By Tesa Strasser
The Press-News
Stan Purdum, part-time pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church in Waynesburg, recently released a book of interest to bicyclists and historians. "Pedaling to Lunch, bike rides and bites in Northeast Ohio" maps out 20 noteworthy cycling routes in our area.
Purdum is among eight authors who have accepted Stark Parks' invitation to celebrate National Reading Day at the Congressman Ralph Regula Canalway Center inside the Exploration Gateway at Sippo Lake Park. The event will take place from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2.
Each biking trip in his book features a lunch spot at about the halfway point. Purdum purposely avoided chain restaurants and chose ones catching the atmosphere of the locality.
One route starts at Werley Park in East Canton and travels to Kiki's Cafe' in Navarre and back. The 38-mile-trip is number 16 in the book and is named the Stark Reality Ride. Adventure number 20 starts in Magnolia and goes through Dellroy to Carrollton. Lunch is served at Archer's Restaurant on Public Square in Carrollton.
The Limaville route starts in the parking lot of the Walborn Reservoir and circles Berlin Lake and Lake Milton. The lunch stop is at the Sand Trap on Lake Milton, and Purdum suggest trying their fried fish. The bike trip starting and ending in Strasburg refuels at Miller's Dutch Kitch'n in Baltic, where the specialty is broasted chicken.
Each route has turn by turn directions in the appendix in the back of the book, as well as a map complete with arrowed route lines.
History buffs will be drawn to this paperback as well as cyclists. The pages are filled with historical tidbits about each community visited throughout Purdum's journeys. For instance, in Chapter 16, the Magnolia Flouring Mill is pictured. The author suggests visiting the historical mill and later stopping in the former Isaac Miller Inn, which now houses Taggart's Restaurant and the Magnolia Area Historical Society. Purdum encourages visitors to try "The Bittner," which is one of the most restaurants' most popular ice cream creations.
Other biking routes start in Orrville, Ravenna, Hartville, North Georgetown, Zoar and Medina to name a few.
Purdum has been the pastor at Centenary for more than 12 years. He and his wife have three grown children. Eric has settled in New York, Scott lives in Cleveland and Rebecca resides in San Francisco. His wife, Jeanine, is a registered nurse .
"I enjoy riding and writing so this book put the two together," said the author. "I found some great rides and then found a place to eat along the circuits. I like to have a destination when riding."
The author notes how fortunate we are to live in an area rich in history and beauty. Biking is a great way to enjoy them both, he added.
"Pedaling to Lunch" can be purchased for $18.95 at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Border's or Earnie's Bike Shops. Purdum has written two other cycling books. They are "Roll Around Heaven All Day," an account of his trek along the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, and "Playing in Traffic," which recounts his bicycle journey from Niagara Falls to El Paso, Texas.
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