We both pulled down and sent stuff to family and friends. It was so sad to note that Bob Martin (auctioneer) had passed away. He was a neat guy.
After showers and planning for tomorrow’s rendezvous we did three games of Rummikub – we’re havin fun now. We all hit the sack at 10:30.

Friday 4. Ed awoke us by singing “Rain Drops Keep Fallen On My Head.” It was raining again – yet. It soon stopped. Before we left Ed and I with cameras went a few feet over to take a photo of a large expensive motor home – probably around $400,000 – with the accompanying Hummer for a tow car, both with California Plates. We thought that was worth a photo.
Occasionally there was rain this morning. We drove them about ten miles down the road to where they had left of two days ago and at a Taco Bell unhitched the horse. After a fruitless search for Ed’s rain hat they were on their way.
When we went to pull out ten minutes latter we discovered the same troublesome little light was on at the dash. We checked and found the brake lights were out again and replaced the fuse. The Parking Brake was all right this time. We purchased some more fuses at an auto parts store and then went to Wal*Mart for a few more as well as groceries.
The GPS wanted send us back to near Cincinnati before sending us east to Maysville. We decided to follow the bike path. The scenery and the pavement were great but the roads were narrow, winding and very hilly. Rarely was it appropriate to go over thirty. About eleven we met them. They felt we should get back to the main road which we did.
The little park was just a grassy playground unfit for an RV. We requested permission to park at a Kmart. We have WiFi and I sent photos. E&R showed up at 4:05, much earlier than they anticipated.
After they cleaned up a bit it was agreed to drive down town and look around. There were many beautiful murals on the wall along the river depicting the history of the area including the freeing of slaves. We drove over to Aberdeen on the Ohio side and discovered a nice RV park along the river where we decided to stay.
We again saw many tugboats pushing barges, very long large ones. We also saw what appeared to be a dinner cruise boat, but it was dark and we were uncertain.
Rhoda announced that she wanted to play Password tonight, and so we did. We hit the sack about 10:30.

Saturday 5. We got up later than ever, 6:30 and had a leisurely breakfast. Miriam made grits with ham, cheese and eggs – delicious. After our Bible Reading prayer and singing they got on the road at 8:30 an hour later than usual. There was not too far to go today.
It was about ten when we left. We first went to the John Parker House in Ripley where a nice Black woman was just opening the house. She took us all through it and talked about the house and the life of Parker. He was a great deliverer of slaves and forwarded them on to John Rankin up the hill.
Next we went to the Ripley Museum. This was a disappointment as the focus was on the town with none that we could see on Parker or Rankin. We soon left.
From there we drove to the top of the hill to see the John Rankin house. What a view of the mighty Ohio River and the town of Ripley. A young white man was most interesting. Again and again he noted what a Brilliant man Parker was and how committed Rankin was to the cause of freeing the slave.
From there on we followed Annie (GPS) over the hills and around the curves until we arrived at the East Forks State Park near Williamsburg, Ohio. E&R arrived about three. They stopped in a bike shop today where the owner knew all about the tour and was giving leadership to a big four day celebration for the 18 riding through. Exciting!
They rode through a bit of rain today and once the roads were wet for a short distance.
Miriam made a wonderful casserole for supper and we finished of the coconut cream pie.
We watched the Kentucky Derby. This happened to be the only channel that came in really great.
After it was all over we worked at where to camp tomorrow night and agreed on Olive Branch near Oregonia, OH even though it is the most expensive to date, $35.
We agreed to lie in later tomorrow morning and then go to a Methodist or Presbyterian Church if such could be found.
Ed announced that we need to play a couple games of Rummikub. Again Miriam and Ed each took a game and we hit the sack by eleven.

Sunday 6. This was the latest we have gotten up to date, 7:45. We had a leisurely breakfast, read the scriptures and sang several morning hymns.
We all got dressed up for church and left at nine. Unfortunately the Methodists had worship at 9 and 11. So, we only got there in time for the message, a good one on loving and communion. A few people met us afterwards and welcomed us but not those sitting nearby. Interesting!
We drove to a factory that seemed to be out of business and on their parking pad the cyclists got into their riding gear and had E&R’s favorite lunch, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches plus apples. They were on the road about eleven.
We looked for a Wal*Mart but found a Meijer store, also super centers. We actually like them better than Wal*Marts. We got all we needed and arrived at the Olive Branch Campground about 1:30. Not only is this the most expensive campground to date it is one of the poorer. I needed to go back in and tell them the site they assigned is too muddy and the electric service too far to reach. Rather begrudgingly she gave me another site. She said they are under new management. Outside I heard one man tell another that he wants to invest money in this camp because it is bad shape. I wholeheartedly agree, but don’t charge excessive prices until improved. In their favor they do have wireless but it would not let me on.
Later when Miriam wanted to go to the bathroom it was locked. When we asked them about that we were informed they in too bad of shape to use and therefore closed. I again groaned about the cost. They offered to refund our payment and call another campground for us. It was less costly than this but six mile off the bike path. We decided to stay here unless E&R want to change.
E&R arrived about five, earlier than they or we expected. We all agreed to bit the bullet on the cost and stay. They were just in time for the dinner of “Sweet and Sauer Soy Beans” minus the soybeans with pinto beans. This is a most delicious More With Less recipe that Paul has been making for years, today with Miriam’s help who knows her way around this little kitchen.
We took a lot of time this evening nailing down tomorrow’s meeting place. I dug out our Mennonite Your Way Directory and we found a number of Mennonite homes in this area. We called a Stutzman couple, Enos and Mary, who list themselves as Amish-Mennonite. Rhoda with her Mast Amish background was eager to touch base here. We called a several times with only an answering machine.
I informed the gang that we needed to play several games of Rummikub to give Rhoda and me a chance to win. They kindly acquiesced and all won a game but poor Ed. We went to bed about 10:30.

Monday 7. The beginning of week four of pedaling and only about 700 mile of the 2100 to go. When I could not sleep this morning when another camper pulled out with his loud diesel about three or four, I did some calculations. If they average 60 miles per day they will be finished by the 21st and that includes two Sundays completely off. That will give time to visit some dear Canadian Friends if they are home and still be home by the weekend of the May 26-27. Great!
I thought it was cold yesterday morning but that did not compare to this morning. As Ed noted a couple weeks ago, we are not going to be getting away from this off and on cold as we move north with spring. I was cold in bed and too lazy to get up and pull down another blanket, so I just crawled a little closer to my bed heater of nearly 57 years – cozy.
The Bible reading in Rejoice was from Acts 16, the story of Paul’s call to Macedonia. Some lives stay on the same track through all of life. Others of us find our tracks, like Paul’s changed as God calls different directions numerous times, yes and even by trial and error. We sang, “This Is The Day The Lord Has Made,” …He calls the hours his own, let heaven rejoice let earth be glad and praise surround the throne. May our lives be so today.
Enos Stutzman had a call on our phone letting us know we are welcome to park at their place tonight. After calling him back we discovered it is about 5-10 miles off the path, more than the bikers like. But we decided to go for it just to be with some Mennos from this community. We plan to meet E&R in the town of London, load the bike and drive to the Stutzman’s. It should be interesting.
We all dressed much warmer this morning. Just as they were getting ready to leave, Ed took is pants off right in front of Miriam and I, imagine. He laughed and said not too worry as he still has his biking pants on. We find a lot to laugh at, especially with Rhoda’s frequent laughs. Then he added nylon leggings for the ride until it would become warmer latter today.
In addition to the cold it is quite breezy. Hopefully, for the bikers it is a tail wind. The sun is shinning brightly. Ever since we left the Ohio River we have been gaining elevation. By London we will have reached 1100 feet, the highest on our journey to date and likely part of the reason for it being colder. Here most of the leaves are pretty well out on the trees.
Today we should have some time to read the back side of the fourth set of bike maps – next to last. Very interesting material is provided about the areas being passed through, especially as it relates to the UR.
Today we met E&R in London, OH on the west side of town where the rails to trails ends. This trail runs from near Cincinnati to Cleveland diagonally across the state. Today’s path was such a blessing. While it was a constant increase in elevation it was all macadam and smooth. Yesterday there were a lot of other weekend bikers, hikers and horses. Today there were very few. There was a strong side wind from the south. So it was a delightful day. We asked the gentleman at the Shell Wholesale place for permission to park and wait by his lot where the trail spilled out onto the city streets. We had time for a nice nap before they arrived at 2:30 having done an easy 70 miles. May our Lancaster County leaders soon be able to put the old Low Grade Railroad into such a lovely rail.
The horse was loaded on back and we headed north about 12 miles for an interesting evening. Earlier we had consulted the Mennonite Your Way Directory (MYW) for lodging as there was no campground close to the bike path. However, in the end this home turned out to be further away than a campground but we wanted to do it.
We parked at the country home of Enos & Mary Stutzman. Mary welcomed us and told us to park by their implement barn where we hooked to water and electric. Enos is principal and full time teacher at a Mennonite school of 108, K-12. As soon as he got home he jumped on is tractor and went next door to his son’s house to level the topsoil being dumped for lawn. It was about six until he got home, had his supper and time to chat.
They are in their late sixties and have eight children all living nearby except the oldest, a daughter teaching in their mission program in Guatemala. They readily agreed to our taking their pictures. When we asked if the lovely Brick church almost across the road was theirs they said no, it is a Conservative Conference Church. He laughed and said, “We are part of a church several cuts below that.” He wears a little beard and in the MYW described them as “Amish-Mennonite.” We asked if they are the same group as Weavertown congregation in Lancaster County.” That was it. They are Beachy Amish.
Later he said would you like a nice picture of us? We readily agreed and waited while he went into the garage where there were stacks of boxes. Soon he came out and handed us two CD’s of music by he and his wife and several children. The songs were all ones he composed. While in the Gospel Music tradition they were quality songs. He also gave a book with the songs in that he composed. Ed asked if all those boxes were the CD’s. He said that in addition there were boxes of hymnals he had published which had only Christmas Hymns and in shaped notes. (John Kraybill, you’ll love this.) There are several selections from Handel’s Messiah (with shaped notes), excellent words to “Oh Christmas Tree,” and another classical number I’ve now forgotten. There was also a song that Rhoda’s family always sang at Christmas called “The Message,” significant to the Morgantown area. Of the 316 Christmas Hymns quite a number have arrangements by Enos. Longeneckers and Burkholders each had to have a book.
Mary has her own catering business and an enormous and beautiful lawn she cares for. They were delighted to have us and said they love traveling using the MYW directory. “Of course sometimes you get tired of being with people every night and then you get a motel,” she laughed. About eight he went to likely prepare for school tomorrow. What a busy man and what a couple! I hope to put their picture on this Blog.
In preparing for tomorrow we asked Enos if knew anyone in the Sparta area where we want to end tomorrow. He didn’t, so we returned to the MH to nail down a camp sight for tomorrow – over several bowls of popcorn, of course.
We are all feeling very tired tonight but being addicted to Rummikub we played three rounds and hit the sack by ten.

Tuesday 8. We got up late again, 7:30. It was so nice and quiet way out here in the country and another rather cool morning. We were on the road at 8:15 having stacked the dirty oatmeal dishes in the sink. Arriving back in London, OH the horse was unhitched, bridled and soon ready to shove off. It was about 8:45.
On the edge of town we found a Wal*Mart with a fuel station and diesel, so we loaded up and then purchased a few groceries. We don’t want poor Sam Walton’s descendents to go hungry.
Annie (GPS) sent us via Interstates 70, 270 and 71. We would have chosen other roads, but I guess that was best. The GPS really spoils us. It so nice seeing the little map and hearing Annie tell us every turn. We arrived at Autumn Lakes Campground about eleven. The sites look like they are in the birthing instead of autumn of life – quite crude. We had a difficult time getting a level site. The manager gave us some blocks and bricks to run the front end onto. When I turned the computer on there was no electric. They soon came and had us in business. It is a nice setting with a lake in front of us and Canada geese chasing each other. One goose seems very aggressive. Never before have I seen a goose dive under the water to get away from another goose and come up 10-15 feet away.