Adventures in Bicycling

Now that I have my new bike, I've spent a lot of time on two wheels this summer.  I'm fortunate that many of my friends are teachers, so they have their summer days free to explore the area with me.  Here are some of the places and things I've seen:

This is a museum along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath.  It was recently remodeled.  We explored the two floors to learn about the history of the canal.  There is a picnic area outside and a train depot nearby.  I thought the sign was really neat.


 

Here is the restored canal lock outside of the museum.

Another day we rode about 15 miles to this farm market.  The covered picnic-type benches are actually swings that we enjoyed for a break in the riding.  There is an old farmstead across the street that's part of the national park.  We visited the farm home and talked to park rangers about the history of the area. 

We also crossed this beaver marsh that surrounds the boardwalk.  We saw a few great blue herons and heard a lot of frogs.  No beaver sightings :(

 

 

 

 

After that long day of riding, we waited for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad train to take us back to the station where we parked our cars.  Their bike and board program allows you a one way ride (if you have a bike with you) for only $3.  Handsome college boys ask you your destination, load your bike on the train, and then unload it and it is waiting for you when you get off.  Good deal!

 

 

 

 

When the train comes around the bend, I always get a little excited.  That's the kid in me!

 

 

 

 

 

This is my favorite place to bike to.  It's called the Boston Store and it is another visitor center along the canal towpath.  There are rocking chairs on the front porch (not shown in this picture), canal information inside, a small national park store, and a snack shop across the street.  It's fun to sit in the rocking chairs and watch all the bikers go by.

 

 

 

 

 

One day, a friend suggested we visit this nearby cemetery.  We took a weird side street that had four decrepit houses on it and it dead ended into the cemetery, which sits up on a hill.  I couldn't even ride my bike up the hill, it was so steep.  Most of the tombstones were tall like the one on the right, and many of them were broken in half.  It was a sunny day when we were there, but I had a creepy feeling the entire time.  I'm not one to believe in ghosts, but I am easily freaked out by things, and this place was eerie.  The drop off was ridiculous on the sidewalk that circled the cemetery and I refused to ride my bike on it.  After walking around the perimeter, I walked my bike back down the hill and that's when my friend told me that the entire area was known on the internet as 'Helltown.'  I went home and looked it up and that is some scary sh*t, that's all I'll say on the matter!  I would not have visited, had I known!  Thanks, 'friend!'  LOL

 

 

 

 

We also rode the Bike & Hike trail all over two counties, which is part of Rails-to-Trails.  Some days, the view was downright ugly.

 

 

 

 

 

Some days, the view was beautiful.

Some days, the ride was scary.  I am not good with heights, so I told my friend to let me ride over this interstate bridge by myself, so I could stay right in the middle and go as fast as I could pedal!

But every day was an adventure!

 

**Please note:  None of these photos are my own.  I like to travel lightly**