Today’s Date: July 22, 2024

Today’s Start Point: New Albany, Ohio

Today’s End Point: Cambridge, Ohio

Today’s Miles: 85.46 Miles

Cumulative Miles: 3,866.74 Miles

I started off knowing that this would be the last day with Paul running the SAG wagon. The plan was for me to ride 50 miles to Zanesville, Ohio, where Paul would head to the airport for his flight home. Paul would meet me at 15 to 20 mile intervals with food, drink and encouragement.

We left before sunrise and headed out under cloudy skies and cool (yes, I said cool) weather. The first stop was at Alexandria, Ohio about 12 miles out, and the road was a service road along the highway. Not very scenic, but flat as a pancake. I was covering ground fast and I was starting to think that maybe 50 miles today was too short.

The next 20 miles were along the Thomas J Evans Trail (funny, I always thought he was from Kentucky). The trail was similar to the other great paths that I have been accustomed to in Ohio, perfectly paved and tree lined.

In the middle of this section, the trail ran through Newark, Ohio. Paul and I were supposed to meet in Newark and had decided on a rendezvous point. When I got there, the area was pretty scary. While Paul was there, he witnessed a house break-in and the ensuing fight. We decided I better load up on food and eat on the run. While Paul was waiting for me, of course he tried to make friends with the local players.

Paul and I continued to talk about me going farther than Zanesville, with Paul having a hard stop at noon in order to catch his flight. It was only a short ride from Newark to Zanesville, so we decided that if I felt good, I would keep on going.

As I got to Zanesville, the landscape became a little hillier and the clouds a little darker. I still felt good at the 50 mile point in Zanesville and I decided to go another 30 miles to Cambridge, Ohio. Paul would meet me at a church (we were not taking any chances on more rendezvous spots) in Rex Mill, Ohio. This would be the last rest stop and Paul would give me my luggage and then head out.

Once I left Zanesville, the roads became much steeper, with some of the hills hitting a 13 percent gradient. To compound matters, the road had recently been chip sealed with fresh oil so that there was loose gravel on top of the road for ten miles. To further compound matters, it began to rain which would continue for the remainder of my ride.

Knowing Paul was waiting I tried to push the pace but with the rain and gravel on the roads, I could not go too fast on the descents since the road looked slick. With about three miles to go to Rex Mill Paul called me with a new idea-after we met up in Rex Mill, he would drive ahead to the hotel in Cambridge, drop off everything and then go to the airport. I believe to adequately pay Paul back for the many miles he has traveled and the caretaking duties that he has performed, I am going to have to give him one of my kidneys, whether he needs one or not.

We said a very quick goodbye in Rex Hill. Over the last few days I have tried to convey what type of person Paul is and what he means to me. He is simply one of the best individuals I have been lucky enough to have in my life. Safe travels Paul and thank you.

Of course he executed his plan perfectly and when I arrived at the hotel wet and may I say cold (not complaining about the cold one bit after the previous month’s heat), the hotel clerk said “hi Jim”. My advance man had already told my story and I had a room ready with my things in it when I arrived.

The area I am staying at in Cambridge is busy, with a great deal of truck traffic and warehouses. At least what I can see (and the dreary weather does not help), it is not a scenic spot. On the bright side, there are places to eat and get supplies.

All in all, the riding went well. There was 4,000 feet of climbing over 82 miles. Yes it was rainy, but I don’t really mind riding in a steady rain. The temperature was mild and the winds negligible. By adding the extra 30 miles, I hope to be in Wheeling, West Virginia tomorrow and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Wednesday.