State 21 of 50  

    Ohio

Capital: Columbus

Population: 11,300,000 (ranked 7th of 50 states)

Area: 116,000 km² (ranked 34th of 50 states)

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Ride Report

This state: 321 kms     Journey to date: 15,380 kms

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 to mention  the awesome bridges.

Like most other states I used the interstate to get me around the big cities and then, using a 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.