TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2000
GOBA riders roll out of town
By Vicki Hunker
Staff Writer
Sunday morning's wet weather didn't put much of a damper on GOBA riders' subsequent overnight stay in Tiffin.
Participants in the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure are touring Northwest Ohio this week.
"It was great. It went fine," said Malinda Ruble, executive director of Seneca County Convention and Visitors Bureau. "The rain did kind of throw us for a loop a little."
The heavy rains overnight Saturday caused some wet spots in the grassy areas of Hedges-Boyer Park.
"Judy Purdum (director of Tiffin Parks and Recreation Department) was wonderful," Ruble said. "She adjusted things as we needed and by the time the riders got there, everything was ready."
In addition to park adjustments, she said, the YMCA opened up floor space so people who had wet gear could sleep where it was dry.
Ruble said the windy weather caused the riders to run about two hours behind schedule, so the parade from the park to downtown was canceled. But other events went as planned, including Tiffin's 150th birthday celebration.
Ruble said she was at the park most of the day.
"At first, there were only a few riders here and there and then suddenly the whole place was full," she said Monday. "This morning, they just all disappeared."
Most all riders had left by 9:30-10 a.m.
"The park was clean," she said. "They were great about cleaning up after themselves."
Ruble said she asked riders what they thought of Tiffin.
"I didn't hear anything bad from the GOBA people," she said. "I was quizzing them."
She said some riders commented about the picturesque park and that they enjoyed feeling part of the community by camping in the middle of town rather than at a fairgrounds or another site outside of town.
Ruble said some businesses reported being swamped with GOBA riders and others reported that a few came through their establishments.
"There were a lot of signs around." Ruble said. "I think they felt welcome."
Ruble said she hopes Tiffin will be a host city in the future because the whole town knows more now about preparing for a GOBA visit.