Day 16 Ride w WSNS June 7

Mount Vernon OH to SW Columbus OH 62 miles (752).

Today I started out riding with my Warm Showers (WS) host from last night and I ended riding with tonight's WS host. This morning Bill rode with me from his house to the Heart of Ohio Trail (part of the 350+ mile Ohio to Erie Trail system) where I eventually met up with Rick, who guided me on the Alum Creek Trail through the Eastern and Southern ends of Columbus, Ohio. It was great having someone lead me through an urban area - especially after some of the harrowing experiences I've had navigating in, through and around cities; e.g. Tacoma, Washington; Washington, DC; Steubenville, Ohio. I think I have discovered a new navigation system for bicyclists - I call it the WSNS, which stands for Warm Showers Navigation System.

I've had such amazing experiences with WS hosts - I have grown to really appreciate this organization. Visit www.warmshowers.com for more info.

Cool sign showing the shape of Ohio with the trail I started out on today right in the middle of the state.

(above) WS host extraordinaire, Bill, as we say goodbye after he led me to today's trail.

WS host extraordinaire, Rick, who met me about 15 miles after Bill dropped me off.

The skyline of downtown columbus, Ohio.

I knew my warm shower hosts in the Columbus area were running a fine establishment when I noticed they carried my favorite shampoo - Trader Joe's  Tea Tree Tingle - and one of our families favorite salad dressings - Newman's Own Balsamic Vinaigrette!

Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 10, 2021 at 5:00 PM

    Yes! Newman's Own! Really wonderful to read about Warm Showers hosts; thanks for writing. Keeping you and yours in our prayers. -Marsha & fam

    ReplyDelete
  2. Denny JoeJune 10, 2021 at 6:35 PM

    Very cool meeting all these folks along this trek. It must feel good not to have to know if your going the right way and think you might need to back track. Great job Rolff, all my prayers and thoughts are with you. God Bless!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rolff ChristensenJune 13, 2021 at 5:17 PM

      Thank you dennis. I really appreciate your comments and support.

      Delete
  3. Angie RJune 10, 2021 at 7:37 PM

    Quite amazing of your WS hosts to lead you out and pick you up! Pedal on…

    ReplyDelete
  4. Buck Eye in the StandsJune 10, 2021 at 8:03 PM

    You're the 2nd person I've heard say the Ernsts are great WS hosts. Glad to be part of such a great organization. Don't know if she told you, but Laureen has a math degree. She likes your R3A2 title. Safe travels and hope you accumulate more memorable experiences. All good!
    - Rick B.
    P.S. Safe to say that Tuesday night will most likely be the largest room you stay in. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rolff ChristensenJune 13, 2021 at 5:22 PM

      I would have enjoyed talking some basic number facts/theory with Laureen. I've had a lot of training and done a lot of study regarding Singapore math strategies. I think it would have been an interesting conversation. Next time! Also I can't imagine a situation where I would sleep in a larger facility.

      Delete
  5. Ada CJune 11, 2021 at 11:11 AM

    So glad you found the Warm Showers group! Who knew the internet was good for something other than funny videos of kittens?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rolff ChristensenJune 13, 2021 at 5:23 PM

      That's true - now I know it's good for funny videos of kittens AND connecting to an amazing cycling community.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Six Done June 27 - July 3rd RAGBRAI/Iowans/Weather

Image
Marshalltown IA to Papillion NE 203 miles (1,837) I can't write about this past week in Iowa without mentioning more about the Registers Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI). Some people think RAGBRAI is a bicycle ride. It's NOT. It's a rolling party across Iowa, in which over 10,000 partygoers use a bicycle to get from one town to the next. If you are in Iowa and someone finds out you are a cyclist, the first thing they talk about is RAGBRAI - even if they themselves are not cyclists. Iowan friendliness has impressed me. Also the drivers are patient, courteous and cautious. If a bicyclist is on the right side of the right lane on a two-lane highway, if there is oncoming traffic, drivers - including truck drivers - slow way down behind the bicyclist and wait for the oncoming traffic to pass before going well over the yellow line and passing the cyclist with plenty of room to spare. This past week was marked by fantastic weather. No drenching downpours that made me l...
Read more

Day 64 July 25th Seven Years

Image
Pahaska Tepee WY to Canyon Campground Yellowstone NP WY 45 miles (2,801) Today I commemorated my 7th year after open heart surgery (July 25th, 2014) by riding into Yellowstone, up and over Sylvan Pass, and on into Canyon Campground. To say that God has been good to me would be a gross understatement.  Here are some of the views from today's ride: The road up, over and down Sylvan Pass seemed safe as it had a shoulder to the north and some of the views from the pictures above to the south. Beside the shoulder we're granite walls interspersed with trees and grasses and punctuated with waterfallettes: Tonight's campsite in Yellowstone: Note the bear box I was sharing with a couple of cyclists w...
Read more

Day 66 July 27th (Un)Common Courtesy

Image
Rest Day  Gardiner MT  0 miles (2,841) This is Greg: Greg is from Seattle and is on a road trip with his family around Montana, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Park. We were in line for breakfast at the Yellowstone Grill in Gardiner, Montana; the town just outside the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park. He approached me to ask me about my rear view mirror and if I had trouble focusing on the road while viewing the traffic behind me. We ended up talking about cycling etiquette and motorist etiquette around cyclists. After speaking with Greg, I realize that most accidents could be avoided if  cyclists and motorists alike exercised (no pun intended) common courtesy. Greg told me that when he was in Yellowstone yesterday, he drove by a cyclist down on the road with first responders attending him and rangers all around. After yesterday's harrowing ride on Grand Loop Road, I realize that I could have been the downed cyclist. I pray for that cyclist's ...
Read more