Sept 18 Point Lookout Bicycle Ride

The last time I visited this place, it was an old crumbling concrete highway covered in Kudzu. This time it was more of a superhighway for bicycles. Starting in Montreat, it was about a 3 mile road ride to the top of this route. In an earlier life it was part of NC's Central Highway, Route 10. Tourists, trucks and all sorts of vehicles would have to wend their way through Royal Gorge on this mighty road. At sometime I even saw a post card of one of the overlooks peering into Royal Gorge.

This morning, the ride was enhanced with many Jewelweed and Pale Jewelweed flowers to complement to Tall Bellflower and various Woodland sunflowers and a single vine of Trumpet Creeper above.

Even the Kudzu had some blooms. The ride downhill was quick. You can really fly on this trail but mind the bends, there might be a jogger.

The old Royal Gorge overlook, now complete with wood benches and a flag illuminated by solar power.

Sept 17 Greybeard Mtn Hike

Beginning in Montreat, the hike meanders along a creek through rhododendron bushes and second growth forest. Many trails bisect this trail. Included among those are the trestle and Old Toll Road. The trestle trail is an old logging railroad bed. The Old Toll Road wanted to use the railroad bed after the railroad had ceased operations, but was not able to gain the rights to do such. So another road was built to bring tourists from the town of Black Mountain to Black Mountain, the mountain which one of the peaks is Mt Mitchell.

The photo above is a well worn rock as part of the creek. There is a small campsite next to it. It would be a nice place to fall asleep.

As we worked our way uphill toward Walker Knob, I spotted some Pine Sap, above. It looks just like red Indian Pipes.

The views were limited today, so we decided to call it a day after reaching Walker Knob. The walk up to the top of Grey Beard would have taken us higher than the ridge in the above photo.

Aug 30 Cincinnati Reds

Right on the Ohio River, next to the football stadium of the Cincinnati Bungles is this new ballpark.

It is the Cincinnati Reds line up.

A great view from the park.

Phillies 9       Reds 0

Aug 30 Little Miami Trail

For my final day of bicycling this wonderful trail, I drove south and unloaded my bicycle for a northward ride. It was much of the same scenery I'd seen the previous day alongside the Little Miami River. I could hear the canoeists but only caught a glimpse here and there. When the leaves fall, I suspect the river is more viewable.

A very attractive caboose in the small town of Morrow.

The picture above and below give one an indication of the infrastructure along this trail. I saw quite a few fences as here. They are sided with 2x14 treated wood to give you an idea of the thought given to building this trail. I was thoroughly impressed with this trail and would not hesitate to return.

Aug 29 Little Miami Trail

Today's ride was heading south from Xenia. Xenia Station is the hub of this bicycling system. When I rode through, there was no one in the staging area and it was quite a distance before I encountered anyone. That changed throughout the day. I met a lot of people today. I was quite impressed with the display of wildflowers, as seen above. Notable was the bellflower I saw all day as well as woodland sunflowers.

The trail eventually lined up with the Little Miami River which provided an occasional view. Further downriver, canoeists populated the waterway. Outfitters provided rentals and shuttles for those interested in floating.

I kept seeing hops growing trailside. Later I learned local homebrewers were encouraged to grow hops in open and public spaces. So, perhaps that is what was going on.

This interesting spot, below, advertised as the "Spring of Youth" asked for a donation to partake of the spring water. At this point, maybe 30 miles already pedaled, I didn't feel too youthful but I expect it may take a bit for the water to take effect.

Aug 28 Little Miami Trail

Ohio's Little Miami Trail and the surrounding trails have become a bicycling Mecca. Xenia is at the hub with 5 trails emanating from it. The entire system is 238 miles and growing, of paved trails, suitable for road bicycles, inline skates, recumbents, tricycles - you name it. I didn't see any unicycles but they are probably out there too. The main trail in the system is the 78 mile Little Miami Trail. Since the trail is growing in length, mileage is measured in both directions from Xenia. You have to get accustomed to this as it is confusing. So confusing that I rode to Urbana today, thinking it was 24 miles when it was actually 34 miles. That is not a big deal, except I needed to ride back, making it a 70 mile day.

The ride to Yellow Springs is nice but with a healthy dose of suburbia as scenery. Yellow Springs is a nice nice destination for bikes - motorcycles. They overpopulated the parking area of Peaches Bar & Grill next to the trail.

A bit further along is Springfield. A bridge under construction required I ride an alternate route through town. The middle of downtown is nice with some upscale buildings and a nice hotel, but shortly thereafter I rode through the underbelly of town. Cornfields dominated the landscape into Urbana.

I found a nice Italian deli with fresh cold cut grinders and treated myself to a capicola grinder and a hot & spicy pickle. The ride back seemed to go on forever. It wasn't until later in the evening, having obtained a map, did I realize I was riding 10 miles further than I thought. I look beat below.