One way to meet new people, exercise, visit different areas, and have an unbelievable experience is to partake in the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA). GOBA is a bike trip consisting of about 3,000 other bikers, who bike an average of 250 to 400 miles in Ohio in the course of a week. Junior Jake Thorn and English teacher Joe Toner participated in the journey this summer.

“It was the closest to us, so we didn’t have to travel too far,” Toner said. During the seven day trip, bikers travel with a large group in the specific area assigned. This year it was held in Wellington, Ohio. The trip started at Wellington, circulated to Galion, Mt. Vernon, Coshocton, Orrville, and finished back at Wellington.

“We biked anywhere from 50 to 60 miles a day,” Thorn said. They would take tents with them and set them up at the local parks, fairgrounds, and schools. The towns they stayed in were relatively small so 3,000 hungry bikers brought a lot of excitement and business to the towns.

“I found out about the trip through Mr. Toner just some day in class,” said Thorn. Toner is not a novice to biking. In 1981 Toner biked across the U.S and has also participated in GOBA before.

During the trip Toner and Thorn were not always together. During the first few days, Toner and Thorn could not find each other, until they finally met up. Since Toner rode with his family, he was at a slightly slower pace and was also a centipede.

“A centipede is the person that made sure everyone was together, so I was in charge of 15 people including my family and Jake,” Toner said. Thorn joined their group when they finally met up. The group ate together and even went out to dinner at the local Bob Evans.

“Along with dining out, we ate crackers, watermelon, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” Thorn said. During the rides between the destinations there were “pit stops” which had Gatorade snacks and the like.

“The trip was priceless to me,” Thorn said. “I will do GOBA every year for the rest of my life,” Toner said. Jake agreed and said that he definitely will do it again next year and wants his brother, Brian, to join him, and wishes that more students from RRHS would take part in the ride.