A Day in the Valley

History, so much history to a place!

My history with the towpath, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park began in 2003 when I moved to Ohio, and began exploring parks. I had no idea there was a National Park in our backyard (not literally, but a few miles off). I finally began going there knowing it was the National Park in 2005, till then I just thought it was a nice forested area (Brecksville portion of the park). I began biking the towpath in 2005, and then got my first serious bicycle in 2009. I also had my first serious bicycle crash in 2009 in the park! I worked at CVNP from 2007 to 2008 as an Interpretive Seasonal Ranger. It the most amazing experience and amazing to serve the country in that way, in a peaceful yet protective way. Yes, we get to protect and inform the visitors and the natural resource.

I visit the park as often as I can, we climb near there, job, hike, bicycle. There is tonnes to see and do, so much wildlife, and the culture in the valley is amazing. (Below are links for planning your visit, and information, history etc.).

Yesterday Ryan and I biked the towpath, about 40 miles, and the interesting things we saw. Earlier that week we went to an event called "Music in the Meadow" which is a free concert by a local band, at Howe Meadow. There is nothing like listening to reggae, Celtic, folk, blues, while sitting in the nature and enjoying a snack, or tossing a frisbee.

The bike ride: starting at Botzum Trail head, we headed north, through Peninsula, to Canal-way Visitor Center 36 miles round trip. However we did take a few side tours to outhouses, and picnic areas, snacking areas, so it took longer than if we kept at it.
The wild life: we saw turtles, great blue heron, doggies on leashes, chipmunk, fish, duck, geese, the great bald eagle etc.
Other things to do: We spun poi, and relaxed, watched people, biked hard, and stopped by at trail mix for a snack or two. We got ice cream and some granola bars, which were yum! There was a live Owl, Falcon, and Red Tailed Hawk display at Hunt Farm. It was really cool, lots of rangers and volunteers, being seriosuly close to some awesome birds of prey!

The towpath was ridiculously crowded, it was a Sunday! There were people with their families, little children winding around the towpath on their little bicycles, casual riders, first time riders, so many different types of bicycles and people. Lots of joggers, dog walkers, and families with strollers. Lots of traffic, and serious bikers like us needed to be careful. We did not go above 15 mph.

Weirdest moment: So I sing when I bike, its better than having a radio, which annoys the wilderness as well as fellow journeymen, but nothing like live music, right? Well I was singing "Colors of the Wind" from Disney's Pocahontas. "come run the hidden pine trails of the forest, come taste the sun-sweet berries of the earth, come roll in all the riches all around you, and for once, never wonder what their worth! the rainstorm and the river are my brothers, the heron and the otter are my friends, and we are all connected to each other... in a circle in a hoop that never ends... " etc.
My mouth opens wide as I sing loudly and peddle ferociously so, and lo and behold, something from above falls into my mouth. I am usually used to bugs and such, good source of protein. However this texture was wrong, not buggy at all. I know it was bird poop. How it found its way into my mouth could only have been an act of god, or nature herself! Cruel cruel joke! Luckily and unfortunately I only had my camelbak, and 18 more miles to go. So Ryan and I had to come up with a strange adult bird feeding the baby bird method of rinsing my mouth out, without getting the camelbak mouth piece dirty.

What is a good day in the great outdoors, without strange experiences and adventures such as this?



It is such things that make life interesting, and gives you stories to tell, and makes us more innovative.


We took a potty break by Ira trail head, where I decided to break out the flag poi. I began spinning, and had a lot of spectators, and encouraging comments, curious passer by's who wanted to try it too! It was my pleasure to explain to them and tell them about it. A Chinese family, remarked it was much like the Chinese art of dancing with the ribbon. Kind of true, except Poi is usually done with fire. I can't wait to try fire.


We ended the bike ride, sore, lactic acid consuming our muscles, badly needing of hot showers, and massages! Oh and maybe some dinner, to replenish some of the lost calories. Despite the pain, the how hard it was to walk later, it was well worth it. To more, and longer bike rides in the valley!

Looking to the horizon

Rest Stop

Grub

Birds at Hunt Farm

Flag Poi

Game of Frisbee

Day in the Valley - Website for all events

Cuyahoga Valley National Park
The Scenic Railroad
The Conservancy for CVNP
A different website for the park
Trailmix Store
Hiking Trails and More
Ohio Erie Canalway
The Towpath

lesson learned

Life is precious, life is beautiful, and this planet may be the only planet with life out there in the universe. Life can be done away with in a flash. Paramedics and doctors save lives. Yet we squander life away... smoking, eating unhealthy, being totally callous towards our bodies... then there is the fact we kill each other for the most DUMBEST reasons in the UNIVERSE. Yes killing in the name of _______ be it religion, resources, or jealousy are just DUMB reasons.

So I realized I could have been close to death when a normal, uneventful but sweaty +/- 25 mile bike ride became a day to remember, for those people in my life. We were riding STOMP (which is a biking program organized by the Summit County Metro Parks (which I am also a former employee of) on 5th Sept 2009. I had my brand new $400 Diamondback - Clarity - A Performance Hybrid Bike. light weight and built for speed. I was wearing a helmet because STOMP requires you to.

All day I was complaining about my helmet and how dumb and stupid it was. I had my camelbak for water/powerade. I had my cell fone in the back pocket of my bicycle shorts. There were a lot of hills on the ride. Riding with me were Renee, my close friend, her boyfriend Mark, and Paul. We started sometime after 9:30 hours from Howe Meadow, Cuyahoga Valley National Park. There were a lot of Uphills. Considering I helped Mark plan this new 25 miles route in 2007 when I was the GIS/Planning Intern there, I should have seen the hills coming. What goes up must go down... and what goes down must go up... so there were many such hills, very very tough hills. Sometimes we walked up the hills. The Maple leaf Mascot took a picture of me!

We met at all the "fun stops" and had refreshments. We were on out last hill, and coming down I knew we would be at the end. 26.5 miles done, .5 miles to go. I was thrilled... and then down this great finale of a slope I lost control of the bike. 26.5 miles and 26+/- miles per hour down this hill!!!!I was just very excited to be done, and the speed was exhillarating. That's how we should live life! It was brilliant, like the triumphant note of Mozart's masterpeice... and then I felt my bike wobble...and wobble again, until I could not control the wobbling anymore. I braced myself for whatever impact I would encounter...

and then I opened my eyes.

For all great feats, deeds and things there is a fall... so I fell but after a few seconds, I realized I was still alive then Paul was by my side. (13:20 hours) He asked me if I was alright. He told me not to move... but i got up and out of the middle of the road. I asked him if I could lay down, and he said yes. At this point I must have had a TON of adrenalin pulsing through my veins. My cell fone was intact. I told Paul to get my bicycle out of the street. He was awesome. He was there for me a lot. Poor boy. Then we were deciding who to call. He told me to stay awake and not to fall asleep at all. I was just laying there analyzing my body and state of affairs. I have NO idea what my health insurance covers, I was very reluctant to call 911, but it seemed the right thing to do as I felt the right portion of my head swell into a big bump. But the Science Fiction nerd that I am I thought I was Morphing into the ALIEN that I am! :-)

Paul called the shots, but I was lying there and decided I could bike back to Howe meadow. That he would NOT stand, and called some special number and then came some paramedics or CPR trained people, who felt my whole body and asked me a TON of questions. Then the park rangers came, and I was looking at all the people around me, as everyone told me to stay still, and I noticed a recognizeable face. It was Chief Shepard from the Summit Metro parks Rangers!
I said "I know you"
He said "She might be delusional"
I said "No I was the intern last year for Mark."
"Did you see Dave then at the field?"
"I didn't reach there, did I!"
"Yeah, I'd ask how you're doing but ..." and he smiled.

Then the EMS team showed up and asked me a ton of questions, and I was very tired of spelling my name. Very. Paul contacted Renee and Mark and told them about the situation! I love Renee! She arrived and said "Priyanka now what did you go do?"

There was then the decision of going with Renee and Mark, or With the EMS. I was sitting up now with an ice pack on my head. The ice felt good. To Ambulance, or not to Ambulance, that is the question..."

Hamlet's Soliloquy in Hamlet Act 3 Scene 1 shows how I felt with that decision... my life lay in the hands of ME and my decision of to trust the EMS, or trust myself and go with my trusty friends. In the end I was dizzy sitting, so I figured with the EMS. Also he said I could get paralyzed, I could Die etc. And Paul and My dad told me later that they thought of some actress who died because she did not go to the hospital for a head injury during skiing. I know not who this actress was.

The EMS guy LT. McCain! was a sweetheart, but his sidekick did not KNOW WHERE INDIA WAS. :-o And I'm an Indian laying on the stretcher there! It was nice meeting McCain however, he did not look, talk or act like John McCain at all (that can not be said for Lt. Tigh from BSG who looks, talks and acts like McCain). Ambulance rides are NOT fun, and it is NOT fun being strapped down into the stretcher thing, I could not breathe, I could not move.(around 15:00 hours)

Akron City Hospital was nice, I got my own room with a view of a fake sky. I had to pee and I was so Hungry. 26 miles later, and a hospital bed, no food, no bathroom for me until I had my catscan done. IT WAS VERY BORING. After the catscan My dad was there. I went to pee! I was so happy! and then Paul was there! I felt so good and I was so happy! I was ready to go. I had chocolate, crackers and nuts. I didn't get any water, or food out of the hospital... :-( H1N1... I wanted to get out of there ASAP!!!

Dr. Davis pronounced me alright to go, with mild concussion, and hematoma (sp) on my head, and abrasions. I did have a headache.

In the end of it all it was all worth it. Although I did wish I breaked all the way down, however I won't forget it. I realize I have one life, and I can't sit here and wait for death to grip me... I want to GO OUT AND LIVE IT UP. I love everyone!!! Thank You all for your well wishes... but remember Live life with positivity and love. Have faith in yourself and the Universe and all is at peace. Remember to live and do things which you would never do. Do try new things... remember Safety First!
However focus and be a steward of nature.