I love central Ohio Riding

I took the day off today to get some personal errands completed. But that did leave me with a little time to go for a short ride. Temperatures in the mid 70's made it just about perfect. So I took off with very few plans in mind. I grabbed the camera with hopes of catching a few pictures that would be of interest. What I captured is typical central Ohio.

Central Ohio rides can be a wonderful experience. There are highways like Rt 70 and Rt 71 cross the state in 4 lane divided ribbons. But for those a little more willing to take some time and see what the state has to offer, you will be rewarded with everything from straight long flat roads like US Route 40 (http://www.route40.net) that crosses the continent, to small gravel roads, to thrills of cresting a hill and encountering a set of blind curves starting with a 90 degree left followed by a 270 degree right switchback. Central Ohio brings together the best twisty roads of West Virginia with the long droning roads of Iowa with corn fields on both sides of the road. All this in a 60 mile ride. And along the roadside, you will find remnants of our history, running back through the 1900’s, 1800’s and occasionally 1700's. Some of these artifacts are exciting and have remained vital, others are derelicts representing a lifestyle that has gone by the wayside.

Just a few miles from my home are covered bridges and this Steel Truss bridge built in 1914 and is heavily used still today. It is nestled in the middle of nowhere, spanning a creek that, unless it has just rained, could be driven through by most of today's cars.

Small towns dot the roadside, often not large enough for a traffic light. Many have a church, a bar, and a general store. Some have old buildings still in use for town meetings and business, while other buildings have gone into disrepair and abandonment.

And throughout the countryside, you will find places to celebrate The Lord. Some churches tend to be hundreds of years old, stone monuments to large congregations and history. Others a small buildings, not much more than a shell of a building whose utiletarian style serves a preacher and a small congregation who is devote believers. And others are more like chapels, beautiful buildings with stained glass windows and towers that overlook the local farmland and small communities which they serve. All are beautiful in their own way.

All of these pictures were taken on a 60 mile ride just west of Columbus. I started going south on Rte 38, down to Rte 40. Then west until I hit route 56 where I headed north to Route 4 which took me back home.

With all the beauty, there are risks. Over the weekend, a bee flew into my helmet and stung me on the chin. Dang that hurt, but I was on the road and couldn't do anything but suffer through the sting. It is Tuesday, and that sting is still red and sore!!!