Listen, I was gonna write about Day 11 of our Great American Rail Trail Expedition from D.C. to the Mississippi. But it turns out that too many 50-mile plus mile riding days in a row tends to make Jack (or maybe just me) a dull boy.
So instead I’m just gonna tell you about the small Ohio town we’re overnighting in. I should fess up and admit that I’ve never heard of Yellow Springs, Ohio.
But it turns out it’s got quite a history. And for a rather small town (only about 3,500 residents, quite a lot going for it.
Naturally, it’s a trail town. Why else would we be here?
But it’s also a college town. Home of Antioch College. One of the most progressive and unorthodox institutions of higher learning in America.
It’s a town with a cause. Many causes for that matter.
A town of the arts.
It’s everywhere you look.
So naturally it’s a town of murals.
It is a town that celebrates diversity. Not to mention peace, love and oneness with the universe.
You can’t walk down the main drag without something catching your eye.
I won’t say it’s a town frozen in amber. But they do seem to be hanging onto a certain ‘60s vibe by their finger nails.
Don’t get me wrong. They have their rules here. DO NOT SIT AT THAT CHAIR UNLESS YOU INTEND TO PLAY CHESS.
Still they do not seem to take themselves all that seriously.
It’s still got a hometown newspaper. Not to mention a citizens crime patrol.
They’ve got their causes, no question.
If you are looking for the secret to life, the universe and everything, you may or may not find it here.
But any small town that has, not one, but two breweries, should not be taken lightly.
Oh, this is the hotel we stayed in. I only bring it up because Walt has planted himself in one of the front porch rocking chairs and says he’s not leaving.
We’ll have to pry him outa there. Because tomorrow we leave Ohio and head for Indiana.
FreeGNV 