Day 4 of the 2024 Tryon Brothers Walkabout, Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

Heading West, Then North

July 3, 2024 at 7:36 AM

Headed to Hocking Hills State Park along another of the Windy 9 rides, then North to a second one. Hopefully avoiding the modest rain anticipated for the end of the day.

Ohio University, 331 Richland Ave, Athens, OH 45701
39.316900, -82.106649

72°F and Sunny

Lacking flavor. Typical hotel food.

Hocking Hills SP

July 3, 2024 at 10:12 AM

Hocking Hills State Park Gorge Exit Trail, Logan, OH 43138

We made two stops in the Hocking Hills State Park. The first was the South side of the park to make the small hike to Ash Cave.

The second was at the visitor center to make the hike to see Old Man’s Cave.

39.435193, -82.541396

81°F and Sunny

Hocking Hills State Park

July 3, 2024 at 9:00 AM
39.396207151595114, -82.54550545932962

Some assorted photographs from our two stops in the Hocking Hills State Park. There was no water running through the gorge, so no waterfalls available to photograph.

Ash Cave (Snapshots)

Old Man’s Cave (Snapshots)

Checking in…

July 3, 2024 at 12:31 PM

Lots of miles outside of cell range so far today. Hocking Hills SP and now Somerset, OH. I’ve been taking photos so we’ll have to use metadata from them to backdate our activities up to this point. Great riding – bikes are incredible!

It is VERY hot! To revive us, Dan grabbed some Snickers Ice Cream bars from a neighborhood grocery store near where we parked the bikes.

105 Public Square, Somerset, OH 43783
39.806925, -82.299059

87°F and Cloudy

The Company Store

July 3, 2024 at 2:30 PM

Early dinner / late lunch.

Ride has been HOT! Temps over 90 degrees and it feels all of it. Slight breeze when we’ve had opportunity to stop, but that too is hot and not very helpful. Gearing back up to get back on the bikes is not much fun because of the heat.

We got caught yet again in what we’re now referencing as the Athens Bermuda Triangle. Not a single ride into or out of Athens has gone smoothly. GSP units – all three on my bike and two on Dan’s’ – have been impossible to use in Athens.

As an example, this restaurant is near the city and the GPS units put us on a highway that didn’t have an exit where they claimed one to exist – and absolutely no indication that one ever existed.

11309 Jackson Dr, The Plains, OH 45780
39.364130, -82.117543

91°F and Cloudy

Back To Hotel

July 3, 2024 at 6:39 PM

Incredible roads today. Very, very HOT! Last couple hours the bike was reporting 96 degrees. iPhone shut down because it was too hot on the handlebars. Relaxing now for a bit. Pretty much everything hurts but I’d trade it for nothing!

Ohio University, Dairy Ln, Athens, OH 45701
39.317409, -82.107602

90°F and Mostly Sunny

Route Planning & Rain

July 3, 2024 at 9:15 PM

We sat in the hotel tavern and planned tomorrow. We’ll ride much of the remaining three loops of the Windy 9. Hopefully, our path will avoid the predicted rain.

After that, we should land in Parkersburg, WV for the night.

The rain is hitting here now which might be a good sign of it passing over us before we leave in the morning.

Received a text from Dad. All is well in Oswego, but sad to learn of the passing of Grace Raes.

Ohio University, 331 Richland Ave, Athens, OH 45701
39.316861, -82.106411

80°F and Cloudy