Well, yesterday was the last “day ride” before our vacation, so we made the best of it. The temperatures started out in the mid-fifties when I mentioned that I wanted to ride 250. Buffalo said if we were going to do it, we would need to get going soon. I put in a call to our friends, Jackie and Dave, to see if they wanted to go, especially since we would be heading down route 11 which passes right by Poland, where they live. Didn't get a call back from them, but it was their loss.
We took off around 10am and by the time we had hit the bank and the gas station, I was already making riding gear adjustments to account for the rising temperature. We booked down route 11 until it merged with Ohio route 7. Along the way, another bike got onto the highway ahead of us and it turned out to be Kevin and Darla, long time ABATE acquaintances. Darla makes and sells really cool biker place mats of which I own two sets. Sadly, though, they were on their way to Pittsburgh as Darla's dad was in the hospital. That was about all we discussed, running down the highway side by side at about 70mph. Darla, hope everything is ok with your dad.
When route 7 splits off from 11 is where the riding goes from highway to fun. Route 7 follows the Ohio River as it dissects Ohio from West Virginia. The remnants of steel and coal towns are the houses that are built up into the steep rock walls along the river, one on top of the other. When you go from the combined Route 11-7-US 22 onto Route 7 in East Liverpool, there is a Dairy Queen right there that we always stop at. It was a little early for a full on sundae so we settled for small shakes at a picnic table outside before heading out. Outside of East Liverpool, the view to our north turns into sheer rock walls with regularly posted signs to beware of falling rock. The path blasted for the highway to follow the river is a beautiful ride. This time of year heavy foliage of all types decorate both sides of the four lane. Every so often there is a break in the view to the south and the river is there. A few miles up we pass the power plant with coal piles to the right, then the locks to the left right after that. Another twenty miles or so, just past Martin's Ferry is the exit for Route 250.
We take a right, heading north on 250, and immediately, the two lane road banks steeply uphill through a series of twisties, all short tight curves. Today our run is unimpeded by car or truck traffic in front of us, at least for the first several miles, which are some of the best on this ride. Then we hit a series of plateaus where you can see several miles in either direction if you slow down to take in the view. It is a view of lush green farmlands, fallow fields, interspersed with woods and farm buildings and houses. It makes me remember that Ohio, for five months a year, is actually rather pretty. But taking in the views from these vistas is difficult to do on two wheels on this road, knowing that up ahead is another series of twisties waiting to be challenged. And so the ride goes until we finally come upon a cage driver terrified to drive over 30mph. And so the cat and mouse game of seeking the next, few and far between, passing lanes begins.
Eventually we find ourselves in the little town of Cadiz where we fuel ourselves and our bikes. At Wendy's we visit with other riders from Pennsylvania, out enjoying the day. There are a half dozen other bikes there and a constant parade of riders pass by along route 250 and route 2, which will take us to the next leg of our ride. Route 250 jogs one exit up route 2, and we are now riding through a wide valley of farmland. Soon we come upon the southern end of Tappan Lake. Boaters are out on the water on either side of the highway; a jet skier goes flying past on the left. We stop for a break before heading past the lake and catching the “rum road” as Buffalo calls...aka route 151.
Now there is little traffic, more local than through, and the road winds lazily past rural homes and very small farms, then the occasional manufacturing business, out in the middle of nowhere. We run 151 to 322 into Carrolton, where we stop for a beer and visit with the locals in one of the darkest bars I think I have ever been in...or maybe it just seems that way because every time we stop there, we have been out on the bikes on a sunny day. The locals inform us there is a rib cook off at the fairgrounds, so we opt to run 43 north instead of route 9, which passes by the fairgrounds. Then I recall route 171 ahead will take us to route 9 north of the fairgrounds, so we traverse that, then into Salem and catching north on route 45 to home. What a day, great weather, put on about 240 miles. Dave and Jackie missed an awesome ride.
And now, we start to do the series preparation for our trip. Count down begins.
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