Day Eleven

71 miles
I woke refreshed and ready for another day. I ate breakfast, even though eating first thing has been very hard for me. I packed up and headed out. It was still a pretty late start at 10am.
There was no wind so my pace was nearly double what it had been many previous days. I headed toward my route. Of course, there was road closed and i had to make my own detour again. Luckily with the nearly straight roads as long as I head west I'm bound to catch up to it again. I crossed a dam at the Roush reservoir before noon. And shortly after I was back on route.
By 1pm I had yet another flat. The first patch wouldn't hold, so I used super glue and a patch. That did the trick. I headed into a hilly area around the Salamonie Dam and State Forest. It was lovely. The hills were refreshing and even exhilarating. It is the first time in nearly a week that I have had the chance to use my top gears. The Salamonie Dam was quite large and almost scary. I would have taken pictures but my cellphone battery was very low.
I kept riding. Before long I realized that I had already ridden 50+ miles. I looked at my map and decided where I'd stay. It was about 5:30 and the site was roughly 20 miles away. I was determined to do it. And i did. About 2 hours and a gallon of water later i had made it. Of course there were more road closures and self made detours. This one however cost me my groceries for the night and water.
Despite this i was delighted to make it to Fletcher lake Indiana around 8pm.
I found the campground easily. However, there was no one around. There was a man fishing and i asked him where to go about a camp site. He informed "he'll be back soon. he's at work." the man told me where the cyclists normally set up camp. And said to just set up. I did. I waited for the man to see about the campsite. I waited till 10:30. I passed about by 11. He
Still hadn't come.

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Day Ten

52 miles
I really didn't want to ride. I was feeling a little homesick and maybe still not quite recharged. The idea of endless cornfields seemed dreadful. Nevertheless, I pressed onward.
At first I moved at a pace that could have been walked just as fast. I was finally where my next route map picked up, no more google nonsense to deal with. I had a pleasant surprise as i moved further into Indiana... Hills! And the scenery was varied. Yes, there are still endless roads lined with corn, but the rolling hills and trees made them bearable.
I found a really nice campground (with the help of google) near Huntington, IN. The woman who greeted me was enthusiastic and sincere. She asked me loads of questions and was super excited at the idea of my trip and stopping there. She set me up with a beautiful spot on the corner of the lake. I watched the sunset. Then settled into bed.

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Day Nine

No miles. Day off.
It was just a day of laundry and endless work to try to update this blog. I must figure out how to post pictures.
I also went to the Fort Wayne Indiana museum of art. Sure mister, I can be a student if you want to think I am. Well spent $3.

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Week One

 Week One
Day One June 15
65 miles
I started my journey around 8:30am. I was both excited and nervous. I started with a good pace and a full stomach. I headed toward Mayville. The hills seemed like a worthy challenge to start my trip. And I reaped the rewards of the downhill toward Westfield when I topped 41.1 mph. I took a quick rest in Westfield. But I was filled with adrenaline and wanted to continue on.
The scenery was bright and the sky sunny. There were vineyards to my left and views of Lake Erie to my right. The lake was a beautiful blue green color and I thought what a beautiful day to start my journey.
I made it into Erie about 4 o'clock. After some misunderstandings I found my hosts for the night. Todd and Julie were great. They fed me yummy pasta. And Todd took me for a ride on his motorcycle. I haven't had many motorcycle rides. I liked it. Their three kids were fun and I enjoyed their enthusiasm. I am so grateful for the generosity.
I settled in and crashed out on the couch.
Day Two June 16
59 miles
My second day started around 8:30am again. It started raining as soon I started pedaling. As I made my way through the rest of Erie the rain increased. I heard a rattling and I noticed the left front rack was wobbly. I stopped and tightened it. I continued on. I spotted a convenience store. Just as I dismounted the right front rack fell off my bike. I struggled to fix it in the rain. After much finagling, I managed to get it back on and tightened up. I ate breakfast finally.
The hills were rolling but more frequent than I would have liked. The wind was in my face all day. It was grueling and my pace was slow. I pressed on. I saw several fully loaded cycle tourists travelling eastward. It excited me and I kept pedaling.
I was beginning to wonder what I had gotten myself into. But I made it into Ohio.
I pulled over at a park in Conneaut, Ohio. It was overlooking Lake Erie. The blue sky and water met on sandy white beach lined with boardwalk. It was acres and acres of beach front and grassy picnic areas. It took my breath away. All the hills felt worth it.
My hands started tingling during the day. This means I am putting too much weight on my hands. The handlebars needed raised. At the end of the day my right pinky and ring finger were mostly useless.
I settled my night at a very nice campground at Geneva-On-The-Lake, Ohio. I enjoyed a nice shower. And I actually enjoyed sleeping in the tent.
Ups and downs end up worth it at the end of the day.
Day Three June 17
46 miles
I woke up and made a few adjustments to the bike, however I did not have a wrench big enough to adjust the handlebar height. This meant I needed to go off route to find a Walmart and a wrench. This took me to some small towns. Geneva-on-the-Lake was a cute little town with a seaside town feel. It was full of little shops, restaurants, and arcades.
In Geneva, a bridge was out. I had to make my own detour as I didn't want to ride the extra 8 miles when I was already off route. I managed that successfully.
As I rode into Madison, the town with the Walmart, I hit construction. Both the roads and the sidewalks were torn up. The drivers seemed impatient so I opted for the sidewalks. I walked across some of the intersections because of the drops of concrete. As I turned into Walmart drive I heard a familiar fwap fwap fwap. I looked down to see my rear tire flat as flat can be. I unloaded all my gear and turned the bike over. I fixed the flat fairly quickly and was feeling quite proud as I loaded back up. I went into the Walmart and bought a wrench. I came back to my bike to see my pride and tire deflated. I unloaded again and this time I replaced the inner tube versus just patching it. As I did this the crotch seam of my shorts ripped. I just laughed. How ridiculous can a day get? Oh and the wrench was the wrong size. I exchanged it and finally raised my handlebars.
I continued on finally at near 2pm. I headed on toward Cleveland. The scenery was mostly nurseries and wineries. The front panniers (much like saddlebags) kept falling off the front. I was getting very frustrated. And after pedaling fewer miles than my 50 miles a day goal, I stopped. I stayed in a hotel in Eastlake, Ohio.
Day Four June 18
54 miles
I at some point during the night I realized I couldn't find my route map. I tried not to worry about it, but it became a real issue when after going through all my stuff I still could not find it. I was supposed to be going through Cleveland. I didn't see how I was going to manage that without my map. I had to come up with an alternate plan. I bought an Ohio map and decided to go around Cleveland. I picked what I thought looked like a small road to start my trip. I realized a short way in that this way not such a small road and that all the roads on the map were probably busy main roads. After a gigantic hill I started to look in stores for county maps that would show me smaller roads. I finally stopped and mapped out a route on paper. I discussed the route with the librarian. And she said it was a good route and very pretty, although hilly. Man! She wasn't kidding. It was 3pm by the time I finally I started my ride. It was so hot and I went through my three litres of water rather fast. And bought more. I rode through hilly wildlife reserves. It was beautiful but the heat and hills were exhausting me. I had to push the bike up at least two hills. I don't know how it was geographically possible, but it seemed like all I did was ride up hills. It was so draining. I finally arrived in Parma at close to 9pm. I was dead on my seat.
Dede, my host was great. She fed me and gave me yummy ice water. I slept like a baby.
Day Five June 19
43 miles
After the exhausting day before I took my time getting up and getting off. I hung out with Dede as she obsessed over the water balloons she was filling. We threw one off her 6th floor balcony. She was a lot of fun and I enjoyed hanging out with her.
Dede let me use her computer to route a new route. I used google maps bike routes to make a route for myself. I was ready around 11. I hugged Dede goodbye and pedaled off.
The route I made for myself was mostly flat. And almost half of it was paved bike trails. I rather enjoyed the easy ride. It was pretty and I chatted with a cyclist who rode with me for a mile or two asking me questions about touring. He was planning a short trip at the end of the summer. It was nice. I would have ridden a longer day but I couldn't find a campground closer than 25 miles away and it was getting late. So I camped near Oberlin Ohio. The camp ground was pretty basic but it did the job.
Day Six June 20
62 miles
The day started on my a good note. Free donut. Yum. I left at a decent time right before 10am. I stopped early for a little more substance. I had several more miles of bike trails. I missed my turn off the path about the same time my phone died. I took several small breaks throughout the day. Around 4pm I found a McDonalds and charged my phone. I ate and watched some world cup football while I waited. It took awhile and I started talking with the girl at the table next to me. My trip came into conversation and I liked talking about it. She let me use her computer to find a campground. I found one and left there because it was near 5pm and the campground was 25miles away.
I picked up my pace and made it to the park about 7:45pm. It was a beautiful township park. It was very large with more than one playground and several ball fields. There were bike paths and a very large swimming pool. There were RV's and a random tent or two. I walked into the office. I was reaching for my wallet when the older gentleman greeted me. He asked if I had come in on bicycle. He asked where I was going and where I was from. He asked where I'd come through. He walked outside and looked around. He pointed to a shady spot behind a pavilion. He told me I could pitch my tent there. He said he wouldn't charge me anything. The price was my story. He told me he never charged the cyclists. I thanked him and set up my tent. Soon after, the gentleman's wife came over and talked with me. She directed me to the showers and invited me over to their RV for some sloppy joes.  I showered and stopped by their RV. Sally and Dick fed me sloppy joes, chips and vegetables. I even ate some strawberry dessert. The conversation was nice. They gave me an address for some family they have in Oregon since I would be there later in the summer. They gave me food for breakfast and a postcard of the park.
I finally retired in Bascom, Ohio.
Day Seven June 21
35 miles
I didn't sleep well. I seem to be fighting a cold. I left by 10am. I felt like crap but wanted to make it as far as I could. About 8 miles into my ride a woman flagged me down and told me to pull over. Her name was Sharon. She asked me all sorts of questions and offered me a place to stay. She was very nice and I always appreciate the enthusiasm. However being only a few hours into my ride I had to decline.
I tried to find Kmart to buy shorts because I needed to finally replace my ripped shorts. I didn't find it right off. I was very uncomfortable. I didn't find any shorts. It was very hot and humid. I filled up on water and carried on. It started to rain and the wind was getting strong and so was my cough. I couldn't do it. I found a hotel several miles away and crashed out for the night in Findlay, Ohio.
Day Eight June 22
52 miles
I started out riding into high winds. I worked twice as hard to move half as fast. It was long roads lined with wheat and corn. It was miles and miles of straight farm roads. I was so tired at the end of the very boring ride. I'm taking the day off tomorrow. I made it to the Ohio/Indiana state line.

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My Steed

A week ago, June 4, I got a call from the bike shop I had taken my very, erm, well loved bike to get a tune up. The gentleman on the line informed me that my frame was bent and that any work he could do would be useless and a waste of money. My bike was totaled. 10 days to go, and my bike was totaled. I stressed, obviously. I racked my brain about what I was going to do. I went to several bike shops looking for a bike with a similar frame so that I could possibly fit the frame with all the parts and add-ons I'd accumulated for my bike. I didn't find much. I looked at the newer bikes. I did not want to have to spend the money on a new bike. However, one bike did catch my eye. But I am not an impulse shopper. I went home empty handed and still a bit heavy hearted.
After a bit of research I found out the bike that had caught my eye, although not perfect, would be suitable for touring. I was sold. I now had to find the funds for such a purchase. My budget is so tight as it is, so I was very concerned about the money. I moved around some money, and with generosity of friends and family, I made the purchase. The Trek Eco Design Atwood.
I have a bike now. This, of course, being a very important element in bike touring. I have ridden probably 75 miles on my new bike the last week. It is a work in progress. It takes so many adjustments to make your bike fit right. The littlest adjustment can add some much comfort and efficiency to your ride. You shouldn't feel any pain in your joints while riding. For more info on a better fitting bicycle read here: http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm.
I hope to fully load my bike tomorrow and ride around Lake Chautauqua with a stop at my Grandfather's 90th birthday party. Here's hoping to my first fully loaded trip out...