We are riding on a well-kept, tree-lined, paved path. The Miami River Scenic Trail is flawless with trees and vegetation on both sides. We glide in a tunnel of nature. Sycamores, maple, dogwood, sweet gum, hickory, oak, ash, mulberry, black cherry and other trees form a canopy of green. A herbaceous border of grasses and weeds create a thick wall that keeps us focused and straight on the trial. I can’t make out what plant is flowering that emits a sweet honeysuckle-like scent (as I have not seen a honeysuckle in the collection of plants.)
The only downside to this thickness of vegetation is that it is difficult to see much outside of our tunnel of the trail. We receive glimpses of the Little Miami running fast and brown, but these are fleeting and erratic so we are unable to take a grand view of the river.
We exit our tunnels of vegetation every so often for a road crossing or town. One, Camp Dennison, north of Milford, appears to be an old railroad stop as to our right sits a defunct grocery and livery store, which you can tell by the faded gold etching on its windows.
We make a quick stop in Milford so I can get a replacement light for my bike. We stop at Bishop’s, which claims it is the oldest bicycle shop in the U.S. being established in 1890. I can’t help but buy a shirt.
As we approach Loveland for lunch, a woman is picking recently fallen mulberries from the ground. Next to her is a large Kentucky coffee tree, which towers over the mulberry.
Loveland is a well-used stop for cyclists having many restaurants and shops. With many choices, I opt for lunch at Paxton’s Grill because it had an awning over its outdoor patio and it had a cool looking, multi-colored neon sign in the shape of a bicycle above one for beer: two of my favorite ‘b’ words. It was a good choice.
After lunch we stopped for a guilty pleasure of Graeter’s ice cream just down the street. We were both tempted to add another scoop to our respective orders but we controlled ourselves.
We are halfway on our ride having done 29 miles with the same to go.
The trail has not changed much with lots of vegetation on either side and a big muddy colored river to our left. We have had a few light sprinkles of rain on a mostly overcast day. But now the towns are further apart and there are few noises as we peddle northeast.
As almost on command, a memory of days past comes into view. An elderly man sits and reflects quietly on a bench looking out at the river in one of the few places where there is a gap. In his view there is a well-used rope swing that can only be accessed by climbing boards that are nailed into a tree leaning into the river. I wonder what was going through his mind.
Now 5 miles out of Loveland a light rain starts making us consider whether to don our rain gear again as a groundhog crosses our path. Groundhogs and rabbit sightings have been plentiful on our trip.
Around the bend, we come across the shell of the Kings Mills-based Peters Cartridge Company, which manufactured a wide variety of munitions from the late 1800s through WW II. It is a beautiful old building that is listed in the Historic Register and is in the process of being refurbished as a brewery and for other businesses. It is easy to see why it was listed in the Register as its Art Deco inspired tile and masonry work gives it an elegance rarely seen in industrial buildings. Surrounding it are thousands of new plantings of trees, shrubs and perennials that appear to have been chosen as pollinators that will attract birds and butterflies.
Stopping at Stubbs Mills Road for a water break, we find two memorials for cyclists who have died one assumes from car accidents. It doubles our resolve to be careful as we remount our bikes.
Entering the town of Morrow the sun emerges and we stop to look at an old caboose from the Pennsylvania railroad resting on a lone section of track by an old railroad station. It is in excellent condition, which unfortunately is not that of the town having many houses and buildings in a rundown condition. A lovely railroad bridge leads us out of town.
I spot a pleated woodpecker fly across our path, perching temporarily on a tree riverside. Birds have been plentiful on our ride as one would expect being close to a river. As we approach they fly from lower perches to the safety of the trees.
A small stream that flows into the Miami is yet another rest stop to take on water and fuel up. It is accessible to the river unlike the typical steep banks we have been riding on. Looking down at river’s edge we see a few tracks-they are that of bear. We have less than 10 miles to go and rain is threatening again. Time to make a final push.
