First was a 20-mile ride to Fort Recovery, Ohio. This wind was from the east, but at Fort Recovery I’d turn to the southwest and have the wind behind me the rest of the day.

It was along this road that I saw Amish homesteads with unkempt lawns and houses that needed painting. Later Myra told me she learned it was because the local bishops wouldn’t let people paint their houses. But that is changing.

At the end of this road, across the river, I passed two Amish boys — about 12 years old I’d say — rollerblading along to some destination. I’m not sure what that destination was, because there weren’t many Amish places on the south side of the river. It took me a long time to catch up with them and pass them. They later passed me while I was on a photo break, and then I caught up with them and passed them again. As I caught up to them the 2nd time they pulled off into somebody’s front yard and watched me as I rode by. I complimented them on how well they had been moving. They didn’t say anything, but they looked pleased.

When they are old enough to join the church, they will have to give up their rollerblades and bicycles. That’s the practice here. Further to the northwest it’s different. There one can sometimes see adult Amish people on bicycles.