Early May in Ohio can have wild weather fluctuations. The temperature had really dropped as I crossed from Indiana into Ohio. The beautiful spring I enjoyed in Illinois was gone and it felt like winter was back. Luckily, the temperature was cold but it wasn't raining or snowing as I arrived in Fairfield, OH. I had been looking forward to getting to Ohio because there is a good system of cycling paths and an active local triking group. In fact, I shouldn't need to do any road riding for a while.
Interpretive historic Ohio
Ducks in the rapids
Day 41 Ride Video
There are 2 cycling path options to ride from Fairfield to Dayton, OH. One path is more popular and it is also longer. Because I was arriving earlier in the year, none of the campgrounds were open along the trail and the available hotels were all quite expensive. After consulting with my friends, Ron and Cindra in Dayton, I decided to take the path along the Little Miami River. This way I could meet them in Miamisburg and do the ride in one day. We arranged to meet at Whitman's Bike shop where the mechanic was expecting me and could take care of a few small adjustments. The ride was very nice with one complicated detour to get around trail maintenance. I made it to Miamisburg in the early afternoon and Mechanic Bean awaited me. She did an expert job taking care of what I needed quickly. Ron and Cindra are trikers who have been very helpful to me all through my tour. It was wonderful to finally meet them. They took me out for a nice lunch at Bullwinkle's and then loaded up my trike and trailer into a covered cargo trailer to drive me to their house in Dayton. Once again, trikers are generously taking care of me on this tour. We had a great time together and I also got to meet their sons, Brett and Bryce.
Historic log cabin on the trail
Miamisburg, OH
Mechanic, Bean.
Whitman's Bike Sign
Ron and Cindra
Hamming it up with Cindra
From Dayton, I made my way to Columbus to stay with another triker, Amy. She arranged to have the Impromptu Trike riders of Ohio escort me out of Dayton. It was great fun to meet everyone and I loved the trail. I also got to ride with Larry Varney who I've known for many years. The group did an out-and-back ride from Dayton and I continued east at the turnaround point. Amy met me later in her car on the trail closer to Columbus to drive me the rest of the way to her house.
Day 42 Ride Video
Meeting up with the Impromptu Riders of Ohio
The gang on our trikes
Imps
The weather was cold and rainy in Columbus and I spent a couple of comfortable nights being hosted by Amy and her husband. Amy has a triking friend in Mansfield and she suggested we ride there together. It was a big ride to Lori's house but we had a blast. Some of the ride was on the Ohio to Erie trail and most of it was road riding. We did get a little wet from the rain.
Day 43 Ride Video
Myrtle and caboose
Lunch at Phat Daddy's, London
Fun with Amy
Lori's house was very nice and we all had a good time. In the morning, I got packed up to continue east while Amy and Lori rode back to Columbus together. It was a miserably wet and cold morning and I was road riding all day. I had been spoiled riding all these trails. Coming into Massillon, the road became very busy. I was not happy about my choice of route and decided to take a look at the map in the evening to see if I couldn't come up with something better.
Ohio to Erie, Bolivar
No buggies!
Share the path
Day 44 Ride Video
A big snowstorm blew in and I stayed at a hotel in Massillon for 5 nights. This gave me lots of time to look at route options. The Ohio to Erie trail goes south from Cleveland to Cincinnati right through Massillon. Even though the route wasn't direct, I decided to take the trail south to Cadiz where I could pick up another trail into Pennsylvania.
Day 45 Ride Video
The Ohio to Erie trail is unpaved. After 5 days of rain and snow, I didn't know how mucky the trail might be. Who knows, it might not be ridable at all. It was a great relief to find to trail in good shape. This is a canal towpath and originally used mules to pull boats on the water. There is a complicated system of locks that was used as well. The trail has lots of interpretive signs explaining the history. Some of the trail is very narrow. Horses are allowed and, luckily, I didn't have to worry about what would happen if I met a horse and rider coming in the other direction. There wasn't even enough room for another biker to pass on a lot of the trail. The last 25 miles were road riding that was through very hilly farmland. Towards the end of ride, as I was coming into Cadiz, it started to snow. By the time I arrived at the hotel, I was drenched and the trailer was covered in muck. The hotel staff was great. They offered me towels and a big conference room to keep Myrtle safe and secure overnight. I also learned that Cadiz, OH is the birthplace of Clark Gable.
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