the Kokosing

Friday was a stellar day so after a morning of chores, we loaded the bikes and headed northeast, near Mt. Vernon, Ohio. The Kokosing Gap trail. Maybe you remember this post about one of our favorite trails.

The trail meanders along and over the Kokosing River. We spotted

lots of birds, including a pair of herons soaring over the river.

Bill's the more determined rider and rode another couple miles while I snacked on trail mix,

enjoyed the view at Kenyon College (trail goes right by it) and shot photographs.

An Amish buggy surprised us as it clipped by right near this train.

I was so surprised I didn't have time for a photo.

I'm thankful we have the time and good health for these rides!



my county

My county is a paradox. It holds the superlative as one of the fastest growing counties in the state and, at one time, the entire country. I live near the center of the county.

The booming growth lies to the south of us, but to the north you will find stunningly peaceful, quietly beautiful, rich farmland. Trains daily blow their whistles as they journey through Delaware County.

Tidy family farms dot the landscape and I never tire of a drive through this gentle countryside. It speaks strongly and lovingly of the generations who have worked the land to produce corn and soybeans. I love my county!

(see the train?)

Labor Day bike ride: the Kokosing Gap trail

Here in Ohio we are privileged to have a great many "rails to trails:" rail beds that have been converted to well-kept bike paths. After a very hot summer of little biking, we're trying to get out more. So yesterday we headed northeast, to the Kokosing Gap trail.

Beautiful day. Lots of bikers of all shapes, sizes, and ages. The trail meanders along the Kokosing River, woods, and farm fields. A bit challenging for the allergy-prone, it was a great day nonetheless. Someday we'll bring Ari so she can climb on the train.

Yes, this photo's a little blurry, since I didn't stop riding when I took it!

Our friends Fred and Lisa, "instigators" of the ride!

Things I learned from the 26-mile ride:
1. If I bike 13 miles in one direction, it's a sure bet I'll have to ride 13 miles back. I haven't biked 26 miles since - no joke - age 13.
2. Invest in a pair of bike shorts.
3. Take allergy drugs before biking in September.

Friends Brian & Donna, who also rode with us.

What did you do on Labor Day?

killing time and eating ice cream

Our Sunday bike ride began without a camera. I immediately bemoaned the situation with each bend in the road. We drove for nearly an hour to reach a rail-to-trail we'd never before ridden.

Bill said, "ok, state your case, then forget it."

So I'd say, "oh, that would make a great you-know-what. I wish I had my you-know-what." And we laughed.

We planned to bike Butler to Bellville, Ohio: a ten-mile round trip. There was reported to be an ice cream shop right beside the trail in Bellville. A good thing!

Ohio is blessed with a growing number of rail-to-trail bike paths. I love to ride them and imagine the people of years gone by who rode the trains of these same routes. Winding through farmland, along streams and through small towns, the trails are peaceful and scenic.

Nearly four miles out, I glanced at Bill's rear tire. Hmmmm. Looking low. In fact, looking nearly flat.

"Uh, your tire looks low," I called.
"It does?"

"Really low." Sometimes a wife treads carefully in matters of mechanics. I figured he'd KNOW if it was flat, and I needn't point it out to him.

"You might want to check it," I called.

And so he did. It was indeed flat, and two rounds of pumping didn't fix it. We walked/rode on to Bellville, parking by the 100-year-old train station and found the ice cream shop.

The Buckeye Blitz waffle cone was out of this world, and worth pushing a bike with a flat. And well worth dripping chocolate on my white shirt, too.

Even though three other bikers offered to repair the tire, we decided to have Bill ride back to Butler on my bike, get the car and come fetch me.

In a life accustomed to clock-watching and rushing around, my 45- minute wait seemed long. The sun was hot, my water getting warm.

Then. I relaxed on a bench. I watched all manner of bikers come and go. Families. Retirees. Serious bikers in training. Slow, leisurely bikers. All enjoying a Sunday afternoon through the Ohio countryside.

One family stopped near me for a break.
"We'll be having dinner soon; he shouldn't have ice cream," the mother said of her son.
"Oh, who cares; let him have ice cream," answered the dad.

I thought, yeah, let him eat ice cream. It's Sunday and lots of calories are being burned on that bike. Let the kid eat Buckeye Blitz as it drips down his arms onto his t-shirt. He'll remember this day for a long time.

But then, I would have said the same thing as a young mom. Always so serious about nutrition and stuff.

Soon Bill showed up with the van.

And my short 45 minutes were up.

cold

It's cold. Really cold. A peek out our front door this morning confirmed it.

Yesterday we made a run to Columbus and came back on Ohio route 315, probably the most beautiful drive in all of Delaware county. The road hugs the Olentangy River and there is no place to safely pull over for photos, so this is the best I could do: tourist-from-the-window shots.

a quiet little corner

A couple of weeks ago we drove in a northeasterly direction and landed in the heart of an Amish community.

Before our evening appointment, we stopped outside the town of Berlin, Ohio at a store called The Ashery. Simple, small and family-run, the Ashery sells bulk foods like grains, soup mixes, honey, cheeses and many wonderful, pungent spices. My neighbor Lynn visits the Ashery about once a year, so I was anxious to check it out.

Along the last few miles, I spotted several schools. Since children walk to school, they are spaced not more than a mile or two apart. The schoolyards could have fit the landscape of 100 years ago.

I didn't ask the employees to pose for photos, but just observing them was fascinating. Skirt-clad teenaged girls were working at the back of the store as well as dusting and restocking shelves. Seemingly to dispel the myth of a quiet and reserved people, the girls joked and laughed loudly as they went about their tasks.

And I went about mine, picking up rolled oats, a jug of honey, rice mixes and other good stuff.

As we left, I sensed a foreign but wonderful hush falling over the surrounding hills. A customer left the Ashery and headed home on her bike. A horse-drawn buggy rounded the corner and continued down the road. No traffic jams, stressed people or buzzing cell phones. I enjoyed a few moments of just the rhythmic clatter of horse hooves.

While the Amish surely face challenges in raising children and supporting themselves, the quietness masks it. I imagine an acceptance of doing life with faith and hard work, and I felt a little envious at the simple and quiet life that is this little corner of Ohio.

Trip to the country

I wish I'd had a camera for my trip to the country this morning. I meandered away from town to visit a young-mom-friend, Kellie, from Bible study. The drive was luscious. I don't know where you'd find more beautiful corn than our 8-foot tall stalks here in central Ohio. The fields undulated with tall corn and short soybeans. Country-folks' flowers screamed their colors along the roadway....oranges, reds, yellows and lavender. The heat wave has broken and the air was clean and sweet. A treat for the senses!

At Kellie's home, I was treated to the most wonderful coffee (with cream, of course) and raspberry coffee cake. Scrumptious. The July breeze blew through the windows of her country home and her young children offered hugs. We shared the goodies and more importantly, we shared our hearts. Though we're in different seasons of life, our hearts are knit together as mothers. Thank you, Kellie!

No dozin' today!