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| - Rocky River Reservation--If you're a bicycler or jogger, take in the reservation bike path from Detroit Road to at least Big Met Golf Course. Round trip it's about 10 miles. I jogged it back when I could handle the distance but I like it a lot better for biking. I usually park at the Scenic Park picnic area and boat launch, but if you're ambitious you'll want to start at the top of the steep hill at Detroit Road.
I've found out that to Big Met is a perfect distance for a turnaround because of the outdoor water fountain--cold water!--at the clubhouse. On a bike I usually go to the turnaround in low gear for cardio work and then high gear on the way back for strength. It works that way, or at a more leisurely pace, too.
Visit the Sweetwater Landing restaurant at the end of the ride (at the boat launch and dock, www.sweetwaterlanding.com) for ice cream or a drink--serves alcohol--and it makes for a nice date.
Of course, being a public bike trail, you'll have to deal with people who insist on walking three or four across, blocking the path in both directions and not hearing your requests to get by due to the ipod implants, and you might want to avoid it just before dark because of the bugs--unless you can ride with your eyes and mouth closed--but that's no fault of the metroparks.
For the more adventurous, travel past Puritas Road and Mastick Woods golf course, and you'll pass through the solar system display. Here, displays are placed along the path, starting with the sun, with each planet display placed at its relative distance away from the sun and the other planets. You'll see Mars, Earth, Venus, and can even get a glimpse of Uranus (does that ever get old?!).
If you haven't been along this stretch of the metroparks, hugging the river with fields and picnic areas throughout and nesting falcons under the arch bridges, you are really missing out.
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