Day 41

The largest Amish settlements in the world are in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana.   For some reason, our route seems to go through the heart of these areas.  We've actually seen Amish buggies and houses since Wisconsin.  For those on the ride that are from the midwest these sights are old hat.  To me, they are quite interesting.

Our ride today from Burton to New Waterford, Ohio was only 59 miles and pretty easy.  I hear things get tougher as we head into Pennsylvania tomorrow.

The Amish in America are an old religious sect, direct descendants of the Anabaptists of sixteenth-century Europe. These Anabaptist Christians challenged the reforms of Martin Luther and others during the Protestant Reformation, rejecting infant baptism in favor of baptism (or re-baptism) as believing adults. They also taught separation of church and state, something unheard of in the 16th century.

The wheels shown on the picture to the right were on the side of the road near Middlefield, one of the largest Amish communities in the world.  I figured that the owner traded up to carbon fiber with aero spokes.

The first sizeable group of Amish arrived in America around 1730 and settled near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, as a result of William Penn's 'holy experiment' in religious tolerance. The Amish population in the U.S. numbers more than 150,000 and growing, due to large family size (seven children on average) and a church-member retention rate of approximately 80%.
                                              
Ironically, the abandoned former residence of boxer Mike Tyson is also located in the same area. This gated estate contains over 60 acres that adjoins a golf course on one side. The grounds have featured walking paths, overlook 2 lakes, include accomodations for large outdoor pets, and has a outdoor basketball court and an indoor pool facility. It is priced at $ 1.3 million.  It probably cost at least 5-10 times that to build it.  It appears to not have had any maintenance for several years.

I was confused by the chuch that advertised itself as "The wrong side of the tracks". I couldn't find tracks anywhere.

Mike and I are working on a technique of hydrating at the end of the ride, or at least as near as we can get. At this place I tried a Rust Belt Brew.  The tap handle was made out of rebar.  I only had to pedal 8 miles after drinking this one to get to camp.

Tomorrow we ride to Washington, Pa., just south of Pittsburg.  After tomorrow's segment we will have less than 400 miles left to compete the Big Ride.