{"id":4445,"date":"2026-09-29T02:28:46","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T02:28:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/?p=4445"},"modified":"2026-10-19T15:38:57","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T15:38:57","slug":"9-29-2026-under-ground-railroad-bike-route-section-4-erie-to-milford-oh-mile-378-783","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/9-29-2026-under-ground-railroad-bike-route-section-4-erie-to-milford-oh-mile-378-783\/","title":{"rendered":"9\/29\/2026: Underground Railroad Bike Route Section 4: Erie to Milford, OH (Mile 378-783)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Section 4 of my ride began when I left Erie, following the coast of Lake Erie, and soon, I crossed the Pensylvania\/Ohio border to the town of Conneaut. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8270.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4516\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8270.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8270.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8270.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8270.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8270.jpeg?resize=1170%2C878&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8270.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8265.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8265.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8265.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8265.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8265.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8265.jpeg?resize=1170%2C878&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8265.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tracy, a welcoming Warmshowers host, generously opened her home to me. When I arrived, she asked me what I needed. She was leaving for the evening event she signed up for in a few minutes and wanted to make sure I felt settled. I said, &#8220;I&#8217;d like to take a shower first. Wifi, laundry, bed, and food are usually what I need.&#8221; She hosts cyclists quite often, so she was used to providing what we need. She showed me her laundry room, the food she&#8217;d already made for me, and the Wi-Fi info. &#8220;Enjoy the evening!&#8221; Tracy said, and then she left for the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I thought how incredible it was that she asked about my needs and how trusting she was even though she didn&#8217;t know me at all. I found that this level of trust and hospitality was common among Warmshowers hosts. Since they are cyclists themselves, they know the needs of touring cyclists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Tracy came home, I learned that she grew up in the area, learned about the Underground Railroad at her school, and told me about an Octagon house in town. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/conneautohio.us\/octagonhouses.htm\">articles<\/a> she shared with me, the home is said to have been an Underground Railroad station before the Civil War. She mentioned that Ashtabula County was a major abolitionist hub. The county sits on the shore of Lake Erie, where many enslaved people crossed and escaped to Canada. When I told her the <a href=\"https:\/\/hubbardhouseugrrmuseum.org\/\">Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum<\/a> offered me a tour, she was as excited as I was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next morning, I rode to Ashtabula and visited the Hubbard House. Jim, a volunteer curator, greeted me and gave me a tour. I could tell he was a former educator. He began the tour with questions like how much time I had and what I already knew about slavery and the Underground Railroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8277.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4519\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8277.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8277.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8277.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8277.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8277.jpeg?resize=1170%2C878&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8277.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8283.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4521\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8283.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8283.jpeg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8283.jpeg?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8283.jpeg?resize=1170%2C1560&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8283.jpeg?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8305.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4524\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8305.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8305.jpeg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8305.jpeg?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8305.jpeg?resize=1170%2C1560&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8305.jpeg?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said many people think the Underground Railroad existed like a subway system. The first thing he teaches people is that underground means secretive, and railroad means a network. Second, he teaches people about &#8220;speakeasy.&#8221; The term originally comes from a time when people used passwords and secret knocks to get alcohol when the US banned alcoholic beverages in the early 1900s. Among abolitionists and enslaved people, the speakeasy developed to secretly aid enslaved people escaping to the free northern states and Canada, especially after the passage of the <a href=\"https:\/\/constitutioncenter.org\/the-constitution\/historic-document-library\/detail\/the-fugitive-slave-act-1850\">Fugitive Slave Act of 1850<\/a>, to avoid heavy fines and jail for anyone who helped a fugitive or obstructed a capture. For example, instead of saying, &#8220;I&#8217;m going to take a fugitive slave to the Hubbard House,&#8221; you say, &#8220;I&#8217;m going to deliver an apple pie to Hubbard&#8217;s wife.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">William Hubbard was a wealthy farmer and land agent who settled in Ashtabula County and became an Underground Station master. Soon after arriving in Ashtabula, William joined the Ashtabula County Anti-Slavery Society. His brothers, who had arrived earlier and settled in the county, were already heavily involved in the Abolitionist movement. Jim mentioned it was a family operation, acting as a stepping stone for enslaved people to reach Canada. While William and his wife Katherine managed the station, his brother and brother-in-law operated a boat across Lake Erie. I asked Jim if he knew any stories about what drove them to risk their lives and participate in the anti-slavery movement. Jim said he didn&#8217;t know anything in particular, and some people strongly believed in freedom for all people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jim asked me to remember some important facts: 1) Between 1619 and 1865 was the era of the Atlantic Slave Trade, a global system that transported enslaved people to Brazil, the Caribbean, and North America. 2) There was a place called the &#8220;Slave Coast&#8221; on the Gulf of Guinea where <a href=\"https:\/\/slaveryandremembrance.org\/articles\/article\/?id=A0103\">Cape Coast Castle<\/a>, one of many slave trading posts, stands. The Castle was known for the &#8220;Door of No Return.&#8221; The castle\u2019s door faces the Atlantic Ocean. Since 1642, 1.8 million enslaved people passed through the door and made a voyage on the slave ship across the Atlantic Ocean. 3) In 1860, there were 4.6 million enslaved people in the southern states, producing 75% of the world&#8217;s cotton supply. Tobacco, known as &#8220;brown gold,&#8221; was also exported. Jim mentioned that large-scale production had to be done by human labour, not by machines back then. For plantation owners to make a huge profit, they needed enslaved people to work for free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When he asked me about what I knew about slavery at the beginning of the tour, I mentioned that the root cause of slavery was capitalism, a system that devastates our humanity and the earth, drove our Congress to enforce laws to keep slavery in place, divided our country, and eventually led to the Civil War. What I learned at the Hubbard House affirmed what I knew and gave me insight into the scale of tragedy that capitalism brought to our society. At the same time, I was inspired to learn about many people who resisted and fought against the social system that shattered humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Visitors are not allowed to take photos of exhibits at the museum. When Jim learned that Harriet Tubman is one of my greatest role models, he said, &#8220;You can take photos of her mural, if you&#8217;d like.&#8221; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8303.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4517\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8303.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8303.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8303.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8303.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8303.jpeg?resize=1170%2C878&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8303.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I loved Harriet\u2019s expression in the artwork. I imagined hearing her saying, &#8220;Come with me,&#8221; reaching out and inviting you to the movement to end oppression. She holds a lantern, showing that the path of peace and justice is ahead of us and we can light the world together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I thanked Jim and began my ride along the Western Reserve Greenway Trail, which had 12 historical interpretive panels to educate people about the prominent role Ashtabula County played in the anti-slavery movement and the Underground Railroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8315.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8315.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8315.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8315.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8315.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8315.jpeg?resize=1170%2C878&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8315.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Western Reserve Greenway Trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Brown_(abolitionist)\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8308.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8308.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8308.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8308.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8308.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8308.jpeg?resize=1170%2C878&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8308.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">There were many abolitionists in Ashtabula County. This panel lists 26 well-known abolitionist names, including <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Brown_(abolitionist)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">John Brown<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next day, I enjoyed a quiet ride through Cuyahoga National Park and the mostly car-free Ohio to Erie Canal Trail to Akron, Massillon, then to Wooster. In Massillon, I stopped by <a href=\"https:\/\/springhillhistorichome.org\/\">Spring Hills Historic House<\/a>, owned by the Rotch-Wales family, strong supporters of the abolitionist movement, who opened their home as a station on the Underground Railroad. In Wooster, I stayed with Ryan, a friend of a friend of a friend of mine, who opened his home for me at the last-minute request. Ryan has spent much of his career in experiential education, and I enjoyed our conversation we shared about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8349.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4526\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8349.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8349.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8349.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8349.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8349.jpeg?resize=1170%2C878&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8349.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8352.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4531\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8352.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8352.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8352.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8352.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8352.jpeg?resize=1170%2C878&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8352.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The bike path follows the Cuyahoga River<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8361.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8361.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8361.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8361.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8361.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8361.jpeg?resize=1170%2C878&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8361.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8376.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8376.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8376.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8376.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8376.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8376.jpeg?resize=1170%2C878&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8376.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/springhillhistorichome.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spring Hills Historic House<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next morning, I rode through the heart of Ohio&#8217;s Amish communities, passing the highest point (1,285 feet) on the Ohio section of the bike path to Columbus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8381.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4528\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8381.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8381.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8381.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8381.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8381.jpeg?resize=1170%2C878&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8381.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8385.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4532\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8385.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8385.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8385.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8385.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8385.jpeg?resize=1170%2C878&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8385.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">William McCulloch, the champion of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He was a Republican and a strong believer in civil rights for all people<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8393.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8393.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8393.jpeg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8393.jpeg?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8393.jpeg?resize=1170%2C1560&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8393.jpeg?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8394.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4529\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8394.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8394.jpeg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8394.jpeg?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8394.jpeg?resize=1170%2C1560&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8394.jpeg?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8404.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4544\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8404.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8404.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8404.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8404.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8404.jpeg?resize=1170%2C878&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8404.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ohio is a bike friendly state. Many drivers gave me enough space when passing, and I felt safe to ride on the road. KGT stands for the Kokosing Gap Trail, part of the Ohio to Erie Canal Bike Trail, in Knox County<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8412.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8412.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8412.jpeg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8412.jpeg?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8412.jpeg?resize=1170%2C1560&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8412.jpeg?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">At Mount Vernon, their Statue of Liberty welcomed me. The sign read: THIS GIFT OF PUBLIC ART TO THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON FROM KAREN BUCHWALD WRIGHT AND THE ARIEL FOUNDATION CELEBRATES FREEDOM, EMBODIES HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE SEEKING A BETTER LIFE, AND SERVES AS A WELCOMING SYMBOL FOR THOSE ENTERING MOUNT VERNON&#8217;S VIBRANT DOWNTOWN. MAY MOUNT VERNON&#8217;S STATUE OF LIBERTY GREET THE COMMUNITY, VISITORS AND ALL WHO SEEK NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8430.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8430.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8430.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8430.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8430.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8430.jpeg?resize=1170%2C878&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8430.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8442.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8442.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8442.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8442.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8442.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8442.jpeg?resize=1170%2C878&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8442.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I was thrilled to reconnect with Matt and Kasia, my good old friends from NatureBridge, and to meet their daughters in Columbus. Matt helped me with the bike maintenance, took me on walks around his neighborhood where he grew up, and along the nearby Olentangy River Trail. Since I spend most of my time on the bike with little walking, it was nice to explore the area on foot. I stayed with them for the weekend, enjoyed catching up with them in the evenings and being part of the family dinner. Kasia said she misses hanging out with the good old Headlands friends. I agreed with her. There is something about outdoor educator friends that immediately brings me back to when we enjoyed each other&#8217;s company. We played board games, went bouldering at our local crag, cooked together, played music and danced, and had fun by being present. Life goes on, and I cherish my friends who know me well enough to jump right back in, just like we were together yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8456.jpeg?resize=1024%2C767&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4535\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8456.jpeg?resize=1024%2C767&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8456.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8456.jpeg?resize=768%2C575&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8456.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1151&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8456.jpeg?resize=1170%2C877&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8456.jpeg?w=1859&amp;ssl=1 1859w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Thank you, Matt, Kasia and their daughters, for having me at your sweet home! So fun to reconnect with you!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From Columbus, I rode to Cedarville and spent a night with Jay and Andrea, Warmshowers host. Even though they had just returned from their adventure, they welcomed me into their home, and I enjoyed connecting with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8459.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8459.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8459.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8459.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8459.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8459.jpeg?resize=1170%2C878&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8459.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">On my way to Cincinnati from Cedarville, I passed the Butterworth Station, the southernmost station on the Underground Railroad. The sign read: Built in 1820, it was the home of Benjamin and Rachael Moorman Butterworth. As Quakers and abolitionists who opposed slavery in their home state of Virginia, they purchased 1,500 acres along the Little Miami River and moved to Ohio in 1812. Until nearly 1850, at great personal risk, the family fed and sheltered large numbers of runaway slaves before transporting them to the next station<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8463.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4541\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8463.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8463.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8463.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8463.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8463.jpeg?resize=1170%2C878&amp;ssl=1 1170w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/img_8463.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Butterworth Station across the field<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, I made it to Cincinnati and reconnected with Priya, my friend Bhavana&#8217;s cousin. Her daughter was excited to meet me, waiting for me to show up on my bike outside of her house with her dad. As I unpacked my gear and was ready to come into the house, she said, &#8220;Miho, what would you like to do now?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I was impressed with the question coming from a 6-year-old kid. She said my name first to make the question personal, making it clear she knew my name, and asked in a way that I could honestly state my needs. I said, &#8220;I&#8217;d like to take a shower first.&#8221; She said, &#8220;Okay,&#8221; and brought me inside the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I thought what a wonderful question to make new friends, inviting them into the house and giving them what they need. People at Underground Railroad stations probably operated in the same manner. They brought in enslaved fugitives, whom they probably never met before, into their home, provided basics such as food and a bed, and helped them get to the next station. Our slavery system operated against humanity; however, abolitionists and enslaved people connected through humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is my hope: the connection and relationship we build with each other, and the shared values of care, compassion, and love for all, that eventually abolished slavery in this country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Section 4 of my ride began when I left Erie, following the coast of Lake Erie, and soon, I crossed the Pensylvania\/Ohio border to the town of Conneaut. Tracy, a welcoming Warmshowers host, generously opened her home to me. When I arrived, she asked me what I needed. She was leaving for the evening event [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4517,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>9\/29\/2026: Underground Railroad Bike Route Section 4: Erie to Milford, OH (Mile 378-783) - triple crown of full circle<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/mihoaida.com\/pct\/9-29-2026-under-ground-railroad-bike-route-section-4-erie-to-milford-oh-mile-378-783\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"9\/29\/2026: Underground Railroad Bike Route Section 4: Erie to Milford, OH (Mile 378-783) - triple crown of full circle\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Section 4 of my ride began when I left Erie, following the coast of Lake Erie, and soon, I crossed the Pensylvania\/Ohio border to the town of Conneaut. Tracy, a welcoming Warmshowers host, generously opened her home to me. When I arrived, she asked me what I needed. 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