Crestline Ohio ride

 For my birthday ride, I started by giving my drive chain a good once-over.  I used my new Ecosheep cleaning kit and brushed some grunge off the derailleur and chain, then lubed the chain.  I used some purple nail polish to cover a couple of light scratches.  It's not a perfect match, but it helps. 

 I started in Lexington and rode north on the Richland B&O trail, stopping to take a photo at the mural where the trail crosses under West Fourth Street.  This mural is approximately five years old.  It's been treated with a graffiti-resistant surface coat.  The morning light was dappled and gives it a completely different appearance than on a winter afternoon. 

I continued on to North Lake Park.  There were a few other people in the park, but it was uncrowded. Except for the geese.  They honk, but they aren't seemingly aggressive.  

From there,  I left the trail and ventured out across Fourth Street to Middle Park.  I understand that there is a plan called "Mansfield Rising" and that joining the city parks with a mixed-use path is part of that plan.  Right now, Middle Park between Park Avenue and Fourth Street is closed to car traffic.  I rode through and noticed the reason why - a bridge over a culvert has significant erosion.  There was still plenty of room to get by on my bike, but I stayed away from the edge. I continued to cross Park Avenue into South Park.  This park has a number of historical markers, a community garden, a log cabin, restrooms, and the Parks office.  

I rode through the park and over into the neighborhood south of Maple Street.  I wanted to go to the bakery "Share ‘N Dipity" on Taylor Road, but found it was closed on Sundays.   The Mansfield bike loop runs through that area on Arlington Ave.  I followed this route back north on Linden past Kingwood Center and the Mansfield High school.  I turned left on Fourth Street.  I had some trepidation, knowing it is a busy road, but on Sunday morning traffic was relatively light and drivers were courteous. I continued into Ontario, and ate lunch at Rooster's. I chained my bike to the fencing at the outdoor seating area, but went inside to eat.  I made sure to get a table where I could keep my bike in sight.   I'd never been to this restaurant before, and was pleasantly surprised by the menu.  

 I kept going past the site of the former GM stamping plant, where the shoulder became fairly wide, as wide as the bike trail.  I continued on to Crestline, about six miles away. The shoulder narrowed a little as I came into town, but I still had plenty of room. I turned left on County Line Road and right on South Street.   I love the brick-lined streets.  It is amazing to me that they are still intact, and haven't all been paved over. 

I meandered through Crestline a bit, crossing the underpass on Scott Street and the overpass on Thoman.  Crestline was a railroad town in the 1800's and railroads crisscross it from it seems like every direction. I crossed the railroad and travelled over to Wiley Street, where I headed north.    I stopped at 7-11 and got a drink and used the restroom, then continued out of town on County Line Road.  In old times, you could go straight from Crestline to Blooming Grove on the unsurprisingly named "Crestline-Blooming Grove Road".  But, the Galion airport runway was extended and the road was routed around it and it became "Galion Airport Road".  I noted that now that US Route 30 bypass was built (20 years ago?) the road is now named "Ulmer Road" for the farmstead that is the only destination on this now-dead-end road.  I continued east on "County Line Road", which is also named State Route 181, to Horning Road.  I know there are a few families named Horning that lived on this road.  I headed south, then crossed over SR 309 and turned right on Lime Road.  This short road is about a mile and a half in length.  At the end I continued south on Blooming Grove Road, which takes a little jog as it crosses Harding Way East, also known as Millsboro Road.  The weather was beautiful, it was a perfect sunny day, if a bit windy.  I was heading south into a southwest breeze.  

I continued into Blooming Grove and turned on SR 97, passing the birthplace of President Harding, which is marked with a historical marker. 

 At this point, I was regretting eating lunch inside the restaurant and stopping at the 7-11 in Crestline, because the time was getting late, and I needed to be home in time to collect a birthday dinner from my husband.  Due to the headwind, my speed was not great.  As I approached Lexington on SR97, traffic got a little heavier, and I decided to take a country road approach into Lexington.  I checked the map and found that Steam Corners Road went straight east-west, crossing SR 314, and going right into town.  It was a little over a mile south of where I was on SR97. 

There were a few hills on Steam Corners, but not too terrible, I was able to ride all of them, past the Mid-Ohio Race Way,  without walking the bike up.  The overall route had been somewhat downhill since Crestline.  This is not surprising, since Crestline was named after the "crest line" that runs through Ohio.  North of Crestline, water runs to Lake Erie, and south of Crestline, water runs to the Olentangy through Columbus, then on to the Ohio River.   My uphill climbs were rewarded with longer downhills.  As I approached Lexington, I was starting to worry about whether my brakes would hold as I approached SR97.  They did.  I was able to cross and wend my way through a development back to the spot on the B&O trailhead where I parked my car. 

My original plan had been to ride south to Butler on the trail, and return, to complete my 65-mile ride on my 65th birthday.  But, I didn't want to miss dinner, so I resolved to ride the remaining 25 miles in the morning, still within 24 hours of the start of my ride. 

Happy birthday to me!

Life lessons learned from the seat of a bicycle

1 Hills are never as big as they look from the distance. It's an optical illusion caused by perspective.  

How many times do we worry and fret because of some future event?  And when it actually gets there, most of the time we are able to handle it. 

2 For every uphill there's an eventual downhill.

Life would be so boring if it were flat all the time.  Ask any manic-depressive. 

3 For every downhill there's an eventual uphill. 

When things are too easy, watch out!  Someone is going to ask for something!

4 It takes time and repetition to build muscle and habits. 

Your "muscle memory" affects things like driving, knitting, cooking, swinging a hammer, or turning a wrench.  It is always awkward at first when you try new things. 

5 It gets easier everyday. Or maybe "it doesn't get easier, you just go faster" as Greg LeMond famously said. 

After practicing, the muscle memory takes over and helps you. 

6 Good nutrition makes a difference.  

When we eat well, our mood is improved, our health is improved, our awareness is better.  We have more energy and our body makes muscle instead of fat. 

7 Going up a hill it's easier to only focus on the next 10 or 15 feet. Trying to focus on the the top of the hill is too hard, but 10 or 15 ft? Anybody can do it.  

Projects can seem overwhelming if you try to tackle them all at once.  Break them down into smaller tasks.  Just focus on one task at a time. 

8 Anybody can ride 5 miles. 

This is a direct quote from my friend Ruthie.  We all know that some disabled people really can't ride 5 miles.  But if they are able enough to get on a bike, almost everyone has enough endurance to ride 5 miles.  Then 5 becomes 6, and 6 becomes 10.  After my hip surgery I could only dare to ride as far as the end of the driveway at first.  Then to the corner of my block.  But it wasn't long before I was riding 5 and 10 miles.  Also, 5 miles at a moderate pace is only half an hour's ride.  You can fit it into your schedule. 

9 Sometimes the hardest part is getting out the door. 

Yes, you have to fit it into your schedule.  And you have to stop procrastinating. 

10 I always feel better when I ride.

My blood is circulating better.  Riding is a moving meditation, and it clears my mind of worries and "monkey brain".  

11 Like Einstein said, to keep your balance you have to keep moving.

This is so true.  If you get stalled in life, and dwell on a hurt or a grievance, you will fall.  You must move past it to let new joy into your life. 

12 It's the journey, not the destination. 

Take time to smell the roses!  Talk to people you meet! 

13.Enjoy the ride.

Abe Lincoln famously said "People are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be".  You can decide to enjoy life. 

14 Just keep moving.

When you stop moving, you die. 

15 If you go too slow, you fall over. 

This goes along with procrastination and also not taking care of things when they happen.  In life, you have to keep moving ahead.  Or get stuck in a rut. 

16 Having a proper fitting makes your ride so much more comfortable.  

Using any tool that doesn't fit will give you muscle pains and maybe injury.  Make sure you use the right size tool for your body and for the job. 

17 Do a safety check before you leave. 

Don't leave trip hazards, electrical hazards, fall hazards, or fire hazards around your house or your car.  Be aware.  Look at websites or brochures from safety and consumer protection organiations, like for example, staysafe.org 

18 Check the weather forecast, and dress for the weather.

Don't be like a teenager that dresses for style and not warmth.  

19 You have to focus your vision on your where you're going, not on the bike or your feet, according to Frances Willard. 

This is true when driving a car, and it is true for your life vision.  Keep your eyes on the goal. 

20 It's important to take a rest day every now and then.

Self-care is in the news. In fact, it is the theme of the week for WW this week.  You can't take care of others unless you are OK yourself.  When you fly on a plane, the flight attendant will tell you to put on your own oxygen mask first. 

21 Choose your bike for the type of riding you plan to do. Don't take a beach Cruiser on a century ride. 

Likewise, you will find that multi-purpose tools often compromise functionality to be multi-functional.  The best tool is usually a specialized tool that is designed for the job you are going to do.  

22 Thinking process is most important.  Any negative thinking torpedoes success. Any thought like "I always struggle" and "I'm slow" "I need to eat better" "I have to ride the bike more" gets in your way and is wasted energy. 

Thinking "I can't do this" guarantees you will not be able to do it.  You have to believe it, before you can do it. See fixed mindset versus growth mindset - Carol Dweck

23 The positive energy we put in our intentions builds up our chance of success. We create our future by our thoughts and turn them into actions. We create what we put our intentions toward. 

Have you heard of the "purple feather" or "law of attraction" theory? It was advanced by Dr. Wayne Dyer.  He said, if you focus on purple feathers, you will see them everywhere.  You attract what you focus on. See more of his work on the Hay House web site. 

 24 Trust your higher self where strength and Love and courage emanate from.  

Higher self? Holy Spirit? Inner Being?  The part of you that is idealistic will give you strength. 

25 There is no failure in a lesson experienced from which knowledge is gained and then used. 

You can fall off your bike 100 times.  But if you learn, each time, you gain experience and become a stronger rider.  Likewise, you can fail a test in school, fail your driver's test, let someone down... Each of those experiences gives you a background to try it another way the next time.  Thomas Edison said "I've not failed.  I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." just before he invented the light bulb. 

26 Set achievable goals. 

Don't try to ride a century without building up to it.  Ride a distance that you are accustomed to, plus a little more.  Likewise, don't plan to find Prince Charming if you never leave the house.  Don't plant a garden of an acre if you've never even had a potted plant.  An achievable goal gives you confidence and experienc to do it bigger or better the next time. 

27 You wouldn't put dirty oil in a Ferrari. Why put junk food in your body?  

I found this quote in a cookbook for cyclists by Hannah Grant.  I don't recall if she said it, or if one of the cyclists she was cooking for said it.  But it's true.  Whole and fermented foods, vegetables and fruits will build up your immune system and provide the nutrients you need.  Junk food will clog your arteries and give you diabetes.  Why do it? 

28 Everybody is a beginner at some point. It takes more than a few tries to be an expert at anything. 

You can't expect to know how to do something before you've done it.  Embrace being a beginner.  This is true no matter if you are on a first date, first kiss, first tryst, or the first time you take the PSAT.  Accept that you are going to make a mistake or two and that you will get bettter with practice. 

29 Keep track of your metrics, keep a record of where you've been. 

It is good to look back and see how far you have come, how much you have improved.  It helps with motivation and with satisfaction. You wouldn't run a business without keeping track of your finances.  

30 Don't hide your light under a bushel. Let other people know about your goals and your achievements and if they can help you. 

People love being part of something bigger than themselves.  Have big ideas, and share them!  Henry Ford did not make cars by himself.  He designed a process whereby people could contribute, and importantly, share in the rewards.  If people help you, give them recognition!

31. Wear your PPE. Helmet and gloves and goggles. 

As much as you like riding your bike, you will like it more if your brain is not on the pavement.  This is true at home and at work.  Use potholders to lift a pan out of the oven.  Put on safety glasses if you are drilling.  If you are handling sharp steel, wear Kevlar. Your eyes are important.  Protect them from bugs, sparks, metal shards, and sand. 

 32. It's cooler in the morning. 

Pay attention to the weather.  The hottest part of the day is around 3-5 pm.  If it's the middle of the winter, that's the time for your ride, just make sure you are home by dark.  If it's the middle of the summer, get up before dawn and go out early before the sun heats it up.  Thunderstorms USUALLY are in the afternoon.  Plan around the weather.  If you are doing laundry and hanging it outside, the same rules apply.  If you are going fishing, same.  Even driving your car to work, pay attention to the weather.  Make sure you are prepared for the temperatures if your car were to break down. 

33. Dr. Stacy Sims: "Listen to your body and nourish it with real food. Eat enough of it to get the nutrients you need. Supplements are not the answer.!!  

Our bodies evolved over millenia to use food for health.  "Let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food', is often ascribed to Hippocrates who lived 2500 years ago. Modern science has not disproved this axiom.  You must have carbohydrates for energy, protein for building and repairing muscle, and fat to provide energy and carry some essential vitamins.  Supplements may be helpful for people who have metabolic disorders, but for most people, they are not needed regularly.  

34. Gwen Jorgensen: "it's not just about finishing first. It's about what you've accomplished and how you've grown as a person, pushing your own boundaries." 

Comparing yourself to others is unimportant.  It is personal growth that is meaningful.  How are you better, stronger, fitter, more compassionate than you were yesterday?  What can you do today that you could not do last week? 

35. Momentum is as important as muscles. It is really hard to get going after a full stop, while the momentum from a downhill can carry you almost to the top of the next hill.  

This is true in life.  How many times does a project fail because it never really gets started? Once the train is moving, people will run to jump on board. 

36.  When you are facing a headwind, it is possible that you are creating it.  If you are moving faster than the tailwind it feels like a headwind.  Check another source for input.  Are the leaves of the trees moving? 

Also true for projects.  Make sure you are not causing friction for yourself.  It could be any number of things.  People take things the wrong way? Communicate more.  

37.  If it rains, ride anyway.   If it thunders, seek shelter. 

Don't let little obstacles get in your way.  Put on a raincoat if it's raining.  Or make other adjustments to adapt to the inevitable problems that come up.  If there's a safety issue, though, you must stop.  Wait until it is safe to proceed. 

38. Everyone is on their own journey. 

You will meet many people on your bike and in your life.  Except for your parents and potentially your spouse, (and maybe not even them!) no one is going to take your journey with you.  For me, that is one of the most amazing and inspiring stories in the Christian Bible.  When Jesus called the disciples, they gave up their lives to follow him on his journey.   This doesn't happen very often, and when it does, it is very special.  Be prepared to accept that you meet people for a time, share some time with them, and keep moving.  

39.  It is easier when the route is marked for you.  But you should still carry a map (or GPS and a battery) to be able to get back to the route if you wander off-course. 

Part of the ride is doing the planning.  If you can outsource it by riding a trail someone else has marked, it saves you time.  Or, to save time,  follow a guidebook.  Make sure it's fairly recent!  Restaurants and hotels open and close, roads are under construction, weather events (or pandemics) may result in changes to the situation.   Make sure your interests and goals are aligned with those of the author, otherwise you may be taking a tour of giant roadside fiberglass animals instead of historical markers.  

40. If someone encourages you or helps you on your journey, be grateful.  Help someone else.  Pass it forward. 

Do you have a flat tire? Lack of motivation? A patch kit or a kind word can make all the difference. 

41.Teams achieve more.  They build on each others strengths. 

A bike club can sponsor a group ride.  An individual may find that much more difficult.  Likewise, you go further and faster when you can pass the time riding with someone else.  That peer pressure and little spur of competition may encourage you to pedal faster.  Your riding partner might give you a tip. 

42. Look for the clear path.  Don't focus on obstacles, or you'll head right for them.  Focus on the way through the obstacles. 

In the fall of the year, it is common for bike paths to be littered with leaves, sticks, nuts, and other obstacles.  If you focus on the obstacle, you will head right for it.  

43. Have No Fear.  Don't brake on the downhills unnecessarily.  

You go faster and further if you trust the bike will stay upright.  Same way with life.  If you are afraid of getting hurt, you will never leave home. 

44.  Before you can ride anywhere,  you have to believe that you can do it.  Henry Ford said "whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right."

45.  Once you are on the bike, turn off the monkey brain that will calculate how long you have left to ride, what time you will get back, how tired you are, how many calories you will be burning, what else you could be doing. Focus on the right now.  Each pedal stroke, one at a time.

46. Somebody has to be the slowest, and at the back of the pack.  Today it might be you.  Tomorrow it might be someone else.  It only matters if you don't make it to dinner.

47.  You are lapping everyone sitting on the couch.

48.  Charge your batteries the night before you ride.

49. Do your laundry at the earliest opportunity.

Linking the Richland B&O and OTET - Is it possible?

 

I want to go from the Richland B&O Trail to the Ohio to Erie Trail.  There is about a 30-mile gap between them, which would entail riding on a road.  It's a hilly area.  I let google navigate for me, from Butler to Mount Vernon. It presented me with three options - the flattest of which was to ride down State Route 95 to Ankeytown, from Ankneytown to Fredericktown, and from there down State Route 13. 

I got to Butler, and was dismayed to see that vandals have been busy.  I just saw a Facebook post about another Mansfield City park being vandalized, Liberty Park in the Madison school area.  Very sad to see.  I was glad, however, that the ladies' room was still open.  

It was nice weather for a ride.  Not too cool, not too hot.  I made my way onto State Route 95 and headed south.  I stopped to take a photo of this creek, because it was so pretty with the sky reflecting in the s-shaped creek.  Unfortunately the photo doesn't give the full effect. 

 Traffic was light on SR 95 and that was good, because there were no shoulders marked.  A couple of semi-trucks came the other way, but they slowed, and there was no issue.  I got to Fredericktown without incident, where the google navigation was a little confusing.  Luckily I spotted a bike/hike trail on the other side of the road and guessed I was supposed to take it.  It was very pleasant.  A section was cut out of rocks, which had eroded away over the years.  

When the short trail ended, I was on a wide, empty road.  Empty except for the heavy trucks that occasionally came my way.  That street ended on State Route 13, just at the end of the divided highway section.  I had to cross over the divided highway to turn left.  At least there was a narrow shoulder, but there was also a rumble strip cut into the edge markings.   I had to concentrate not to wander into the rumble strips.  Traffic was fairly light, being the middle of the day. 

When I got to Mt. Vernon, there were a lot of road closing signs.  But they said "Local Traffic only - No Trucks", so I assumed a bike would be able to get through.  When I got to the construction area, though, car traffic was coming through the one lane in only one direction. I moved over onto the sidewalk and rode through the parking lots of several businesses.  This was pretty easy because the road was downhill.  I got to the square in Mt. Vernon and decided it would be good to stop for lunch.  I picked this place, thinking it would have healthy food. 

 

The lunch menu was limited, they had a "happy hippie" wrap with kale and other vegetables and either scrambled tofu, sesame seed, or both.  I chose just the scrambled tofu.  It was sooooo gooooood!!!

I may come back when not on the bike, just for another one of those wraps.  There is also a maker space next door that I'd like to check out.  

I rode on to the old restored train station that serves as the Chamber of Commerce visitor center along the rail-trail.  This is the meeting of two of the trails that make up the Ohio to Erie Trail.  I rode past Ariel Foundation park, which is the site of a former PPG glass factory, and continued down another 8 or 9 miles to Mt. Liberty.  I was starting to worry about getting home in time for "date night" with my husband, so I turned around and headed back.  The trail is every so slightly downhill going north.  I made better time going back.   

When I got downown in Mt. Vernon, I wanted to avoid the road construction, so I went up Gay Street.  This proved to be problematic.  First, it was uphill.  There was no bike lane, and cars were parked on the right with little room for the traffic, and no room for me.  I ended up walking up part of the street onthe sidewalk. 

Gay Street ended at the cemetary.  I turned left and road to Mansfield Avenue and headed out of town.  Mansfield Avenue became Old Mansfield Road at some point.  I rode for several miles.  It was a roller coaster of uphill and down.  Several times my heart was in my throat as a car or truck roared past me as it crested the blind hill.  It was getting towards "rush hour" if you can call it that, and traffic was pretty heavy. Seemingly everyone was in a hurry.  I called Ed to come and get me.  It was getting late and I was getting nervous.  

I do not recommend this route.  So I am still searching for a way from Butler to OTET!  

My Velosano Experience - Cleveland, Ohio

Velosano

 Let me get this off my chest right up front:  Velosano is a charity ride.  100% of the funds collected go to the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Research efforts.   You can donate at this link. 

This was my second year of Velosano.  Last year was kind of a bust, due to the pandemic.  I signed up, they cancelled the event, they sent me a jersey and a discounts on a lot of products, including Smucker's jams and jellies.  I took advantage!  

This year I decided to actually participate.  The fundraising commitment is scaled depending on which ride you choose to ride.  I ride, because I remember leaning about cancer as a child, hearing about my uncle Chick wasting away with lung cancer.  During the 60's cancer was a scary word, and adults didn't say it much around children.  Then my high school biology teacher lost his daughter to non-Hodgkins lymphoma.  Fast forward a few years, my best friend's mother died from breast cancer, then her older sister also died. Meanwhile, my (current) husband was caring for his uncle who had stomach cancer and sadly passed away.  My father and my grandmother both experienced melanoma, but were able to have healing surgery. My ex-husband had skin cancer and eventually the cancer metasasized into a brain tumor which was surgically removed, but led through circumstances to his eventual death.  Another friend got breast cancer and is recovering.  My cousin, younger than me,  passed away. A neighbor has prostate cancer and is currently going through treatment.  My best friend is currently on the journey.  I got endometrial cancer (and just saw the doctor today, still cancer-free after my hysterectomy! Praise the Lord!)  The list just goes on and on.  It's not only the patients, but also the care-givers.  So, that's why I ride to support cancer research.  It is a horrible disease and it won't be cured without scientific research. 

There were thousands of people on Cleveland's Public Square, both riders and volunteers, and sponsors of the event. 

You can enter a raffle to win a chance on four seasons worth of Lexuses on the Velosano.org web site. 

With so many people, there were signs everywhere advising riders to wear masks, especially when crowded together at the starting chute.  I got a free mask from one of the sponsors, it matched the jersey! We had a beautiful sunny, breezy day for the ride. I slipped on my black bolero to ward off any chill.  Later I was glad I did so I could find myself in the photos of thousands of riders in identical jerseys taken by the official photographers! 

They started the longer-distance riders first. The 50-mile riders started earliest, followed by the 25 mile riders.   I wanted to ride the longer ride, but shied away from the larger fundraising commitment.  The 10-mile "Fun Ride" started at 9:30 and I committed to raising $500 at that level.   (After doing the ride, I realized that nobody was really checking ID's at the starting chute so I had chosen to go on a longer ride, I probably could have.  Oh well.)  While I waited for my start, I perused the breakfast options.  There was a lot of food.  Finally, it was time.  First there was a moment of silence for both victims of 9-11 and also victims of cancer.  Then the National Anthem, then a 60-second countdown to the start.  All very dramatic, the ceremony was repeated for each group start. 

The line of riders stretched way off into the distance behind me. 

They had volunteer policemen at every intersection for the entire 10 miles of the ride, directing traffic to allow the bike riders to go through.  I am not all that familiar with Cleveland city streets, so it was a help to be waved through.  At critical points there were additional volunteers pointing out the routes, as well as an abundance of signs.  I blew through the rest stops.  I was told there was ice cream at one of them, but as I don't eat ice cream due to a dairy intolerance, I didn't mind missing it.  I teared up at the midway point, though.  All the volunteers were ringing cowbells, holding up signs, clapping, whistling and shouting encouragement.  It is really moving to see how many people come out to support cancer research.  

This is a huge event for the Cleveland Clinic.  There were 2000 riders, and I suspect there were at least that many volunteers.   At my doctor appointment today, the nurse-practicioner told me that my doctor rode the 50-mile ride.  

After I returned and rode through the Indians misty archway,

Photo credit :NPi Audio Visual Solutions

Photo credit :NPi Audio Visual Solutions

  I found my way back to the food and stood in line for taco. The food was delicious. I hung around for a while listening to the music and picking up swag from the sponsor's booths.  I scored a couple of water bottles courtesy of  Key Bank and the Cleveland Water Department, socks from Primal jerseys, socks from Lexus, a bobblehead of a Cleveland Cavaliers' player, and some Berocca vitamin/mineral supplements to help with hydration after an event.   

After hanging out for a while I went back to my car and headed for home.  

Lodi

It didn't seem like I had ridden enough.  It occurred to me that I could stop in Lodi and complete my "tour of Italy".  Alert readers may remember that earlier this summer I had planned to ride from Rome, to Milan, to Florence, to Parma, and then to Lodi.  All in Ohio, not in Italy.  The weather was really hot, in the nineties, that week, and I never made it all the way to Lodi, although I got as far as Hinckley, Ohio.  

So, without a plan in mind, other than to go to Lodi, I parked on the village square and got my bike out.  I circled around the brick-paved square a few times.  

The Town Hall is a charming brick village.  

The banner advertised a 9-11 event.  

I could not read the inscription on this statue in the fountain. I was curious.  So I looked it up here. 

I randomly picked a road that led out of the square and found a railroad museum on the south side of town. 

On my way out of town, I saw a yellow sign in front of the American Legion post advertising a clambake.  We just returned from a vacation in Delaware, travelling through Maryland and across the Chesapeake Bay.  We ate a lot of seafood there, but didn't get to a Crab Bake or a Clam Bake.  

Slow Roll Mansfield

Tonight I rode with the Slow Roll Mansfield group.  We did a 5-mile ride, led by Nelson Shogrun, around the Clifton Boulevard neighborhood. I had never been to a couple of the parks that we rode past. 

Nelson pointed out the danger of cyclists riding more than 10 miles without stopping for ice cream.  

Delaware Vacation

 My husband and I took a beachy vacation in Delaware.  I had never been to Delaware before, although he had been to Seaford on a business trip.  He remembered having really good seafood there. 

He's been working very hard and really needed a vacation.  So, off we went! It was a short stay.  We drove straight through.  We stayed in an AirBnB in Millsboro, which was about 20 minutes from each of several beaches. 

We are not really beach people.  He has red hair and fair skin that burns. I get antsy lying around on a beach when there are a million things to do. 

  

But, I loved Delaware for how bicycle-friendly it seemed to be!  I had brought my bike along, but he didn't expect to bicycle.  So we ended up renting a bike for him in Bethany Beach and rode about 10 miles, exploring all the beach roads and the side streets. 

The next morning I rode from Millsboro to Dagsboro and back alone. I was looking for a trail that led from Dagsboro to the beach, but I never found it.  If Ed had not been waiting for me to return, I would have kept looking.    There were a few hairy moments, such as google telling me to cross a four-lane highway, but I decided to ride an extra mile and cross at an intersection with a light. 

Even 20 minutes away from the beach by car, all the major roads had dedicated bike lanes or "share the road" signs.  Maybe what was marked as a trail in google was actually a road with a bike lane. 

We rode the ferry to Cape May, taking our car (and therefore my bike) with us.  I didn't ride much, but I took a picture of my bike. 

We had a great seafood meal at The Lobster House in Cape May.  Unfortunately, the last day of our vacation it rained.  I visited a local yarn store and bought some yarn, you can see my project at my knitting blog http://brightmeadowknits.blogspot.com when I get it posted.  It's already in ravelry, where my username is brightmeadow.  

The next day the morning dawned with absolutely perfect weather.  Unfortunately, it was time to head home.  On the way out of town, we stopped at the Vanderwende creamery. We had seen these ice cream shops in every beach town but never made it to any of them.  

The ice cream shop's colors match my bike. Therefore, I think they should sponsor me.

As I was posing my bike with a statue of a cow, Ed pointed out the bald eagle in the field.  

The cows were not disturbed by the eagle.  I tried to get closer and zoom in, but alas, no good.  They say the best camera is the one you have with you, but that may not always be true!