Day 9, Hudson to Mesopotamia, Wednesday June 16

44 miles :: trip total 336 miles

Old Stone House, 8505 Route 534, Darcy Miller

 

After many turns on back roads to escape heavy traffic in Hudson, our route through Mantua Center and on to Burton was pleasantly wooded, shady and cool as we passed industries who have located near the Interstate highways as well as set-back-from-the- road houses on several acres with  expanses of lawn in front. (Both men and women are very skilled with their riding mowers.)  

 

On the very quiet Fox Road, we encountered Stacey, Linda, Jean and Margo out for their daily walk.

Bob slowed as they approached from the opposite direction and yelled, "We're looking for Ohio!" That commenced a several minute get-acquainted conversation. This fun group, who used this distanced outdoor activity to stay sane during COVID, call themselves the Fox Road Walkers.  They recommended good lunch options in Burton. 

 

Just before lunch, Marney, in the lead, stopped at the offer  of lemonade by two kids who held up signs saying, "Lemonade for Lottie." Who could ever ride by a lemonade stand organized by kids? 

We stopped for a cool drink and learned that their cousin Lottie, age 2, has been hospitalized for 33 days with critical heart malfunction challenges. We happily donated to their fundraiser and they assured us that "she is a tiny bit better today." 

 

A plaque on the shaded central square (oval) confirmed our impressions of several villages we have biked through.

 

The Village of Burton epitomizes the beginning of the settlement of the Western Reserve and today maintains the unique charm and history of its earliest roots. On September 16, 1873, then member of Congress and later president of the United States, James A. Garfield delivered a message to the Historical Society of Geauga County meeting in Burton in which he said, "There are townships on the Western Reserve which are more thoroughly New England in character and spirit than most of the towns of the New England of today. Cut off as they were from the metropolitan life that has gradually been molding and changing the spirit of New England, they preserved here in the wilderness the characteristics of New England as it was when they left it at the beginning of the century." 

 

Burton, at 3000 ft, was topographically the high point, making for a long downhill run on Rt 87 into Mesopotamia, the second largest Amish community in Ohio--known locally as "Mespo". Road signs implore drivers to share the road with buggies instead of cyclists. 

 

The End of Commons General Store in the center of this small village has a 24 star US flag flying in front signifying 1840 when the store was established.

This large store has a little-bit-of-a-million items, including local fry pies and other Amish food supplies, but Bob's favorite was the root beer salt water taffy. 

 

Darcy, our gracious host, at the Old Stone House B and B, built in 1825, is a valuable source of historical information about this community. She is working on a book about the history of Mesopotamia. 

 

 

 

Route Notes: Underground Railroad Route to Burton; then Hwy 87 to Mesopotamia. Due to heavy traffic, especially through Middlefield, highway 87 is a miserable ride. Roads in this area tend, this year at least, have pervasive maintenance issues. That said: (1) It is all all pleasantly downhill. The final downhill into Mesopotamia is exhilarating; (2) The detour was a godsend, a strong indication one could find a good, mostly back-roads route to Mesopotamia; (3) shoulders, where provided as on highway 87, are ample to accommodate the horse-drawn Amish vehicles.