Oh my, what a day. We left Matt and Beth Casey’s home this morning to get back to North Royalton where we left off tomorrow. After getting the bike properly affixed with the appropriate equipment, maps in order, and rider on the seat I started my forward momentum continuing to move west. It was a bit tricky to get through North Royalton and back out into the country but Carlin as a guide and I as a cyclist navigated the suitable streets of North Royalton to be on our way. But as always, the unpredictable. A gravel road for at least 12 miles kind of shook me up.
At about 43 miles out we stopped for lunch at Sterk’s Family Restaurant in Wakeman, OH. We thought that we would beat the rain to Clyde. However, as we were safely secured in Sterk’s Family Restaurant the skies opened up. Thunder and lightning again! We checked out the radar on our high tech devices that we had with us as we nourished ourselves and it showed that the storm would be short lived over the little hamlet of Wakeman. In the direction that I was heading there was a window of about 77 minutes before yet another rain storm would open up on us. So, abandoning the prescribed route through the scenic areas of this little section of Ohio, I asked the locals for the quickest route to Clyde, hoping to beat the storm. Well the quickest route was not the safest route and I only made it 8 of the remaining 33 miles before lightning, thunder, and rain poured down upon me. I sat it out in the car once I caught up with Carlin. But once the lighting subsided, but not the rain, I jumped back on the bike and headed for Clyde arriving there about 5:15 P.M. We had scheduled to park our Little Guy at the local parish and sleep the night in the safe, homelike, environment of our little home away from home. But being so wet and cold we decided to head for the local Red Roof Hilton and act like civilized people who stay at hotels.
After getting ourselves situated we headed out to dinner. And now, a great surprise. Former student, Jack Barry, class of 2013 happens to be doing an internship in the little town of Clyde at Westinghouse and we arranged to get together for dinner. Then I got an email from Tim Reagan, class of 1983, who lives and works in Columbus and had driven up to Clyde to meet up. So all four of us headed out to dinner together and had a great time again recalling the days of Marist and talking of the great accomplishments that Jack and Tim have made since their days at Marist. It was so good to link up with Marist students in the wilds of Ohio especially after a rough day of riding.
So, today I rode 76 miles, about 25 of it in the rain. The total miles ridden I’ve ridden on this adventure thus far is 711. 1. 711.1/1004 = 70.8% of the previously estimated total. Total climb to date is 19,817 feet of 19,817/22,229=89.1% of total climb.
No animal attacks today. I saw 3 racoons on the road but they were dead and did not attack.
Tomorrow’s weather is supposed to be OK. We’ll see.
At about 43 miles out we stopped for lunch at Sterk’s Family Restaurant in Wakeman, OH. We thought that we would beat the rain to Clyde. However, as we were safely secured in Sterk’s Family Restaurant the skies opened up. Thunder and lightning again! We checked out the radar on our high tech devices that we had with us as we nourished ourselves and it showed that the storm would be short lived over the little hamlet of Wakeman. In the direction that I was heading there was a window of about 77 minutes before yet another rain storm would open up on us. So, abandoning the prescribed route through the scenic areas of this little section of Ohio, I asked the locals for the quickest route to Clyde, hoping to beat the storm. Well the quickest route was not the safest route and I only made it 8 of the remaining 33 miles before lightning, thunder, and rain poured down upon me. I sat it out in the car once I caught up with Carlin. But once the lighting subsided, but not the rain, I jumped back on the bike and headed for Clyde arriving there about 5:15 P.M. We had scheduled to park our Little Guy at the local parish and sleep the night in the safe, homelike, environment of our little home away from home. But being so wet and cold we decided to head for the local Red Roof Hilton and act like civilized people who stay at hotels.
After getting ourselves situated we headed out to dinner. And now, a great surprise. Former student, Jack Barry, class of 2013 happens to be doing an internship in the little town of Clyde at Westinghouse and we arranged to get together for dinner. Then I got an email from Tim Reagan, class of 1983, who lives and works in Columbus and had driven up to Clyde to meet up. So all four of us headed out to dinner together and had a great time again recalling the days of Marist and talking of the great accomplishments that Jack and Tim have made since their days at Marist. It was so good to link up with Marist students in the wilds of Ohio especially after a rough day of riding.
So, today I rode 76 miles, about 25 of it in the rain. The total miles ridden I’ve ridden on this adventure thus far is 711. 1. 711.1/1004 = 70.8% of the previously estimated total. Total climb to date is 19,817 feet of 19,817/22,229=89.1% of total climb.
No animal attacks today. I saw 3 racoons on the road but they were dead and did not attack.
Tomorrow’s weather is supposed to be OK. We’ll see.
