Live to Ride...Ride to Eat

[the Ferret]

Ok to make up for my thread drift. I'll post about a little place we went to for lunch today about 50 or so miles up river from Cincinnati in a little town called Ripley, Ohio. A little History... Ripley is on the Ohio river and was the terminus for the Underground Railroad channeling run away slaves from the south where slavery was legal to the north where it wasn't. The Ohio River was the border. There was a preacher in Ripley by the name of John Rankin who was an abolishionist (anti-slavery) and it was from his home high on a hill in Ripley that he channeled slaves north. We stopped at the home on the way to the restaurant

John Rankin's's hillside home in Ripley, Ohio



He kept a light burning in the window every night (candle or coal oil lamp I suppose) which made it easy to locate at night as the slaves made their way across the river to freedom. He had a great view of the river from his house and could watch for people coming to look for their slaves. BTW slavery was not legal in Ohio, but helping a runaway salve was illegal.

Views from the house.. you are standing in Ohio. Looking directly across the river is Kentucky. Directly below is the town of Ripley.

to the west, (left) upriver is West Virginia



to the east (right) down river is Indiana



Anyhow after visiting this historical place my wife and I rode down into town to a little restaurant called Rockin' Robin's Soda Shop, a 50's style diner with great food and great desserts and good tunes from the 50's and 60's (good tunes if you are old enough to remember them... I am). I have eaten here many times



This is the view from our table. Watching the river flow by while a barge makes it's way down river. Our two-up bike, the ST sits out front



Rather than a burger we opted for dessert. My brother ate here last week and had sent me a text message with a picture of his choice, so we ordered the same thing, only with 2 spoons.



My wife gave up part way thru, but I soldiered on until the end. Heavens' to Betsy it was good.



Anyhow we stumbled out of there and climbed onto the bike in an ice cream coma and headed down river for home.

Rt 52, River Road, the Ohio River Scenic Highway, is a popular spot for motorcycles coming out of Cinti. Many of them headed for Rockin' Robin's. On a nice weekend you might find 50 bikes there (mostly Harleys). I thought of 4 Paws when I spotted this BMW with a hack coming our way (wonder where they were headed lol)



Come to think of it, I believe 4Paws is just upriver a piece in Marietta picking up his hack today.

anyhow, got home a bit ago after 99 great miles riding with my favorite riding/adventure partner (of 45 years come November) and now sitting here wishing I hadn't eaten so much lol

Hope this makes up for the thread drift Stichill.