Narrowing down a highlight or two from our (my husband John, and me) recent trip east is difficult. The first leg of the trip was to participate in my national association meeting in Columbus, Ohio. I would say the highlight of those four days was the opportunity to share my educational fact sheet and leaders guide with forty-four agents from sixteen different states. The response was positive; they were especially glad to receive the entire program on a CD. Other sessions and speakers I listened to during the week provided resources and new ideas to try here in Barton County Kansas. Of course it is always fun to meet and visit with agents from other states and learn about their programs. And, while we were in Columbus, we found out just how bike friendly cities can be. We ventured over to the Ohio State campus as well as the capitol and German Village.
The second part of our adventure was a relaxing trip as far east as Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia. Last summer when we were riding our tandem bike across Kansas, we met a lady from Pennsylvania. We exchanged addresses and soon we received brochures describing a couple of neat looking rails to trails biking paths. There were many historic sites as we ventured onto the C and O Canal route which for the most part, runs alongside the Potomac River.
A unique lodging experience occurred in the community of Hancock, Md. We had planned to pitch our tent in the little Park there, but with the skies darkening and rain predicted later we opted for staying in a bunkhouse located behind a bike shop near the trail. We quickly got into our riding clothes to get on the Western Maryland Rail Trail before the rains came. John had to change a flat before we got started but soon we were enjoying a ride through a very scenic area. We couldn’t really see the lightning strikes but the thunder was getting louder and louder. Luckily by then we were headed back to the bunkhouse.