John Aylward Photography

Today’s Highlights:
Today we cycled 104 miles from Marysville to Wooster. It was another very long day. Although it felt easier than yesterday, it took me even longer and I was on the road for 9-1/2 hours. The extra time was partly due to a few delays. The first one was because a section of road was freshly tarred and we had to find an alternate route. The next two delays were due to flooded roads. The first flood was around mile 65, and only required a slight route change with a nice steep hill climb. The second flood was at mile 89. Ken and I were together for that adventure. We simply walked barefoot through six inches of water and thought we were done. However, a short distance later the road was flooded up to 15 inches deep, and we waded again through that section. Again we thought we were done, only to be surprised around the next corner where the road was flooded for about 100 yards and it looked very deep. So, we found an alternate route on our own, bypassing the flooded area for about two miles. It was all a lot of fun, actually. The water was nice and cold, and very refreshing to walk through.

Once again, we had perfect weather. All this flooding is due to eighteen consecutive days of rain before we arrived in Ohio. We brought the good weather with us. We also had nice roads today, with very few rough sections. It was hilly the entire ride, with some nice rolling hills, but also some very steep hills up to 13 or 14 percent grade. Since Ken and I only had a two-mile detour, we were on steep hills right up to mile 102. Everyone else took a longer detour on US 30, and at least saved themselves from steep hills for the last twenty miles. I enjoyed the terrain and the challenge. It was just tiring, of course.

Along the way, I saw a crop duster plane make several passes. It was hard to get a picture, but fun to watch. Emma and I were concerned about being sprayed, but fortunately the action was far enough away from us. I also saw some nice horses today, and several llama, some sheep, and longhorn cattle. There were some stretches were I was simply cycling through the wooded areas or plain countryside, with little photo opportunities, but other areas where I stopped quite often. You see a lot of things riding one hundred miles on a bike, and it’s very hard to remember them all. There were many nice farms along the way that I was happy to stop and record. The Ohio countryside is very lush and green, and very pleasant to cycle through.

Day 41

Statistics: Zoom and pan the map to explore the route.

Time: 7/12/2013, 3:33:0

Duration: 09:26:27

Ascent/Descent: 4130 ft 4247 ft

Distance: 104.01 M

Today’s Highlights:
We left Richmond this morning at 6:30 and rode our last three miles in Indiana before crossing the boarder into Ohio. The ride to Marysville was 106 miles, and it was a very long day since we had to confront a headwind all the way. I was on the road for nine hours, with 7-1/2 hours of cycling time. Except for the wind, the weather was perfect. Cool morning and comfortably warm afternoon. The humidity had dropped after last night’s storm moved through, so that was nice too. And, there were plenty of high cumulus clouds to lessen the sun on us and provide a pretty sky.

The terrain was not as flat as our Indiana route. There were plenty of nice rolling hills, but nothing long or steep. It was nice to have some variation again. We crossed several rivers today. They were a little swollen over their banks. The river bottoms were more rocky and not as muddy as those I had been seeing recently. The water was also flowing faster. One river flowed through a horse pasture, creating a really pretty scene. Our route was on rural roads, passing by farms all day. We cycled through some Amish areas too, and I saw one of their farms where a girl was riding a bike. That was nice to see. We cycled through several towns. They were not as vibrant as those we saw yesterday on the historic Route 40, but still interesting.

Marysville is a very large town. We first entered it in an older historic section, but eventually reached a busy 3-lane thoroughfare with strip malls and all the familiar fast-food and big-box stores before reaching the hotel.

Day 40

Time: 7/11/2013, 3:29:3

Duration: 08:58:55

Ascent/Descent: 2604 ft 2622 ft

Distance: 106.40 M

Today’s Highlights:
Our ride out of Indianapolis started at 7:15 this morning and went down Meridian Street and across Monument Circle where I had walked yesterday. It was nice to see that part of the city again, although this time I rushed through it in traffic. Several of us left together to negotiate the busy streets. It only took a few miles though to get away from the heavily used commuter route. From the city center, we traveled through several populated neighborhoods, and it was at least fifteen miles before I started taking pictures again in the countryside. Most of our route to Richmond was on US Route 40. The farm scenery was pleasant, but I found the most interesting subjects to photograph in the small towns that we cycled through. In each one it was like stepping back in time with their well preserved 19th century architecture.

The firemen in Dunreith set up a SAG stop for us with Gatorade and water and ice-pops. That was very nice and we all appreciated the hospitality and use of the facilities. Cambridge City had a lot going on for a small town, and an interesting history as a transportation hub. It was my favorite town of the day.

The terrain today was mostly flat, and the roads were smooth. The wind was to my side most of the way, but in the last ten miles it shifted behind from the west pushing me into Richmond for an easy finish. Overall, it was an easy seventy three miles, and I arrive at the hotel around 12:30. Two hours later a heavy rain storm passed through, but all the riders had finished by then.

Day 39

Statistics: Zoom and pan the map to explore the route.

Time: 7/10/2013, 4:17:3

Duration: 05:11:55

Ascent/Descent: 2615 ft 2319 ft

Distance: 73.65 M

Today’s Highlights:
I had a productive and fun day off in Indianapolis. The best part of the day was meeting Melissa and Sharon (Stacia’s cousin and aunt) and two year old Sierra, and having a home-cooked meal at Melissa’s house. They prepared dinner with an Indiana theme – all fresh local produce, hamburger from their own family’s cattle, and homemade pie made from their own blackberries. It was awesome.

We are lucky on this rest day that our hotel is close to the city center. There is a lot to see within walking distance. I took an early morning walk from the hotel down Meridian Street to Monument Circle where the 285-foot Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Monument is. Along the way, I passed many buildings with interesting architecture, and the stadium where the Colts play. The monument was certainly the highlight. There is a park-like setting around it, with fountains and brick walks. From the monument, I headed to the capitol, then circled back the hotel. The city is very clean and is laid out nicely for pedestrian and biker with wide sidewalks. Check out the pictures for some of the sites.

I returned to the hotel for bike cleaning time and took care of other chores. Then I headed out for another trip downtown. I toured the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, and enjoyed that very much. Exiting the museum, I walk more of the canal path that we cycled on yesterday. I checked out some of the gardens too. I would have liked to see some of the Indiana State Museum, but didn’t have the time. There are many other things to see here too. It’s a nice city to visit or live near.

Day 38