Pedal into Fall

We're pedaling into fall, not just out of summer. There are plenty of activities & outdoor fun to be enjoyed on the BRaB in any season! Autumn happens to be one of the most beautiful on the route.

Let’s ride into the weekend BRaB style! This weekend we'll visit some old favorites, see some new sites and make some new friends in and around the Oberlin area.
 

Matus Winery


  

Our glasses are always half full at Matus Winery and Vermilion Valley Vineyards. Both wineries, situated on different legs of Gore Orphanage Road, have fantastic wine offerings with their own unique services.

Matus has live entertainment beginning at 8pm Friday and Saturday nights and Janice's Cafe Stuffed Pork Chops served for dinner at 5:30pm on Friday, Sept. 30. A different restaurant's entree featured each Friday.



Vermilion Valley Vineyards 



Vermilion Valley also has live entertainment this Friday and Saturday beginning at 7pm. Their dinner menu is offered from 5-10pm. I recommend their homemade hummus served with the Trio Spread!

 

    

Riverdog Retreat

A must visit along the BRaB is Riverdog Retreat. It is truly that – a retreat. Discover its artful landscaping this Saturday and Sunday at their Open House. Explore the Retreat at your leisure and enjoy a complementary wine tasting featuring wines from the Vermilion Valley and elsewhere presented by Peter Badal, wine consultant at Heinen's. The property is also the home of Riverdog Studio/Gallery and is owned by artists Deborah Banyas and T.P. Speer who are also your hosts for Riverdog Retreat.

The leaves may be turning amber, but you can stay green on the Oberlin Green Energy Ohio Guided Tour. The tour begins this Saturday at 10am and showcases innovative uses of solar, energy efficiency, and other green energy technologies.

 Oberlin Green Energy Tour Sites:   

                                                

Burgess Residence, 47810 US Highway 20, 10-10:45am          

Oberlin Fire Department, 430 S. Main St., 11-11:55am

Oberlin Municipal Light & Power System, 289 S. Professor St.,
12-12:55pm

Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies, 122 Elm St., 1-1:55pm

Frantz Residence, 53 King St., 2-2:55pm

Trail Magic, 493 E College St, 3-4pm

 

Cowhaus Creamery - photo courtesy of Main Street Oberlin



New, on East College Street in Oberlin, we welcome Cowhaus Creamery to the BRaB! Stop by this weekend and welcome them to the route. Ice creams in the 'haus this weekend: Red Cedar Coffee which is an organic fair trade Columbian - specifically roasted for Cowhaus.

“Our ice creams are, pure and clean. We only use cream and milk from happy pasture-grazed cows and when available, we use 100% organic cream. Our ice creams are fresh. From the pasture, to our creamery in Elyria, to our dipping cabinets in Oberlin... and finally to your cone usually takes about 4 days. To keep it in perspective, most of the ice cream in grocery stores can be anywhere from at least 6 months to a year old.” – Cowhaus Creamery Facebook

Weltzheimer/Johnson House

Don’t miss the Frank Lloyd Tours on Sunday at the The Weltzheimer/Johnson House on Morgan Street, the First Usonian Home in Ohio. Hours are 12pm until 5pm. Guided tours begin on the hour until 4pm.

  

Hope this helped get your wheels spinning for the weekend ahead!

For more to see and do be sure to check the website for complete listings.



Tough Mudder coming to South Amherst Quarries

Tough Mudder, an event that “tests toughness, fitness, strength, stamina, and mental grit all in one place and all in one day” will be coming here to north central Ohio on the weekend of April 14 and 15, 2012. The venue will be the South Amherst Quarries which is just off the Back Roads and Beaches route.

The 12-mile course will feature 27 obstacles all throughout. Tough Mudder is generally considered to be a stiff challenge for even the most fit athlete. And if you are familiar with north central Ohio in April, you know the weather could be 80 degrees and sunny OR we might have a half a foot of snow on the ground! All the better to add to the challenge, according to Tough Mudder officials.

The Quarries
The South Amherst Quarries is a privately held piece of spectacular and unique property of over 1000 acres. It has a history that runs deep in Lorain County and the fact that it will be open to participants and spectators during the April 14 and 15 weekend will be a rare treat for north central Ohioans who haven't experienced it firsthand. Amherst, Ohio is known as the “Sandstone Center of the World” due in part to this particular piece of land. More on the history of this property here, or check out this great 7 minute video that shows different views as well as the history of the property:



Lodging and area information for visitors and participants
If you’re coming to participate or watch Tough Mudder, you can find area information at the Visit Lorain County website, including a map that shows local lodging in relation to the venue and parking sites.

Click here to register for the South Amherst Tough Mudder (Tough Mudder Michigan/Ohio) event.

Along the Route — Inspired

Inspired has cycling tshirts too!

Another great stop for cyclists along the Back Roads and Beaches Route! Located right in front of the Oberlin Public Library, you'll find Inspired. This great new Fair Trade, Eco friendly store offers a variety of unique and useful items and gifts. You'll find fashion for the whole family as well as toys, purses, bags and jewelry. Inspired has coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolates and other goodies. Inspired is located at 57 South Main St. in Oberlin. Their hours are Mon–Sat 10am–7pm and Sun noon–5pm. You can reach owner Debbie Bush at 440-774-1565.