The third "C" city - Cleveland at last!

 THE SUN IS OUT!  IT'S A NEW DAY!🌞

We are riding from Akron to Cleveland which means we will be on the towpath trail all day.  It's a packed chip stone surface and most of the trail is within the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Portage Path at Merriman Road - I am not sure what's up with my glasses here.

The Ohio and Erie Canal travels through the Cuyahoga Valley connecting the Ohio River with Lake Erie.  The canal followed the success of the Erie canal and opened up Ohio to trade with the East.
https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/history-of-the-ohio-erie-canal.htm

Just look at this sunny day!  Hundreds of turtles are out basking in the sun.  I see some palm warblers and black and white warblers near the river edge.  It is Saturday and the trail is busy with runners and walkers. 

 We do see four long distance riders on tandem bikes.  They started at the Cincinnati airport and are riding beyond the trail end to Sandusky.  They are fueling up at the same lunch spot in the town of  Peninsula and their bikes are as muddy as ours.

The trail goes west of the city.  It is exciting to see the skyline, but there are still a few miles to go after that. The endpoint at  Edgewater Park is west of the city.  We have to go up and down some steep hills in Tremont and other parts of Cleveland.  

My daughter works in the Terminal Tower which is that very tall building.

Steve and Ann contemplate the rough waters

The winds are strong off the lake and it is freezing cold.  The waves are choppy.  There are a couple brave souls out surfing! 

Here is the rear wheel dip in Lake Erie.  We have made it all the way from Cincinnati and our daughter, Ellen, and friend, Maggie are there to welcome us to Cleveland.  Gary Jackson has driven the truck up to pick us up so we can get back home.  What a ride!  Tom's ride with gps App calculated the mileage at 350.7 miles.  

Baby Eliza (Maggie's daughter) quickly becomes the main focus for all the women in this crowd.  She is 10 months and very good natured.  She's on her way to becoming an outdoorswoman and doesn't seem to mind the cold wind at all.