Check out this first in a series of guest blog posts from Ellen Bryan, Miss Ohio 2011, as she takes us along on her 850-mile bike tour of Ohio!
I grew up in Celina, Ohio--a small farming community with flat land that hosts open fields of beans and corn. This was my impression of Ohio – flat, farmland. Well, as I trek across Ohio on my 850-mile bike tour, I’m finding that’s not so true.
I’m biking to raise awareness and money for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through the Miss America Organization. It’s a 27-day journey where I’m discovering more about Ohio then I ever thought possible.
Traveling through Ohio on a bicycle is a really good way to capture each community because I feel like I’m part of my surroundings. And, I pay a lot more attention to the landscape too – especially when there’s a hill up ahead.
I’ve learned that Ohio is diverse in its landscape and its communities. If you are down in the southeast portion of Ohio, there’s not a piece of flat land around. Same goes for the seven hills of Cincinnati – which I conquered in 100 degree weather.
But on my first day of the tour, the person I was cycling with looked out over the beans, farmhouse and blue sky and said, “This is God’s country.” And while we laughed about how many times I would hear that on this bike tour, he was right.
Ohio’s landscape – whether hilly or flat – is beautiful and serene. The countryside can be one of the most peaceful settings ever. And the larger cities can by bustling, exciting and energizing.
I’ll be blogging more as I travel around the state! But until my next post, follow the Miss Ohio Bike Tour website at www.missohiobiketour.com.
Comments