May 20, 2014 I hiked over 16 miles

Day 14

 The rest of my trip will be hit or miss. I'll be jumping on and off trail. I really wanted to do a through hike but life at home goes on. I had a great hike through some of the Sinking Creek Section Tuesday with former High School teacher Jan Bundy Ferguson.
 Will return to the trail at Hocking Hills Sunday - Monday after going to Buckeye Trail Fest on Saturday.

Geo Rocks

 Jan, blue blazen

In the foothills of the Alleghenies

Ft. Hill

The hike took us over and through that ridge. Up and down up and down.

Day 13.  Got to see where John Glenn was born.  Here is his Statue:

Went about 70 miles today to end at Leesville lake.  Have decided to be picked   up so I can be home for Easter.  I will finish the trail later.  Trail; getting rough and dogs chasing me.

Day 12:  Well once again traveled about 65 miles.  Trail is really nice here.Made it to Massillon today.  There was a bike shop next to path called Earnies and they let me camp behind them.  Feel like a hobo.

Day 11.   Traveled about 65 miles today on my bike.  Moved slow because it was cold.  Stopped at friends Laura and Dave Earley in Cleveland.  Saw a sign that said 654 miles to Cinti.  Evan though I am more than half way there it seems sooo far.

A guy helped me across this bridge:

Day 10.  Well, got up to snow and cold.  It rain/snowed all night.  I was warm but water was seeping in.  Biked ( talk about cold) 3 miles to diner to eat breakfast. Kind of stuck around most of morning trying to stay warm and trying to figure out my next step.  Diner worker said lake affect snow coming later today along with freezing temperatures.  Not equipped with enough winter bike gear to be riding in this. So I went back and packed up and went about 1/2 mile to a campground and got a cabin.  Cold but dry in here.  So I am in the Findley State Park still.  At least tomorrow I have a friend, Dave and Laura Earley to stay with.

Day 9.  Not much to report today.  Got about 60 miles on my bike before the rain hit and so set up camp.  Hoping to go into town for some food. I am at Finlay Lake Campground.  Hoping for NO snow.

Day 8.  It is Sunday and it is beautiful.  Got in a kayak on the Maume river with the wind on my back and quickly got up the river. The rental place agreed to take my bike forward for me.  God is good. Then onto Haskins to camp another night. Loving this dry weather.

Day 7.  Hotel last night at least had breakfast though as bad as the hotel was breakfast was not much better but I ate.. Had to wait till 9am for bike shop to open.  I got to Grand Rapids OH and checked out an old mill.  Only did about 30 miles today.Then found a campsite.  This is my view:

DAY 6.  Have a lot to catch up.  this is Flo writing for Arch bc he never figured out how to blog on his phone so I am going to try to
put into words some of his stories. I am not Arch but I hope you bear with me.  I am single parenting while he is gone so sorry about any delays.

Day 6. Today was kind of crazy.  I found a very large craw-daddy( made me hungry)

 A little later I stopped in a bike shop for a lubrication since my bike was making a noise.  The guy said my frame had cracked, Not good.

decided to go on and got a flat.  went to change the tire and broke off the air valve. So walked back to shop and it was closed but there was a cop behind me with his lights on.  He was actually there for the place next to bike shop and I ended up talking to him, asking him about a campground close,hotel or even to be arrested so to have a place to stay tonight.  He gave me a ride to the cop station, checked me out, and gave me a voucher for a hotel.  Sounds good but don't know if safer to sleep on be in bag or on the floor- pretty nasty place. So I am going to get a beer. Oh appropriately enough this city is called Defiance! For now, bye.

Day 5.  Today was a day that nothing seemed to go right. Had a flat. Was fighting the wind most of the day if not the water. Couldn't find the campground that was on the map so ended up in a hotel in Delphos ( it was suppose to storm any way).

Day 4.  Got to see the Bike Museum which was cool.

This bike below was refurbished by Jim at Jim's Bike Shop in Deer Park.

There were time I would carry my pack through the water and then go back for my bike.

I Stayed in hotel at Ft. Larramie.

Day 3.  This couple felt sorry for me and bought me a beer in the afternoon at the Toxic Brew. They helped me get over some high waters.  The Mad River had flooded it's banks.  This is the water I was fighting against.

This is the water I was fighting against.

A friend of mine in Cincinnati, Bob Spinks' brother had me at their home in Vandalia and fed me , let me shower and sleep in a bed.  It was a great evening.

Day 2 (April 7, 2014)
No one told me April was rainy season.  Yes I am wet and everything I have got wet today even the edge of my sleeping bag.  But God is so awesome.  I walked 18 miles to my bike where I fell on the sloshy trail.  I figured that was a sign to stop.  Found a camp sight that for a few dollars more I could stay in the cabin instead of in wet clothes on the sloshy ground. Here in this little cabin I am drying everything out and they even have a washer and dryer.  While on the trail I got an update that someone had donated today $18.00 which was kinda cool since I hiked 18 miles.  I saw a pair of squawking eagles.  Reminded me of a verse that my sister Pam gave me when I was on my chemo: Isaiah 40:31  Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. Thanks Pam.

Day 1

Looking forward to what God has for this trip. Well I should have practiced how to blog on my cellphone before I left but here goes a try. So far so good. Met a new friend John from Miranda food. When I figure how to upload my pictures I will put them on. Can't wait for adventures ahead. Thanks again to Half Dayers, Wayne Litmer, Rod Appleback, Jason Miller, Larry and Cheryl Cunningham, and Deb and Don Elbert and Flo for seeing me off and all the love across messages and facebook.

Buckeye Trail

This is my very tentative itinerary for my Bike, Hike canoe the Buckeye Trail Adventure. This trip is intended to fundraise for Melanoma Know More
{ http://melanomaknowmore.donordrive.com/ } and create awareness of the Buckeye Trail.{ http://www.buckeyetrail.org/ }

 April 6th 8;00am Eden Park, Cincinnati :
Bike through the Loveland section to Caesars Creek
Hike to Horse Camp

April 7th hike to W Spring Valley Paintersville Rd.
Bike through Caesars Creek section and Troy section to St. Marys section
Camp at Lockington Reserve Park

April 8th bike through St Marys section to Delphos section
Camp at Johnny Appleseed Park

April 9th bike through Delphos section to Defiance section ( I ought to feel at home here) to Pemberville section
I want to canoe in this section but details not worked not yet.
Camp near Lindsey

April 10th bike through Pemberville section to Norwalk section
Camp at Findley Lake or stay with friends in Sandusky

April 11th bike through Medina section some hiking in the last part of this section
to Bedford section

 To be continued