skip to main |
skip to sidebar
The forecast on the Back Roads and Beaches Bike Route is sunny skies and mid 70s-low 80s all Labor Day weekend. Perfect for a weekend bike tour of North Central Ohio! While you're on the route, check out the Farmers Market at Black River Landing in Lorain.
Black River Landing Photo ©Rona Proudfoot
Black River Landing is located in the city of Lorain, on the shores of Lake Erie. Traveling further east on SR6, along the Back Roads and Beaches route, you'll find True North Cultural Arts Center. They will be open Saturday, 10am-4pm.
The Back Roads and Beaches bike route highlights and links nature and parks, culture and the arts, history and healthy food options together in an easy to follow route. So it's worth mentioning the new collaboration between True North and the Lorain County Metro Parks. Another great partnership that utilizes all the best the area has to offer!
While riding the BRaB route, you'll find arts opportunities all throughout. Check out the website for many opportunities to combine your biking tour with culture and the arts. Galleries and museums listed on the website all welcome touring cyclists in cycling attire.
NCN Racing's Lorain Triathlon at Lakeview Park in Lorain started out stormy but quickly turned into another beautiful day on Lake Erie in Lorain. By the time sprint and international runners started, the sun was shining brightly again for a photo finish. Participants came from all over Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Indiana. Scenes from the Lorain Triathlon, Sunday, August 26.
Adam Kuncel, overall International winner crosses finish line results
Sprint swimmers start while storm looms
(Pam Horvath photo)
Jim Janasko catches his breath (in the pouring rain) after being the first
international swimmer out of the water at Lakeview Park. And-he's on the LCVB team!
Do we smell a "ringer?" Nah--he's our insurance agent!
photo by Pam Horvath.
LCVB sprint team runner, Zach Collins just after crossing the finish line.
Zach finished the run in around 19 minutes! Good job Zach!
We get by with a little help from our friends!
LCVB team members Rona Proudfoot, Mark Kernohan, Jim Janasko,Jim Galloway and Zach Collins (Barb Bickel not pictured). See more of the Lorain Triathlon and Rona's great photos here. Not only can she run, but she's quickly gaining well-deserved notice for her awesome photos, especially of Lorain. Both LCVB teams won first in their team classes!
This Sunday, August 26, Lorain's Lakeview Park will be the site of the 5th Annual Lorain Sprint/International Triathlon. Starting times begin at 8am. In the spirit of "practicing what we preach," (and just having a great time!) The Lorain County Visitors Bureau will have two teams in the triathlon. A sprint team, consisting of Mark Kernohan (swim), Barb Bickel (bike) and Zach Collins (run). And an International team, Jim Janasko (swim), Jim Galloway (bike) and Rona Proudfoot (run). Hope to see you there! To preregister, click here.
Participants coming into town for the Lorain Triathlon can click here for lodging information. This weekend is also the weekend of the Black River Bicentennial. Check out the schedule of events for info.
"If I am dying for Freedom, I could not die for a better cause, I had rather die than be a slave."
-John Copeland
Lorain County proudly served as one of the final stops along the Underground Railroad. Slaves traveling to Canada often passed through this area until about 1861, following Frederick Douglass's advice to follow the North Star to freedom in Canada. Lorain County provided a direct route to Lake Erie as northern Lorain County borders Lake Erie's central basin. Some found the area so safe, they lived out their lives here. Oberlin is also honored to be known as one of the nation's most pioneering communities in equality and integration. Oberlin has been called "the town that started the Civil War" due to it's role in the fight for civil rights. Oberlin and Wellington were the sites of a famous slave rescue in 1858 that was said to have raised consciousness nationwide regarding the anti-slavery movement.
Lorain County's Underground Railroad history can be explored along the Back Roads and Beaches tour. Much of the Back Roads and Beaches Tour is part of Adventure Cycling Association's Underground Railroad Cycling tour that travels from Alabama to Canada. Cyclists completing the Adventure Cycling tour might want to spend some extra time here and explore our historical and cultural offerings.
Points of interest beginning in the southern end of the tour, near Findley State Park:
25600 SR58 (Huntington) Rev. Ansel Clarke Home. Not open to the public. Former home of abolitionist and Congregational Minister Ansel Clarke. Home is thought to have harbored fugitive slaves.
Oberlin College (Oberlin) Students and faculty were especially active in the Oberlin Anti-Slavery Society, others took part in the rescue and harbor of fugitive slaves. In 1835 the College trustees agreed blacks should be admitted to the College. Oberlin College was the first college to admit black women. Mary Jane Patterson, the first black woman in the world to receive a college degree (in 1862) attended Oberlin College.
181 E. Lorain St. (Oberlin) Station #99. Bardwell House. Not open to the public. Former home of missionary and abolitionist Rev. John Bardwell. Fugitive slaves hid under the eaves of the house where sliding panels opened into dark passageways.
First Church in Oberlin: Corner of Main and Lorain Sts. Built in 1842. The First Church was the meeting site for the Oberlin Anti-Slavery society and the site of the funeral for Lee Howard Dobbins, the four-year old fugitive slave buried in Oberlin.
Westwood Cemetery (Oberlin) Morgan St. Here lie former slaves, famous abolitionists and many who have become known as Oberlin's faces of change. Walking tour maps can be obtained by contacting the Lorain County Visitors Bureau.
Oberlin Heritage Center (Oberlin) 73 1/2 South Professor St. Oberlin has a powerful and nationally significant history that visitors can experience through guided tours at the Oberlin Heritage Center. Visitors will hear stories and see buildings associated with the founding of Oberlin, African-American history, the Underground Railroad, women's history, scientific discovery, and missionary, temperance, and other reform movements. Visitors will tour the 1836 Little Red Schoolhouse, the 1866 Monroe House, and the 1884 Jewett House.
Station 100, (Lorain) Said to be the mouth of the Black River and shores of Lake Erie. Many slaves departed here to freedom in Canada. New monument to escaping slaves erected in 2007 at Black River Landing, Lorain.
Upcoming Historical Events along the Back Roads and Beaches Route
The Lorain Port Authority presents A Taste of History along with the fourth annual Antique Show on the River presented by Black River Historical Society, August 18, 2007 at the Black River Landing. An all day event featuring music, shopping, food, boat rides, wine-tasting, and tall ship tours!
Walking Tours of Oberlin!
The Oberlin Heritage Center will be offering new guided walking tours of Oberlin, focusing on Oberlin's history through its architecture around Tappan Square. The tour will be offered three times this fall: Friday, September 14th at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 6th at 1:00 p.m., and Friday, October 12th, at 1:00 p.m. Enrollment is limited so reservations are required and may be made by calling (440) 774-1700 or by sending an email to tourinfo@oberlinheritage.org. There is a $6 per person fee ($4 for Oberlin Heritage Center members). The tours will be canceled and refunds will be made if it is raining at the start time. The tour starts at the Oberlin Heritage Center's Monroe House at 73 1/2 South Professor Street. The tour is also available by appointment for groups.
October 13 at Black River Historical Society, Valley Vagabonds are sponsoring a historical and beautiful architectural 10k or 5k walk. This walk will take you by interesting and scenic points in Lorain. The start is between 9 a.m. - 1p.m. finish by 4 p.m. In addition, the new President of the National Volkssport Association from Washington state will also be there to answer your questions on this international walking sport. Walk for free, credit, or award and credit. The award is a Linden leaf pin in our leaf series. The national website is www.ava.org and the club website is www.geocities.com/valleyvclv/. This walking sport is for the whole family since you do it at your own pace. If you have questions, please contact Deva Simon 440-572-1675.
Kayaking is a big part of Back Roads and Beaches Multi-sport tour. Kayaks can be rented in the southern portion of the BRaB tour at Findley State Park or, in the northern portion, at Great Lakes Kayaking. Yesterday, my family and I rented kayaks at Great Lakes Kayaking and were treated to a unique view and experience in Lake Erie. Great Lakes Kayaking rents double kayaks so my 7 and 8 year olds were able to tag along with the grown-ups and I didn't have to worry about them wearing out.
This proved to be a great way to get some exercise and teach the kids a little about the environment. They especially loved kayaking under the Charles Berry Bascule Bridge where they could look up and see the cars traveling over them. A little further up the river, the kids loved the choppy waters and sailboats that sweep by the lighthouse. We didn't venture out onto the lake but found our little Black River excursion to be enough of a workout.
As seen by the full parking lot at the Port Authority launch ramp, Sunday was a big day for smallmouth bass fishing as well. There was a rather large tournament going on so we shared the river with quite a few bass boats. Lake Erie is especially well-known for awesome walleye, smallmouth bass, steelhead and perch fishing. There are numerous charter boats that can take small groups out for a half day or full day of fishing.
As for kayaking, if you're bringing your own, there are a number of great places to launch for a Lake Erie adventure. Vermilion has a Municipal boat ramp where you can launch your own kayak or canoe. Vermilion is currently working on developing a kayak trail of the Vermilion River. Other good Lake Erie Launching points include the Lorain Port Authority Lakeside Landing and the Black River Wharf Boat Launch (where kayaks can be rented). If you're planning the day around kayaking Lake Erie, just east of the Black River you'll find Spitzer Lakeside Marina and the Jackalope Restaurant. If you leave your kayak at Lakeside Landing, you can take a break and have a bite to eat at Jackalope. Outdoor seating with a view of the marina and Lorain Lighthouse are available.
I can't forget to mention the birding along the Black River! We saw a number of different birds, Great Blue Herons that were busy fishing, Sandhill cranes, Magnolia Warblers and Mallards.
We feel very lucky to have all these awesome natural experiences so close to home. Hopefully the kids have some new memories and a better appreciation of our environment and recreation. And I hope they are inspired, as I am, to continue to explore and protect our natural resources.
Click here for more information on the Back Roads and Beaches Multi-Sport tour of Lorain County/North Central Ohio.
Turtle vs. Hare Mountain Bike Challenge - September 9, 2007 at Findley State Park- Sponsored by the North Coast Mountain Bikers, Dale's Bike Shop and Spin Cycle. Qualifying race begins at 11 a.m., and feature race with handicap starts at 2:30 p.m. Entry forms are available at Dale's Bike Shop 440-774-7433. The prizes are $500.00 cash or $600.00 gift card from Dale's, and $100.00 cash for 2 lucky racers.
Update: 9/7/2007: The Turtle vs. Hare Mountain Bike Challenge has been canceled. But don't let that stop you from coming out and enjoying Findley State Park's awesome mountain bike trail!
Although the weather didn't fully cooperate for scheduled events in Lorain County on Sunday, it didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the triathletes who came out to compete in NCN Racing's Findley Triathlon. Dave Garrett of Fairview Park won the overall men's International race with a time of 2:21:17.5. Barb Hunter of Chippewa Lake won the overall International women's with time of 2:48:48.3. Female sprint winner was Angela Ridgel of Lakewood, OH with a time of 1:34:00.9 and male sprint winner was Jim Phelan of Pickerinigton, OH at 1:24:53.5. Congratulations!
Top left: Women sprinters take off for the swim. Left: Dave Garrett takes a commanding lead in the swim portion of the International competition.
Black River Landing Photo ©Rona Proudfoot
Posts
