https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Aw8YEY5SE/ Today I turned south, trading the last of the flat terrain for rolling backroads and tighter shoulders. The first 40 miles were all on pavement. I stuck to small roads where I could, trying to avoid the traffic, but it seemed like everyone in Ohio had somewhere to be. With little to no shoulder, I rode with one eye on my mirror the entire time. The tension wore on me until I finally reached Creston. In Creston, I picked up the County Line Trail, a quiet rail trail that runs about 6.5 miles along an old Baltimore and Ohio Railroad corridor. It was peaceful, shaded, and a welcome break from the cars. The trail ends near the town of Rittman, where I turned southeast again, pushing on toward Clinton. At Clinton, I hopped onto the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, which follows the historic route of the canal that once linked Lake Erie with the Ohio River. The gravel surface and gentle grade made for calm, steady riding, and I followed it the rest of the way to Bolivar. I had planned to camp in Bolivar, but the campground I found was more like a party. Loud music, drinking, and not exactly the peaceful end I was hoping for after 90 miles in the saddle. As I rolled through the evening humidity, I kept thinking about the quiet silence of the high desert and vast public lands I experienced not long ago, where I could pitch my tent in solitude under open skies. Out here, the sea of private property and dense pockets of people makes it a different kind of challenge. That contrast hit me hard. I pedaled a few more miles to a quiet motel and called it a night. If you’d like to support Veterans Expeditions and their work helping veterans heal through the outdoors, visit www.OneMileFundraiser.com. Thanks again for following along. More updates coming soon. And as always, keep on pedaling.