You Missed A Great Holiday Bicycling Weekend By Glenn Oster Sept 04

YOU MISSED A GREAT HOLIDAY BICYCLING WEEKEND
By Glenn Oster

- - - that is, if you are a cyclist and weren't doing something even better. Ken Roosa, Jerry Hoffman and I drove out to the Xenia, Ohio area, camped and rode the super Little Miami Scenic River Trail over the recent Labor Day weekend. The weather was hot, but we got early morning starts when the temperature was oh so pleasant. No rain - hard to believe in 2004. At the end of this article, I'll provide the campground info and logistics in case you want to emulate our experience. On Saturday, we drove to Xenia and mounted our crusty, I mean trusty,

mechanical steeds and headed north on Bicycle Route #1. It took us through the city of Xenia and into the countryside on our way to Yellow Springs. The trail is tree lined and shady, and the asphalt surface is smooth. What more could a biker want! Yellow Springs was a beehive of activity when we reached it; so, we only stayed long enough to use the sanitary facilities in a refurbished train station alongside the trail. Onward and upward - back on the trail. Seemed like no time at all until we were in the outskirts of Springfield. The trail became a lane on city streets. Unfortunately,

Ken and Jerry
Photo Glenn Oster

we missed a turn and rode a mile or so into the city. When we retraced our steps we discovered a sign telling of the turn. Great! It was placed on the wrong side of the street in the wrong direction. We didn't feel like such dummies when we realized that there was no trail turn sign leading north as we entered Springfield. (I've since written to call attention to it.) Our ride back to Xenia was pleasant and uncomplicated. The round trip covered close to 39 miles.

Sunday's ride extended from Xenia, south to the town of Morrow and back to the village of Oregonia, where we had left a shuttle vehicle. Another rewarding ride. Jerry commented that riding the trail is like riding in a tunnel. It made me think that the trees on both sides of the trail were traveling along with us holding hands overhead. Both Jerry and Ken called attention to how well the trail is maintained. It is - shrubs cut back, grass shoulders mowed, railings protecting dangerous areas, signs letting you know of your progress and sanitary facilities in most little communities. We rode about 38 miles that day.

On our final day of riding, we started from Morrow and continued on the trail to its southern end at the town of Milford. This area affords the best views of the somnambulistic Little Miami Scenic River. Predictably, we discovered much heavier usage in that sector of the trail. It reaches the suburbs of Cincinnati,

and people there are most aware of the trail. The trail's surface south of Morrow, and especially below Loveland, is showing its age and is bumpy in places. There were lots of moms and dads pushing carriages; moms running with three wheeled carriages, munchkins on tiny bikes and trikes, (seniors on trikes, too) in-line skaters, walkers, runners (most wearing sweaty, painful grimaces), foreign families wearing too much clothing; you name it; they were there. On the return ride, I unwittingly, rode over a snake about as thick as a broom handle and about three feet in length. Don't know what kind of snake it was, but I'm sure it didn't relish the experience.

View from a Bridge
Photo Glenn Oster

The family coming toward me screamed and scurried like deer. To me, it didn't appear to be a harmful creature, but they weren't waiting to find out. That day's ride took us over 46 miles.

There are motels that can be accessed if you don't care to camp. Check them out as well as other related information in the website, http://www.miamivalleytrails.org , about this trail and the numerous other impressive rail trails in the area. Also, on that website, you might want to read a review that I made the first time I rode the trail or some of my other trail reviews..

The campground we used is: Frontier Campground, 9580 Collett Road, Waynesville, OH 45068 (937) 488-1127. Going there from the east, follow I -70 to the Columbus area, I-270 southwest to I-71, southwest to Ohio Route 73, west to US Route 42, north to the Roxanna - New Burlington Road (just past a canoe rental on the right), east to the campground sign at Pence Jones Road and south for a final mile. The campground was full; so, make a reservation for holiday stays.

Ken, Jerry and I were well satisfied with our weekend. Hope yours was as good. (9/07/04)

For more information on each Web Page or Trail click on its name.