Saturday, August 12, 2023
Day 71
Dayton to Columbus, Ohio
Miles: 75.65 – Total accent: 1,690 – Hours: 6 hours, 9 minute
Totals:. Miles- 3,578.58 – Accent- 109,814 feet climbed
298 hrs 48 minutes in the saddle
While early August, it is staying dark until 7 AM and getting dark early. Our planning will have to take this into consideration so we travel when it’s light and we’re more visible.
Coffee at the Starbucks on base began the morning. There we met Joshua who lived in Loma Linda at one time! It’s a small world. He had lots of questions about long distance cycling. He is an ultra marathon runner!!
As we sit and drink coffee, a light breeze begins to stir. The clasp on the flagpole rhythmically rings against the pole creating a rather daunting sound…ping…ping…ping. We watch the skies. It’s cloudy.
Onward towards Columbus we go. Much of our travels are on some sort of trail or lightly traveled roads amongst corn and soybean fields. And as with Dayton, as we pass through the heart of Columbus, sadly we see less friendly neighborhoods. A quick stop at the gas station near the hotel for Powerade and Dr. Pepper and witness the people being rther aggressive towards each other, yelling and cursing. We check in and hunker down for the night. We spend the evening discussing options for the upcoming days. Tomorrow is Sunday and we are hopeful to depart early in the morning before the town awakens, which will give us a chance to get out of the city and to less traveled roads.
