 This route looks good, suggested by Tym Tyler with a start at his and Lisa's place on the corner of Beaver Run and Canyon Roads. Pizza afterwards! An important note: Some will look at the route and think "Yay, 80 miles" while others will think, "Ugh, 80 miles". I am in the latter camp but look at all the audible calls that can be made. Going a bit beyond Lancaster, crossing to the return route yields 60ish miles. Start Time is 9:00am when it will be 56 degrees.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26909919
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 A week ago from Saturday, 5 of us arrived at Highbanks Metro Park for a hike of undetermined distance, maybe up to 9 miles. We arrived in hiking clothing except for Kenda Janet who as usual, outdressed us all.  Nothing strenuous here but good views and the trail condition is fantastic when it may be too wet to hike elsewhere. The trails are wide and packed so easy to walk. Having said that, not much climbing but looks like a great place for trail running.  We reached an overlook with good.....  ....views and then after heading back for the balance of our 6+ mile hike we met....  .....these two ladies who are training for a 500 mile hike in Spain! Hiking an average of 10 miles each day, they won't be burdened with a heavy pack, can resupply at the end of each day and sounds like a very fun time.
 Jay P seems to be giddy to be at the 11:00am start with a temperature around 35 degrees but also some sun!!! I was slightly less enthused but glad I came out to cast cheer and good wishes to all who attended.  There was some last minute uniform changing as some thought they had too much clothing, others thought too little. We headed northeast on a fine route designed by Gus Cook. We hung together except when encountering several ice/slush spots on Stone Quarry. I'm about a week away from heading west so at one point I walked my bike, just to make sure I stayed upright. Alas, the front 5-6 did not stop at the traditional regroup at the bottom of SQ so a 2nd group formed there. Later, we all regrouped at the end of Chatham and then rode into....  ....St Louisville where the employee was less then thrilled to see the locusts swarm the store. We discovered a table inside and....  ....after picking up necessities.....  ....gathered around the table sharing stories, jokes, tall tales and lies. Just the usual stuff. Peggy Cook had a doughnut acquired from a Japanese bakery so broke it into pieces and shared. Not bad but won't replace the American glazed any time soon.  Starting with around 21-22 cyclists, approximately 10 bid good-by at the end of Concorde and then 11 stayed the course to the food stop and beyond. Above, Rich Lewis, Larry P and Tym T stuff their faces, as did we all. We shuffled back into the cold and headed onto Weaver and then Reynolds where....  ....we paused to regroup at the top of the Reynolds Climb on Marion Road.  Paul D wearing his game face. We shoved off and soon after turning right on Dutch Lane, Jeff S had a flat so Cindy, Gus, Peggy and me hung back and then our group of 5 rode back in, finishing with 65 miles and a 17mph average. It was good to get out, of course.  And here we have it, courtesy of Gus Cook, 11:00am from behind Starbucks in New Albany. B paced ride for the majority but go faster or slower, who cares. One stop at mile 29 in St Louisville.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/24869202  A very good resource for hiking, running or driving your car through beautiful grounds, even in....  .....winter.  Mostly wooded with....  ....many distractions too and as always.....  ....lots of woods. There are areas on both sides of #13 with many miles of paths and paved roads. Worth a visit or more.
 I received a call from Don N, inquiring about the start location. I told him River Road Coffee Shop and so here he arrives. The problem was....  ....no other cyclists were here. Hmmmm, I could not fathom Tym and Lisa not making it so after speaking badly of them we decided.....  ....not to ride. Actually, I did not intend to get my new bike dirty but came down to see who else would ride. Above, Don heads back to New Albany where he put in there for a decent ride. Then, after I was leaving, I spotted Tym and Lisa headed.....  ....the Village Coffee Company on Main Street, the intended start location. Sorry Don!!!  Deniece and Kim rolled up and the group of 5 took off, them on two wheels and me on four. They finished the ride, dry. How bout that. Kids, better weather is coming I am positive.  Here is an option, should it not be raining, for Saturday at 8:30am out of Granville from the River Road Coffee Shop (not to be confused with the shop uptown). Tym Tyler has put the route out and it will be the usual paced affair; if you want to ride hard, fine, if not, you'll end up riding with me. The route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26843297. If you have glimpsed at weather radar, you have seen a mass that is sliding from west to east to our north. Impossible to say if some of that will drop down to our area. May be a good day to ride or may not so keep your powder dry and wait until tomorrow to decide. It is possible that in the morning, the start time could get kicked to 10:00am, again depending on weather.
 Four fit and hardy hikers came out last Saturday to do the "North Loop" at Tar Hollow State Park. There is also a "South Loop" that together, yields a 17 mile route but the North Loop alone is a good 10 miles. The route is marked with red blazes, the one above on a tree with an odd bark surface.  Cindy, Steve O and Mark C led the way and we paused only once to refuel, maintaining a pretty good sub 20 minute/mile pace. There were 4 significant climbs, one averaging 12% for its 1 mile of ascending. Just enough snow on the ground to make conditions slippery but despite that, the two climbing segments on Strava have new KOM and QOM's. Overall, for the 9.8 miles we climbed almost 2000' so a hard hike for sure.
 And so, there we have it, my new bike! I know, why would I acquire a new bike when I already have a bike that is pretty good and only a couple of years old. Well, my friends, recall that yellow/black Trek I used to ride in OH and then transported to AZ for riding out there? Long story but it is unridable now and unfixable too. How sad but the fit of the Trek was not very close to my beloved "bh" (hey look! now it is "BH") so I am tossing the Trek onto the dumpster, transporting the old bh to AZ and now this BH will lead me to glory in Ohio. Above, Rick tinkers with the fit to dial it in just right. As I wandered around the shop I bumped into....  ....Milt's bike. I took a file to the frame and then kept wandering and.....  ....hey! There is my buddie's Trek gathering dust while hanging from the wall. Flyin Tuna is at the back of the line while people like me receive first class treatment, as it should be. Geesh, the forecast for the next 2 weeks not looking good so back to hiking. Tomorrow, 10:00am at Tar Hollow State Park for a hike of 8-10 miles. All are welcome.
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