So how did we get from Cairo IL to Dayton OH?? It's been a journey that's for sure. We succeeded in outlasting the rain. The sun was shining when we left Cairo. For the we had the option of taking a crushed limestone bike trail or roads. We have ridden on many crushed limestone trails. Erie Canal, Great Alleghany Passage, C & O Canal Towpath and many more around the country. It is really nice to be able to ride on a bike trail and not have to worry about traffic. But the trade off is that the crushed limestone makes the riding alittle more difficult. Any time the tires "sink into" the trail it takes more energy than riding on a hard service. You don't realize that the workload is just that much more difficult until the end of the day. But we were ready for a change so we opted for the bike trail.
The Tunnel Hill State Trail is a 45 mile trail that starts in Karnak IL and goes to Harrisburg IL. There are two tunnels along the trail. We picked up the trail in Karnak and headed north. Oh wait, I need to give you some background about our adventures of riding through tunnels. We have been in many around the country. The most memorable would be the Nada tunnel in Kentucky. Several years ago we took our border collie, Katie on a bike trip. She rode behind the tandem in her Bobb trailer. She loved to ride in her trailer. Any time we got it out of the garage, she would just sit in it looking at us, saying "well, are we riding or what". The Nada tunnel in KY is a very narrow tunnel at the top of a big hill. Just before we got to the tunnel, I asked Hap if we needed to get the lights out so he could see. He said, no we are good, I got this. Well, about two seconds into the tunnel, Hap lost his equilibrium and we ran into the wall and fell over. Not good! It didn't bother Katie at all though, she never even moved out of her trailer. So from that experience, I have to admit that I'm afraid of tunnels!
As we rode up the trail, we ran into a couple of other cyclists who were riding the Trans America route across the US from Virginia to Oregon. We have ridden that route as well, but couldn't remember exactly where it crossed. It's always fun to meet other cyclists on the road. As it turned out they were from Ohio. When I asked them where they started they said at the beginning of course in Virginia. Why would you start any where else? I didn't say anything to them but we started our Trans Am ride in Ohio, rode south to Kentucky and picked up the Trans Am route cross country. Guess we have been doing it all wrong all these years. We hardly ever start and end at the beginning and ending of a route. Oh well!
After we left those cyclists we went through the first tunnel. As we were exiting (no we didn't fall over), there was a huge snake laying in a puddle. We stopped for a picture and noticed a cyclist coming through the tunnel. I yelled and said watch out for the snake. Pointing at said snake! Did I mention how big he was???? The cyclist flies up to the snake, jumps off his bike (like a calf roper who just roped a calf) and grabs up the snake. Then he starts walking toward me saying wow what a great find. I was backing up! He is completely harmless, he's a black rat snake, totally non venomous. We were in shock. It was like the crocodile hunter of Tunnel hill. He continued on saying see he can bite me and it doesn't even hurt (he is letting the snake bite his hand at this point!-----no, I am not kidding.....), then. see if I hold him like this he doesn't even know I'm here, he's totally comfortable (then why don't you just put him down). The funny part was his girlfriend/wife was waiting at the other end of the tunnel. He kept yelling at her to come see the snake and she kept yelling put it down! After many minutes (too many minutes) he said, I don't want to leave him on the trail, I'm going to take him away. He got on his bike (yes, still holding the snake!) as we were leaving on the tandem. We all started riding at the same time. He had the snake in one hand. Then he said, I'm gonna pass you guys and take him down the trail. The trail is about six feet wide or so. So here's this crazy guy holding a five foot long snake in his right hand and trying to pass us. Are you kidding me?? I'm thinking there's no way in hell you are passing us with that snakes head like that. I started pedaling as hard as I could so he couldn't pass. We left him behind. I was watching him in my mirror
and he was still "chasing" us down the trail. We were both laughing by this time. Oh my gosh did that
just happen? We got alittle way down the trail and I saw THE snakes little brother on the side of the trail. He was a lot smaller, thinner and shinier. Ok enough with the snakes already!
We made it throught the second tunnel. It was much longer than the first. Just before we got there I asked Hap if he needed to get the lights out so he could see and he said no. I made an executive decision that were walking through the tunnel. And yes, I did get my light out so I could see.
The trail was actually very nice. We enjoyed being away from traffic. No camping was available in Harrisburg so we stayed inside again.
Harrisburg, IL - Grayville IL
When we left Harrisburg, we were able to ride the trail another few miles or so to Eldorado. Then it was back out onto the highway with everyone else. Although there was a nice shoulder on State Route 45. The sun was shining and temps were much better with lower humidity. There was some road construction in one section that made for more traffic. But the good news that sometimes happens with construction, is the traffic has to slow down. Sometimes we also have our own lane, since we can ride on the other side of the barriers that are up. In this case the flagged stopped the traffic and alternated letting one side go. So that meant all we had to do once we got through that section was wait until the line of traffic passed us, then ride until we saw the line coming and then
pull over again.
We got to Grayville and stopped at the grocery for dinner supplies before heading to the City campground called Hilltop Campground. We asked someone at the grocery for directions and he said,
now its on top of a big hill, I would probably ride up it just to challenge myself but you guys may
have to just walk up the hill.............................................................................................................................. Hap and I looked
at each other, and I thought we are either riding up that hill or we are not going UP! It was alittle difficult to find it, but after several "do overs" we found the park that the campground was in. All we had to do was find the actual campground. As we were riding through the park, we stopped at the pool to get some direction. One little guy said, follow me, I'll show you as he took off on his bike. We followed him up THE hill, to the campground. It was actually a nice little campground tucked away on top of the hill.
As we were walking around trying to figure out where to camp, another camper said they were getting ready to leave we could have their spot. Since it was the flattest spot we said, thanks. This couple were so nice. They were locals that came to the park regularly. We asked them who or how we pay since there wasn't an attendant there. He said sometimes someone will come buy to collect money and sometimes they don't. Guess we'll wait and see. We set up the tent and headed to the
showers.
Just as we were leaving the shower house we saw a very large truck with a very large RV pulling around our tent and across our site. Ahhhh.... from our viewpoint it looked like a very tight, squeeze around the tent. But no worries it was fairly obvious that he new what he was doing. As it turned out it was a grandma/grandpa and four grandkids outing. After dinner we got in the tent and attempted to watch a movie on the IPad. But I'm not sure how successful we were. Both of us were asleep in about five nanoseconds.
Grayville IL - Bloomington IN
For breakfast we rode back down to the grocery store where they had a small cafe set up. When we walked in there was a table of older local men sitting at a table solving a lot of problems. It's interesting that in almost any town we ride through we find a table just like this one. Another sunny,
hot day. We crossed the Walbash River and road into Indiana with Hap singing the "Back Home
Again in Indiana". After we crossed the bridge we promptly turned onto a road that became a rough
gravel road. Turn around lets go somewhere else. What we found in Indiana was mostly riding on
two lane, no shoulder very busy highways. It's just no fun having to look over your shoulder. We stopped at a fantastic Mexican Restaurant CINCO DE MAYO in Patoka IN.
The rest of the day we spent just fighting traffic on narrow shoulderless roads. We where heading for Bloomington IN to visit Hap's niece / nephew and four girls. Otherwise we might have changed our route. But we couldn't. We ended up riding on a road that was already very busy but also had two other truck routes detoured onto the road we were on. Needless to say it was a very stressful, hilly ride into Bloomington. After traveling all across the country on this trip, this had to be the worse road we have been on. Wow! Terrible! But we made it, after many stressful hours. But FIRST we had to deal with another detour that added an extra ten miles onto a crazy day.
Bloomington IN - Columbus IN
We had a great evening with the family. It fun to be around family again. Leaving Bloomington we had about 20 miles of a busy no shoulder highway, to Nashville IN. This area is where the Hilly 100 bicycle ride is held every year in October. It's a two day fun ride with lots of food and fun. We really enjoy it after having ridden it for many years. So we love riding in this area, but I don't remember having traffic like this.
Once we got to Nashville, we stopped to play pickleball at the YMCA. We ended up playing for three hours before continuing on to Columbus. There was an eight foot shoulder, so the traffic didn't bother us at all. It gave us some room to breath. Although there was a constant stream of traffic.
In Columbus we were spending the night with a Warm Showers host. Dan and Tammy. Warm Shouwers is a n organization that we belong to, where people sign up to let you stay in their home for the night. Just before leaving on this trip we had two South Korean boys stay with us. It's a great concept. We have stayed with many hosts in the past. But for some reason on this trip we have not
been able to connect with anyone.
Dan and Tammy were awesome hosts. Dan had just competed in the Race Across America with a team of eight guys. Yes, that means a race across the US in 7-8 days. Wow what an accomplishment! They treated us like family. It was so much fun to talk with others about lifestyles in different parts of the country.
Columbus IN - Connersville IN
We left Columbus thinking we were going to a campground north of Brookville IN. During our first break, I called Campground #1 and found out they were full. Campground #2-FULL. Campground #3 FULL. Alrighty then, on to Plan B. I found another campground and while speaking to the girl she said we charge $25. I said ok, so what amenities do you have? Picnic tables, electric, water, showered etc. She said no, no, no, yes! I answered and said, so it's pretty much $25 to sleep in a field and I can take a shower. She said, yep you got it! Ok, on to Plan C.....I finally found a campground near Connersville IN. So off we went in a new direction.
We had a great tailwind with lower temps and sunshine. Most of the ride was spent on backroads, what looked like little lanes throught farmland. Not much traffic, rolling hills. Just a nice ride. Just when we were enjoying the ride, we saw some of the bright orange detour signs. Darn it! We decided to just chance it and move forward.
Then the unthinkable happened! We were riding on our little road in the middle of nowhere. A car was coming up behind us. I usually watch a car come up behind until I see them moving to the left then I stop watching them. For some reason this time, I watched the car alittle longer and he started moving TOWARD us, then he sped up! I yelled for Hap to get off the road. So he rode off into the ditch. The car barely missed us by inches. If we hadn't gone to the ditch, I wouldnt be writing this. Absolutely no reason. No doubt what he was trying to do. It stunned both of us. We started up the road and a guy was just down the road getting out of his car. He lived on that road. He said did that guy hit you? He said he saw what happened. He also had an encounter with the same car earlier. Wow! He told us he was going to call the police and report it. We rode on, but just stunned.
It's difficult to understand how someone could just do that.
We finally got to the campground, set up camp, did the laundry, cooked dinner and went to bed. I think I was asleep in two minutes. It had been a long day!
Connersville IN - Dayton OH
We packed up the camp, and rode into town for breakfast. We had some awesome omelets at the Chrome Grill. When I went to pay for our food, the lady said we only take cash or check. I said ok, but what if I didn't have any? She said then I would buy your breakfast for you! Nice people!
Very hot and muggy weather, with overcast skies. Traffic wise our route today was good. Very hilly today though. We rode as many backroads as we could. With it being the holiday weekend, we thought it safer. Who knows though! Right??
Looks more like home now. Lots of farmland, hills, creeks. It's great to almost be home. We have about 100 miles left to go.
The only problems we had today was getting into Dayton. We approached Dayton from the south via the Great Miami River Trail. But we had to get off the trail to get to a hotel. Thats when the fun started. Hap was using his ETREX 20 GPS and I was using Google bike maps. It seemed like a roundabout way to get to the hotel but we made it! Two more riding days to go!
