Sightseeing in Ohio

[cowboyup3371]

So today was the first real good chance I've had to do some serious sightseeing and I took advantage of it by going on a 193 mile jaunt around Ohio. Taking mostly backroads, although I spent some time on OH 73, I found a good mix of semi-twisty roads and long straightaways. I did get turned around a couple of times, missing roads I wanted to take and sadly lost my directions after I forgot to zip up my tank bag after my first fill up.

Ran through what Steve and Josh call the Bellbrook gap, or at least part of it, first then up Washington Mill Rd down Upper Bellbrook and over to OH 725. Drove by Caesar Creek State Park (missed that turn) but continued on to Paint Creek Park down by Hillsboro. It was too hot to really stay there long (96 degrees at one point) and I didn't bring any swim trunks (everyone else was in the water) so I ran up to Greenfield to have lunch and head home. Ran through the gap again for some more fun and then finally home.

It was my first time through Amish country and saw really nice barns (one posted here) and a farmer plowing his field with a team of four horses. Also experienced one "dumb" incident of mine when I tried to move up a small hill in the cemetery where I took the pictures of the veterans grave. Grabbed too much throttle and almost put my butt on the ground but managed to hold on somehow. Sure hope I never pull that stunt again.

Bike did great and I think my problems I felt last week were mostly from me just being oversensitive. I felt fine in the seat but definitely need to adjust the handlebars (hadn't gotten to it yet) as my arms let me know they were tired of holding me up.

Anyway, on to the pictures.





















More to come

[cowboyup3371]

Had to go around the block to get this picture as it just grabbed me. I'm not sure if this middle part is the middle school but I like the columns under the walkways on both sides of the school and the tower is just amazing.



Elementary School in Greenfield



High school in Greenfield

[cowboyup3371]

Just cause I like old churches



This last one was taken more for Helena and the kids to show I found where the Renaissance festival is. We enjoy going to it in Colorado so it'll be nice to attend here too.

[gripweed]

Looks like something I need to do. I live in Brecksville. It's just south of Cleveland. I need to map out a good trip sometime.

My dad and I are going to ride out to Mike Tyson's old mansion next time he's out. That's about an hour from me.

[old_skool]

Cowboy, you can do that everyday of the week and never get bored, Ohio has loads of fun places to go and roads to travel, you may start off looking for twisty's and end up sight seeing, it's easy to get distracted here, but you'll never get bored!

Looks like something I need to do. I live in Brecksville. It's just south of Cleveland. I need to map out a good trip sometime.
My dad and I are going to ride out to Mike Tyson's old mansion next time he's out. That's about an hour from me.

Brecksville, howdy neighbor! You'll have to join me and Adam(loud_ET) and yoshisakan from Lakewood sometime for a ride, your about 45 minutes away, but I don't ride intentionally towards the city to often, driven past Tyson's mansion a few times, but it's a lot more fun to head due south towards all the country roads.

[Larry D]

That cemetary is in Hillboro, isn't it ? It looks like the same one that a good friend is buried in.

Next time you're in Hillsboro, take SR124 east out to Rocky Fork State Park and take a ride around the lake, nice scenery out that way.

[sedelen]

Ohio has some very diverse geography. I lived in Chauncey (near Athens) and Columbus. The farther east you go the more the flat landscape turns into rolling hills. Very pretty, especially in the spring when the red buds bloom. So many deer, remember counting over 55 on a 15 mile stretch of 550 just before dusk between Athens and Amesville, Ohio. Seems like everything has a historic background, so rich in history. I miss that, but I don't miss the snow.

[toejams1]

Nice pics - thanks for sharing. There are lots of good roads in these parts, especially in Southern Ohio, Northern KY, and SE Indiana - all which are pretty close to you. There are some good suggestions on this thread which has been going for a couple of years now:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=151544&page=10

[cowboyup3371]

Thanks guys. I was on 555 last year and plan to go back this year to get my "revenge" on the corner I wrecked on (road changed direction more than I looked and I ran off into the dirt) as soon as I can get some more work on my left turns. I'm also looking forward to checking out other roads as I can knowing I have a family to bring out here in July/August.

[redstedman]

The buckeye is a pretty state. Historic too. If you ever come up "North" give me a shout & I will tour you around here. Very nice too.

Nice post

[winfield]

Thanks for sharing the pics.

Wait until you see Kentucky! If you get this way, be sure to look up Rabbit Hash and go to the little country store. It's kinda the Mecca for bikes in these parts. You can see across the Ohio River to Rising Sun, IN.