Day 8 - (Felt like Ground Hog Day)! South Lebanon to Cincinnati 35.2 miles

               Leaving South Lebanon on final journey to Cincinnati.

              Signage in Loveland...famous town for biking hospitality on OTET Trail.

               Dipping our front tires into Ohio River at end of OTET Trail.  Yay!!

Best of Day:  Putting those tires in the Ohio River

Worst of Day:  No one could think of anything!

Quote of Day:  Driver of truck loading boats from river.  Dave asked if he was finished so we could put our tires in river.  Dave said we had biked from Cleveland....driver said Biked?? No way!!  Dave said, Yes!  Driver said Shut up!...can't be!

BEST OF 8 DAYS

Best meal:  Johnny's Steakhouse - Columbus

Most difficult:  Navigation and poor signage

Most friendly:  Biker who took us through Cleveland

Most unique/special:  3 generations biking together!!

Fun, random pictures of our 8 days:

                                        "Selfies"

                                     How true!

                          Dog fountain in Mt. Vernon.

                             Chloe's Diner in Massillon.

                       More from Chloe's Diner in Massillon.

                       Portrait of Poppy Seed at the dog park!

                        Another selfie!

                     Poppy Seed at London Trailhead!

                 Keeping track of the best coffee shops!

                              Coffee Shops, continued!

                       Early morning drive to the trailhead!

                      Historic rail station in Millersburg.

Day 7 - Zenia and 30 miles later!

                      Starting out in Zenia this morning.

                   When we realized the error of our ride!!

Best of Day:  Storm clearing in the morning.

Worst of Day:  Discovering our error of direction.

Quote of Day:  Besides those clouds, it's sunny ....(hopeful assessment of weather after the storm)!  In our haste to leave Zenia this morning after a 2 hr delay because of thunder storms, we failed to recognize 2 trails with the same name (Little Miami Scenic Trail) going in opposite directions!!  SAG car came to our rescue.  

Tomorrow we will start the distance we biked (the wrong way) on the OTET south of Zenia (South Lebanon) and complete the ride to Cincinnati!  Stay tuned for Day 8!!

 

Day 6 - Columbus to Xenia Katie -63.9miles, Dave 73.9 miles, Lisa 10 miles

 

                                 Leaving Columbus

                Thank goodness for sidewalk directions!

Met up with Dave's veteran biking cousins, Mark, Scott and wife Mary Ann.  Rode with them from London to Cedarville (part of the time through torrential rain)!

                            Leaving London.

Super SAG car drivers, organizers, finders of coffee shops and all the best restaurants!!

          Lisa rides with Dave for the last 10         miles...Cedarville to Xenia!

              Abby and Katie at motel, unloading all the    wet biking gear!

Best of Day:  Meeting up with Dave's cousins from Kettering - all passionate bikers...great stories to share!

Worst of Day:  Riding in torrential rain.

Quote of Day:  Bud's text with one word weather report...."rain"!

Day 5 - Mt. Vernon to Columbus 41.2 miles

                       Halfway marker today!  Hooray!!
 

Poppy retrieving at dog park at the Hoover Reservoir Park in Columbus.

                        All downhill from here!

   End of today's ride.  Road closed, bridge out.  Tomorrow we will start on the other side of        Columbus.  

Best of Day:  Weather stayed overcast and we biked beautiful wooded trails.

Worst of Day:  Arriving at abrupt end of trail due to bridges out.  Instructions were to take a bus around the city!

Quote of Day:  Gentleman at Mt. Vernon motel, outside smoking in his fold up chair, cheering "Have a super ride beautiful People!"

Day 4 Glenmont to Mt. Vernon 27.4 miles

 

                           Starting out at Glenmont

Abby's selfie at Bridge of Dreams, 370 foot long covered bridge built in 1920's.

Poppy Seed waiting for Abby to take her bike ride through Bridge of Dreams.

Best of Day:  Visiting Ariel-Foundation Park, a 250 acre former industrial site (glass making factory) that now features walking paths, event center, architectural ruins and a museum.

Worst of Day:  Trail closures that shortened today's ride.

Quote of Day:  Learning from biker at Gambier Visitor Center of the group ride they met up with....riding the OTET for cancer research in 4 days.  (Pan Ohio Hope Ride)

Day 3 Massillon to Millersburg 28.4 miles (Dave added 12 more with Lisa)

                       Early morning start at trailhead.

             Dave conquering the hills in Amish Country!

Trail from Holmesville to Millersburg built for Amish horse and buggies....best yet!

Lisa and Dave setting out from Millersburg for a few more miles on this great trail!

Best of Day:  Finding our way on country roads in Amish country!

Worst of Day:  Learning of future trail closures.

Quote of Day:  Katie, "I can finally read my GPS directions when I take my sunglasses off!"

Day 2 "Three Bikes and a Car" Akron to Massillon 34.4 miles

 

                   Abby joins the bikers in the morning.  

                               Abby's study of the 5% hill!

                  Lisa joins the bikers in the afternoon!

           Poppy Seed loves the bridges on the trail!

Best of Day:  Everyone rode a bike!

Worst of day:  5% grade hill into Akron!

Quote of day:  "You are crazy!"  (Said by server at coffee shop when she learned of our final destination!!)

Day 1 Cleveland to Akron 39.4 miles on OTET/C&E Canal tow path.

 

Dipping back tires in Lake Erie!

                             Starting out into sunrise!

                          Farewell to Cleveland!

Dave conferring with Rangers for Cuyahoga Valley National Park....rechecking directions and possible detours!

Best of Day:  Camaraderie among fellow bikers on the trail.

Worst of Day:  Discovering both bridges in Cleveland under repair.

Quote of Day:  Early morning biker we met at closed bridge in Cleveland...he said the only way across was "all the way up, through Irish Bend, then all the way down."

"Arrival in Cleveland" Getting ready to embark on bike ride early tomorrow morning!

 

Picking up Abby and Poppy Seed at their apartment....bikes loaded and ready to head to Cleveland.

 Arrived in Cleveland - Edgewater Park

                                             

Took a selfie at Edgewater Park to show off  beautiful Lake Erie!

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...

downtown Cleveland (near our hotel)!

Lisa was our guide!

Best of Day:  Just about everything....including the weather!

Worst of Day:  Noone could think of anything!

Quote of Day:  Katie asking about scooters on corner for rent and if they were electric?

Background of

 

According to the Trail Guides, the Ohio to Erie Trail (OTET) is made up of regional trails.  The OTET travels mostly along lands "formerly railroads and canals", stretching from the Ohio River in Cincinnati and Lake Erie in Cleveland.  Decision was made to make our trip from north to south and as a result, we start the ride at Lake Erie and end the ride at the Ohio River...close to home!