No Age Limit - Piaggio MP3

Fort Wayne, Indiana to Upper Sandusky, Ohio

Life on the Piaggio MP3 is simple to manage. Unlike the uncertain real world, all the information you’ll ever need is right in front of you. The TomTom Rider GPS takes care of most decisions regarding directions and locations. When approaching a final destination for the day, we can even ask for motels in the area, as well as their locations and phone numbers. The dashboard tells you more than you may need to know. Besides the basic info regarding fuel, oil pressure, RPM and mileage, we’ve also got a low-fuel warning light, a two-part odometer, a date-time indicator, the outside temperature, maintenance alerts (belt and service), and several other warnings for eliminating surprises. On the MP3, the unexpected comes from the touring experience — not from the bike.

One of the joys of touring by motorcycle - or in our case maxi-scooter - is that with every day comes at least one unanticipated highlight. I’ve learned that even the most mundane of days present memorable surprises. Today, July 6th, was no exception…

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We left Fort Wayne looking forward to crossing the Ohio state line. Our research indicated that the Lincoln Highway in Ohio was not only well-marked, but different eras of the road’s history would be designated. We were still recovering from our futile search for The Highway in IN. This wasn’t true of every mile, Goshen being one of the notable exceptions, but it was quite a let down after Illinois’ wonderful celebration of our heritage road. Heading to the Ohio border we found a small country road that seemed to be designated Lincoln Highway on an early map. About five miles east of New Haven, there it was, our first Indiana "L". We would be crossing into Ohio with some sense of satisfaction. And then, four miles from the Ohio line, our major unanticipated surprise of the day came to pass.

On this small, bucolic farm road we passed a charming, fully-restored log cabin….with old farm equipment at its side and rescued farm tools carefully nailed to the walls. A man and a woman were in a field behind the house. U-turn time. At the risk of being intrusive — a risk I frequently run — I introduced us to Tom and Linda Lortie. Tom and Linda are a middle aged couple who grew up in the area and always had their eye on this early-1800s-vintage cabin and its small farm. When the cabin became available some years ago, they grabbed it. The restoration became a family project - which resulted in the recovery of cabin and farm. It’s now a place where their children and grandchildren gather on weekends and, as Linda says, "We don’t have to take vacations — t’s wonderful right here." With that, the phone rang; one of their daughters was coming over for a visit. After a tour of the cabin and property, photos were taken. (Their totally friendly dog, Bosco, was, of course, included). We reluctantly continued the day. These genuine, caring people proved once again that life can be renewed, even in a dilapidated 200-year-old property. Fittingly, some 200 yards down the road, we spotted our second Lincoln Highway sign, and just past that stood the intersection of Lortie Road…and the Lincoln Highway.

Crossing into Ohio, the change was immediate. As if compensating for Indiana’s lack of attention to the Lincoln Highway, Ohio goes overboard — which was fine with us. In Van Wert, a county seat, there’s an operating 1950s root beer stand, the first county library in the US, Balyeat’s Coffee Shop — operating since 1922 and serving "Young Fried Chicken Day and Night." Hotel Marsh, a Lincoln Highway Station with a Fallout Shelter sign, is also still in operation. County seat and college towns are clearly the ones that best survive on the Lincoln Highway.

The temperature was in the 90’s as we stopped at a light in Van Wert, heading for Lima. For the first, and only time, Marchello sputtered and stalled. He immediately started up and the sputter was never heard from again. Look, he’s only human!

Ohio offers the option of following different eras of the LH. We consistently chose the earliest: 1913 to 1919. Small-but-good roads, a bit of gravel at times, but we we’re on the Lincoln Highway headed for today’s destination, Upper Sandusky — not to be confused with Sandusky which is north on Lake Erie. Don’t ask me how this one became "Upper". We arrived about 5 PM and at dinner realized that in one week — next Sunday night — we’ll be preparing for our arrival at the eastern terminus of the Lincoln Highway, Times Square. With the exception of missing our family and close friends, the time is flying by.

Buddy out

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