For the past few days, I have ridden though farms that were growing seed corn. I have learned to appreciate the seed companies marketing.  They are modeling their marketing like a woman.  Sometimes when you leave something to the imagination, the message is stronger.  Or am I just getting a little “corny” riding through these fields.

As I rode towards Lake Erie, I saw this yacht.  Note the reflection.

Isn’t it true that many times we take thing out of perspective and make issues bigger that they really are?

I stopped by a feed mill and was impressed how they train their employees.

I asked how they help.  The answer was simple.  Go to The Forks.

I am listening to the news while I am working on this blog.  They just said mammograms are down by 10%.  I wish we would see more billboards like this. Early detection is so important.  Just today, I visited with two women who are dealing with breast cancer.

As I ride through the northern portion of the Buckeye State, I am impressed with the farmsteads.  There are many beautiful homes and the grounds are will maintained.  I didn’t see many farmers in the fields but other “worker bees” were buzzing around.

For a number of years we lived in Ohio and really enjoyed the Buckeye spirit when we went to see Ohio State play football.  What I never could understand is why their colors were red and white since Buckeyes are neither red nor white. It wasn’t until today when I pulled in to the Hirzel Canning factory that I might have found the answer.

The red must come from all the tomatoes grown in the Buckeye State. As I pulled into the truck yard to take a picture of the trucks unloading their pick of the day, 

I was met by Otto Hirzel whose family has canned tomatoes and sauerkraut for 3 generations.  With all the recalls in the news this week I am glad our food source in the states is better regulated.  I would not have been able to tour this plant without signing in and having Otto personally escort me around the plant.  Did you know since 9/11, Homeland Security has set controls in place to protect our food sources? Employees need to be screened and the contents are monitored and documented for our protection.  I was also very impressed with the sorting and evaluation process to assure only the best tomatoes going into the “whole” tomatoes cans.  To watch 250 cans being filled a minute is a lot of tomatoes.

After visiting their plant, I am Proud to be an American.  We should all take time to wave a flag.

I stopped to visit with the editor of the Clyde, Ohio newspaper.  She was happy to know I was riding for cancer research.  She said the State is currently doing a study on this area to find out why they have had eleven reported cases of cancer in children under the age of 15 since 2004.  This is in a county area with a population of 10,000 people.  Yes, there is something wrong in “our community” and in unfortunately it might be worse in others.  When will we find the causes and cures?

This retired farmer has a strong opinion on what might be causing so much cancer.  He feels it is because of our food source.  He is an organic farmer and believes that the herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers are the causes of many of our health issues. It good to see his son continue the organic farming practices.  He now milks 80 cows and has a strong demand for the organic milk.  Yes, he said it cost more, but what is your health worth?  Why should organic food cost more?  For one reason the demand for organic produce is up 25%, but also the production cost are more.  In this area, farmers yield 150 bushels of corn per acre.  The organic farmers yield about 100 bushels because they don’t use herbicides.

The editor of the Clyde paper also was proud to say they had a Hospice Center just down the road. I stopped in to say “hi.”

If you review our Sponsor List, you will see the Cleveland Cavaliers are on the list.  As I approach Cleveland, I have started looking for them.  Being from Chicago I see lot of Bulls, but finally today, I met up with some Cavs...

Today I was on the road for nine hours pedaling, visiting and thinking.  I am not sure if it is my age, but my thoughts slip by more quickly than the miles. Tonight I had an e-mail from Chris Corley and her family that sums up so many days on the road. I wish I could take more time and had more talent to tell you what is unsung.

"I have spent many days stringing and unstringing my instrument while the song I came to sing remains unsung."
— Rabindranath Tagore

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