82: near perfect, grand army highway, hidden drive, phone booth, break on the water, big chain, repurposed tower, cathedral to wealth, green turret house, lorain, carney time, skateworld, a bad shave - My Midlife Crisis - CycleBlaze

July 18, 2025

82: near perfect, grand army highway, hidden drive, phone booth, break on the water, big chain, repurposed tower, cathedral to wealth, green turret house, lorain, carney time, skateworld, a bad shave

Lakewood to Amherst


Today's ride was almost exclusively along Lake Road, which hugs the shore of Lake Erie. I was expecting more traffic because it's right on the coast, and there was plenty, but not as much as I'd expected. Sunny, and with a temperature of 72 degrees and a cool wind (side/tailwind) coming off the lake, it was a near perfect day. If, if only the traffic wasn't there, and... an... 

ZZZZZ
              ZZZZ
                        ZZZ
                                zzz
                                       zz
                                           z....

Whu.....?   Sorry, I sort of fell asleep. I know that traffic and weather reports constitute gripping narrative, so I'll try to stay awake next time.

I rode through this one without any difficulties.
Heart 4 Comment 0 Link
On Saturdays, no one is even working.
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On occasion there would be a break with no houses and I'd be able to see the lake.
Heart 6 Comment 0 Link
It looks like they use the crane to control the fall of the cut branch.
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The "Grand Army of the Republic Highway" is the historical name for U.S. Route 6, which starts in Provincetown, MA, and ends in Bishop, CA - so, theoretically, if I stay on this road I'd end up at the Pacific Coast. The name honors the Grand Army of the Republic, the Union Army from the Civil War.
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Heart 4 Comment 1 Link
Karen PoretWith a sailboat that has “sailed” for “effect”…
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5 months ago
it doesn't look so hidden to me
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Heart 5 Comment 2 Link
Steve Miller/GrampiesA Tardis? Superman's closet?
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5 months ago
Mike AylingBritish, has the Royal Crown
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5 months ago
Heart 6 Comment 0 Link
I pulled over in this vacant lot for a break, and to enjoy the view and the breeze...
Heart 5 Comment 1 Link
Carl B.That looks like a wonderfully relaxing place for a break.
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5 months ago
Heart 6 Comment 0 Link
...and the flowers
Heart 6 Comment 2 Link
Bill ShaneyfeltNice macro shot of flat pea flowers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lathyrus_sylvestris
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5 months ago
Karen PoretSweet pea..:)
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5 months ago
Heart 3 Comment 1 Link
Bill ShaneyfeltOne of about 20 species of goldenrod in that area.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidago
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5 months ago
I'm half surprised no one has stolen this chain. It's huge - each link is about a foot long, so maybe the effort of taking it isn't worth it.
Heart 6 Comment 2 Link
Steve Miller/GrampiesWould make a great bike lock chain, but how to transport it?
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5 months ago
Mark BinghamTo Steve Miller/GrampiesDarn! I should've thought of that! With the amount of weight I'm carrying, I probably wouldn't have noticed it.
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5 months ago
a repurposed tower - I don't know what it was, or if it's still being used, but it's a cell tower now
Heart 5 Comment 0 Link
Many of the houses on the water are cathedrals to wealth, like this one...
Heart 5 Comment 2 Link
Carl B.So many social debates to be had about them. That said, if I owned a few and I told you that you could stay the night at them as you passed through on your bike trip, wouldn’t you at least be tempted?
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5 months ago
Mark BinghamTo Carl B.There would be no temptation whatsoever - Not only would I stay, I'd squat in it until forcefully evicted.
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5 months ago
...but there are still a few that are modest.
Heart 7 Comment 0 Link
...and then there are the very green ones, with a turret for a front door.
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Having read his story, I think Berry died more for his brothers-in-arms than for anything else.
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You don't see these very often any more....
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...or these.
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Karen PoretSanta Cruz still has the roller palladium. It started the year I was born! 1950! I am still wheeling/ “skating”, too..but on a bicycle …
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5 months ago
Mark BinghamTo Karen PoretEvery time I see a skating rink it brings back a lot of memories.
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5 months ago
At the hotel I got cleaned up, and while I was shaving I thought, "My razor must be really dull, or this shaving cream has dried out and thickened." Only after I was almost done did I realize I was shaving with zinc oxide. I hadn't used it in weeks so after that I removed it from my toiletries bag.
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Today's ride: 30 miles (48 km)
Total: 2,080 miles (3,347 km)

Rate this entry's writing Heart 14
Comment on this entry Comment 3
George (Buddy) HallToday and part of yesterday you have been following the Northern Tier route - caused me to look at my journal as I recalled the lakeshore views. The Northern Tier follows Lake Ontario and Lake Erie for a few hundred miles, I remember feeling sad when the route turned inland - it felt like I was leaving an old friend when we veered away from the lakeshore.
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5 months ago
Carl B.Looking forward to the next couple of entries. Do you head past Cedar Point? I used to go there often as a kid, and have taken my own kids a couple of times. What a fun place! Hopefully you took a day off for roller coasters!
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5 months ago
Mark BinghamTo George (Buddy) HallI'm really gonna miss that breeze off the Lake in particular!
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5 months ago