In Ohio-Day 12

So we did it! We made it to Ohio, and we got to keep going. After our bikeshop adventure early in the week we rode our longest day (although the shortest distance to our destination since 20 of those miles were retracing our steps) and stayed at a children's day camp outside of Chardon, just 10 miles east of Cleveland. A very nice woman offered us the spot when we were looking for housing in Chardon (we met her in a knitting shop. Note to other touring cyclists out there-knitters are kind folks. Seek them out if the churches don't come through), and she said the camp was just 10 miles up the road. Well, 4 stop lights later (she said it would be 2) we turned onto Cedar Road and we schlepped into a really nice campsight for the night. However, this experience made me realize just how useless vague references to measure are. As we were looking for Cedar Road and getting fairly frustrated, passersby aided our search by commenting that Cedar Rd was "still a ways," or "just a few miles up." Not helpful people! Not helpful.

But the campsite was great-there was a pool and some pavillions, and we met some people swimming there who were kind enough to invite us to their house for food and even a place to stay. We declined however, as we were already unpacked, and knew we were getting a shower the next night. The woman who invited us told us that her brother had done a non-supported, solo cross country trip in the 80s, going from Cleveland to LA, 260 miles, in 26 days! Armin, Ross, and I all marveled at his accomplishment, and keep discussing the logistics of it. Now that we are in flat, flat, flat Ohio, this seems a little more doable, but after biking 90 miles yesterday, I'm not really sure I want to do another 90 today.

We left the day camp early on Thursday morning, and meandered our way through Cleveland. We hit a lot of traffic, but I was able to overlook this when I saw the gigantic Whole Foods on the road. I called ahead to Ross, and we stopped in for some free samples-bread, cheese, lemon poppy pound cake, brownies, fresh cherries, pineapple, and oranges. It was great. I also picked up some really good dill hummos, some fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, a blueberry muffin, and these new Luna Teacakes. I tried those for the first time this morning, and they are quite good.

We got soaked after our Whole Foods excursion, but kept biking through, hitting up a bike shop so Armin could get his gears fixed (he had been missing his first and second chain ring since we entered Ohio), and then headed on out to Westlake, a western suburb of Cleveland. Here one of Armin and Ross's friend's mothers put us up for the evening. She gave us pizza for lunch, let us do wash, shower, and fed us bbq chicken, fresh corn, salad with feta, stuffed tomatoes, and Great Lakes Brewing Company beer. And for dessert we had Mitchell's peach icecream and caramel fudge brownie icecream. It was great. We even got to sleep in a bed. It's amazing how these little things can mean so much after being on the road for 10 days.

We left Westlake early yesterday morning and put in a good 90 miles. It was flat, easy riding, and a little bit boring. The day was fairly uneventful. Although I did stop at Tofts, a local icecreamery in Sandusky Ohio-I had cake batter ice cream with bit of fudge and pieces of cake in it. It was cheap, delicious, and plentiful. After the great icecream the night before I have vowed to start eating more icecream.

We ended last night in Woodville Ohio, where Officer Dave gave us permission to set up our tents in a nice park. We had a nice pavillion again, and fresh water right there, and some friendly middle schoolers going by on BMX bikes that would stop to chat. All and all it was a good night, made even better by my Whole Foods dill hummos, and the ever favorite Mac and Cheese, with canned chicken and green pepper. Mmm. Gotta love it.

We're off to Montpelier Ohio tonight, and then after another 75 mile day tomorrow, we'll hit Elkhart Indiana, where my mom has a second cousin who is letting us stay in her backyard. Then off to Notre Dame, the sanddunes of Indiana, and on to Chicago. We'll see you on Tuesday Chi-town! Can't wait.