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State 20 of 50
Population: 11,300,000 (ranked 7th of 50 states) Area: 116,000 kmē (ranked 34th of 50 states)
Projected Route Below is my theoretical route Previous state: Indiana Next state: West Virginia Go back to home page: Click here
Ride Report Scroll down below the route map for this state's ride report and photos
Ride Report Like Indiana Ohio was dominated by the Ohio River and all the activity on it, not too mention the awesome bridges. Like most other states I used the interstate to get me around the big cities and then , using an road atlas, I would set a route that looked like back roads pootling through countryside. While this was nicer riding it was also slower, but you feel you have 'done' a state that way as opposed to blasting through on the freeway. When I got off the beaten track in Ohio it took me through gentle countryside and villages where nothing was open. I also had campgrounds on my mind as dusk was nearing. Finally Shawnee State Forest loomed and the traditional campground where you take your chances on a patch of ground being available. As I was setting up the tent in a race against darkness I was observed by a family sitting around a campfire further up the hill and invited up to join them. A glass of Ohio wine, a Coors beer, two hotdogs, a bowl of chilli and some cherry pie later.. the evening was highly successful. This was an extended family from places around Ohio who meet up for a camping weekend every Labor Weekend. They plugged me for everything I knew about NZ including the chances of us becoming a republic soon, the well-known ACC system of healthcare and why do we drive on the left. The following morning I was gone before anyone else in the campground stirred.
Sometimes you felt you were in the movie set "War Of The Worlds"
Classic Ohio
I stopped in the only shop in Decatur to buy a drink. The guy serving had a badge on with "Sam" on it. "How much for the drink?" I asked. "Wrestle ya for it, double of quits" was the reply.
A 6:00am scene at the campground
If there was a bridge across the Ohio. I rode across it & back. Often you would look down on locks and see a barge making its way through.
Another view of the locks. It's a boy's own thing I suppose.
These are the twin blue & green bridges at Ashland. I rode across 3 times.
Good ole boys fishing in the shadow of the blue & green bridges
And Loretta Lynn is still playing at the Paramount. And you thought she was dead?
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Ohio
. The map will be overlaid with my actual route
once completed.
