Day 52 - Two Broken Pedals (July 23rd, 2024)

City To City: McDaniels - Springfield

Miles: 83

Miles Total: 3,482

Flats: 11

Video: https://youtu.be/KXGPkWq5n_0?si=aQZygclnn408nyCO

Having Dinner With Matt's Family

    Since we separated from Matt and Mark, we have been messaging each other and updating each other on our destinations for the day.  In the morning, we told them we were going to Springfield, KY, and they said they were too!  Matt and Mark had taken the Mammoth loop, which added a bunch of miles to the trail, but they only missed a few miles on the actual trail.  Matt also had family visiting him from Liberty Township, which was not far from Cincinnati.  So, Matt invited us to join them for dinner.

    As we started off for the day, I hadn't even made it to the road before my left pedal broke.  So, we changed our route, and instead of going south on the Trail, we went north, off the route, but along the north route, there was a bike shop we could go to fix my pedal.  But the new route was shorter.  About three miles down the road, we stopped at the gas station, used the restroom, and filled up on water.  And then, Henry's left pedal broke.  Henry could ride even with a broken clip-in pedal, but I rode about thirty-eight miles in my tennis shoes on clip-in pedals.

    Once we got to Elizabeth town, all the locals called it E-town to shorten it, we went to the bike shop.  They put new pedals on for me but didn't have another pair for Henry.  Henry then realized that his spring wasn't broken like mine was and was able to fix it.  The owner there, had been there for along time, and when he had first opened it, he didn't know about the trail, until two college guys told him about it.  While eating lunch outside, my dad finished in the bike shop, and a gravel rider started talking to us. We had a good time hearing his stories of people wanting him to be a pack mule for them, but he said no and that he would only do it for his wife.  He also said that when he did gravel riding with a friend, they had the strategy of carrying the fuel canister and the other carrying the stove, so neither ended up taking off without the other.  That way, they ended up at the same place together to eat dinner at the end of the day.

    Matt and Mark told us to meet them at the city park where bikers could tent. My dad called ahead to inform the city and asked about showers. The woman on the phone said there weren't any showers, but we could use the new splash pad.

    So, we arrived at the park in plenty of time to get cleaned up and ready. We did a splash pad shower and hung our clothes up to dry. Matt and Mark arrived after us and immediately went to the splash pad to get cleaned up. Also, at the splash pad, there was a couple with their toddler, and Matt and Mark weren't paying attention and minding their own business, but the couple shied away from them to the far corner like they were oddballs and eventually left.

    The couple is the kind of people who worry over nothing. When the toddler got a bucketful of water rained down on him, the mom was immediately concerned that he had too much water coming down on him. The toddler was as happy as can be, giggling when the water poured on him. But the mom didn't seem to notice her kid's happy mood and was concerned that he got hurt by water.

    Then, three sheriffs and a park manager showed up.  Someone had definitely called on us, and judging by the couple's behavior, we're guessing it was them.  Matt happened to be the closest, and the sergeant sheriff asked for Matt's name.

    "Matt, what?" The sergeant asked authoritatively.

    Matt didn't understand, so the sergeant impatiently asked again.

    Matt gave his full name, and Mark approached Matt and the sergeant.  The sergeant asked for Mark's name, and Mark gave it.  The sergeant said, "Were you bathing in the splash pad with soap and shampoo?"

    Mark asked, "What does that have to do with anything?"

    In a non-negotiable tone, the sergeant stated, "Answer the question.  It's a no or yes question."

Matt and Mark affirmed it, and the sergeant said, "If you guys don't get out of the park right now, I'm going to arrest you!" He then turned to us and looked sharply at us. "Are you with them?"

    It was hard to answer because we were and weren't at the same time, but my honesty betrayed us and gave him the answer, and I found myself involuntarily nodding.  The sergeant was especially targeting me because I would most likely be his trump card for getting his way.    The second he saw me nodding, he pointed at the park entrance and aggressively ordered us with two words, "Get out!"

    That immediately set us in motion, and we gathered our things. The sergeant stood there watching us like a hawk, feet apart, arms crossed, with a scowl. My dad respectfully tried to talk with him to understand the situation better, but the sergeant just said, "Don't talk back, and just move along."

    We told him we were told we could camp in the park, and the sergeant apathetically said, "We would've, but since you were showering in the splash pad, and the splash pad is for kids, we won't let you anymore.  There is a shower on the other side, so you should've done it there if you wanted to shower. Now get your things, and get out of here." The splash pad had no rules about who was allowed to be there; it just recommended that kids around twelve years old be the best age to use it.  As we were packing up, I heard the two other sheriffs and city manager awkwardly standing to the side say, "They're just traveling, dude."      All three told him he was being too stern, but he told them to stand down and reminded them that he was in charge and could handle things perfectly well.

    "I don't care." The sergeant never took his eyes off us.  Even though it was obvious we weren't intentional troublemakers, the sergeant handled the situation with more hostility and belligerence than needed.  And since he was at the authority's top, we could do nothing because he had the badge and gun.

    Mark then went up to the sergeant and explained about the woman who had told us about the showering situation; all the sergeant said was, "I'll deal with her in the morning.  Now keep moving and get out of here."

    So, we left, and Henry got a flat tire on the way out. But no way were we going to spend another second in the park, so Henry walked his bike a short way to a Mexican restaurant where we would eat. There, Henry fixed his flat, and we tried to figure out what to do to sleep that night. But it's amazing how one person can ruin the day and mood.  Mark had wanted to ask the sergeant if he would be willing to take a selfie with Mark, but that didn't seem like a good idea, so he refrained from asking.

    After that incident, we met Matt's wonderful niece, Nicole, and her daughters. Once Nicole heard about the incident, she couldn't rest until she knew Matt had a place to sleep for the night, so she told him to text her when he did find a place.  

    So, we went five more unplanned miles on the Trans Am Trail, a state park, and we stealth camped there.  But boy, we were left with resentful feelings for that town.