After a relaxing evening at Mount Liberty Berry Barn and one of the best nights of hospitality on the entire Ohio to Erie Trail, we packed up for another day of riding.
Day 4 would take us approximately 70 miles from Mount Liberty Berry Barn to the Prairie Grass Trailhead in London, Ohio. On paper, it looked like a straightforward day. In reality, it would become the day that tested my patience more than any other day of the trip.
A Great Start to the Morning
As usual, the day began early.
We woke around 6:00 a.m., enjoyed coffee and breakfast, packed our dew-covered tents, and prepared for another day on the trail.
One of the highlights of staying at Mount Liberty Berry Barn was Sue’s breakfast. She prepared an omelet, fruit, and coffee, and it was exactly what I needed before a long day in the saddle. One of the guys was missing their order. She drove back home and took care of him! Sue’s the best!
Before leaving, we said goodbye to several cyclists we had met the night before, including Terry, the retired attorney who was riding solo across Ohio.
One of the things I love most about bicycle touring is how quickly complete strangers become friends.
Riding Toward Columbus
The miles came fairly easily during the first portion of the day.
The northern approach into Columbus was actually much easier than I expected. The trail was well-marked and easy to follow.
For long stretches, the trail runs alongside the interstate. Navigation isn’t difficult, but the constant roar of traffic can be mentally exhausting. For mile after mile, you hear trucks and cars flying past at highway speeds.
It isn’t dangerous, but it certainly isn’t peaceful.
Still, the trail itself remained excellent.
Through Columbus
I had heard mixed reviews about riding through Columbus, but overall, I found it manageable.
The northern side of the city was straightforward. If you slow down, pay attention to the map, and don’t rush, getting through downtown Columbus isn’t nearly as difficult as some people make it out to be.
The key is simply being patient. We slowed way down and really paid attention to the map.
Ride With GPS was becoming much more familiar to me by this point, and I felt significantly more confident navigating urban areas than I did back in Cleveland.
The city ride wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t stressful either.
South Columbus Was Different
The southern portion of Columbus was a completely different experience.
As we moved farther south, the trail passed through areas that felt significantly less safe and less well-maintained.
There was trash scattered throughout portions of the trail corridor. We saw numerous homeless encampments, abandoned shopping carts, and several neighborhoods that appeared to be struggling economically. Part of the trail had natural trails leading off into the woods. They were definitely not the ones you’d want to take a side trip on.
During the day, it wasn’t a major issue. We never felt directly threatened, and nobody bothered us.
But I would absolutely not want to ride that section after dark.
For anyone planning the OTET, my recommendation would be simple: get through South Columbus during daylight hours.
The trail itself remains rideable, but the overall environment changes considerably from what you experience in northern Columbus.
Eddie thought he needed a banana south of Columbus. We almost stopped at a Dollar General, but the bars on the windows and exterior garage door for protection quickly changed our minds.
The Last Few Miles
Late in the afternoon, Eddie’s battery finally did what he’d been worried about all day.
It quit.
Ironically, it happened only a few miles from camp.
The trail was flat and easy to ride, but Eddie decided to stop at a church pavilion we found along the route and charge for a while.
At that point, I was ready to be done for the day.
I rode ahead to camp for the last 2.5 miles while he stayed behind to charge.
Arriving at Prairie Grass Trailhead
The Prairie Grass Trailhead is a free primitive campground located in London, Ohio.
The site itself is fairly simple.
There are no designated campsites, no campground hosts, and not many amenities. You simply call the county, let them know you’re staying overnight, and set up camp.
What it lacks in amenities, however, it makes up for with convenience.
The pavilion had electricity, which was exactly what we needed for our bikes.
There was also a restroom facility and a spigot with hot water available outside the bathhouse.
I learned something new there: what some touring cyclists call a “bottle bath.”
You soap up, fill a bottle with warm water, and rinse off manually.
Surprisingly, it worked quite well.
Meeting Tyler from Ty’s Rides
One of the highlights of the evening was meeting another cyclist named Tyler.
Tyler runs a YouTube channel called “Ty’s Rides” and was on an incredible journey from Kansas City to Maine. Tyler mentions us in this YouTube short!
Every year, he chooses a major cycling challenge, and this year’s adventure was crossing much of the eastern United States before meeting his girlfriend in Maine.
He was moving fast.
Compared to our pace, Tyler was covering a huge amount of mileage each day and making excellent time.
We spent quite a while talking about routes, equipment, camping, and future rides.
Those conversations are one of my favorite parts of long-distance touring.
A Free Campground Worth Remembering
Prairie Grass Trailhead isn’t a destination campground.
Nobody would drive across the country to stay there.
But for bicycle tourists riding the OTET, it serves its purpose perfectly.
It offers shelter, electricity, water, restrooms, and a safe place to spend the night.
Sometimes that’s all you need.
Day 4 Statistics
- Start: Mount Liberty Berry Barn
- Finish: Prairie Grass Trailhead, London, Ohio
- Distance: Approximately 70 miles
- Weather: Warm and humid
- Trail Conditions: Excellent overall
- Biggest Challenge: Battery management and mental fatigue
- Highlight: Meeting Tyler from Ty’s Rides
- Temp: 83/58
Lessons Learned
- Columbus is easier to navigate than many cyclists suggest.
- The northern side of Columbus is enjoyable for riding.
- South Columbus should be ridden during daylight hours.
- Constant traffic noise can be surprisingly exhausting.
- Free campgrounds can be some of the most useful stops on a bicycle tour.
Tomorrow would be our final overnight on the Ohio to Erie Trail as we headed toward Morrow, Ohio, and one of the most unique camping experiences of the entire trip.
Toby DeHay 