Ohio to Erie Trail Day 4: Mount Vernon to Millersburg (40 Miles)
Locomotives, Sunflowers, Pretzels, and a Fresh Trail: When Everything Just Clicks
It’s often said that any day on a bike is better than any day off the bike. On tour, though, that isn’t always true. Weather, hills, wind, or even your own mood can turn a good day into a hard one. But then there are days when everything comes together, when you finish the ride thinking, wow, this was one of the best days.
That was today’s ride from Mount Vernon to Millersburg.
We rolled out under the same conditions we’ve had all week, with crisp mornings that open into perfect sunny, warm September skies. The Kokosing Gap Trail carried us briskly out of Mount Vernon, cool air at our backs and photo stops ahead. This wasn’t a day for speed; it was a day for savoring the experience.
Locomotive & Sunflowers
First stop: Gambier’s 0-6-0 steam locomotive, one of the most photographed spots on the Ohio to Erie Trail. Cyclists clambered onto the train, posing like kids in a new playground. Just outside town, the real showstopper awaited: a sunflower field in full bloom. Local Knox County rider Joyce had scouted it earlier in the week and guided us there. Cameras clicked, selfies multiplied, and laughter filled the air.
The Pretzel Pilgrimage
Not long after, we crossed under Howard’s historic Route 36 arch, an iconic photo-op, though few stopped. Pretzels were calling. At Weaver’s Furniture and Deli, the group crowded tables, tackling pretzels the size of dinner plates.
It was more than a snack stop, but a chance to connect with each other and with the family running the place. The day’s group photo was taken in the barn with Raymond Weaver and his staff. These are the moments that etch themselves into memories.
Bridge of Dreams
Ohio to Erie Trail riders instinctively slow down as they near the Bridge of Dreams on the Mohican Valley Trail in eastern Knox County. This day was no exception. The bridge is breathtaking, whether admired from the trail above or from its base along the Mohican River. If fortune smiles, you might even hear the rhythmic clop of horseshoes echoing across the wooden span as an Amish buggy makes its way through.
A Picnic in Glenmont
Food became the day’s theme as we reached Glenmont on the Holmes County Trail, just in time for lunch. Waiting for us was a picnic spread prepared by Holmes County Rails-to-Trails volunteer Tom Alexander. A board member of the Ohio to Erie Trail and longtime friend of the late Tom Moffitt, the ride’s namesake, Tom has faithfully carried on this tradition since the early OTET-sponsored rides. Riders gathered around the picnic tables, sharing stories and thanks to Tom for his hospitality. More than just a meal, it was a reminder of the rich connections and community spirit that make this journey special.
A Trail Experience to Remember
From Glenmont, we rolled onto a newly completed four-mile stretch of the Holmes County Trail. Fresh pavement, breathtaking scenery, and a valley unfolding along Route 520 led the group to declare one of the most beautiful sections of trail so far. I let others surge ahead, slowing down to take in their experiences. It took some time for this section to come to reality, and it really paid off big time.
Even after eating so much, some riders somehow capped the afternoon with ice cream at the Killbuck Sweet Shoppe. I passed on the cone or shake and pedaled ahead with a smaller group, gliding into Millersburg at day’s end.
Reflections from the Saddle
I’ve been trying to capture the personalities of my fellow riders in these journals. What I’ve found instead is that the real story lies in the shared experience. Every day, I hear why people choose to ride across Ohio with stories of discovery, resilience, and even rediscovery of life and the love of cycling and the outdoors on an e-bike.
It’s often said that families grow stronger and bond around the dining table. On a bike tour, families bond over meals, climbs, laughter, and even the quiet stretches between. As a trail leader and advocate, I’ve always been told to focus on visitor experience. What I see now is that riders create much of that experience for each other. The bike is the medium; the real magic happens in conversation, in encouragement, in being present for one another.
Today was one of those days where the experience itself was the destination. A locomotive, sunflowers, pretzels, and barbecue weren’t just stops along the way. They were the threads weaving us together.
Tomorrow, we ride deeper into Ohio’s Amish Country, with its hills, farms, and quiet roads. The climbs will test us, but the memories will more than make up for it.
