The 2007 Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure celebrated its 19th year with the theme, "Bike Me to the Moon", to honor Wapakoneta native Neil Armstrong and his namesake museum there. In keeping with the theme, the opening parade and costume contest through the streets of Celina featured many cycling spacecraft, aliens, lunar vehicles, and more other-worldly creations. The parade was led by Celina Mayor Sharon Larue in an electric car and we cheered on the cycling Bob Evans-Celina manager, John Donley. In addition, Mercer County commissioners presented a proclamation to GOBA to kick off the week. Then, on Father's Day (Sunday) we cycled off to enjoy overnights to Van Wert, Wapakoneta (2 nights), Troy (2 nights), and Versailles, before returning to Celina. The riders had at least 263 miles under their belts; with some of them up to the maximum of 420 miles. The sad news of the week was when we learned of the passing of the 89-year-old Bob Evans, founder of our long-time sponsor.

Terrain was mostly flat with occasional gentle rolls. The weather was mixed with a very hot start to the week, followed by a day of scattered rain, then much cooler temperatures. No serious weather events occurred.

Pre-registered registrants numbered 2,372 participants. 1,403 of our riders were male; 1,859 (78%) were from Ohio; 255 were COP members; 38 states were represented as well as Japan, England, Canada (Nova Scotia & Ontario) and the Virgin Islands;

327 riders were age 15 or under; 41 have ridden all 19 tours.

On the Thursday optional century loop, 153 riders stopped to pick up the Century Award pin.

Our 19th GOBA was made special by: Lunch Boat-Cruise on Grand Lake St. Marys; The British Invasion (Beatles tribute band), playing with the backdrop of the lake; Wassenberg Art Museum; Moon Pie eating contest; Neil Armstrong Look-Alike Contest; Zumba's salsa music; HeeBee BG's a capella choir; dancing in the streets of Troy to the Kerry Smith Margaritaville band; the magician at the fairgrounds; the afternoon gospel concert; Tour of Ohio bike race on downtown streets; the special Wapakoneta GOBA-lunar postmark; biking to Indian Lake, the Bicycle Museum of America; Canal Heritage Museum with the special Towpath Trek pin; Johnny Appleseed Museum; dive-in movie in the pool; ice-skating at Hobart Arena; canoeing on the Miami River; Troy "Survivor Challene"; Lockington Locks; Riverside Bike Path through Piqua; Rootin' Tootin' Gettysburg Food Stop; Garst Museum with Annie Oakley exhibit; scavenger hunt and teen pool party in Versailles; Triathlon at Twilight; Delphos Canal Museum; Cridersville Log Cabin; Ohio City's bike-through spray-mister on 100-degree day; Piqua Area State Memorial and Johnston Farm; the ethereal "Rock House" of Wapakoneta; Maria Stein Shrine of Holy Relics; Maria Stein CountryFest; and the grand finale, the rousing Song Contest in Versailles, downtown in Fountain Square.

Once again, I've enjoyed working with the best volunteer crew, a combination of veterans and newcomers, who worked hard...and worked hard together to make this the best GOBA ever!