There is a Montpelier in more states where we are, a sign of people of French origin settling here early. We went towards the Montpelier in Ohio a small town and in reality we are not even in Montpelier. The hotel we punched into the GPS happened to be 4-5 miles outside the town close to the Interstate. Not exactly Chicago and we did not need a Chicago as we did not arrive before 6 pm after 110 in head and side wind.
Small towns are more frequent now but the overall impression is a state making most of its income from agriculture. Around Elkhart we drove through a large Amish community. The horse pulled carts mingle with cars on the roads and I was surprised to see how integrated everything appeared. I thought the Amish people lived with each other and made excursions to the outside world but an Amish farm could be seen between two non-Amish and only revealed the owner’s belief by the cart in the yard and the lines filled with drying clothes. Shirts and Trousers of the men and colorful but muted dresses of the women.
Our bicycle encounter of the day was Jan, whom we overtook three times and talked to twice. He introduced us to “Rumspringa” as I understood this is an Amish “tolerance” fumbling year that each young Amish is allowed meaning that they do not fully live up to the rules of the Amish.
First night in Ohio
We are 10-20 miles into Ohio, a state where we will be minimum two nights more before we expectedly drive into Pennsylvania. Ohio means “Large River”. Essential knowledge for a river detective.
popscycletour.com 