Click here for part 1. We find the spot where the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail meets Canal Street / Hudson Drive, there are Parks on both sides of the street and trailhead parking. It is about 4 o’clock. It is getting dark already. We are not that surprised that our route, Brinker Street, is uphill as we were in the Tuscarawas River Valley. Where there is river, there is ridge. We we were surprised that it was so long. It was a seven mile jaunt, all basically uphill. There were a few rollers but not very helpful. We arrived at the campground at 6:15. 59 miles total for the day.
Of course the girl at the desk told us our cabin was “just up the hill!”
The campground is set up for RV’s and is not our style. Obviously they have the title of resort due to their horses. It was fun that that the horses were right outside our window.

View from our cabin with the horses just outside. Note the built in heat and air conditioning.

We settle in, get showered, build a fire and order some food. Perfect.
We are careful not to stay up too late so we don’t miss the train.

Yes I am drinking bottled beer! Octoberfest! (12 fluid ounces + the bottle x 6 x 7 miles ∞ incline = ∞ delicious.)

The fire felt great it was chilly. Pizza, fire, beer, cabin.

Next morning we have fried chicken for breakfast while loading up the bikes. No coffee. We are pedaling by 8:30 a.m. It is cold. I am wearing everything I brought–except my raincoat.

The first photo at first light on the first hill on the second day.

Guy is dazed by the early morning incline and takes a rare self portrait.

Soon the fog breaks away, the clouds start to thin and we see blue sky!

Here comes the change in the weather! Hello blue sky!

Its still hilly. Definitely in our favor in this direction but we chose to walk several of the hills so we wouldn’t get sweaty, then chilled.

The top.

I am smiling because the towers are behind us. On the next section Guy’s computer recorded the max speed at 43 mph.

You can see the bad towers in this photo.
We arrived at the trail at 9:45 a.m., about an hour faster than the reverse route the night before.

Does this look like an oil painting?

Wooster Road in Navarre is the best route into town. (view facing north looking at “Water Park.”)

The bicycle bridge in Clinton. Years ago we thought this bridge was cool and unique. Now we know that there are bridges like this, just for bicyclist all across the state of Ohio.

25 tons of future bike trail improvements, near Barberton.

High point of the Ohio and Erie Towpath Trail is just south of Akron.

LOOK! New signs in downtown Akron!

We arrive  in Akron for enough time so get some real food. We have been eating leftover pizza and nuts all day. We arrive at the train station 15 minutes before the train is due to arrive.

Just waiting on the train.

And here is this fabulous Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad arriving at the Akron station, running a tad-bit late.

We don’t mind waiting on the train except daylight is fading, fast!

By the time we detrain it is fully dark and 14 miles to ride. My reflectors work!

This is the first time we ever got home after dark fully loaded­... I mean the bikes are fully loaded.

We arrive safely at home just before 10 p.m. Wow what a ride! We are so tired all we can figure out to eat is the rest of the left over pizza. At least we could warm it up in the oven!

We are really glad we went on this trip and are hoping for another chance for a quick tour before the snow arrives.