{"id":18188,"date":"2015-08-20T21:13:20","date_gmt":"2015-08-21T01:13:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=18188"},"modified":"2015-08-21T08:08:19","modified_gmt":"2015-08-21T12:08:19","slug":"day-41-thursday-august-20-mansfield-to-canton-ohio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=18188","title":{"rendered":"Day 41. Thursday, August 20 – Mansfield to Canton, Ohio"},"content":{"rendered":"

We had a wicked day ahead of us; the forecast was for torrential rains and the topography looked like sharks teeth. \u00a0Though the skies were dark when we left at seven, it was dry for the moment. \u00a0Within inches of our motel room, we were on the highway\u00a0and felt like we were biking the speed of the traffic. \u00a0It was a fast four mile downhill and then the climbing began.\"DSCN7040\"<\/a> \u00a0Our intention was to get off the busy highway at the first exit,\"DSCN7033\"<\/a> but traffic was not bad, we still had a pretty landscape\"DSCN7045\"<\/a> and the open road allowed the strong northwest wind to fully reach us and help push us along. \u00a0Though we struggled up every hill (one to two miles at a stretch)\"DSCN7048\"<\/a> and pumped hard on the downhills, the wind was a wonderful gift; 28 miles in two hours. \u00a0Home is close,\"DSCN7037\"<\/a> though not this close; but the barn door is open<\/em>…..did we mention the wind\"DSCN7055\"<\/a> was at our back! \u00a0We got off the highway for a short traffic break and to rest the legs. \u00a0Once out of the wind, our legs screamed from the pushing we had subjected them to for the last 30 miles. \u00a0Back out on the highway, we had an unexpected stop, prompted by a siren behind us…..yes, we got pulled not for speeding \ud83d\ude42<\/em>. \"IMG_1188\"<\/a>\u00a0Apparently, we were on a highway we were not supposed to be on. \u00a0Thankfully, the Officer Donohue was very nice and understanding and gave us fabulous instructions to\u00a0the roads we\u00a0should be on.\"IMG_1190\"<\/a>\u00a0The country road\"DSCN7062\"<\/a> proved enjoyable\"DSCN7069\"<\/a> and as always, much quieter. \"DSCN7066\"<\/a>\u00a0 The horrid weather we had been promised, had not materialized \"DSCN7073\"<\/a>yet the (un-forecasted) tailwind continued.\"DSCN7079\"<\/a> Even as we came back into civilization,\"DSCN7075\"<\/a> we did not have the multitude of trucks screaming by. \u00a0\"DSCN7082\"<\/a>It took us several miles to find a local place for lunch, but it was a Great find. \u00a0Jerry had the lunch special \"DSCN7105\"<\/a>and yes, this bowl of pasta is that<\/em> big. \u00a0I was not that much better, with an incredible cup of broccoli cheddar soup and a hot amish cinnamon roll with maple icing. \u00a0Miles of up and down climbing continued, as well as fun\"DSCN7099\"<\/a> and frivolity.\"IMG_1193\"<\/a>\u00a0 Pretty homes,\"DSCN7114\"<\/a> churches \"DSCN7118\"<\/a>and impressive old building \"DSCN7111\"<\/a>filled our last 12 miles to reach downtown Canton. \u00a0As good as we felt, we could have gone further, but after 62 miles, decided it was time to stop. \u00a0Amazing how\u00a0emboldened the wind at your back makes you feel. \u00a0We managed to find a Fabulous hotel\"DSCN7124\"<\/a> with a reproduction of Mrs. McKinley’s second inaugural gown\"DSCN7125\"<\/a> and a really good martini.\"DSCN7130\"<\/a> \u00a0We did a short walk around downtown, \"DSCN7133\"<\/a>to include Canton’s oldest (1902) bar,\"DSCN7138\"<\/a> Bender’s Tavern, but ended up at our hotel for a delicious \"DSCN7142\"<\/a>dinner..\"DSCN7145\"<\/a>…and a much shorter walk to bed!<\/p>\n\n\t\t