One of the sweetest dogs you could ever hope to meet, Luna, kept me company as I packed up my things in the morning. Rolled back into town for a quick interview with The Oxford Press, then dropped the trike off at BikeWise to have the chain looked at. Don had arranged for some friends (thanks, Orie and Eleanor) to shuttle me to a unique green home being constructed just outside of town, so we headed out to see it while the trike was being repaired. The “Edge of the Woods” home renovation project would be best described as mind-blowing. I’ve never met an architect as excited about a project as Greig Rutherford. He and his crack team are building a green, eco-home for Marge and Gary Glaser that should serve as an inspiration for people around the world.
Got back to the bike shop just as Doug Hamilton was wrapping up (turns out the deraileur had come loose again, accounting for the slipping gears). When I asked what I owed, Doug and Heidi wouldn’t let me pay. Thank you both for your generosity, and for preventing another unpleasant breakdown! Thanks, too, for tipping me off to a bike-friendly route into Cincinnati (where I saw less than half a dozen cars all day). Support your local bike shop! Started raining as I ordered lunch, so waited to see if it would pass. Just as I finished eating, the rain stopped. I’ve been truly blessed by good weather this entire trip, and have not yet had to ride in the rain.
Crossing the Great Miami River this afternoon – nearly 1,600 miles from where I started – felt like a major milestone. Incredibly excited to be back on the home turf where I spent my childhood. Felt surreal pulling into my sister Sheryl’s driveway this afternoon, realizing I had actually pedaled here. My brother-in-law, Joe, met me at the top of the driveway, right as my nephew Andrew’s school bus was pulling up to the curb, so the timing couldn’t have been better. Am really looking forward to spending some quality time with family and friends in Cincinnati, and to resting, while the cold front passes through.
We made a fun family project out of cleaning the trike for the school presentation tomorrow (thanks, guys!), then headed to Skyline for dinner (anyone from Cincinnati will understand why). Despite pedaling a relatively short 25 miles today, my legs protested the whole way. After seven straight days of riding, it’s time for a break.
Glad you made it in such good time and a good time has been had! Heres to good weather moving with you and no derailer problems. Such nice folk you are meeting along the way it seems. Good luck Tom – from your supporters on the west coast!
Enjoy your family time and be safe out there. I’m sending you lots of love on your journey.
Gussie