwing blackbirds in the tall grass, the gulls crying and fussing over some bit of food they had found, and I could hear the waves hitting the rocky shoreline. My bike, thankfully had no squeaks, clicks or grinding noises. This went on for around 8 miles until I found a purse.

Shortly after passing an intersection I saw a little pink purse in the grass along the road. I stopped and went back for it. I couldn’t decide if I should keep it or not. It really didn’t match my outfit.

However what was inside went with anything and we all know its whats inside thats most import!

$170 dollars! There was also credit cards and a drivers license. (Bummer!) A Google search showed that I was only 6 miles away from the lady’s house so after lengthy internal debate, I headed that way. Walter Winchell said no good deed goes unpunished. And in this case that proved to be true. Her address was all uphill and the wind I had enjoyed so much was now a crosswind. Soon the shoulder disappeared. Traffic was courteous and gave me plenty of room though. Eventually after haveing to push my bike twice I got to her house. Nobody was home and as I stood there thinking of what to do the neighbor came over to ask if I was lost. I told him why I was there and asked if he would return it to her when she got home. He said he would. So with that out of the way I headed back to the lake.

I was now a little over 6 miles inland and instead of backtracking I angled my way to the road I wanted to be on. When I finally got back to it it was no longer the bike route! I continued on it any way knowing eventually the designated bike route and this road would meet up again.

It was starting to get hot. I was out of water and really wanted to fill up. I have been filling up at Taco Bells and McDonald’s. Both those places have let me fill my bottles from there soda fountains with ice and water for free. I have been spoiled with clean cold water and was putting off filtering until I was desperate. A man sitting in the open door way of his garage shouted out as I pedaled by, “I have ice cold water if you need it”! I didn’t see him right away as he was hidden in the shadows of the garage interior. I turned around and went back he, gave me four 16 ounce bottles to fill the ones on my bike and a fifth bottle to drink on the spot. He said he always keeps a fridge full for any of the long haulers that go by. I realized then that I must of hooked back up with the bike route. I propped my bike up and leaned my back against the wall, enjoying the water and the shade. The man t shirt was soaked through with sweat but I could not see what he had been working on. The garage held only his truck and the yard had not been mowed or trimmed that day. We talked a bit looking out at the lake. I said he sure had a nice view from his house. He replied with a note of regret that they had moved from Maryland for that view. I laughed and said I wasn’t sure if I would give up blue crabs just to look at lake Erie. You must be from Maryland too? Without waiting for me to answer he started telling me how, twice a year him and his wife go back just to eat crabs.

I rode 53 miles today. 337 miles in the last 7 days so I’m getting closer to my 50 miles per day goal. And speaking of goals I think im pretty close to being back on budget. Tomorrow I hope to have a little shorter day and figure out where I am at with it.