Cycling the Underground Railroad--Part 2

Tim Traub and I at the Xenia Station on the Little Miami River Scenic Trail. 

DAY 9: WAYNESVILLE TO SPRINGFIELD, OH

I had a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad.  Tim Traub (Col., USAF, ret) was introduced to me by Scott Frickenstein (also Col. USAF, ret).  Tim rode from his home in Xenia to be my guide ("conductor " in Underground Railroad terms) today.  And a great one he was!

Monument in the middle of Wilberforce University. 

Founded in 1856 and named after William Wilberforce, who led the fight to abolish slavery in the British Empire, Wilberforce University was the first private University established to afford blacks access to higher education.  The community here was very active in the Underground Railroad.  This school is still a venerable institution. 

One of the buildings on campus is the King Center, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.  The above quote can be found there.  It is a sentiment I hope and pray is still part of our values and conversation today.

Tim has cycled extensively in the area, and has discovered some historical treasures.  We turned on a gravel path that led us to the Stevenson cemetery.   Here are buried early pioneers of this region, including some who fought in the American Revolution, the War of 1822, and the Civil War.   The gravestone above is a woman born in Mississippi in 1818 and died here in 1908 (at the age of 90!). Our guess is that this person was a slave, who perhaps escaped on the Underground Railroad. 

The Charleton Mill bridge.  We also got a look at the Stevenson bridge and the Hyde Road bridge.

There are five covered bridges in the area tucked away on backroads.  Of course Tim knew where they were, and was able to show me three of them.

It was also fun to ride across a few of the old railroad bridges on the trail.

When we arrived in Springfield, Tim pointed me in the right direction and headed back home.  By the end of the day, he would have ridden 90 miles!  Thank you, Tim!

Today's destination was the home of Rebekah and Jeremy O'Brien, a cherished part of my extended Ohio family.  Rebekah's dad and mom, Mike and Sheri Coyle, and two of her brothers and their families--Ben and Lauren Coyle, and Stephen and Stephanie Coyle--were also there to give me an awesome warm welcome.  We went out for a wonderful Mexican dinner, had great conversation, and Jeremy and Rebekah are graciously putting me up for the night.  Mike plans to ride a bit with me tomorrow. 

Today's mileage: 55.7

Total miles this trip:  390.2

Total on the Underground Railroad:

     1523.6 miles