Traveling at Mach 0.012

Thursday May 22

Start: Norwalk, OH
Destination: Toledo, OH
Day total miles: 70
Journey total miles: 778

Towns passed through:
Bellevue, OH
Clyde, OH
Fremont, OH
Toledo, OH

Mostly pleasant riding conditions, mostly through the countryside of NW Ohio. Winds picked up from the west that made riding into Toledo a challenge.

Picking a place at about 25 miles out for breakfast has become a daily ritual. Thanks to the internet – yelp, google, and yahoo there are plenty of opinions out there to help narrow the choices. Today’s pick is Gary’s Diner in Clyde. Not sure when we pulled up about this. Looked like a single counter, with a few booths kind of place. We sit at the counter and get a coffee infusion. There is a lot going on back there behind the counter – toast, cooking orders, making coffee; just lots of action. My order, standard breakfast — eggs, sausage patty, hash browns, and toast. But, do i need the whole or half order of hash browns. The waitress helps out – “you guys look like half order types.” So the half order it is. This joint gets the prize for the most food for the price on our journey. There was barely room for the eggs and slab of sausage. I don’t know how I was able to ride after such a mammoth portion. Carb loading at its finest.

Our journey was on a well managed bike trail to Fremont, OH. nice riding conditions. Shelter from the wind and a good riding surface. At Fremont, we were hit with the wind for our continued trek to Toledo. Pedaling into a substantial headwind feels like you are on a stationary bike and pedaling to nowhere. I guess all of the training I did helped my mental state; I am used to pedaling away on the trainer. The road was ok to travel, good shoulder to separate us from the traffic, smooth surface, and not too much junk to dodge. A stop at an ice cream drive in gives us some fuel, cooling, and rest to continue on.

Riding into Toledo I am struck by the continued struggles of the city. Last there in the 90s, Jeep had pulled out and the city was in a downward economic spiral. There may have been some recovery, but Toledo still looks to be suffering. Winding through town, we pass many run-down parts of town and many people who look like there were better times in their past. There are only a few transitions here from rundown to not so bleak areas of town. Finally get close to our stopping point, a Super 8 motel. Pulling in, the hotel looks deserted; there is caution tape surrounding the building and everything is taped up with protective plastic. Can’t fool me, they are painting the outside of the building. I see the car, but no EK. I just hope we will have an option to stay somewhere. Turns out, they are still open. There is a sign that can almost be read from about 10 ft. The rate is ok and the rooms surpass the bar set at Perryopolis (sorry Perry-O). Check in and hit the shower to rid of the road grime.

Dinner of a salad – chicken, fruit, fresh greens, and a side of chili-mac. My metabolism is kicking in and I am able to have a slice of pie for desert.

Welcome to Clyde OH

Part of the North Coast Rails to Trails network we were on. Easy riding.