New SW Ohio Adventure Scooting Group Forming

For over 8 years I have been riding the back roads of southern Ohio on scooters.

Alone, just me and the breeze!

Not once did I ever experience seeing another scooter rider out on the back roads, just tooling along, stopping to eat or take photos, then blogging about it later or just telling the neighbors and family who likely rolled their eyes in amusement.

I have seen plenty of motorcycles, and most of them in a big, big hurry if they are "weekend warriors". Every once in a while I might run into a biker just out cruising the countryside, and those were the most contented souls on two wheels.

For me, this is how and why I ride: to get out into nature, to slow down my pace of life, to explore historical places and places of natural beauty, and to just experience the freedom of the ride.

Don't get me wrong-I also scoot to the grocery, to the library, to the coffee shop and so forth.

But the most joy I get out of riding a scooter is scooting the back roads out in the rural areas.

I call it "adventure scooting" and I wonder why more people don't do it more often.

It would be SO COOL to offer a group for like-minded riders to be able to connect with!

So that is what I am trying to offer. A way for us to connect.

This blog is one and I am planning to set up a Facebook page, group, and Meetup group.

Once I get those up and running I will post links here and then you can connect via Facebook and Meetup.com.

You can also follow this blog and sign up for membership.

I live in Clermont County near Eastgate but rides can happen anywhere that members want them to.

Ride reports with photos and text can be emailed to me and I will gladly post them here on this blog for all members to enjoy.

I have already posted some of mine from my scooting blog, "Ruckus Scooter Love", which is linked to the left.

I will also gladly link anyone's scooting-related blog, website, Meetup, or Facebook pages on this blog. Just email or post the link in comments.

Who knows? If only a few of us ride together occasionally and exchange phone numbers it could be an enrichening experience of scooter riding and fellowship!

Old Is New: Stonelick Bridge

Last spring if you rode up the Stonelick-Williams Corner Road in Clermont County, Ohio, this is what you encountered:

The old 1878 Stonelick Covered bridge, the last surviving covered bridge in Clermont County, Ohio, had collapsed during renovation efforts in February, after being closed since 2010.

This is the old structure before its collapse:

(Photo courtesy of Wikepedia.)


Today I rode my scooter up to the recently re-opened and freshly renovated "new" old Stonelick bridge and it is a beauty!

Riding through its shadowed tunnel, tires gliding over smooth sweet smelling lumber was a "scooter high"!

Afterward I enjoyed a few hours of further adventure scooting through some of the county's lush green back roads in Stonelick Township.



Read more about Stonelick Bridge: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonelick_Covered_Bridge

Clermont County - Harsha Dam Ride

It was the first dry, sunny, and pleasant day we have had in weeks. So I set out on the Elite to the East Fork Lake Region. I had my sights specifically set on exploring the Harsha Dam area of the park in Clermont County.

Jingles was sporting her new "Cheeky Seats" chilipepper seat cover and her new Saddlemen tail pack. She had to strike a pose in the parking lot before we departed.

We set off down Tealtown Road and hit the back roads into Batavia, the county seat. There were a lot of motorcycles out and we cheerily exchanged the "biker wave" as we met out along the way.

At Batavia I hit the United Dairy Farmers for a restroom break and jug of Glacier Cherry Gatorade and Ritz cheese crackers. These were consumed while I took a rest under a shade tree in the local cemetery, one of my favorite spots.

Along the village streets I admired the new promenade.

I eventually made my way onto Route 222, also known as "Riverside Drive" and headed out toward East Fork Lake and the Harsha Dam entrance.

As I turned onto the access road, I came upon Sherry's Lake bait shop, offering a deli, bait, camping, fishing, and groceries.

There was a pretty little fresh spring lake with people enjoying fishing and even a few tents pitched alongside.

Leaving here I wound down onto a flood plain then up a hill and curved to the right as the road became the top of the dam.

They are hard to see, but there were motor boats, pontoon boats, and fishing boats dotting the lake's surface.

I dismounted to get a good view.

After I crossed the top of the dam I came upon the visitor's center and a scenic overlook.

The overlook just looked out over tree tops to the lake way off in the distance, so I did not get a photo and there were people hanging around which made exploration difficult.

So I headed to the visitor's center and I was the only one inside, free to explore the exhibits.

Things found on the forest floor:

Different kinds of fish species:

A taxidermist had evidently been brought in to enhance the exhibit. Seeing this little fox like this bothered me, but I felt he earned a right to be included in the tour:

I left the visitor's center and returned to my scoot, saddled up and headed back across the dam. Here is the view opposite the lake:

Then I rode back out the main entrance past Sherry's Lake and out onto Route 222 toward Batavia.

It was a peaceful few hours of adventure scooting on the back roads around East Fork Lake and Harsha Dam. I covered about 38 miles round trip. The scooter ran quietly and was I was comfortable in the saddle on the ride.

Read more about Harsha Dam here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Fork_State_Park

Camp Dennison Civil War Scoot

Yesterday was a beautiful day with mild temps, low humidity, and plenty of sunshine. So I set off on an afternoon of riding the C3, with no particular destination in mind.

I started my ride by slowly scooting down some winding back road twisties along a little creek about 3 miles from "the cottage-by-the-mall". This country lane is all but hidden from the darting eyes of frantic car drivers and manic moto mongrels who are always in a hurry as they traverse the landscape.

I never knew it was here myself until I became a slow scooter rider.

This is the main road down into the valley where I then traveled a back road into Milford:

Here along this creek bed I came upon a doe, who stood quietly on the side of the road and watched me glide by as I hit the kill switch on the bike and immersed myself in silence tinged by the sweet rush of the stream and birdsong:

I was not able to capture a photo of the doe as she turned and bounded off into the woods before I could pull out my camera. Such a beauty!

Not my pic, but I felt she deserved a tribute!

I then rode along on a main lower valley road after this which eventually led me into the village of Milford.

Here I stopped in a little Catholic cemetery to rest in the shade:

I rode around for a while in the old part of the village and then headed out SR 126 to seek out a popular small grocery that sits beside the Little Miami Bike trail.

Here I stopped to grab a bite to eat and to explore some of the new historical signage that they have added alongside the bike trail.

I parked the scoot near the picnic tables and went inside and came out with a mett and a Pomegranate-Berry Vitamin water and some peanut butter Ritz bits:

After a snack I headed a few miles down the road to the The School House Restaurant at Camp Dennison. The greenery in front of the restaurant was pretty overgrown, so I took some photos from the sides and back of the building:

The restaurant is actually the original two room school house from 1863 that served the children of Camp Dennison through 1952. More history and details about the school house and restaurant owners, the Millers, can be found on their website listed below.

Camp Dennison was a Union Civil War camp that bordered the rail road line that ran alongside the Little Miami River. This same rail path is now the Little Miami Bike rail trail.

Here at the Camp 1000s of Union and Confederate soldiers were stationed and Morgan's raiders invaded Ohio along the nearby rail tracks. Interestingly, President Lincoln's campaign train also traveled these same rail tracks at one time. It is one of the few designated Civil War sites in the state of Ohio.

There are lots of historical markers near here in a little Civil War memorial park and more historical detail can be found in the links below:

Here is the Waldschmidt House which served as the headquarters for Camp Commander:

I tried to capture the details of the school house signage, but it did not come out very well. You can see the photo of the school house as it looked in 1863, however:

In back of the school house sits a little general store. Next to this is a little area where geese, ducks, and frisky goats usually are romping about. Today there were no goats and only one lone goose:

Now I am wondering where my beloved goats are and there was no one around to ask, unfortunately, as the restaurant did not open until 4. I hope they return soon!

Some rustic art around the general store entrance:

I turned and saw a baby bunny!

She was hopping right beside the front entrance:

The restaurant serves up all their food "family style", meaning you sit at a table with a big "lazy susan" turn pad and they bring in your main course of fried chicken or country fried steak or whatever and then everyone at the table gets the same sides.

Usually these are mashed potatoes, gravy, yams, green beans, kernel corn, homemade cole slaw, tossed salad (with awesome house dressing!), and homemade dinner rolls.

The day's menu is drawn up on the school room black board and you are seated in the classroom while you eat!

The food is fabulous and a carry out bag lasts several days if you need to stop and go while on the run rather than dine in.

Their pies and cakes are extra special Nummy!

The restaurant is where I usually park when I bring my bike to the Little Miami Bike Trail as it runs behind the restaurant.

Directions to the area:

Take Route 50 out of downtown toward Mariemont. Continue on through Terrace Park until you come to the Milford Bridge and Bike Trail head traffic light.

Turn left here onto Rt. 126 and follow it out to The School House Restaurant on your left.

There are many nice 2 lane slow roads to explore out from this point and into Indian Hill and Loveland.


Related Links:

http://www.theschoolhousecincinnati.com

http://littlemiamibiketrail.com/">http://littlemiamibiketrail.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Dennison

http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Welcome_To_Ohio_History_Central

http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2013/07/ohios_new_john_hunt_morgan_her.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_in_the_American_Civil_War


The Classic Car Rally Scoot, Part 2

So after I left the School House Restaurant in Camp Dennison I scooted down SR 126 into the village of Old Milford and got on Rt 50 heading east.

I turned right at the traffic light at Rt 131 and rode over to the River's Edge commercial area.

Here there is a popular steak and burger joint that was hosting a classic car rally. They seem to have a lot of motorcycle related events and motorcycles were everywhere!

(This photo is the property of Quaker Steak and Lube restaurants.)

I parked my Yamaha C3 among the Harleys and got off to explore the expositions...

Here was an old hearse that caught my eye...

There were many beautiful cars, some antiques, some customized, showing their stuff...

So many! I took some photos of some of my favorites...

Not sure why this "kid" was posed inside the engine compartment. The sign revealed no clue and there was no one around to ask. I thought it was creepy, yet sort of cool...

I love old trucks! Here's one that brings the Schlitz right to your door...

Grandpa must have lost his choppers while working on this engine...

A flaming hot Lincoln...

A '55 Chevy! The first car I ever rode in as an infant coming home from the hospital...

A "mini me" version is hitching a ride on the rear ledge...how cute!

Beautiful custom paint jobs that sparkled in the sun! Love that lime green...

Some Schwinn banana seat classic bicycles got in on the show...

The sun was beating down intensely and "Hoot" was calling my name from the "Hog Pen", so I saddled up and rode toward home...

It was a pretty nice rally, complete with music and food. I really enjoyed myself!

I did not get a tee shirt because they only took cash, and I had none on me as has become my habit. Oh well, maybe next time!