Day 1, Milford to Waynesville, Tuesday June 8

40 miles

Creekwood Motel, 401 S. Mainstreet

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Route Description: Adventure Cycling Underground Railroad Route. Little Miami Trail.

We left our car at the Old Milford Inn where we had stayed three pleasant nights

 

 

 and set up our bikes and gear for the predicted rain. We biked two blocks to join the Little Miami Scenic Bikeway, part of the Ohio segment of Adventure Cycling 's much longer Underground Railroad Route.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 8 was a day of firsts.

 

1) FIRST day of the Ohio trip on this beautifully maintained 

paved trail along the Little Miami River....We enjoyed the beautiful shaded tree canopies, the bird songs, small animal citings and conversations with other cyclists about their trips and ours. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An historic plaque marked the Butterworth House which had sheltered slaves along this branch of the Underground Railroad.

 

 

In the town of Loveland we found coffee and breakfast burritos at Mile 42 Coffee shop, one of many services right along the trail there. The town apparently has promoted restaurants, seating and rest areas, bike shop, a trail provision shop, river parks, plazas with flowers, a farmer's market---incorporating the trail into the town in creative ways.

2) FIRST tour with our electric assist motors--like having a tailwind available when needed. They are kits from most-helpful Grin Technology in Vancouver; Bob applied them to our well-used-and-loved touring bicycles.We are learning how to make a full charge last throughout each day. Cranking up the assist with 6 miles to go provided us with a spectacular speedy arrival at the Creekside Motel. We expect to have no problems with distance during the tour.

 

3) FIRST time we have waded with a bike across a stream.

The BIKE PATH CLOSED sign warned us 3 miles before. We hoped there would be a detour when we got there, but other cyclists reported that alternative road was already behind us--hilly, busy and a long way around. These cyclists told us that a bridge ahead was being replaced and that 3 cyclists ahead of us had forded a stream to get their bikes to the other side. We headed optimistically toward the same solution. The descent and crossing was difficult and treacherous. Long story short, two bridge workers took pity on us, after we took off the trailers above and then struggled to get Bob's bike across. They came to assist us, took my bike and the two trailers across the beams of the new bridge and as we climbed up the embankment on the other side of the stream, they went and hauled Bob's bike up from the stream bed. They accepted our gratitude for their help, but refused the picture and merely said to pass it on.

 

Happily, the predicted rain never came. It was indeed humid. 

All-in-all a good return to cycle touring after the Covid-19 interlude. 

 

 

Route Notes: We followed Adventure Cycling's Underground Railroad Route along well paved and maintained trails. The route worked well--except for the adventure caused by a bridge out of service for reconstruction.