Don't you just love finding new railtrails to explore? I'd heard of the paved trail starting a couple of miles east of Hebron, Ohio so this morning I left the house at 7am and rode out that way. I was going to stop in Hebron for breakfast but nothing was open yet so on I rode. Sure enough right across from Lakeland High School I came across this old railroad station. This is on US 40 otherwise known as National Road and is steeped in the history of this area. This link: http://www.west2k.com/ohstations/licking.shtml shows the history of local stations and states that it was built in 1885. The trail is built on the right of way of the original Newark-Somerset-Straitsville line which later became the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. I headed north on the trail which runs through farmland and along the new petroleum pipeline construction for the first couple of miles. Then it rides along the South Fork of the Licking River through beautiful forest and then residential as it ends up in Heath. There I rode into town and found a Panera so I could finally eat my breakfast (Boy, was I hungry by then!). Then back through some neighborhoods to the trail again. The wind started picking up from the North and really helped me as I now headed South and West. I flew past three young ladies riding ahead of me going back into Hebron. Then a great ride along my usual route into Millersport and Baltimore picking up 4 roadies in my mirror coming on fast on Basil Western Rd. They eventually caught up to me and invited me to hop on their back wheel. I appreciate this as I was starting to tire. We all cooked along at 20-25 mph for a few miles before I had to peel off and head for home. This was a really fun ride of discovery for me and I can't wait to see what the road reveals next time.