300 miles on the bike this weekend & 4th of July forecast

So Dawn is staying in Cleveland through today, July 4th, for her mother's birthday, but I had to come back for work so we had to take two vehicles up to Cleveland for our weekend visit.  Soooo... I decided to explore Ohio on two wheels on my way up.  I woke up and hit the road at 8AM and traveled north from Columbus.  Dawn & Summer stayed in Columbus a few more hours before driving up.

I stopped for gas in Bucyrus.  While I was pumping gas some clown tried squeezing between me and another car and I shifted my weight and my tank bag fell off the side of the bike and melted a little on the exhaust.  UGH... oh well, no harm to me.  Anyway, stopped in downtown Bucyrus for a quick photo and to check in with Dawn.

I kept riding up to Sandusky along Ohio State Route 4 and before my first planned stop I had to get up and see Lake Erie.  There is something about seeing endless water that is so relieving for me.  I think I would have thrived as a sailor. 

So by that time it was 11AM and the Original Margaritaville opened up.  I know the new owners so I have been wanting to swing on by to check it out. The kitchen at the tiki bar wasn't up and running just yet, so I hit the road after quenching my thirst.

I rode on to Nickel Plate Beach.  Thankfully my tank bag came with a piece of plastic for the kickstand for situations like this. 

I was wearing my jeans so no swimming, but I did stop, take off my boots, and enjoy the view for about ten minutes. 

I kept riding east along Ohio State Route 6 trying to find a waterfront restaurant.  I passed Castillo Real and I was like BINGO! I turned around and enjoyed a great view along the water.  Great food and reasonably priced. 

I continued east to the Cleveland Metroparks and took Valley Parkway for 22 miles south.  Lots of curves, cliffs, & forest along the river.

I got back to Dawn's parents about 2 minutes before Dawn.  Summer looked at me from the car seat with a look like "How the heck did you get here?!?!" then that turned to a look of "Yay! Dad is here!"  We watched the fireworks in Brunswick Saturday night and I will have to wait until Dawn gets back to share a great photo of Summer and me enjoying the fireworks.  She actually really liked them.  I wanted to stay a little longer on Sunday, but with rain moving in for Columbus I hit the road early and tackled some projects around the house.

Not a great ride on the bike today... Scattered showers and storms, especially for Southern Ohio. 

A mild, cloudy, & wet 4th of July today, especially the farther south you live. Scattered showers and storms today with the heaviest rain expected in Southern Ohio where a Flash Flood Watch goes until Monday night at midnight. The Southern third of Ohio is also in the Marginal Risk for severe weather and far Southern Ohio in the Slight Risk with strong winds possible. The rain starts to break up tonight and, other than a lingering shower possible early Tuesday, we will start to dry & clear out. We heat up by midweek with highs back near 90 and pop-up showers & storms possible. Have a good one!

Best,
Andrew Buck Michael