I need to digress here to talk about a group versus individual bike ride. While I have enjoyed countless solo rides, it is almost always more fun to go riding with someone else. My favorite is a small group of a few friends as we had today - you get to share the fun, the (always exaggerated) pain, steep hills, etc. and then re-live those times later over breakfast, a few beers or whatever. For those who are thinking of perhaps getting involved in serious cycling, it is a big help to find a couple of "ride buddies" to go out with - particularly on your first couple of rides. Too many people try riding once or twice then give up because they decide it is too difficult, time consuming, etc. and other similar rationalizations when the real problem is that they have no one to share the experience with. So don't give it up folks without first trying to share your experiences with others.
We are in Ashtabula tonight, a manufacturing center that - like much of Ohio - has been hard hit by the decline in domestic auto sales and the economy in general. At the same time it is a cool place. They have a maritime museum here that deals with the history of shipping on the Great Lakes, and an amazing coal and gravel loading operation at the mouth of the Ashtabula River. I will try to post some more pictures of that tomorrow, but it looks like a giant amusement park ride alongside Lake Erie. That reminds me - just west of Ashtabula we rode through the old timey lake resort town of Geauga-on-the-Lake. It looked just like it probably did in the 1950s and was filled with putt-putt golf courses, ice cream stands and tacky tourist attractions. We also saw the most bizarre collection of yard ornaments there: in addition to the (by now) usual plastic deer, one house's front yard also sported a complete set (in plastic, of course) of the Seven Dwarfs. I was so sorry we were unable to get a picture of that, but comforted by knowing that they will likely be there for many years in case we get back this way again.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Euclid to Ashtabula, OH
58 miles. It was a beautiful Spring Day - cool and crisp as we continued to ride along the south shore of Lake Erie. The first 25 miles or so were a continuation of our urban guerrilla experience of Wednesday - lots of traffic, crappy pavement (nothing even remotely approaching the horrendous condition of US 6 however), etc., so I had few opportunities to enjoy the scenery or the company of our two new friends (Bob and Maureen) who joined us for the day's ride. The latter half of the ride was much quieter however, and we were able to enjoy the scenery and the camaraderie.
Ashtabula pic #1
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Riding friends
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