back on bikes!

Bill's big surgery in April kinda cramped our style when it came to biking. Most summers we were doing quite a bit of biking, both in town and taking our bikes to one of the rails-to-trails that we so enjoy here in Ohio.

Bill was determined to start riding again, but obviously wanted to be careful. Like not fall off! But he's done amazingly well, riding more than me. His biggest challenge is getting on and off the bike, not to mention maneuvering around lots of other bikers. So yesterday we headed to Mt. Vernon to ride the Kokosing Gap Trail, probably one of Ohio's finest. It's a gem. Katie was off work so she joined us. We got an early start to beat the heat, and riding on a Monday beat the crowds, too.

stopping at the Kokosing River



The first leg is about 4 and a half miles, where you find a wonderful train and restrooms at Gambier, right on the edge of Kenyon College. A plaque told us that many years ago, Kenyon students rode the train to campus. Then it's on to Howard, another 4 miles or so. We opted to turn around before Howard and return to Mt. Vernon, probably a good call ....

haha! Taking a break before the last leg.

 

It feels fantastic to get out on our bikes again. It's been a long few months, with so many adaptations required, plus the concerns over my dad and Bill's mom. I'm super thankful we have nearby trails to enjoy. Also very proud of my hubby for working hard!

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!



seizing the day!

What a day, what a stupendous day here in central Ohio! The laundry and assorted projects had to wait while we seized a beautiful autumn day for some biking.

We loaded the bikes and headed off to Johnstown around noon. "Six miles to Alexandria," Bill said. OK, twelve miles I can handle. But don't you know, the beauty and sunshine and woods lured us along and we couldn't stop at Alexandria. It was on to Granville, another five miles.

We found it a little tricky to keep to the trail, as much of it was a carpet of leaves. But we finished with no mis-haps!

A really neat feature of this trail is how it meanders through farmlands as well as woods. Real, working farms with white barns, red barns, shimmering silos, grazing cows, and pigs. We smelled the pigs. The trail crossed a number of driveways into the farms and I just felt like I was sailing through a fairy tale!

I am thankful that we are in a season of life when we can choose a day to bike based on the weather. As we biked, I thought of all the years that we didn't have the freedom to just go and do. It was a glorious 25 years with our kids, but also very them-focused. I miss those days at times, full lively kids, even with all their rowdiness and bickering.

But there's a peace and sweetness in being able to seize the day.

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?

licking batteries

To learn a little trick, hence the title of this post, you'll have to read - or skip - to the very end.

We threw the bikes in the van this afternoon and headed to Delaware State Park to pedal a few miles. A veritable ghost town, the park seems to be going into hibernation for the winter. Of course, I found a few photo opps...

My knight pumps up my tire.



My motivator!

Bikes, leaves, lake, me.

Now. Were it not for a little trick I pulled from the cobwebs of my mind, there would be no photos. Somewhere, sometime, someone told me that if your batteries are giving out, just give them a lick. Yes! Take them out of the camera, lick both ends, and put back in the camera.

Call me crazy...but it works.

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.

Liking biking

It was another excellent day weather-wise in Ohio. Sun! Breezes! Chores, especially all those tedious indoor jobs, can wait for the 5 months of lousy weather that arrive too soon. I led my friend Donna on an hour-long ride of the bike trails around town.

Funny how familiar suroundings can take on a whole new feel from a bike. Whizzing by century-old homes, up hills, around curves and stopping at the Dari-Point for some refreshment made for an enjoyable outing. It all took me back to the days as a kid when I rode around my town like a maniac.

Thing is, we can act like ten-year-olds and maybe even feel like them for an hour. But we must not look the part. As Donna & I waited to cross a busy street on the bike trail, a car slowed down, the driver waving us on. We laughed and realized he was deferring to a couple of middle-aged women on bikes. Our start-up was a little slow and wobbly; he might have even thought we were heading home for our naps. I laughed at the thought and pedaled on.

Nope, we're no longer ten. We'll probably hurt tomorrow. That's ok. Biking is a blast, no matter your age.