Country to City: Part 3

After an excellent lunch at the Galloway Tavern, we discover that the temperature has warmed up a bit to the upper 80s. I remind Ted that our hotel for the evening has a pool so we will be able to cool ourselves. And the Falls of the prior day is beginning to look pretty good to me now.

It turns out that the park we just travelled through was a buffer between the country and city. Fields of corn are gone being replaced by suburban back yards and swing sets. A make-shift basketball court and hoop are set up adjacent to the trail.

We continue our ride as shade is rare and the temperature is increasing. It is hot.

The trail has ended for a bit and we are back on the road, though both of us prefer to ride on the sidewalk as there is no dedicated bike lane. Fortunately, our detour is short and we find ourselves back on the Camp Chase Trail, which has three large Camp Chase Railroad locomotives on display behind a fence. And, as always, more grain silos.

Though this portion of the trail is more urban, and less attractive, local organizations are attempting to spruce things up. For example, murals were painted with cycling themes on two large industrial buildings.  There is only so much that can be done as abandoned appliances and trash on the other side of the trail and tracks mar the ride.

Unlike the other trails with their straight line track, this trail weaves back and forth making for a more interesting peddle. We pass through a park with grasses and flowers on either side.

We make another short venture out onto the streets and enter Columbus and the Scioto River trail. The trail is a greenway that will take us into the city and soon we reach a bridge that gives us a lovely view of the Columbus skyline. The ride is shaded and cool next to the high and fast-running river in contrast to our hot ride of the last hour or so.

We take a break in downtown Columbus in the Arena district next to Huntington Park and Nationwide Arena. It is a beautiful, clean space that speaks well of urban renewal. Unfortunately, we can’t take in the sights as we still have 18 miles to go.  

The ride though Columbus was uneventful and something we wanted to do quickly before the rush hour started and the traffic built. From the roads, we got on a dedicated bike path that ran next to interstates and busy highways. Soon we reached the final trail of the day: Alum Creek. 

Turning onto the trail was somewhat transforming as the busy highways melt away and we meandered over bridges and cool, fast running water.

We take a final break at a bench perched over the Ohio Dominican baseball field, where sat a sign reminding us of how this creek was part of the Underground Railroad over 170 years ago. Escapee slaves would walk the creek to lose their scent and make it more difficult for bloodhounds to follow them. Rested and watered, we have 10 miles to go. Like the prior trail, the Alum Creek trail meandered back and forth crossing the creek many times. Unlike the other trails, however, the flooding conditions of the creek put sections of the trail underwater as well as the adjacent woods, which looked more like a swamp now.

But like all the trails we have been on, the trail was well maintained with impressive bridges of different types and architectures. In particular, a number of spans were designed with large laminated curved wood arches. We hit a few more wet spots on the path and  before we knew it, it was time to leave the trail and check into our hotel after a long hot day of riding.