My grandsons haven’t been riding bikes long. So my daughter, Bethany, sort of freaked out when I told her I would take them on a 4-mile ride on the W&OD Trail. “They’ve never been out of the Cul de Sac” she said.
I tried the calming response. “They would be with me.” Didn’t help much.
But they all came around to it We met right off the trail at Simpson Circle near Clarks Gap. I sat down with the boys and gave them my safety talk. We will stop at stop signs. There are only three on this route but I would go into the intersection, wearing my neon-green safety vest, and stand while they crossed. Don’t cross the yellow line unless we have to pass a walker or runner and then I would go first.
Aiden, followed by Andy, going under Rte 9 at Clarks Gap
Aiden, 6, went off first. He takes to riding like he does most things athletically. He is pretty good and you have to protect him from himself. Bethany said sarcastically “we are working on building his confidence.” Andy, 8, is a little unsteady on the bike. Maybe he resembles his mother in that respect as she was slow to learn and then unsteady. That’s why we abandoned our ride ride half way down Cadillac Mountain when she was nine years old.
Aiden
After a mile we came to a little uphill portion at Clarks Gap. Andy walked it. His seat was way too low and I adjusted it so he could get some power from his legs. Then we began the downhill.
Andy with Aiden far ahead down the trail
This is a three mile stretch that goes to Leesburg. Some pedaling is necessary though but it’s easy pedaling. We stayed in our lines the entire way down. The trail isn’t crowded at this point and the few people who passed us generally encouraged the boys.
We reached Catoctin Circle where Bethany was waiting for us. Then we went to lunch at Andy’s Pizza in Leesburg. Both boys said it was too easy and they wanted to ride more. Good boys!
I left this morning for Pennsylvania with another bad weather forecast but surprisingly, as I passed Springfield, it was dry but mostly sunny. The weather forecast was showing a couple of hours with only a 15% chance of rain. I parked at Beatty Station just south of I-70 in Springfield.
It was 9:00. I met a guy named Dave getting his bike out. We chatted briefly. He told me he was waiting for his group. They would ride to Yellow Springs and back. He also volunteered that I might see them on the trail.
I headed north to Springfield. I wanted to see how far the trail would go. No far, I learned. When it became a signed road route I decided to turn around and ride south.
I passed Dave and his cycling friends still getting ready. The trail here is wooded. There are few intersections and just a straight wooded trail. Very pretty. In this section , unlike the southern section, it does not follow the Little Miami River.
Five miles in a came to Yellow Springs. My impression was this was a Bohemiam community. The downtown had neat buildings including a lot of art shops.
I continued on the trail. I went under a pretty neat covered bridge. The smell of lilacs permeated the woods.
I arrived in Xenia then turn around. Or maybe the outskirts of Xenia. But I wanted to get back to Pennsylvania and this was far enough.
On my return I found the covered bridge and decided to jump on the road. I was disappointed to discover the covered bridge was just two years old (2014). Oh well. It will be historical in 98 years.
In Yellow Springs I caught the cycling club. I had gone to Xenia. They had gone to Yellow Springs, one third of the distance I had ridden. I saw Dave again and then made my way through the group and eventually back to the car.
This trail is the third longest paved trail in the U.S. at almost 80 miles. It would be fun to come back and ride the entire route.
I began the day riding part of the Great Miami River Trail in Dayton. That did not go so well as the trails next to the river in Dayton were covered with mud and/or under construction.
Great Miami Trail between Troy and Piqua
That led me to this tried and true route (once before). I parked in Troy and headed to Piqua. The trail in this section is in great shape. Great asphalt and no roots. There were two puddles one had to go through caused by all the rain of the last 10 days.
Miami-Erie Canal (on left) – Photo Aug 2015
Towards the end of the trail I passed a watered section of the Erie – Miami Canal. Then I head out Hardin Road to Lockington.
Barn on N. Hardin Road
I passed the Lockington Dam which has certainly fallen into disrepair. But I guess it lasted 80 years.
Lockington Dam
I stopped briefly and posed for a photo in front of the house where I lived 50 years ago. A teenage girl walked by with her mother or grandmother.
I almost asked the older woman if she lived in the house next door 50 years ago but they were engaged and I missed that opportunity. But it was 50 years ago on the same sidewalk that I remember my dad sitting on my bike.
Old E.U.B. Church Parsonage, Lockington, Ohio
The road back in to Piqua was in great shape and surprisingly little traffic. Fifty years ago I would ride my bike on this road and not even be aware of cars. I guess when you’re 10-12 years old you don’t think about that those things. You just know cars won’t hit you. Or you just don’t think about it.
In Piqua I crossed the Great Miami River on N. Main Street. This is a pretty city. A neat downtown and a beautiful old building, the “Orr-Statler Block” building.
The Great Miami Trail is a river trail that comes into the city. There is also a rail-trail, Piqua’s linear park. The old Pennsylvania Rail Road (then Conrail) ran east-west and crossed town via a high trestle. There are stairs leading up to the trestle which one can bike across.
Entrance to the trestle at Linear ParkTrestle at Linear Park
Leaving town to the south, one passes a waste water treatment plant. Not observant enough to take a photo of sewage, I noticed what looked to be an atomic dome. This was apparently the location for the first municipal atomic plant in the 1960s. Piqua was the first atomic powered city although that didn’t last long.
Bridge over Great Miami River, Piqua
The last five miles back to Troy were pleasant. On this section of the trail one can make out an area next to the trail that was the old Miami-Erie Canal.
It has been reclaimed by the forest but the unnatural depression in the earth gives it away. This section was a much better section than in the city of Dayton. This was a nice trail and great diversion to the Lockington Loop.
I was excited about riding the Great Miami River Trail in the Dayton area. I wanted to ride next to the river and find the Wright Cycle Co., the historical museum site for the Wright Brothers.
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
I also wanted to visit the Dayton National Cemetery. I have two distant relatives buried there and my cousin, Patricia Lawmaster, posted that yesterday would have been her mother’s 93rd birthday. I wanted to get some photos for my genealogical database and for Patricia.
Stella Ruth Gallagher, Patricia’s mother
I thought I would park at Deeds Carillon Park in Dayton. I figured it was safe and, as an added bonus, was probably 50 years since we visited as a family. It might be neat to see it again.
Ashley Snow (R), National Geographic’s American Genius
I drove out to the Dayton National Cemetery. I found my gravestones then headed towards Deeds Carillon Park. On the way I looked up and was besides the Wright Brothers’ Museum. It was a no-brainer, I would park there. There would be no Deeds Park for me today.
Last year National Geographic aired a series called American Genius. The episode called “The Contest for Human Flight” documented the Wright Brothers vs Glenn Curtiss “the World’s Fastest Human.” My daughter, Ashley Snow, had a cameo appearance walking past the Wright’s bicycle shop. I knew I needed a photo in the same location.
Period house down the block. Not sure if it’s 120 years old or made to look like it.
I went into the visitor center and as greeted by a nice government worker wearing a beige and green uniform. She told me that this museum was covered the Wright Bros. up to their flight at Kitty Hawk. There was another museum across town that covered post flight Wright Bros. She also told me that in all, Orville and Wilbur owned five different bike shops at different times.
One must cross Wolf Creek as it flows into the Great Miami River on this narrow path
She called another ranger, Casey, to come open up the shop for me to tour. I wish I had asked a question about the history of the building. Which shop was this? Then what, store? Warehouse? Residence? Vacant Building? What involved in getting it restored? Oh well, maybe I have to go back.
Building a river experience
After touring the Museum, I headed out to find the trail. I only went a few blocks before I was at the river. I found stairs down and then started up the trail. Many blocks in this area were closed but this was open. I didn’t go far before I saw how crappy the trail was. Rocks. Mud. Three to four inches deep at times. It was not enjoyable and I soon climbed out of the river basin.
Rough pavement ahead
I made my way into the city of Dayton although it was more like dipping my toes in Lake Erie. I didn’t see much. I found the trail on the east side of the river and it was torn up too.
This section trashed my bike
But I finally found a way out on the trail and rode north. I knew I’d be riding later in the day and didn’t want to go too far. The trail became more remote. The farther from the city the better it was.
Dayton, Ohio
I passed a golf course named Kitty Hawk G.C. Wonder if North Carolina knows?
I turned around. I mostly retraced my ride back to the Wright Bros. Museum. Once finished it was off to find my favorite part of Dayton – Skyline Chili.
The weather here, and in most of the East, has been bad. It rained all day yesterday and initially was forecast to rain all day today. But at 8:00 when it was still dry I called my friend, Bob Berberich, and told him if we met by 9:00 we could get in two hours’ of riding before the rain.
Loveland, Ohio
Bob suggested we meet in Loveland, Ohio and off I went. This is a lovely old town which begs for more exploration but not today. We met and Bob showed me the Little Miami Scenic Trail.
The Little Miami Scenic Trail is a rail trail that follows the route of the old Little Miami Railroad. In this section, which we rode to Morrow, the trail followed the Little Miami River.
Very pretty. The trail was in excellent shape. Great pavement, no roots.
About two miles from our return it started to rain. No worries. I got out my rain jacket but never put it on. Just a light rain and we got out two hours in before the heavy stuff would come.
After a good ride it was time for some post-ride nourishment. When in Cincinnati, you must go to Skyline Chili.
Seven years ago, almost to the day, I parked in East Freedom and rode up Blue Knob for the first time. Today’s circumstance would be different.
I was traveling to visit my father in the hospital in Johnstown and I thought this would be a nice way to honor him. Needing gas, I filled up at the Sheetz in East Freedom and then requested permission to leave my car for 90 minutes for a ride. Permission granted.
I rode over to the house that we lived in in 1958-1961. I took a couple of pictures then headed up Rte 164 towards Portage. The climb begins almost immediately although the first couple of miles it is mostly in the 3-4% range.
It is a highway, but a mountain highway. The road has no shoulders but relatively little traffic and all gave me a wide berth when passing. The upper portions seemed to hold steady in the 10-12% grade but with the curves none of the traffic was going too fast either.
At the top I stopped for a photo op with Lady Liberty. The surprise is no longer there as it was seven years ago but it’s nice to take a picture.
From the top it’s all downhill to Newry. The road was a little rough but a nice ride. I wore arm warmers and was glad as it was a little chilly on the descent.
I continued past Newry to Reservoir Road then headed back to East Freedom. It wasn’t a long ride, just 21 miles, but all that I had time for. One good mountain climb and a quick visit to one of my childhood homes.
I drove to Somerset, picked up my mother, then we went to Johnstown. In the hospital I showed my dad the picture of that house and he was glad to see it. That made the ride very worthwhile.
In a nutshell here was my day. I arrived 10 minutes early at the commuter lot. Wrong commuter lot.
Made it to the right one as they were pulling out. I left eight minutes later, did not grab a cue sheet instead relied on Garmin. That did not work. I soon “lost the scent” and decided to do my own ride. Cramps. First cramps in a year. Not enough water.
Was caught five miles in by 23 year-old from Shippensburg University. I told him my name but he never told me his, so it will be “Aaron.”
Aaron asked where I was riding and I told him “nowhere – just riding.” We talked and rode for the next 25 miles. He had raced yesterday and was doing a recovery ride. I refereed yesterday and was just “finding my legs.”
Aaron and I rode side by side where the road permitted and took turns in the wind. He had also downloaded the turns to the PPTC ride to his Garmin and they were working. Out of the blue he says, “do you know where you are in case I should happen to drop you?” I laughed and assured him that I could figure out how to get back to Warrenton. And off he rode, never to see him again.
I rode and eventually caught four guys with the ride. I stayed in their group until four miles from the end when one guy said something really jerky to me. I backed off, thought about what I might say, and when I arrived back I kept my cool, did not call him a name but told him that was a jerky thing to say. Taken aback, he didn’t quite apologize but told me he was kidding. I didn’t believe it.
My legs felt horrible today. I refereed yesterday, ate two hot dogs for dinner, did not eat breakfast, had one water bottle on the bike. What, was I supposed to do it differently?
Yesterday I had 34-mile ride to Leesburg and back (from Reston). On the way back I passed a guy pushing a Burley trailer. As I passed him I decided I would turn around and talk with him. He looked like he had a story. And he did.
Brett Bramble is walking across America for overdose awareness. His sister, Brittany McNatt, died in 2014. We talked for about 10 minutes as I pedaled slowly with him.
Today I grabbed Terry Moran we we headed out to Purcellville. I had packed a care package of Cliff Bars, fruit, and doggie treats for Domino, Brett’s Labrador who is making the trip with him. Terry and I rode, never quite catching Brett.
I asked a few cyclists if they had passed a man and his dog walking across America but only got blank stares (and a kind ‘no’) in response. As we got close to Purcellville I knew the trail was running out. I had brief hope when ahead I saw a man pushing a trailer but quickly knew it wasn’t Brett and Domino.
We reached the trail’s end and Terry wanted to go into Trail’s End Cycling Company. It was closed. We made our way over to VeloUSA and met Nichole, the owner. We had a very nice conversation about riding in France but was cut short by a phone call. I told her I would be back.
It was disappointing that we never caught Brett. I sent him a message and he told me I just missed him – a matter of minutes. Oh well. Wishing you the best. Safe journeys ahead.
This was the 9th Annual Governor’s Ride. I had signed up for it when it was scheduled for the day after the Sea Gull Century last month but both were canceled due to flooding from Hurricane Joaquin.
Governor Jack Markell
I left the house at 5:15 a.m. for the two and a quarter hour drive to Smyrna. The sun was rising as I crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Annapolis. I pulled into the parking lot at 7:30 a.m., relieved that I had 30 minutes before wheels down.
Cory Marshall-Steele
I found Branon Cooper, who drove in from Pennsylvania. I know him from Spokes of Hope – we last rode together in August at Trexlertown. He then introduced me to Cory Marshall-Steele, who organized the ride and someone I have corresponded with on Find a Grave over the years.
Rolling out – Mile 1. Governor in Blue
We rolled out of the Municipal Park with a full police escort. We had four or five SUVs and that many motorcycles leading the way for us. Initially, the governor, Jack Markell (Delaware) set the pace. There was an immediate gap and I stayed up front – there were eight of us from the 75-member group.
Leading out the pack – Barry on front. — Credit: Facebook Page, Governor Jack Markell
But the pace slowed down a little to allow everyone to organize. Branon was going to introduce me to Jack but I found myself riding side by side with the governor. We talked a little – not about politics. I imagine the ride is nice for him that he doesn’t talk politics. He told me he has ridden the W&OD “out to Purcellville.” Nice guy.
Branon Cooper, Barry Sherry
Branon and I moved to the front and tried to set a reasonable pace that wouldn’t blow the group apart. We pulled most of the way to the first rest stop at Woodland Beach – which was right on the Delaware bay. We could see across the bay to New Jersey.
We rolled out of the first stop, again, Branon and I at the front quite a bit. One guy came past us and kept going, maybe in an attempt to pick up the pace, but we were in danger of dropping everyone. We let him go. After a quick in and out at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge I was on the front when we hit Parson Point Road – a chip and tar road that was more chip than tar. I set a pace I was comfortable with – I prefer faster to slower for safety in the loose gravel.
After we got through the chipped road, we sort of regrouped. We were on a country road when we passed a house with two dogs running loose. The owner was furiously trying to corral the younger one, a pit bull chasing bikes. There were motorcycle cops at the front and rear of the group and a governor somewhere in the mix. I could picture the dog attacking the governor and a cop, well, intervening. But the dog was all bark – no bite.
After the second rest stop I decided to roll out last and sit in with the last group. Except I couldn’t. I was behind them for a while but they were too slow. When it was safe to pass, I went through and had to bridge up to the next group which was 1/4 mile away. And after a few minutes I worked my way through that group and bridged up to the next one. That was sort of fun. In a day of casual riding I could still hammer by bridging to new groups.
A triple – Wilson is the middle rider
We all pulled over for someone with a flat and once we rolled out I did the same thing: started last then bridged up to the front groups. At the end there was lunch but I didn’t have time to stick around. I thanked Corey and the state troopers then headed home.
Barry Sherry, Jack Markell
It was a beautiful day although a bit windy and cold at start (45 degrees). But it was otherwise perfect. I didn’t mind a slower than normal pace* (maybe a B or CC) but I’m not a fan of 30 minute rest stops. In all I had 1:10 of down time – way too much for these legs. But I am really looking forward to doing this ride again next year.
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*Actually my moving pace was 15.8 mph which was much faster than I thought. The lengthy time spent at the two stops made me think the pace was slower than it was.
I am a fan. I wish Richmond was a little bit closer but I made my fourth trip in four days.
The Men’s Individual Time Trial started inside Kings Dominion. I could drive close to Richmond without worrying about parking downtown.
I pulled up and was directed to staff parking (free) because I was wearing yesterday’s Volunteer T-shirt. Neat.
Actually, I wanted to ride down the road about 10 miles and take up a private viewing location. But after leaving the main parking lot I saw the police had already shut down Va. Rte. 30. I found an access road and rode for about 40 minutes. Then settled in for viewing.
I positioned myself at the exit of KD, a sharp right hander, where the riders jump onto Rte. 30. There were about 25 of us there at various times. There was another volunteer (an officially assigned one). There was a truck driver from Pitt-Ohio who stopped for an hour break and got to watch the ITT.
The first rider out of the box was Michael Hepburn, from Australia. The riders went in inverse order or world championship points so he was not expected to do well but put up a winning time that held up for 45 minutes or so. The TV broadcast showed up throwing up as he went to the finish line. He really gave it his all.
Lawson Craddock
Some people relied on me for cycling knowledge. And I was the only one there who had the start order (above). One woman asked if I was one of the professional riders. I laughed and said “No, but that would make a good Facebook post.”
Rohan Dennis
A Christian home-schooled family pulled up in their beat up old school bus. I enjoyed talking with them. When Taylor Phinney came I implored everyone to cheer for Taylor.
Taylor PhinneyTom Dumoulin – I thinkTom Dumoulin – I think
Then it was a little anti-climatic watching most of the big names go. After Tony Martin went, I rode a little more, then went home and watched a recording of the race.
Vasil Kiryienka
Phinney, just 15 months removed from a horrific accident, finished 12th which qualified the USA of one of the top 10 countries for two spots at next year’s summer Olympics (two countries placed two in the top 12). The winner was the 3rd seed, Vasil Kiryienka from Bulgaria.
