We all started stirring around 6:00 am — but a quick look at the 53 degree temp and a light rain, didn’t inspire us to get going. Greg eventually got up and started making breakfast — oatmeal with raisins and cinnamon-raisin English muffins. This was our 2nd day in a row with this breakfast and it is a great way to fuel up for the ride.
I’m not sure what happens when you set up camp, but when you take it down, there is sooo much more stuff. This picture shows the Day 1 camp taken apart and the strategy to get it all in the truck was underway.

We got underway about 9:45 am. The truck was loaded and Becky was off to Kroger for some water and other supplies. It was a bit chilly in the low 60s, overcast, but no rain.
What good fortune we had. Our route was South East and the wind was pushing us from the North West. With all the riding I’ve done over my life, I’ve never been able to ride 50 miles with a tailwind. It was fantastic!!!
We weren’t far from the Ohio border when we started. I think it was about 6 miles. I was hoping for a “Welcome to Ohio” sign, but I guess you only see those on the freeways. I did snap this photo of Jason at the Toledo sign and Greg in the background.

The picture below is looking West over the Maumee River. It’s the 3rd river mentioned in the 1816 letter. The 1st two were the Huron and the River Raisin, which we both passed over on Day 1.
The building on the right is the Owens Corning building. I was a consultant working for them in 1996 and I helped the Marketing department make the move to this brand new building. I haven’t been this close to the building since 1997 when the contract ended.

After crossing over the Maumee, we had a long stretch on Woodville Road. It was 5 lanes wide with a nice wide bike shoulder. It was busy and loud, even for a Sunday. The road did narrow to 3 lanes as we got further out of town, and traffic decreased a little, but it was busy and loud. We stopped for lunch at a Subway, and then shortly after got on the North Coast Inland Trail. I mentioned in my post on Rails-To-Trails what a great resource these old railroad corridor paths are. We were able to follow this one for at least 16 miles as we continued our trek South East. This picture is an access road to the asphalt trail itself, but I loved the sign about using the “Full Lane”

One of my earliest posts, First Thoughts, listed some goals I had for this journey. One of them was to stay or pass through Fremont, Ohio. Check that off the list. This town used to be called the Lower Sandusky and this was the turn around location for George W. Howell on his horseback journey. He proceeded to go back through Michigan, Ontario, and home to New Jersey. I didn’t want to do that on this journey, so we’re going to keep heading East.

Our destination today was the Leafy Oaks Campground in Clyde, OH. Greg’s wife Becky is a super star! By the time we finished riding 60.1 miles today, the camp was all set up and the chicken and rice dinner was already on the stove.
First order of business was a hot shower. Oh damn — nothing but cold water. Yeah, that hurt a little bit, but I needed to get the road grime off me. The campgrounds keep improving so maybe we’ll get everything we need at one of them 🙂

D,
You should be used to taking a cold shower……
Ha!
I love reading this! Such an awesome adventure and will be so rewarding for all once complete!!
So glad you are enjoying it!
That was cool seeing the Maumee River mentioned in the letter. Be safe.
I know, right? It makes the letter feel more real when you can see some landmarks (rivers) he mentions.
Wow! That’s a long tailwind. I always get the headwind even on the out and back!
Isn’t that the truth!!!
Great trip; love riding along with you. Will you make this an annual affair?
One and done!!!