It certainly has its ups and downs, but I think I'm really experiencing the ups right now.
This will have to be a quick entry, as I'm about to pass out from close to 250 miles of riding in the past three days, but I have to say the ride today was absolutely terrible. Like terrible, as in I'm surprised we all made it to Avon Lake today alive. We left really amazing hosts at Trinity Presbyterian in Ashtabula, OH, who took us to their homes for hot showers, fed us great snacks, and let us sleep in their comfortable church (the Dartmouth Club, an alumni organization, provided a cookout for us at a local lake, not Erie). Immediately upon exiting the church was US-20...really beautiful in Upstate New York, but a complete disaster in Northeastern Ohio. The day prior (after being on beautiful US-5 for 20 miles), we had already spent 15 miles on it, with endless bumps and potholes, four lanes of traffic wizzing by at 50 miles per hour, and no shoulder (just a curb, another obstacle, should we be run off the road). Well, this morning, who knew that it would continue for another 75 miles. I'M NOT KIDDING. So you think, Ashtabula, small town in the middle of nowhere, right? Wrong. Well, at least it didn't seem so along route 20. The road was completely developed, and in Ashtabula County, almost half abandoned. But that didn't stop the traffic.
So the route was long and incredibly dangerous. We were on Route 20 for well over half the trip today, and as we got closer and closer to Cleveland, the road got busier, bumpier, and more dangerous. Picture me (Craig too, as he would tell me later) alone on my bike, in the middle of US-20, cars screaming by me, and me screaming at the top of my lungs "I HATE THIS F***ING ROAD. I HATE THIS F***ING STATE." Let's just say I got some pretty nasty stares. After about 25 miles, I just had to get off that road, so I consulted with some people, namely a woman at a Dairy Queen, who told me that a parallel road, SR-84, actually had a shoulder and even some bike lanes. So I broke away from everyone else, and went about 5 miles out of my way, to a road that was much safer, cleaner, and smoother than how we had been told to go. I don't really blame our trip leaders for the oversight in the quality of the road, but I do think they could do more to ensure our safety. And if anything, they could make a note about it for next year's trip (why, after 5 years of doing this route, none of the previous years had made a note, I have no idea). Today's route was just out of control.
But I really don't hate this state. Actually, the people have been incredible thus far. In Ashtabula, they were wonderful for letting us into their homes. Along the route today, while I was riding alone, I had many people stop to congratulate me on what I was doing, eventhough they had no idea what I was doing. They just thought I was out on a quick ride to buy some lunch or some gatorade, and decided to brave the traffic in the name of saving the environment. Little did they know I had a little bit more miles under my belt. Then, while riding through Cleveland (we went right downtown, even stopped at the Art Museum, which was closed, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which we didn't want to pay admission for), people out on the street were just cheering us on, or even just waving hello. I say, these midwestern folk are friendly.
But now to Avon Lake. First, so the road was bumpy almost the entire trip, UNTIL we arrived in Avon Lake. We were greeted with nice smooth roads and (!) bike lanes (!!!). Along the lake is mansion after mansion after mansion, and still growing. If that wasn't a greeting enough, about 30 members of the United Church of Christ came and had dinner with us, which they all provided. We schmoozed, gave a presentation on our organization, and then went over to a church member's house on the lake to play in the water and watch the sun set. But here's the kicker, each and every one of us are staying with host families for two nights! That means REAL beds and REAL showers and breakfasts and happy, warm, welcoming people. I am currently staying with Kevin at the Grady residence. This should be fun.
Speaking of bed, I have one I need to go to. We have a build day in Cleveland tomorrow, EARLY. Will write more about how fantastic our hosts are later.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Sorry you have such a low opinion on US 20 in Northeast Ohio. I've traveled it many times - I live 1/4 mile from a stretch of it - and my opinion is that it is nowhere near as bad as you say.
Route 84 is not that great in most areas of Lake County, in fact, Route 20 is the preferred route. Did you miss the home of President Garfield on US 20 in Lake County? If you were on Rt 84, you did.
The Art Museum reopened on June 29 after an extensive addition and renovation. You may have been there right before that?
The Euclid Corridor Project (on US 20 in Cleveland) has been going on for a few years and is a bit of a mess. I was just through a stretch of it the other day in a car so I can't even imagine a bike going through there. But, it is being reworked to allow for more public transporation vehicles, something the city needs very badly.
Northeast Ohio is part farmland, part city. And like most cities and big suburbs, it's hard in some areas to get away from traffic.
I am concerned that as a group you were not able to make the decision to reroute yourselves onto another safer road. Sorry you weren't able to get good information from last years group, but you have got to work out a plan to be more flexible when you hit dangerous conditions. Better do that now before you head into Chicago.
Post a Comment