85: kekis, curtis, straight, nonclimbable trees, two trees and a tree, farmall, the sunsflower, time well spent, like dambo, more straightness, genoa blockade, juxtaposition, built like an old school privy, gem-studded house, marissa, spidey senses

July 21, 2025

Fremont to Oregon

I checked out google for a place to eat breakfast and settled on Kekis for a couple of reasons. One, it had good reviews, but two, it was in a really cool building.

While I was sitting at the counter, I asked the woman who appeared to be in charge if her name was Keki, but she said no, it's Zora. Keki is spanish for the name of a pancake from where she lived in Mexico.

When she asked how I decided to come here I let her know the reviews, but also the shape of the building. She told me how, when they renovated it three years ago, it was ridiculously difficult because there are no right angles. It never occurred to me, but as I looked around I could see that it would be a nightmare to place tile, make the booths fit, and still have enough room for a kitchen.

"We had to put the restroom in the basement."

They also remodeled the upstairs, and finished it a few months ago but haven't yet listed it on AirBnB. I would like to have seen it; I'm sure it's interesting. Even more so, I would like to have stayed there last night - guaranteed to be nicer than the place I stayed last night.

At one point, there was a shy, tall, slender man who came in and got some fries for takeaway. He appeared to have some kind of agreement with her.

Curious, I asked, "What's his story?"

"That's Curtis. He lives across the street," motioning toward the Fort Stephenson Building, subsidized housing. "He gets $50 for groceries on a card every month but every time he uses it there's a 3% charge, so I just keep a tab and settle up at the end of the month without it. He always gets the same thing: an order of fries and ketchup."

I thought it was nice that she's helping him out, and I noticed that she made him feel welcome when he was there.

Just down the street.... you don't see stores or signs like this much any more.

This Rail Trail is a straight shot for miles and miles.

Not a great picture, but the entire right side of the building is all windows.

I couldn't get a good angle of this without crawling through poison ivy, but it's an odd growth pattern.

the owl reminds me of Thomas Dambo's work

I bought this for Part 3 of the trip, and like it.

The North Coast Inland Trail ends at this point, but RideWithGPS is insistent that I continue through that thicket. I don't think a heavy mist could get through it.

or... I could just turn left. It really wants me to make my way back to that thicket.

Juxtaposition. It's always about juxtaposition.

My RideWithGPS route kept taking me to dead ends. This is the section right above the "G" in the word "Genoa" pictured below, and you can see I wasn't riding on a trail to get there.

There's no bike path where I exited it southeast of Genoa. I eventually switched to a combination RideWithGPS + Google Maps + common sense, but today's detours increased my mileage from the original 33 miles to almost 39 miles.

This building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the Old School Privy. Built in 1870 in Romanesque Revival style, as all outhouses should be, it's one of very few outhouses on the Register, and a source of local pride.

And also, I can't help myself - I have to say it - It's built like a brick shithouse.

I smelled something really pleasant, then saw this field. I think it's lavender, or some kind of variant.

Above the noise of the fan, and in between making pizzas, Marissa and I had a nice conversation when I stopped for lunch in Woodville. At 31, she's considering what she wants to do with her life, and is thinking of returning to school. When she found out I was in my mid-30s when I went back to school, completely changing careers, she seemed to think it might actually be a possibility.

She did warn me about the crime in Toledo, and when I looked it up later I learned that it's the 19th most violent city according to Security Journal Americas. Then she warned me about Detroit, and I found it has the 7th largest total crime rate among major U.S. cities, and ranks 3rd nationally in violent crime (2023 data).

Upon leaving, I hadn't pedaled more than 3-4 miles when my spidey senses started tingling.... there was something, something going on..... was I being watched? I couldn't tell, but my senses were heightened.

I scanned the horizon, and finally located the source....

...until I determined what was going on...

Heart

Comment

Link

Today's ride: 39 miles (63 km)
Total: 2,189 miles (3,523 km)

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	5
Comment on this entry	Comment	1

Steve Miller/GrampiesHopefully tomorrow will include at least one "Holy Toledo".
Reply to this comment
2 hours ago