Start: New Albany, OH 10:30 am

End: Dillion State Park Campground (which is 12 fucking miles from Dillon State Park—see below)

Total miles: 57

Total useful miles: 49

The day started out beautifully. I spent a restful day off (Day 6) with 3/4 of the beautiful Sabgir family (the other 1/4 was with Seth!) and woke early with David and Kristen to go watch their amazing son Charlie run the Columbus half marathon. What a blast!

We got to see Charlie 3 times—at mile 3, 7 and the thrilling finish! He’s an incredible runner—I wish I could say we’re blood relatives because I’d love to say I share some of those genes! He crushed it and came in 21st overall!! OMG!!!

After we got the triumphant athlete home, David rode out of town with me to show me the way and help me get off to a great start. We had a lovely ride through bucolic suburban-industrial-rural lands, and he left me on yet another amazing bike trail heading east to Zanesville and the dreaded eastern Ohio hills.

Thanks to a great recommendation from David, I finally took a meal break at an adorable little caboose-turned-cafe called The Station in Granville. I am embarrassed to say how many items I ordered. They were all fabulous.

The route warned me that there were steep hills and that I might need to get off snd walk. It actually says this on the map. .

I’ve been dreading these hills. I have a largely irrational fear of the front of my bike losing contact with he road snd me falling on my head. I am told that, yes, this is possible. This fear is followed by a fear that I won’t be able to clip out of my cleats on a steep hill and will knock my heel into my rear wheel and fall over. That’s because this has happened to me.

So I was pretty wired for this ride.

The scary hills came 5 miles before the end of the ride. There were 2 in a row. I thought front-wheel-down thoughts and made it. I got to the park which had a firing range with lots of gunfire and a “Let’s go Brandon” sticker on the door.

Of the state park office.

I went in to find out where the campsite was, hoping that it wasn’t where the gunfire and conceal and carry classes were., And good news! It wasn’t! It was 12 miles away back over the 2 (bike) flipping hills. Funny, right?

I’m snug in my tent now. having made a hot meal and a passable campfire with wet wood and kindling.

It’s good to be able to put these things in perspective. I feel really lucky today—wonderful family, cared for, safe and healthy. ❤️