Day 117, Miles Ridden Today (Sunday): 0, Miles Ridden Overall: 3479, Camping: $0, We are staying overnight at Cindy Verburg Memorial BMX track, Dayton, OH
- To track online our current location, see instructions on the “Ride the Nation Route Plan” page of this website
- Also, Follow us on Twitter, search “ridethenation”
- Check out our blog on www.bmxmania.com for exclusive details you won’t find here.
- To track online our current location, see instructions on the “Ride the Nation Route Plan” page of this website
- Also, Follow us on Twitter, search “ridethenation”
- Check out our blog on www.bmxmania.com for exclusive details you won’t find here.
We awoke at a leisurely 9am on our last full day in Dayton, Ohio. Sunday was to be a day of readying bikes for the road again and maybe a little evening fun. Jamie (of P.A.L.) arrived at the track with every imaginable bike tool, a bike stand and lots of options to fix my wobbly back wheel. Frankenbutt and Jamie worked diligently on my bike while the Beast and I checked emails.
Coco must have sensed that we’d be leaving soon, too, and found her own way of relaxing. I sorted through the things that we needed to keep on our bike and made a pile of items that we could manage without until at least the Grands. Track Director, Myke, and his wife, Vikki, offered to bring our plaque and some personal stuff to the Grands for us, so we don’t have to ship it all home. Nice!
We were discussing our route for our departure Monday and soon Jamie was on the phone. It’s nice to have friends in high places! In a short time, a Five Rivers Metroparks vehicle arrived and Sergeant Terry Boshears listened to us tell where we are headed next. He made a call and officer M. Waller arrived, via FOUR WHEELER! (what a cool job!), and had maps on hand to show us the great Miami River bike trail. They helped us plot out the safest way to get down to Cleves, utilizing mostly bike trails. They also filled us in on “must see” things along the way. Thanks, guys!
Jamie left to join his family and gave us all hugs. We continued to pack down our supplies for the ride out on Monday. A few local riders arrived to get a few runs in on the track and to wish us luck on the rest of our journey. It was so nice that so many of the Dayton riders welcomed us into their BMX family. We’ll miss all of you!
Mieckeikke and Vikki arrived and invited us to see a little more of Dayton. We all hopped into Mike’s van and first headed over to the Kettering, OH track, which is in a public park. The Beast enjoyed seeing her 25th track and learning more manualing skills from Mikey. Shawn and his dog, Blake, hit the track, too. Vikki and I hung out and talked and I also got a phone call from Kathleen at the Louisville track. Kathleen was very supportive of our project and said she’ll start working on our arrival plan and contacting media. Sweet!
As the sky turned to night, we all got back into the van and Miguel Tailor took us for a tour of his city. That’s the first time any track director gave us a real tour of their city. He showed us the GM manufacturing plants that build the vehicles in Dayton, his own Duramax plant that manufactures diesel engines and also factories that have closed during the economic downturn. He drove us down the red brick streets of an old section of town that really comes alive at Halloween with their “Boo and Brew” event, a “Mardi Gras” style happening.
When we came around the river, Vikki pointed out the many fountains that light up and shoot awesome cascades of water to and from a center fountain. We also passed by the Dayton Dragons field, where a dragon on the scoreboard has eyes that light up and smoke that blows from his nostrils, when the home team scores a run.
Jamie left to join his family and gave us all hugs. We continued to pack down our supplies for the ride out on Monday. A few local riders arrived to get a few runs in on the track and to wish us luck on the rest of our journey. It was so nice that so many of the Dayton riders welcomed us into their BMX family. We’ll miss all of you!
Mieckeikke and Vikki arrived and invited us to see a little more of Dayton. We all hopped into Mike’s van and first headed over to the Kettering, OH track, which is in a public park. The Beast enjoyed seeing her 25th track and learning more manualing skills from Mikey. Shawn and his dog, Blake, hit the track, too. Vikki and I hung out and talked and I also got a phone call from Kathleen at the Louisville track. Kathleen was very supportive of our project and said she’ll start working on our arrival plan and contacting media. Sweet!
As the sky turned to night, we all got back into the van and Miguel Tailor took us for a tour of his city. That’s the first time any track director gave us a real tour of their city. He showed us the GM manufacturing plants that build the vehicles in Dayton, his own Duramax plant that manufactures diesel engines and also factories that have closed during the economic downturn. He drove us down the red brick streets of an old section of town that really comes alive at Halloween with their “Boo and Brew” event, a “Mardi Gras” style happening.
When we came around the river, Vikki pointed out the many fountains that light up and shoot awesome cascades of water to and from a center fountain. We also passed by the Dayton Dragons field, where a dragon on the scoreboard has eyes that light up and smoke that blows from his nostrils, when the home team scores a run.
He pulled around into the Riverscape parks area and parked and then we went on a foot tour around the river. It was about 10 o’clock at night and the place was so well lit and clean, that we and the locals seemed perfectly at ease. There are many places we won’t go at night, but I’d love to spend another evening down there.
The Beast found some cool bronze statues and posed with them. Fittingly, the statues were the famous Wright Brothers, two bicyclists who were inspired to create the first airplane. The next time you get on a plane, remember that it was 2 Bicyclists who got it all started. Even with the invention of cars and planes, bicycles remain and grow and change all the time. Who knows what will come next from the mind of a bicyclist?!?
Just before we left, Mic and Vikki posed for a pic with the Beast. True to the BMX sense of humor, they simultaneously gave her bunny ears! With lots of pics and memories, we headed back towards the track. Mieke stopped at the local Kroger store for us so we could pick up a few last essentials and then he offered to give us some breakfast sandwiches they had in the freezer at the track. Thanks, Myce! We ate them and it gave us a good start after being off the bikes so long!
We talked and laughed until well past midnight. I don’t think Frankenbutt, the Beast or I really wanted our time in Dayton to come to an end. We’ve had such a good time and made so many new friends. Muycke and Vikki gave us hugs and told us they’d look forward to seeing us at the Grands. We waved goodbye and headed into the camper. Just before going to sleep, I sent Meike a text picture of my high school mascot. Glad it made you laugh, Miiiiike! Remember, I had the embarresment of that throughout my life. You’re lucky, yours was a Polar Bear!
Thanks again to all of the good people at Cindy Verburg BMX in Dayton … we will think of you often!
Again, my apologies for misspelling anyone's name. Especially Jamie, Shawn and Vikki!
We talked and laughed until well past midnight. I don’t think Frankenbutt, the Beast or I really wanted our time in Dayton to come to an end. We’ve had such a good time and made so many new friends. Muycke and Vikki gave us hugs and told us they’d look forward to seeing us at the Grands. We waved goodbye and headed into the camper. Just before going to sleep, I sent Meike a text picture of my high school mascot. Glad it made you laugh, Miiiiike! Remember, I had the embarresment of that throughout my life. You’re lucky, yours was a Polar Bear!
Thanks again to all of the good people at Cindy Verburg BMX in Dayton … we will think of you often!
Again, my apologies for misspelling anyone's name. Especially Jamie, Shawn and Vikki!
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