Western Ohio Time Travel: Miami & Erie Canal Heritage Corridor

I was looking for a scenic and interesting route to bring my new-to-me R100gs home from Indianapolis, and I struck gold:

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/water/canals/MEcanalbooklet.pdf

State of Ohio has an entire pamphlet dedicated to the canal route, with history of the canal. A map of the canal at present. Photos of the surviving locks and other sites. There are canal boats, a bicycle museum, all sorts of tourist attractions related to the canal and other Ohio history, all scattered along the route from Piqua to Defiance.

This is looking pretty cool for a route to follow when I bring the GS home from Indy.

After, I can probably incorporate some of this into the Kid's Ride, so that we could follow the canal traces from Lima to Piqua, then get on a canal boat and re-live the old days.

Doug,

Are you looking at US36 from Indy to Piqua? If so, you'll pass within a couple miles of me, about 45 minutes east of Indy. If you want to take a break here, I'll put the coffee on and say nice things about your new bike.

John

John Brase said:

Doug,

Are you looking at US36 from Indy to Piqua? If so, you'll pass within a couple miles of me, about 45 minutes east of Indy. If you want to take a break here, I'll put the coffee on and say nice things about your new bike.

John

Click to expand...

John,

Thanks, and appreciated! But I probably won't want to stop. No offense, but I'll likely be enjoying the 75F temps, the scenery, the new bike - and just won't want to stop.

I haven't owned a flat-twin since 1999, and I miss the feel of that kind of engine. Going down the road will be familiar and comfortable, and I'm looking forward to that.

Doug Grosjean said:

... my new-to-me R100gs ...

Click to expand...

Congratulations!

Don

djw said:

Congratulations!

Don

Click to expand...

Thanks!

Shaping up to be an incredible w/e for a bunch of reasons:

1. I'm into photography, and so Friday my new-to-me 50 y/o Rolleicord is supposed to arrive, too.

2. After a loooooooooong winter, Sat. is supposed to be 75F and nice.

3. OH-66 is an Ohio Scenic Byway right in my backyard that I've never travelled.

4. And of course, the perfect bike / companion for the ride.

I don't know what could happen to make it better. Perhaps winning the lottery?

<g>

Rt 66 between St. Marys and Spencerville is particularly nice/fun. Great sweepers, etc.
Don't miss Bloody Bridge, and the viaduct.

Mike_In_Lima said:

Rt 66 between St. Marys and Spencerville is particularly nice/fun. Great sweepers, etc.
Don't miss Bloody Bridge, and the viaduct.

Click to expand...

Thanks!

Hoping to run the entire canal route, from Troy / Piqua to Defiance, OH up on the Maumee River. Time may cut into that, though - SO would like to have me home at a decent hour, so we get a good night's rest before riding the new bike to the Tulip Fest in Holland MI Sunday.

Grinning - hope the bike is comfy. I'll be racking up 300-350m Saturday, maybe 400m Sunday, then 94m going to work Monday from SO's house, and another 30 to get home to Luckey. Close to 900m in my first 3 days of ownership.... most of 'em "quality" miles, to boot.