Longest day

 May 5, 2022 - Annie's Birthday!

Mt. Vernon, Ohio to Dalton, Ohio

67.9 miles

Low 50's and light rain seems to be the best weather we will see for the rest of this trip.  Today there isn't supposed to be as much rain as tomorrow and we decide to get as far as possible.  Also, it's Annie's 61st birthday so we have to ride at least 61 miles.

The Kokosing Gap Trail is the first segment.  It is wooded and the landscape is very green.

The trail is well maintained for both cyclists and Amish buggies.  The Ohio to Erie Trail is comprised of smaller named rails maintained by local municipalities.  Next up : Mohican Valley Trail.  In Holmes County the OTE follows roads as well, so we get to ride on some hilly lightly traveled roadways.

We pass by Amish farms, sheep pastures, and Amish schoolhouses.  There are more Amish riding E-bikes than driving buggies. They go zipping past us at 30 mph.   Late afternoon finds men and women plowing the fields behind their mules and barefoot (!) children playing baseball and running around.  Remember, it's about 52 degrees and drizzling rain.  

Annie hits the 61 mile mark, but we still have some distance to cover to get to the warm showers host where we are staying.  If you don't know about warm showers check out this link. 

warm showers

Annie is looking strong after 61 miles/years

 This is one of the longest-mileage days Tom and I have ever done on loaded bikes.  I am losing steam toward the end.   It starts raining a bit harder and when we are about a mile away a guy in a big SUV pulling a utility trailer flags us down.  It is Larry, our host, and he has come out on a rescue mission.  We ride on since we are so close and meet him and his wife, Lois, at their home.  They normally offer a nice flat grassy tenting space in their yard, but since significant rain is predicted tonight we are sleeping in their garage.  It's the second cleanest garage I have ever seen  (Dale Bernaciak's is 1st cleanest.)  

This garage fells like a palace compared to a wet tent

Dessert is Birthday Pie from Troyer's Pie Shop in Apple Creek.  

Here is the map from today.