It’s a clear, hot sunny morning. We leave Massillon to ride the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath trail, which is adjacent to the Tuscarawas River. The stone dust trail sits high above the river, which has dropped at least 6 feet based on the silt marks on nearby vegetation and its V-shaped banks.
People are fishing on both banks of the river and a few people are using the trail to run or ride. The sun leaves us as we pass into a shaded, woody area. We pass through an underpass that looks to have been totally flooded a short time ago based on the silt marks on the road and sides. The trail just outside Massillon is covered with mud and familiar as it eminds us of our ride on the C&O Canal Trail two years back.
The former canal to our right is swampy, filled with vegetation and fallen trees. The humid air is thick with smells of rotting vegetation and dank soil. It is cool and even a little chilly under the shade of the nearby trees. Our pace has slowed considerably as the trail is filled with ruts and washouts have been patched with sand, making the former towpath soft in spots.
The river on this section of the towpath was at least 10 feet higher than it is now. The silt marks on either side of the path are 3 to 4 feet above the trail. The canal has started to fill up with water and we are approaching Canal Fulton lock No. 4, a functioning lock. It was built in 1827 and was in active use until 1913.
There is a park here with picnic tables and historical signs. A woman is fishing and catches a bass. And amazingly I find a buckeye tree. I have been looking for the State tree during our entire trip have been out of luck. But here was a lovely specimen with small nuts forming.
The canal in this section is wide and deep. It appears that boats still use this section as a sign advertising their use was in the park. And a sign along the trail states that trail users must yield to canal horses.
After 10 miles we pass through the town of Canal Fulton and the trail becomes paved. The trail would vary from paved to dirt throughout the day. With a slight breeze, dappled sun and a paved trail, the ride is effortless. Turtles rest on logs sunning themselves in the canal but are loathe to be photographed as any attempt proves futile. I narrowly miss some recent hatchlings that are crossing the trail. Bullfrogs croak away amongst the lily pads, cattails and high grasses growing out of the canal.
Many of the cyclist we see today are not wearing helmets, which is quite different than what we have become accustomed to. It is a mixed group of young and old. The trail must been in rough shape recently as there are many piles of cut limbs and tree trunks stacked along side.
We had hoped to get lunch in Barberton, but besides the McDonalds, little was open so we pushed on for Akron.
Approaching Akron, the canal is to our left and small houses, some of which have a canoe or rowboat back onto the canal. Like down-canal, many folks are fishing as it is Sunday and they are off from work.
