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Across Ohio Bicycle Adventure |
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XOBA 2008 by Dan Sheridan |
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Sunday: 71 miles, Maysville to Cincinnati, sunny with temps in the 90s.
Sunday morning we sped downhill to the river, soon crossing a large bridge into Ohio. Unfortunately, several riders had problems with the interlocking expansion joints on the bridge. Some had flat tires, while other fell or bent their wheels. Leaving the bridge, we traveled alongside the Ohio River for 10 or 15 miles into historic Ripley, Ohio. There was a beautiful waterfront street in Ripley, where many delightful old homes were lovingly maintained by their owners.
In Ripley many of us toured the John Parker house. Mr. Parker was born into slavery, but talked a woman into buying him and then setting him free in return for his weekly payments, totaling $1,800. Once he was free, he built a successful foundry, eventually employing 26 men, both black and white. Mr. Parker was active in the Underground Railroad, and made many stealthy nighttime trips across the river to help an estimated 600 slaves escape.
Sitting atop a large hill above the town is the historic Rankin House. This house was built by a Presbyterian minister, John Rankin, who was active in the Underground Railroad. Like Mr. Parker, Reverend Rankin had a bounty on his head. He helped several thousand slaves escape.
It was a challenge to bicycle up the hill to the Rankin House. The hill was so steep that my front wheel lifted off the ground as I climbed, and I was travelling so slowly that it was difficult to stay upright. I dismounted and walked one particularly steep stretch of the hill. The beautiful view was worth the climb.
Leaving the Rankin House, our route turned inland away from the river, starting with a long gentle climb through woods, across small streams, and then past scenic hillside farms. Our long climb was rewarded with an extended downhill glide that brought smiles to our faces. We continued through terrain that alternated between flat and rolling. I had my only flat tire of the week during this stretch. While fixing the tire under a shady tree, I was welcomed by a large, friendly black dog. The dog's owner soon followed, leaning down from his tractor to ask if I needed anything at all.
As I reached Owensville, Ohio, a sheriff's car blocked the road, telling us that the road ahead was closed for a parade. Bicycles were allowed through, so I curiously rode ahead. It turned out that this was the day of the annual Clermont County Fair parade. The town was so small that there was no alternate route, so I joined several cyclists who walked behind the crowd for a while before joining the parade for the last block or two out of town.
We ended the day with a long climb from Milford up Indian Hill to Country Day High School, our destination for the evening. After setting up my sleeping space for the evening, I ran into Marlene Welch, who is known in Ohio bicycle touring circles as the matriarch of "Grandma's GOBA gang." Marlene was riding XOBA with her granddaughter Celeste. Marlene told me that Celeste's friend Ryan would soon be taking them to Sunday evening Mass, and offered me a ride if I'd like to come along. After Mass, we enjoyed a delicious catered meal that Celeste's mother and family provided to XOBA riders, while listening to Ryan's very entertaining stories of his mischievous youth.
The back wheel on my bicycle had come out of true during Sunday's ride, and was rubbing against the brake pad periodically as it revolved. Before leaving for church, I left the bike with the ride's mechanic, Brian from Hubbub Custom Bicycles in northeastern Ohio. When I returned the bike had been repaired and was waiting for me by the repair van. |
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The Rankin House, atop a steep hill. (Kentucky is in the background) |
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A young horsewoman in the Clermont County Fair Parade. |
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Contact Dan through the Heart of Ohio Tailwinds web site. |