And that's why we don't do Disneyland during the summer months!

Start:  Best Western Falcon Plaza, Bowling Green, Ohio
End:  Comfort Inn, Mentor, Ohio (Bicyclists ended in Vermilion, Ohio where I picked them up and we drove to Mentor.  They've made it this far.  Why should they risk everything by riding through downtown Cleveland?)

Mileage:  80 miles
Weather:  Hot, Humid and STICKY

States Conquered:  Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois
State Being Conquered:  Ohio
States to be Conquered:  Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine

Particulars:  Hannah and I were reminded yesterday why we choose not to go to Disneyland during the summer months.  Since we were in the area, we decided to head to Cedar Point where we would have the opportunity to ride some of the fastest and highest roller coasters in the world!  But, just like Disneyland, the lines were long!  Our first choice was Raptor, and the line was 1 1/2 hours.  We did bring something to read while standing in line and fans with misters greeted us through our slow progression.  However, the heat and humidity were close to intolerable!  Sticky, very sticky is the best description we can come up with.  Jean capris and a short sleeve shirt were too much for Hannah, so we stopped at a gift shop and purchased a pair of shorts and a lightweight t-shirt.  This outfit would fit right in with the standard attire that we observed while in the park which included bikinis, tank tops, very short shorts and flip flops.  We did observe a few Muslim women who wore a  black burqa and head scarf.  One young woman dressed in this fashion was in the Raptor line with us and I noticed that she was wearing along pair of jeans underneath her burqa.  Hannah was having a hard time processing the fact that these women were not only covered head to toe but that they were wearing black in this kind of weather!

As we were standing in line watching people, especially a number of young people, it was interesting to observe their behavior.  Not that I'm opposed to expressing affection or PDA, I had to cringe that someone would want to actually get close enough to share someone else's body warmth and in this weather, stickiness.  Hannah practiced her "talking to boys" skills in the Millenium Force line.  Two nice young boys from Windsor, Ontario, Canada were in front of us in line and they started a conversation with Hannah about the rides they had been on and their rankings on the best.  Hannah did very well, not that I'm encouraging any type of flirting behavior at 11, but I will encourage practicing in safe social situations.  Unfortunately, just as we were approaching the front of the line, one of the young men decided that he didn't want to go on the ride and both of them left.  I guess they had a rule to stay together?

Hannah was very brave and decided that she does like roller coasters after all, although mom can truly say that three wild roller coasters in one afternoon are enough for her old grey-haired body!  We did Raptor, which is a hanging roller coaster with loops and corkscrews, then we went to Millenium Force which is ranked in the Top 10 of the fastest and highest roller coasters in the world (no loops or corkscrews, but an AMAZING first hill), and then on to Mantis, a stand-up roller coaster with loops and corkscrews.  After that one, we both had had enough even though there were many more choices.  It was time to get back to the bicyclists who were waiting for us in Vermilion.  Thanks men for giving us a couple of extra hours at Cedar Point!

A report from Joe Thompson:  Here is your faithful correspondent at the Lake Erie beach in Vermilion OH. We rode the 80 miles from Bowling Green OH today in high heat and humidity conditions with neutral to following winds. The temperature (95) and humidity (90) combined to make it pretty tough weather wise. Health advisories were issued in most of the counties we passed through today.

We will hop over Cleveland this evening, starting tomorrow near Geneva On the Lake.

A report from Kelly Thompson:  Vermilion OH - is a little different from rural OH. It is right on Lake Erie near Sandusky OH. Instead of growing corn, they grow tourists here. Tues 6July - it is 95 degrees and 90+ humidity.



Interesting People Along the Way: