Day Two Journal for Monday July 13, 2009

Lima to Findlay with stops in Bluffton and Ottawa

Day Two started out with breakfast in the dorm at OSU-Lima Extension.

This was a rare time for the group to socialize just among ourselves, which we appreciated. What we didn’t know at the time was that this would be the last time we had together as a group. From the dorm we drove in the bus back to the Steiner Horse ranch where our bikes were stored. This also became the staging area for where our new day riders would join us. We had some new riders coming in from Sylvania, including two exchange students from Hungary – Attila and Peter.

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Bike Tour for MESA Discussion Forum

Photo Album for Day Two

Pavement Route Marking

     Becky and Jeff Waggamon

Monday, July 13 – Lima – Bluffton – Ottawa - Findlay – 66 miles. From Steiner Ranch and breakfast with Lima Rotary we head north and ride another part of the Rotary Riverwalk then run straight northeast into Bluffton. At only eighteen miles we will be ready for refueling. We also get to meet the Bluffton Rotary Club members. This sort of camaraderie is the icing on the cake for the tour – it’s nice to raise a lot of money for MESA but it’s also great to meet so many fellow Rotarians who together really make MESA possible.

From Bluffton we take a west then north route for another 18 miles up to Ottawa. Because of its unique location in the district geographically, Ottawa has been on our route almost every year as we connect with the cities and clubs in northwest Ohio. Last year we were challenged to some cornhole games and some of our riders want revenge.

With twenty-four miles to go we head due east – hopefully with tailwinds – into Findlay. Our route here is one we have taken many times before, following the scenic but bothersome Blanchard River.  Let’s hope it stays within its banks as we pass… bikes do not float well. As with Ottawa, we will again visit our many friends in Findlay. Nearly every year we have been here and we have come to know many of the members and gladly call them friends.