Fremont to Vermilion, OH

49.5 miles. It was overcast all day and very cool, but it never rained on us. The first 35 miles or so were pretty typical of the scenery we've been enjoying for some time - mostly farms and houses in a country setting. Once we reached Huron, things changed dramatically. For one, we were no longer on quiet county roads but instead on busy US 6 which runs along the shore of Lake Erie. The road has a paved shoulder in theory, but the pavement was in terrible shape and there was a stretch of several miles of resurfacing (grooved pavement) that was a challenge to navigate. When we weren't dodging potholes we caught views of the lake and the many old-time "resorts" (groups of cottages for rent) along the lakefront. The lakefront is still is a beautiful place and if the weather had been warmer surely would have been filled with families on vacation.
Secondly, all of a sudden there is no pastoral countryside - only one town limit sign
after another and a almost unbroken stream of gas stations and other business sites.
There were many times on this trip when we longed to find a C-store, cafe or other evidence of human habitation. Now we already miss the miles and miles of empty landscape and quiet solitude.

After only about 12 miles, the drive chain somehow became jammed down between the rear cassette and the frame - preventing us from turning the cranks. We pulled over in someones driveway and struggled unsuccessfully for some time to try to free the chain. Finally, in desperation we unhooked the trailer and flipped the bike upside down (much to the consternation of the "guard dog", a Golden Retriever who barked at us from behind the safety of his front porch). For whatever reason that did the trick - the chain popped free and we were soon on our way again. Thankfully the chain seems to be OK although it is near or beyond its useful life and will probably be replaced tomorrow when we leave it at a bike shop in Euclid for a "tune up" while we take a day off.