Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/617259
29 THUNDER PRESS www.thunderpress.net friendly bar is a good place to stop if you are hungry or just need to relax for awhile. On our way to the Doyle Road Bridge in Jefferson, the group bypassed the town, but if you choose to go through Jefferson I recommend the Jefferson Diner for a good break- fast or lunch. On the weekends the AC&J Railroad offers tours from Jefferson. This is a 12-mile train ride and a great way to see the countryside if you want to get off the bike for a while. The Doyle Road Bridge is just a couple of miles north of Jefferson. Our group stopped at the Doyle Road Bridge to take a break. There was a local Boy Scout chapter there selling hot dogs and chili along with cold drinks. I guess they knew we were coming. Trying to park 200 bikes on a county road and still leaving room for cages to get by is interesting to say the least. After our stop at the Doyle Road Bridge the group rode through the beautiful countryside enjoying the fall colors. With a group this size we would not be able to stop at or ride over all the bridges, but on a nice day like this no one really cared since all of us were enjoying the ride. Some of the bridges we bypassed are the Netcher Road Bridge, the South Denmark Road Bridge, built in 1890, and the Caine Road Bridge, all in Jefferson. A word of caution if you have a problem riding on non-paved roads: Caine Road is hard-pack gravel as are some others. Just a mile north is the Graham Road Bridge in Jefferson. This bridge sits in a small park just off the road. You cannot drive across this bridge, but our group was able to get a good view as we passed by. After passing the Graham Road Bridge we rode north, passing the Root Road Bridge in Conneaut. The Root Road Bridge was built in 1868 and was restored in 1983. Again we did not stop and continued north, passing by another of my favorites, the Middle Road Bridge in Conneaut. I think the reason this is one of my favorites is that it is more remote than some of the other bridges, possibly because the road is not paved. After the Middle Road Bridge the group rode east on Hatch Corners Road to the State Road Bridge in Kingsville, another one of my favorites, and fi nally we all got to ride a little gravel. The bridge was built in 1983 and is set in a valley. The back roads in this area, with some rolling hills and curves, are great for riders. Everyone managed to keep their bikes upright on the gravel and after riding over the bridge we were all back on pavement. The Smolen-Gulf Bridge, com- pleted in October 2008, is the newest covered bridge in the county. This is a modern-day two- lane covered bridge located in Ashtabula. The original covered bridge was built in 1867 and replaced in 1948 with a steel span. The Smolen- Gulf Bridge, 93 feet above the Ashtabula Gulf, is the longest covered bridge in the U.S., spanning 613 feet. There is a park- ing area on the east side of the bridge so you can stop and get a good look at the structure. As had been par for the day our 200 bikes created a traffi c jam at the bridge making a number of cage drivers somewhat unhappy. From this point the group headed for a local biker bar to end the ride and then Chuck and I made one more stop at the Harpersfi eld Bridge before we headed home. If you are passing through north- east Ohio, Ashtabula County has a lot to offer for the rider. This is a chance to ride some great country roads off the beaten path and enjoy some of this country's history. Whether you tour all 17 bridges or just take a few min- utes at one or two it is worth the ride. When you are rolling across I-90 on your way to Laconia or Sturgis, why not take a little extra time to enjoy this part of Ohio? You will be glad you did. (www.coveredbridgefestival. org/2013map-web.pdf) 4 Passing the Mechanicsville Bridge Approaching the State Road Bridge on the gravel road The Smolen-Gulf Bridge Riders on the Doyle Bridge