DAY 41 of 54: JULY 11: MARYSVILLE (OH) TO WOOSTER (OH)

Time Zone : Eastern (GMT -5)
Todays Distance: 103 miles
Cycling time: 6 hrs 52 mins
Average Speed: 15 mph

Today’s cumulative ascent: 4047 ft

Average Heart rate: 114 bpm

Distance so far: 3042 miles

Ascent so far: 96,947 ft.
Centuries so far: 10
Punctures so far: 7
Today’s Profile:

Today’s Route:
Dedication: Today’s cycle was for the new teachers in Providence that I have not met yet. I look forward to anyone so committed to the benefit of the children of that life-centre like Suklang, Brij and Sibron.



A tough century today with hills thrown in for good measure. Crossing the 3000 mile mark and knee recovery.

Yesterday’s century didn’t do the knee any harm. Afterwards plenty of ice applied and continued with the Brufen. At alarm time this morning the knee felt much looser than yesterday and not as uncomfortable. But still I decided to be cautious and to take the first 10 miles handy enough at my own pace till the system warmed up. No pressure on hills and let the others pass on. As the day went on the knee felt better and this evening I feel it’s 90% normal. First thing tomorrow morning is the time to decide that. I reckon that a 100 mile cycle is the cure for all ills –can’t sleep, inflamed knees, taken on too many calories at dinner etc, etc
So after loading at 7 am, I moved out onto Route 36 and faced into the rising sun, our usual position. The first mile out of Marysville was very busy with not much of a hard shoulder. Needed to keep your wits about you. Soon enough I was alone and moving along at a leisurely 13 mph or so. I didn’t even watch the speed; it was my knee that dictated how I rode. Looking at maps of Marysville I noticed a Dublin 17 miles south of the town. Now, that was too much of a detour (17 miles there and back). I did check it out and it was named after the capital by one of its founders, John Shields of Dublin, Ireland. Its grater city area has a population of 55,000 and boasts of its Irish links in its literature with plenty of green and shamrocks. Eric Clapton has a house there and golf is a major activity as Dublin is a stop on golf’s PGA Tour.
The early miles were flat enough with plenty of family farms again. Some of the roads could have been anywhere in Ireland (except for the sunshine). It was lovely to get the smell of freshly mown hay into the lungs while the air was still cool as I cycled along. The other smell I love to get on a cycle is the smell of the smoke from a turf fire. Not much chance of getting that here. But, never say never.
Often as I cycle along I think of my own mother and father (gone to their reward 15 and 30 years ago) and wonder what they think of their son cycling across the USA. Possibly would say he is a bit crazy or probably smile and say ‘Well, fair play to you’. Was never an option for them in their day. It was on my mother's bike that I did my first ‘long-distance’ cycling – out to pick strawberries in Kelly’s of Brittas on Bree Hill

Navigation consisted of two pages today again. At one stage I was faced with a dilemma – ROAD CLOSED, BRIDGE OUT. Nothing had been mentioned regarding this at Route Rap last night. Should I go on and chance getting a bike across or go for a detour. I chose the former and was pleased to see that only portion of the bridge had collapsed into the river. No danger for a bike to go across. If I had taken a detour, I could be out there still. By this stage the knee was fully operational and I was moving along at a good speed. Had passed out some of those who passed me out earlier.
First SAG was at a closed-up store at mile 33 and there Gary and I joined up for the rest of the trip as yesterday. Our expectations for the day are the same and our paces compliment each other. Gary is stronger on the sharp hills but I reclaim it on the level. We moved along sharing the front position taking the brunt of the air resistance. Any wind that was there today was in our favour.

Just before the town of Butler I passed another landmark – 3000 miles covered since San Francisco and still going strong, thank God. Despite reminding myself many times this morning to borrow chalk from the SAG wagon I arrived at the spot after 61 miles today empty-handed. Nothing for it but improvise, so we used stones and sand from a driveway nearby to indicate the spot. 3000 done and 1000 more to do over the next 13 days. I have 10 centuries done so far which accounts for 1000+ miles. No more centuries scheduled but some in the high 90’s that might be converted.

Two activities I spotted today that were a little unexpected. Just at the far side of Butler I spotted a signpost for a ski-area. Didn’t expect that in Ohio. But Clear Fork is a ski and snowboarding resort with 9 slopes at a max altitude of 2400 feet just 4 miles off our route. After a lapse of many days pumping jacks appeared in the fields again with the attendant oil tanks. They weren’t as big or as active as those further west but again I didn’t expect them.

Something else that I thought we had left well behind in Missouri and Western Illinois came back to haunt us with vengeance…rolling hills. We had a few baby ones around half way and the big baddies nearer the end. Some of them read as much as16 degrees gradient. Most of them were in double figures. Nothing for it but to grind away slowly and expect another one at the far side. To put rolling hills into context; it's like cycling up Kilfeacle Hill and down the far side and then do it again and again and again.
Heat was no problem today as long as we were moving. But on the hills when movement was slower the heat just added to the task. Even the cattle were forced to take to the water to keep cool. Two water bottles just about kept us going between the SAG stops. In the motel lobby afterwards all agreed that this century was so different and more difficult than yesterday…over 4000 feet in climbing with 103 miles in distance.

Just south of Wooster is the largest Amish community in the world. We met them before in Jamesport, Missouri. I didn’t see much evidence today except for the odd buggy for sale in front of a farm-yard. The rationale behind their avoidance of modern technical ‘necessities’ is that they do so to avoid the things that they feel will tear the family apart –either physically or morally. Car transport and telephones in the home allow family members to be separated. Businesses here in Wooster cater for their requirements such as tools not dependent on electricity. Their clothes and their furniture are plain in the extreme but abundant planting and flowers surround many Amish homes.
We arrived at our motel here in Wooster at 3 pm as the heat was at its highest. A tub of Ben and Jerry’s from the gas station across the road really hit the spot.
Wooster has a population of 30,000 and is a centre of education. Wooster College and Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Centre has given Wooster the claim that it has more PhD’s per capita than anywhere else in the state.

Another century with plenty of climbing and including the 3000 mile mark. The fact that the knee (not to be mentioned again, hopefully) coped well was a further source of satisfaction. A good day.
Thank God for the health and thank god for the energy.

Heard Today: From one of our American cyclists passing by “ Bet all this greenery reminds you of home” I agreed but wished we could have a share of the sunshine also.