History and a headwind

Tuesday, 19 August: I woke up late and then spent some time at the Rutherford B. Hayes Museum before leaving Fremont, Ohio. It's a pretty friendly city. One old guy I chatted with told me that if someone is creeping me out, I should say "Give me space or you get the mace." I guess rhyming threats are more effective?

I've never been big on historical museums, and I'm still not. There's always a few cool things, and then a bunch of random filler. But, you know, I was right there and all... The "artifact" that got my attention the most was the totally ancient Kotex vending machine in the bathroom, that was only charging ten cents for a feminine napkin. That's right, just one thin dime. The design and writing looked all fifties. I wish I had gotten a picture, but my phone was outside attempting to charge in the little bit of sunlight that was coming through the clouds. My museum experience was spiced up a bit by two old ladies who sounded like they owned their own, much poorer museum. I didn't talk to them; I just listened while they nitpicked everything in the museum in an envious-sounding way.

I finally got moving after noon. With some help from some friendly joggers, I managed to find a bike trail that other Sheri had told me about. It only went to the next town, but hey, that was seven miles in which I didn't have to worry about getting hit by a semi. Also, the trees lining the trail lessened the effect of the strongish head/crosswind. While on the trail I met an older gentleman who was touring on a recumbent with a trailer. He has been doing basically what I'm doing-- sightseeing and visiting people-- for THREE YEARS and nine thousand miles. Awesome.

Toward the end of the day I ran out of water and stopped by Hook's Greenhouse on Route 18 just west of Wellington, OH to ask if I could refill. The kind woman who owns the place with her husband gave me a bottle of water, an ear of sweet corn, and a yellow heirloom tomato. She wanted to give me more, but I thought I should only take what I could eat tonight, since vegetables are squishy and perishable and all. I should have chatted her up about camping there, because I bet she would have taken me in and given me a shower and food, but for some unknown reason I was set on making it to Findley State Park tonight. I dunno, maybe it's the name. I made it here just before dark, and it's a pretty nice park, with soap and showers and toilets that flush and even a laundry facility. And it dang well better be nice-- campsites are twenty bucks a night! Yeesh. Well, at least I got to experience an Ohio state park.