I hung around the the hotel room until 9:00 or so when it stopped raining. There was a lot of moisture in the air. My laundry from yesterday was still wet in spite of being draped over the air conditioner last night. I packed them anyway. I picked up my bagged breakfast at the front desk. Because of Covid -19, the hotel was not allowed to serve their usual buffet. I stashed the apple, granola bar, and little Debbie donut in my panniers, and pedaled across the way to MacDonalds for a number 1 breakfast.
I went back to the trail by a different way, avoiding the steep twisty hill and the scary bridge. Instead I took another downhill road to an intersecting bike trail which had a dedicated bridge over the river.
It soon met up with the OTET and I headed off.
The weather was very muggy. I appreciated the shade of the trees along the trail. Sometimes the mugginess turned to light sprinkling of rain. I rode through the town of Morrow on a street parallel with the main street. Everything seemed to be asleep.
There was a Pennsylvania Rail Road car and an old train station on the south side of town.
I captured some scenic views of the muddy green Little Miami River.
I stopped for lunch in Corwin. I chatted with an older man (he said he was in his 80's) who had come from the opposite direction, from a town call SpringValley, which I later rode through.
He told me he was in Army intelligence in Germany when he was much younger. He used to ride centuries (100 miles on a bike in a day) but now he mostly sticks to 20- mile rides or less. He also mentioned that there was a section of the trail between Cedarville and South Charleston that is nothing but wildflowers and butterflies, and no shade. Did I mention how much I appreciated the shade today? I think I am going that way tomorrow. He lived in Spring Valley.
I passed a section of trail that had a lot of different trailside wildflowers, there was a sign labelling it Travertine Fen. This is evidently a nature park.
I saw many, many Pokeweed plants along the side of the trail, offering their fruit like amethyst necklaces to the passer-by. This plant is edible only in the springtime and many people boil the leaves before eating. Everyone remembers the song "Poke-Salat Annie". But the fruit yields a glowing red dye especially when mordanted with vinegar.
I also passed a cedar wax wing in an elderberry bush who complained to me with a squawk that the elderberries were all gone.
I also passed many farm fields north of Corwin. The corn has tasselled and is golden-brown. Some of the beans are still green but some have turned to a bright golden hue. Then the trail once again was bordered by a tunnel of greenery, as tall trees interlaced their upper branches above me. I pedaled through Spring Valley without stopping.
The last few miles to Xenia seemed never-ending. Mostly uphill, although a slight grade. I could not wait to get there. The last mile or so finally leveled out. Unfortunately I pedaled past my B&B on the way to Xenia Station and had to turn around and retrace my path after checking my itinerary.
I got settled then headed out via Uber to Nick's sports bar where I ordered fish tacos and pickled eggs.
And it was good. So was the glass of Pinot Grigio. Now I will head back to the B&B and check the weather report for tomorrow. And check to see whether MapMyRide automatically updated my GCC web site or not. And then I will do an update for my WW photo of the day group, check that I have uploaded an Instagram photo, etc. It's almost like having a job!
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