Ohio has welcomed us with cooler temperatures and some sporadic rain — which has been quite refreshing compared to the humidity in Kentucky and Missouri. Today we travelled from Columbus, OH to Mount Vernon, OH.
A two-lane rail trail that goes off into the distance.
Ohio and the surrounding states have a lot of rail trails — rail lines that have been converted to bike paths. These trails are great! The rail lines run very directly between cities, go through beautiful wilderness and are completely devoid of motorized vehicles so they are very pleasant to bike on. I hope that more defunct rail lines can be similarly converted.
A couple of days ago, Alex and I pushed through a century (we biked 105 miles) which was great to do and really felt like a landmark in the growth of my cycling abilities. But every journey has its challenges, and mine came in the form of pain and pins-and-needles sensation in my hands. Such sensations aren’t uncommon in long-distance cycling, but they serve as a reminder that even in passion, there's a need for balance.
While I wait for my hands to recover, I’ve been helping drive the van and support the cyclists. My temporary hiatus from cycling is just a chapter, and soon I’ll be back on the saddle, eager to cover the miles that lie between us and our destination.
-Leo