https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1A6T5cSPRw/ I was grabbing coffee in the hotel lobby when I spotted another bike fully loaded for touring. Naturally, we struck up a conversation. David, the rider, had done a bunch of 1 to 2 week trips all over the country and was heading west from Toledo. We swapped stories and route tips. After some good conversation and caffeine, we wished each other well and rolled out into the Ohio morning. The first 10 miles were southeast along Highway 51, but soon I picked up the North Coast Inland Trail, which would carry me for most of the day. The trail follows a former rail line that once connected the industrial cities of northern Ohio and now stretches more than 100 miles from Toledo to Elyria. It’s a smooth and quiet path through farmland, woods, and small towns, and the riding was easy with almost no climbing. The miles flew by. The farmland was interrupted every ten miles or so by small places like Fremont and Norwalk as I cruised east. Thankfully the day brought a break in the heat, which made for much more comfortable riding. I wrapped up the day in Oberlin, a small college town with a progressive history. Oberlin College was the first in the country to admit students regardless of race or gender, and the town played an important role in the Underground Railroad. That spirit of inclusiveness still seems to carry through the streets today. If you’d like to support Veterans Expeditions and their work helping veterans heal through the outdoors, visit www.OneMileFundraiser.com.