Shed Building Plans

This year for my first recumbent ride of the season I wanted to go big and also add a new bike way to my list of trails ridden.  This weekend the weather was perfect so I loaded up the HP Velotechnik and headed south to Franklin County in central Ohio.

I used that popular online map to determine how exactly to get to the northernmost trail head and also to study the route I would be riding south once the car was parked.

The trail follows its namesake the Olentangy River 13 miles to its confluence with the Scioto River in downtown Columbus.  I chose this trail because the Olentangy originates in Crawford County where I am from although it is little more than a ditch at its start.  From Crawford County the Olentangy meanders 97 miles in length and has long been a resource to those inhabiting its banks.

The river was first called Keenhongsheconsepung (Heck with three times -just try to say that once!) by the Delaware peoples who lived in the region.  The word translates to "stone for your knife stream" after the shale exposed along the banks of the creek.  White settlers who moved into the area changed the name of the water to the Whetstone.

  

The trail switches banks occasionally.  Heres a shot taken on the east bank as I continued south. 

 I like riding in the early season because with out leaves on the trees its much easier to see things along way.  Alternatively later during the hot dog days of summer the leaves create welcome shade.  For now though exploring a new trail I like the openness.

As I continued on the area along the banks became more urban.  And more bridgey. 

Lane Avenue Bridge

The Olentangy Trail cuts right through the Ohio State University campus.

Back on the west bank I came across the first railroad bridge of the ride complete with some vintage antique telegraph insulators.

  

While the telegraph system those old insulators belonged to was long since retired the bridge was still very much in use. 

At midday I arrived at the confluence of the Olentangy and Scioto not far from downtown.  At this point the Olentangy trail links up with the Scioto Trail.  I rode to the western end of this trail away from town first.  

The Scioto is one of Ohios longest rivers stretching just over 230 miles across the state until draining into the Ohio River at Portsmouth.

After a couple miles I reached the end of the trail and headed back east towards the city.

Another railroad bridge offers a unique vantage point to the downtown cityscape.

In recent years the Ohio EPA and the city of Columbus have been making improvements to the river front area.  The removal of a damn reduced the width of the river and freed up land along the banks to create parks and green space.

The big white building in the center of the frame above is the Ohio Supreme Court House.  From this spot I took a picture of the ongoing construction.

I am not a fan of driving in the city.  Id much rather get around by bike.  As I was pedaling along the detour route I spotted this rack of bike share bikes and stopped for a closer look.  I did see quite a few people out and about on the rental bikes. 

On the West Main St. bridge I found a nice spot with a sun warmed bench to sit and eat my snack.

This is how bridges should be designed.  The pedestrian and bike deck is just as big as the automobile side. 

I took my time on the trip down stopping often to take pictures and look around.  As the shadows lengthened and I headed back north I settled into a faster pace and used up the rest of my energy.  I like to ride harder on the second half of my rides and this works out well when exploring a new trail.  

It doesnt look like it in my pictures but there was lots of people out enjoying the day. I saw all kinds of bikers, joggers, dog walkers along the trail in the forty miles I covered. Parks and fields along the way were filled with sports teams playing games like lacrosse and softball.

So how do you like my beard? Ive been growing it all season and now is the time to get out and let her flow in the breeze!

Like most of North America weve been experiencing some wild swings of weather here in the Ohio valley.  After a string of hot summer like days and plenty of rain the temperature dropped like a rock Sunday night into Monday.  I planned on riding today because the forecast called for cloudy skies but it wasnt supposed to rain.  The temperature was a crisp 49 degrees F when I left the house this morning.

Its a little strange here it is June 1st and I have to gather up my winter tights, fleece jacket and wool hat with ear protection just to go for a bike ride.  With my gear packed I headed to Mt. Vernon, Ohio to catch the Heart of Ohio Trail which is a rail trail I discovered last fall and have only ridden once so far.

The roughly 15 mile run one way is the perfect sized trail for a mid day ride through the Scenic central Ohio countryside.  I discovered a few new interesting things on this ride I wanted to share on the blog.

   

No sooner had I got started down the trail I passed this giant smokestack I first photographed last year.  The big difference now is the curious spiral staircase under construction.  As I was standing there looking on an older gentleman pulled up on a recumbent trike so we struck up a conversation and I asked him about the project.  Being from the area he said he saw an artists rendition of the finished construction which will twist its way about three-quarters of the way to the top and end in a 360 degree observation deck.  The project is scheduled for completion by the 4th of July.  

   

I will most certainly be making a return trip later this summer to check that out!

I decided to ride the Titanium General Purpose Bike on this ride.  Ive been logging about 32 miles a week commuting on the Ti GP and loving it.  The recent improvements in the handlebar and seat department have breathed new life into the bike and I find myself reaching for it often.

The bike trail shares the river valley with a state route.  Along most of the passage the view of the highway is blocked by trees and vegetation.  Occasionally the trail and the roadway are close enough that properties adjacent the road become visible for a few short stretches.  From one of these openings I spotted this old tractor sitting at the front of a farm with for sale sign posted.

    

I love old fashioned stuff and history so of course I had to stop and check it out.  The Farmall Cub was the smallest tractor built by International Harvester between the years of 1947 and 1981.  During those years over 245,000 Cubs were made.  This one is unique in that it looks like it has the original mowing set-up complete with three-blade mower deck and turf tires. 

The Farmalls are my favorite of the antique tractors but I do love to look at them all.  I dont know much about the details and have no idea of this models age but it does look it came from the 1950s or 60s.  Oh yes one day I will have one of these of my own to tinker with.

Back on the trail I caught a glimpse of a structure through the woods off to my left away from the state route.  Right away I spotted text like old signage.  Suddenly like staring at a word search my mind connected the dots.  Although most of the elements are obscured by brush I realized I was looking at another old Mail Pouch Tobacco ad.  

In order to get a picture I had to park my bike and wade through wet chest high weeds to get close enough.  The structure is open on the other side and was probably used as a livestock shelter.  The building sits on the edge of a neglected pasture and now houses only some old tires and lumber.

To see my other photographs of Mail Pouch Barns click the label at the end of the post.

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At the end of the trail I arrived in the small town of Centerburg, Ohio which got the name as it lies at the geographic center of Ohio.  In its earliest days Centerburg was a stagecoach stop and later a railroad town.  Once a rural passenger stop of the Cleveland, Akron and Columbus railroad during the peak of passenger rail in early America now visitors roll into town using the same right of way but today theyre moved by pedal power and not steam.

Centerburg looks like many small sleepy towns that time seem to have left behind.

I like the old Frigidaire sign hanging proudly along main street.

This brick residential street is no trendy urban revitalization.  These pavers have probably been here for a hundred years.  It amazes me how long a brick paved avenue lasts with nothing more than slight cupping where the wheels pass.  Give a modern asphalt street about five years of freeze-thaw cycles and itll be reduced to a pot-holed mine field.  I think we should have never got away from brick for residential and downtown city center streets.

  

A quaint Christian church built in 1911.

No, that handsome gent at the opening of this post is not me.  Its General Daniel Harris Reynolds, C.S.A.

Ive said it before but it bears repeating, short of having an actual time machine I can think of nothing better than the bicycle and riding one off the beaten path to discover history right around the corner of the places we call home. 

Before stopping for a sandwich I rode a quick loop out into the country around Centerburg even finding a couple miles of gravel.  This was no problem for the Ti GP bike at all since its DNA is pure MTB even though I have it set up for smooth street riding.

Unfortunately the weather man was incorrect and it did begin to sprinkle on my way back to Mt. Vernon.  Luckily the rain was light and the trees shielded me from much of the drops.  Nearing Mt. Vernon I spotted the red coat of a whitetail deer in the trail up ahead.  I got stopped and took a photo but the doe and her fawn are pretty tiny.