We took off an hour late on Friday for Ohio to do Krista's Ashtabula County Covered Bridges Ride. It was supposed to be a 5.5 hour ride, but before we even got off Doveville, the gps told us 7 hours. Ugh! It was 3:00 pm so that meant we'd arrive around 10:00 pm (with not stops). Did Laurie's forgotten phone cost us two-and-a-half hours, or would we have had the same traffic if we left at 2:00 pm? We'll never know. And it doesn't matter too much, because we got there in the end!
This is a trip besotted by rain at every planning. This was our third try at traveling to Ashtabula to see the covered bridges. We scheduled for last July, then last October. Both weekends saw torrential and perpetual rain--for the entire eastern third of the U.S. There was no escaping it anywhere. This time, the forecast for Saturday was also rain, but it said only showers and sometimes showed them starting as late as 1:00 pm. We decided to go for it, so it was ironic that we would have the sun in our eyes as we traveled northwest almost the entire time. When the sun finally began to settle below the horizon, I was relieved!
Our room, in the 3.5-star (supposedly) America's Best Value Inn, was the grossest I've ever stayed in. Congratulations Ashtabula! I checked in with all the male workers (construction? trucking?) who were obviously finishing their workdays late away from home. They lined up behind me as I waited for my key. When the clerk handed it over, announcing "Room 228 - first room on the right at the top of the stairs!" I cringed and wanted to say, "Shhh...everyone doesn't need to know!"
I'm never usually afraid traveling alone, and I wasn't in this moment, but regardless, these are the things women must think about when out in the world. Awareness and caution never hurt anyone. In this case anyway, my biggest worry was simply whether I'd share my abode with bed bugs and what to do about the apple (or pear?) peel that was leaning against the bed frame at the foot of my bed. I ended up picking it up with a tissue and tossing it, then resolving not to take off my shoes during our stay. We should have asked for a new room (or found a new hotel) but it was going on 11:00pm and the hotel had a "No Vacancy" sign in the window. So we curled up in the center of our beds and tried not to touch too much stuff til morning!
After some peanut butter toast and a couple of donut-holes, we packed up and drove to the start. We followed the gps instructions: turn right in 500 feet, turn right in 500 feet, and we were there! I'd momentarily forgotten that I booked the terrible room because it was right next to the visitor center where the cue sheet started!
Laurie took some time fussing around with her things and pumping up her tires with my unfamiliar pump. And then more fussing. I asked a few times if I could lock up the car, but she didn't hear me. So I waited.
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| Waiting to leave :) |
Finally, we were ready. There was a little mini-bridge in the visitor center parking lot but Laurie wouldn't let me take her picture in it, so here we are with the sign. Ready to go and beat the rain that was predicted to start at 11:00 am, or 1:00 pm, or wait, 7:00 am. It was different every time we looked!
We started off alone - Scott and Denise who had intended to do the whole ride with us, decided to meet us later for the final 10 miles - it being late in the season and the weather having been mostly rain, they hadn't put in the miles they expected.
Almost immediately on the trail head we spotted what Laurie thought might be our first covered bridge, but alas, it's just an over pass. They do like tunnels in these parts though!
Riding out on this path reminded both of us of the beginning of the France ride.
And then, just 5 miles in, Laurie gets a flat tire. Ugh. We both know this could be catastrophic because she has had such a hard time getting her tire on and, to boot, I forgot my pump for the first time in forever!
How much detail do we need for this calamity? Laurie's pump was new and we weren't sure how to use it, so when we were pumping up the new tire and it wasn't working, we didn't know if it was because we weren't using the pump right or because the valve on the tube was faulty. I finally decided I'd have to ride to the car to get our floor pump and Laurie would have to walk to the next street crossing. But while I checked that out, a guy rode by with a floor pump in a back pack! Who rides around with a floor pump on their bike?
Jeremy. That's who!
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| Jeremy riding away after saving the day. |
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| Laurie packing back up after we fixed her tire. |
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| Love it when I find purple houses. There are more out there than you think! |
It even had a pedestrian walkway on both sides where you could pass safely and look out over the gorge.
And then we were at bridge #2 (Get used to this)!
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| Olins Bridge |
I thought this was the most beautiful bridge on the ride (from the outside). They all had their unique features.
Laurie having more technical difficulties - this time with her phone holder - whatever you call that thing.
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| Love the red barns. They're just so red. |
We stopped here for a snack. I ate my pb&j, packed Thursday night, but still edible. We peed under the bridge like trolls. What can you do?!
Graham Road Covered Bridge (#5), at mile 23, had been moved off the road and turned into a park. There were picnic tables inside, which I thought was really sweet. I know my kids would have loved to come here to throw a Frisbee and eat a sandwich inside. We didn't venture over because we were wanting to stay on schedule to meet Scott and Denise at mile 40. But now that I'm home, I bet if we'd had, we would have learned something about the history/tradition of bridges on the inside. Or maybe not. It was a park, not a museum.
The Caine Road Bridge (#6) was down a gravel road (not the first gravel of the day, but all of it manageable).
I'm pretty sure Laurie took this interior pic. Nice light!
There were quite a few picturesque Amish farms - with the laundry hanging, the flowers at the doorstep, and the children playing in the barn. I didn't take pictures because I didn't want to intrude, but there is something very homey about these farms. They look like yards and farms at the same time - I suppose because they are both so well used and well cared for.
We passed one homestead that had four or five buggies lined up in a wooden garage. I don't know if it was a home, a compound, or some kind of meeting place, but it was impressive looking. Again, no pics. Below is just a typical looking farm from the ride.
These periwinkle (?) outbuildings looked more purple through my glasses. You know how I love purple buildings!
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Laurie considers whether she should risk breaking the weight limit before crossing over the South Denmark Road Bridge (#7).
This bridge is still in use, but didn't appear open to vehicular traffic. A newer bridge and road went around it, leaving this one for cyclists, horse & buggies, and pedestrians.
And our final bridge of the day, the Netcher Road Bridge (#8!). I had no idea we would see eight bridges. I wonder how many are actually in the area? At this one, we fantasized that Scott and Denise were posted at the little table with the umbrella on the other side, waiting for us with a cooler of beer, a picnic, and a ride home! This is mile 34. But the cousins are nowhere in sight.
We arrived in Jefferson, which I decided was a pretty cool place. This pic is of the historical society. I'd gone over to take a picture because I thought it was a church, and the sign out front said something about celebrating women's suffrage. I was impressed a church would have that message, but was just as satisfied it was actually the town historical society that was out to celebrate it. Don't have a pic of the sign because there were people sitting next to it. I'm not that obnoxious of a tourist that I would take their picture (yet!).
And then we saw this bench in honor of the first female mayor. Go Judy and Jefferson!
And then this bench dedicated to Robin L. Blon, Angel in the Outfield. I wondered, did she play on a softball or baseball team? Were they the Angels? Or was she? I looked her up and found her obituary. She died of cancer in 2014, and it appears she did a lot to support girls' sports in Jefferson (esp. softball and little league).
I liked Jefferson. It seemed like a nice little town with an identity and a personality. Mixing quaint with modern and fancy with modest. There were so many cool old houses. I only managed a pic of this rather grand one.
Meanwhile, we'd gotten word from Denise that they were waiting for us at a trailhead just 3 miles down the road. They had made a wrong turn and didn't make it into Jefferson, so we cruised the final 3 miles to meet them which all happened to be downhill (no wonder they didn't want to ride up to Jefferson after their wrong turn!).
Here we are pulling into the trailhead - thanks for pic Denise! And just as we arrived, it started to sprinkle, so we all jumped on our bikes and kept riding. We had time for quick updates - during which Laurie revealed we had eaten pizza for dinner the night before (no choice on the road) after telling them we'd be happy to eat pizza with them on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the rain was really coming down now, so we raced to our cars and packed up. Afterwhich I realized I never took a picture of them or with them on our bikes! Aaargh!
Laurie and I stopped by historic Ashtabula Harbor before heading to Brecksville. I wanted to at least see Lake Erie after coming so close. But by now, the weather we'd been racing against, had arrived. We stopped in a cute little coffee shop to warm up (not too successful since our clothes were wet) before driving home.
On our way out, I snapped this of the lake in the distance through my car window. A terrible picture, really. You can't see the lake, only the distance where it's supposed to be. And you can see the industry. The downtown was interesting, a really cute Main Street in the midst of industrial harbor business. Again no pics - but you can see why. The weather didn't really permit.
Saturday evening we stopped by Shellie's to see her adorable new house. Yay Shellie! With the added bonus of getting to visit with Stephen.
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| Shellie's new digs |
We gathered again for breakfast at Panera's (Creekside booked because father's day) and got to see Ben and meet his wife Hallee. More good times and conversations. Could have stayed all day. Love and miss the Ohio fam!!
And our final stop on the way out - we saw Highland Drive as we were headed for route 77 so we waved to Grandma and Grandpa's old house and swung into the cemetery. Hadn't been back there since Grandma's funeral. In fact, I think we hadn't been back to Brecksville at all since Grandma's funeral. Which made us all realize we need to do better. Visit more. Stay connected.
Drive home only took 5.5 hours as expected, but Laurie had to drive the first 3 hours in the rain. Sorry Laurie! As soon as the clouds parted, I took over. Lucky me.
Speed: 12.8 mph
