I had an old friend ask me the question in the title of this blog this evening and I told him that I knew the accepted answer, but not his answer. He told me his answer, and it was much different than mine. Anyway, we are very near Columbus – Buckeye country. By the looks of flags on cars and in people’s yards, the OSU football program is a big deal around here. Valda & I were in a restaurant yesterday and all they had was Ohio State this and that. I wanted to ask the lady at the check out why they didn’t have anything from U. of Dayton, or Xavier, or Cincinnati, but I thought better of it and kept quiet.

I talked to my brother Don tonight and he said we had @ 618 miles left to walk, give or take a couple. That’s going to put us right around 3200 + miles for the total, not the 3700 that I originally thought going into the walk. The program I used to figure the route had me doing some funny things here and there, but it shouldn’t have been off 500 miles. But I’m glad it was. The splash in the Atlantic is set for Nov. 2, and it looks like I’ll probably be there for it – on time!

The walk today went well. We were in farm country again, mostly corn and beans. I walked through three or four small towns and am currently 4 miles east of West Jefferson, Ohio, about 10 miles or so from downtown, according to all the maps we’ve looked at. I should be through town tomorrow and hope to be near where I-270 crosses US 40 on the east side of the city. We will hook up with that old friend from above and have dinner with him tomorrow night. He asked me what I liked to eat and I told him nothing experimental or anything with tofu or anything like tofu. I think we’ll be fine.

The guy who owns this farm has the right idea. He actually had six of these going just as fast as they could go.

Miles Covered: 20
Total Miles: 2,597.25
Money Found: $0.22
Total Found: $72.71

I guess things are not etched in stone and thank goodness for that. We were planning on walking through Friday and taking Saturday off in the Columbus area, but then we saw where Ohio State was playing a home football game and we decided there would probably be no campsites available. So, we took Thursday off and stayed at the Tomorrow’s Stars Resort RV park in South Charleston, OH instead. I want to thank manager Rita for comping us a night and letting us catch our breath.

I’m going to try to string together another nine or ten days of walking. We have a long way to go and a short time to get there (apologies to Jerry Reed), and I don’t want to end up 50 or 60 miles away when I’m supposed to be in Manhattan. So, I will be walking with limited days off until I’m sure I’ll make it okay.

I have just started realizing how expensive a trip to NYC for our final two days will be for anyone who plans to attend. If you decide not to come to NY for the final mile, I will be the first in line to support your decision. I just didn’t know how expensive hotels/motels were in that area. So, if you said you would be there and are having second thoughts, I completely understand. In this economy, who knows what’s going to happen. Thanks for your support, and if it works out and you are comfortable in being there, I’ll see you then.

Today went fine as far as walking is concerned. The weather was absolutely great and the traffic was light. We did another 20 miler and wound up in Brighton, OH for the night. I believe we will still get to Columbus by the weekend, we just won’t have to deal with all the football fanatics.

By the last count we could put together from the TV, there is still about 500,000 households without power in Ohio. They are getting more and more back on line each day, but we’ve talked to several people who have been without electricity since last Sunday. This campground got their power restored yesterday morning and told us not to drink the water.

Thanks to Kim McKinley of The Springfield Paper and daughter for coming out and interviewing me yesterday evening. The article will come out next Wednesday and you will probably see it on our ‘media page’ the next day.

The pictures are some icons from the past.

Miles Covered: 20
Total Miles: 2,577.25
Money Found: $0.40
Total Found: $72.49

Well, today was much like yesterday, businesses closed, generators running, kids playing outside, and people working in their yards. The TV said this morning that it will be well into next week before the power is restored everywhere. Funny, but I can’t recall seeing any power people working on the lines anywhere. As a matter of fact, all the lines I’ve seen look okay.

We covered another 20 miles today, a day of great weather. The terrain is mostly fields of corn and beans with an occasional pasture of cows thrown in. It is flat mainly but I did start getting into some gentle rolling hills this afternoon. We are currently just east of Donnelsville and should get through Springfield tomorrow. Hopefully Springfield will have electricity.

Not much going on today, just walk and drive, walk and drive. Valda said she needs to find a laundromat and I think we will find a campground tomorrow. Three more days till break. Valda called some newspapers today but they said the current power problem was their main concern. I think most people know the power is out and just how do you keep telling the same story over and over? Oh well, whatever.

Miles Covered: 20
Total Miles: 2,557.75
Money Found: $0.46
Total Found: $72.09

We woke up this morning and turned on our generator and listened to the weather and news in this area and realized that we were one of the few people who could actually hear what was going on. We didn’t know it at the time, but whole areas of the counties we are near are without power even now. I walked by farm house after farm house with generators running and when we got to Englewood, I passed businesses closed up tight. We are staying in a Meijer parking lot and the McDonalds across the street is dark. It is strange how one place will be open and the guy next door won’t be.

As stated, we are currently in Englewood, OH and tomorrow I will be heading toward and past Dayton. Tomorrow will make day nine of walking and I’m beginning to feel it. I will probably wait until Saturday to take a day off though. I’ve been in contact with an old high school friend who lives in Columbus and we are planning to get together this weekend, so I’d like to be close to Columbus. I was best man at Mike Althoff’s wedding in 1967 and we lived a couple of streets over from him until he moved to Ohio in the early ’70’s. It was nice to hear from him and will sure be nice to see him.

Lots of trees were down everywhere today and people were out in their yards cleaning up the mess. The traffic didn’t seem to be diminished however, and I wonder where all those people were going – nothing was open. The day was pretty and hopefully tomorrow will be just like it.

Miles Covered: 20
Total Miles: 2,537.75
Money Found: $0.03
Total Found: $71.63

The slogan worked for Dwight David, but as far as I’m concerned his namesake on a hurricane can soon be forgotten. By the way, a little historical trivia: Did you know that Ike was actually named David Dwight Eisenhower? He didn’t like the name David so he switched them around. Woodrow Wilson did the same thing.

Well, we got into Ohio today at about 9:30 AM and have progressed to the 10 mile marker near the intersection of US 127 and US 40. We stopped here to take our lunch break and are still sitting here. Ike started blowing in and with 45 to 60 mile winds, I decided I was just no match for that. The winds blew me all over the road this morning and they weren’t anything like they are now. So far it has just sprinkled a bit and blown junk in the air, but I’m staying put until tomorrow.

Tomorrow, weather permitting, we move on toward that big blue ocean in the East. We should be pretty close to Dayton by day’s end. Check out the STATE STATS to get caught up on Illinois. We will post Indiana’s stats in a few days. Sorry about the lag.

Miles Covered: 10.5
Total Miles: 2,517.75
Money Found: $0.37
Total Found: $71.60

Miles Covered: 20
Total Miles: 2,507.25
Money Found: $0.17
Total Found: $71.23

Back to my acknowledgements from last weekend. I think I have them all together but there are probably going to be people I miss. It isn’t intentional, and if you will email me through the website, I’ll correct the slight. First of all, people who donated to Gateway either at the Circle, Bowl-o-thon, at the Xocai event in Carmel, or elsewhere: Claire Parker, Sylvia VanFossan, Lisa & Curtis Boone & family, John VanFossan, Jorenda Hammersley, Stephanie Judge, James & Lauri Money, Angie from Indianapolis, Dave & Donna Sease, Harold Swartz, Cheri & John Wilson, Bennie Schuman, John & Terri Lynch, Lauren and Megan Fasig, Judy Fasig, Maggie & Sarah, Dave & Myrna Galbraith, Bob Morrow & Mary Livingston, Steve & Penny Bennie, Leon Littlejohn & his three, four legged kids, Mario, Charley, and Cowboy, plus the mayor of New Ross, IN. Many thanks to all of you and as you know, it is much appreciated.

People who donated to Valda’s Gas Fund: Dave & Susie Scott, George & Jackie Ruddick, Maize Knox, Scott & Brenda Hammersley, Brenda Van Note, and Ron Hammersley, Again, I may have missed someone and if I did, let me know.

Now I know there were people who dropped money into the Gateway box at the Circle and also people who bowled at the Bowl-o-thon. I may not be aware of each individual contribution, but thanks if you donated or bowled. It is much appreciated.

Thanks to Patti & Dennis Smith of Indianapolis for matching my ‘money found’ up to 100% in the memory of their daughter, Shonda. Thanks much and it is much appreciated.

Valda ran into a couple yesterday, Dick & Irene Kocher of Indy. They have been following the blog for some time and took the time to track down Valda and tell her. Thanks for your tenacity.

Thanks to Centerville U.M.C. for the use of their church facilities for our Friday night talk. We found out that it is hard to compete with local high school football, but I want to thank all who attended and especially Myrna Galbraith for all your work in setting it up. Thanks also to Bob Morrow for making me sound good and for making the slide show work like it should.

Miles Covered: 17
Total Miles: 2,487.25
Money Found: $0.05
Total Found: $71.06

By my calculations, I should cross into Ohio in about three days. Now it looks like I’ll have Indiana’s Stats to do pretty soon. I’m still waiting to find something interesting in Indiana, so hopefully I’ll have an item for that category. We came another 20 miles today and are currently sitting in Knightstown, IN where a good portion of the movie Hoosiers was filmed. We are planning to see the museum at the school where it was filmed, but we may be too early to get in. Tomorrow it is on toward Centerville and another speaking engagement at the UMC.

Today Channel 20, WFYI of Indianapolis came out and did a segment for an October or November broadcast of their show Across Indiana.  Many thanks to Jim Simmons, Brian and Brandon for the time they took to get it right. I’ll let you know when it will air sometime in the future.

I have some belated THANK YOU’s that need to go out. These are in no particular order and I do hope I haven’t forgotten anyone. Valda & I spent hours going over the events and we think we have it all covered, but if I missed you, I apologize. Email me and let me know and I’ll acknowledge you. If you dropped cash in our donation box at the Circle or Beech Grove Bowl, I thank you. We have no way of knowing that, but it is important to us just the same. Many thanks to those of you who did that.

Thanks to my brother Ron for his hospitality at the Beech Grove Bowl and for letting Valda, Chris, Syndi and myself crash at his house for three days. Thanks to my nephew Scott for opening up his house for our family’s get together last Sunday. And thanks to Dennis & Patti S. for inviting Valda & me to spend the night on Tuesday – and for feeding us a couple of home cooked meals. We appreciate all that everyone did to make our stay a little better.

Thanks to Jan of Xocai who helped Ed Mason at the Circle and B.G. Bowl. Thanks to all of you who drove great distances to come to any of the events. Thanks to Kelly Vaughn of Emmis Broadcasting for all your help in setting up interviews and helping Valda with the media coverage. It was great meeting you Kelly and finally being able to put a face to that terrific voice (I used to listen to Kelly on WTPI when I lived in the Indy area). Thanks to Ashley Hardin-Hammonds of Fox 59 for all your help in getting our interview coordinated – you made it go so smoothly! Thanks also to Deann Milliken of the City of Indianapolis for working with us on the Monument Circle event. Thanks too to my daughter Syndi and son Chris for ALL their hard work both this past weekend and throughout the Walk. I know I don’t tell you enough, but your mom and I appreciate all you both do for us.

On Sunday as I said, we had a family gathering at my nephew’s place. Thanks to Brenda for organizing, cooking, and bringing most all the food at the reunion. Thanks also to Pam for providing the cake and some other food for the event. Thanks to brother Ron for bringing pizzas. If anyone else brought food, thank you.

Thanks to Bob F. for walking with me through East Indianapolis yesterday. Also thanks to Bob for the brand new walking stick he gave me at the Circle event. I want to thank all my buddies (Randy & the Gang) at Chattanooga Best Holiday Trav-L-Park for also sending me a new walking stick. I guess these people thought my poor little walking stick needed to be replaced. 😂 😂 😂 Thanks to all!

• Total donations for the Circle event was $347.54
• Total donations for the Bowl-o-thon was $728.28
• Total donations for the Xocai event was $2,909.00
• GRAND TOTAL: $3,984.82

Tomorrow I’ll get to thanking those of you who donated to either Gateway or to Valda’s gasoline fund. Right now I’m going to bed.

Miles Covered: 20
Total Miles: 2,470.25
Money Found: $0.60
Total Found: $71.01