September 19 & 20

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Mural along the way to Columbus



 We woke up almost bright and not so early in Waynesville. The rain the had been promised did not materialize. (rain dodgers rule!) Unfortunately the full breakfast that had been promised us by our hotel did not materialize ( we were offered a power bar instead😡). undeterred we began packing up to head out for a real breakfast in Xenia.  Thats when we found the fanny pack left behind by Nanette,  another biker who had stayed at the hotel. As there was literally NO ONE working at the hotel that morning, we strapped the pack to our bikes and headed north. Betsy sagged today and Lisa and I flew down the flat paved trail. 




Breakfast was a "leisurely" affair as the restaurant was full and had just one kid working (pretty sure his first day on the job!) As we approached our night's lodging on the trail we got a phone call from a panicked woman looking for her fanny pack.  Yes, we had it.  Yes everything was in it. Yes, we have left our own things behind before. And yes, we would keep riding past our destination to meet her on the trail. The hand off was made (to a rousing rendition of the Hallelujah chorus sung by Nanette). 

We then turned around and headed back to our nights lodging on a farm outside South Charleston. 



While Bets and Lisa enjoyed watching the corn and soy grow, Pete took off for Dayton to visit the National Airforce Museum. An amazing place with 5 massive hangers housing every kind of aircraft from the Wright brothers plane, to a stealth bomber, to Air Force One. Then back to the farm for a dinner of seared salmon and off to bed.



Tuesday dawned bright and sunny with a beautiful fog gracing the fields. We had a good farm breakfast and headed north toward Columbus. Lisa had parked the car south of town and joined us as we attempted to ride on the bike trails into the city. Closed trails, road construction, and traffic made for an arduous journey, but the city scapes, architecture and bridges were beautiful.



 We finally arrived at our lunch spot, Schmidt's Sausage Haus where we had an excellent Brat and a much needed large beer. 



After lunch we wandered around the old German neighborhood with its brick streets and gas lights. Took an Uber back to retrieve our car as even the promise of more beer didn't make riding back worth it. We then met up with Matt, a young man who, a long time ago, was in Pete's youth group in Canajoharie. While we talked and caught up, Matt introduced us to the Short North neighborhood in Columbus.  A cool area with great bars and the best restaurant we had been to on the whole trip. A great end to a great day!

Tomorrow we leave the trail and head out on  roads again towards Pittsburg. We are actually getting close to home and it is with mixed emotions that we are beginning to see the end of this great adventure. But not yet!!



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