June 13…. Gotta be a record

This one will never get broken.

Today I went back to Cuyahoga Valley National Park. When Susy and I went there the first time, we ran out of time and didn’t get to see the canal.

Following the river, the Ohio and Erie Canal cuts through the park. The canal stretches 308 miles, from the Ohio River near Portsmouth OH, to Lake Erie in Cleveland. Built in the 1820’s and 1830’s, the canal played a crucial role in the economic development of this area. Sections of the canal are preserved as it runs through the park, including some of the many canal locks. The Towpath Trail follows the old mule towpath used to move barges up and down the waterway.

Today, the towpath makes a fantastic bike trail, just as good as any rail trail I’ve been on, so bike the trail I did.

Over 101 miles of the old path have been turned into a mixed use trail. Walking, jogging, biking, and horseback riding. I just rode the section through the park.

I started out to just enjoy the ride. But I kept going. And going. And going. Like a battery commercial, I just kept on, around another bend. Past another tree. One more bit, one more mile marker.

20 miles later, I finally decided to turn back. 😳

That’s a personal best…. 40 miles on a bike, in one day. Some records are just made to be broken. I just have a hard time thinking I’ll ever do that again.

Of course, I never would have believed I’d do it this time. Or ever. 🤯