POST 1128. JUNE 02, 2013; BLUFFTON , INDIANA

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I literally rolled out of my sleeping bag long before daylight...both arms and head were a mass of skitter bites...and I could simply take it no longer.  Quickly put on double layered clothes - the skitters drew blood through my single layer pants and shirt -, and began loading SAM.  When I actually lifted myself up from the sleeping bag, a rather large critter of some sort came crawling out too...climbed onto the picnic table next to me, and ran along the seat...it being dark, I could not see him well, but estimated him to be half the size of the palm of my hand.

It is now 8:00 pm; I am still alive;  I am not apparently ill; so, figure the critter was also trying to escapt the mosquitos.

Last evening, JOSH, a young man living nearby, rode up on his bicycle...and just huing around as I transferred yesterday's pictures from camera to computer.  I asked him if he would consider riding to the store to pick up a mosquito spray...he agreed and took off..returning a bit later with a can of RAID, which he proceeded to spray.  Asked Josh not to do that as it was filling the air...breathing it in.  He did stop as the young lady BAKKAH arrived...she hung around until after dark...while Josh moved to the other end of the concrete pad.  When she left, Josh was still sitting there in the dark.  Told him I was going to get some sleep (yeah...fat chance), so he left...only to return about 4:00 am...still pitch dark...when I decided to quit trying to sleep...and to start packing.

Please say HELLO to JOSHUA...and his Grandfather JERRY KELSEY...both of whom joined me as I completed yesterday's blog narrative at the local restaurant.  Jerry expressed considerable pleasure that Josh and I spent so much time together...all he could talk about all night, said Jerry...and insisted I just had to meet you.

We chatted for at least one hour - at the expense of my blog narrative -, until Jerry said they had to run off to church.

More and more, folks are spending time ... at all times of day and night...just to chat.  Truly believe these folks are honestly interested in my walking...and just want to be a part of it...especially if I sit and chat with them.

Please say HELLO to ANDI and Daughter (youngest of six) LILY HAHN.  Lily smiled hugely - especially when Mom and I shook hands...Lily simply beamed at her Mom. 

Andi saw me at the restaurant...and after I had already been walking over 1/2 hour, they found me walking inside the State of Indiana - they chased me down -, bringing a cup of hot coffee and home made fruit bars..."for later when you get hungry".

My day be being filled with such as Andi and Lily...folks stopping me to chat...offer a treat...of sometimes hand me $$ ..."to help with dinner (or motel) tonight".

SAM and ME cross from the State of Ohio into the State of INDIANA.

Shallow sluggish muddy rivers flow in Indiana, too.

...and Indiana farms are no less modern, neat as a pin, and handsome to look at.

A flock of Canada Geese flew low overhead, heading North to the Arctic for the Summer.  They will return in the fall, with thousands of new young following along.

...The town of MONROE...on Route 124 as we make our way West across Indiana.

Farmland out here is still flat...not a blade of grass out of place...not a single piece of litter to be found along the roadway.

Isolated spots across America have litter here and there...but, as SAM and ME travel on, America is once again earning the name AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL.

SAM contemplating Monroe, Indiana mainstreet (SR 124).

Please say HELLO to KA LEE.  Too eager to bring me more water...to tell each customer that this man is WALKING across America...Ka Lee was overseeing the Convenience Store in Monroe.  Just to prolong our time together, I purchased a Egg Salad Sandwich, which I slowly ate sitting at a table...as Ka Lee proudly pointed me out.

Please say HELLO to JANE'E...Jane'e entered KaLee's store...took one look at me..."what are you doing here???...I saw you yesterday clear back in ROCKFORD, Ohio...nobody walks that fast !!!"  I could have kissed her because this comment made KaLee glow...see (I felt much as the MIddle Ages Knight In Shining Armor might have felt picking up the dropped lace hankee with his lance)...says she to the grinning clients lined up to pay.

Really, I'm just out on America's roadways to walk...none of this has a thing to do with SAM and ME.

Nice homes in Indiana, too.

We are indeed in AMISH Country.  An untended Amish horse and wagon.  Not proper etiquite to take photographs of AMISH "people", but since no one was present...well....

There was another photograph I did not take...that goes along with the above 1-week old baby horse...the "mother" CRYSTAL, who rode her paint pony across the pasture to chat with me about the new baby horse...a complete surprise because the Mare was not supposed to be pregnant (Crystal was, tho).

Crystal and I chatted for nearly 1/2 hour before I remembered I was supposed to meet up with John Reinhard...something about this evening...newspaper reporter...etc.

SR 124...long straight and flat...but not for long...hills are not far away.

A number of elegant homes have created delightful private ponds (lakes).

...and we finally arrive in BLUFFTON, our destination for the night.

But first...I must apologize to John Reinhard.  Moments after leaving the colt and Crystal, John pulls up in front of...have again tracked me down.  John pulled into a private driveway...got out...walked to me...and handed me an envelope...

..."This is your hotel room, Bruce; ...and a Dinner Certificate...Wife and I wanted to help you get a good night rest after the terrible night you endured last night...I read your blog of this morning..."  I gave John an impromtu hug...as traffic wizzed inches past...speechless...but so very grateful for the thoughtfulness and kindness I am finding ever which way SAM and ME turn.

Something is beginning to happen to our walk.  Folks...LOTS OF FOLKS...are walking into our lives...asking to be a part of our adventure. 

Daily, each morning, our blog receives up to 30 "comments" from 'round the world...most in foreign languages...and nearly all asking we look at their blog (which I am reluctant to post for fear of virus, etc).  i.e., folks in foreign lands are increasingly reading our blog each night...I estimate the number is now approaching many hundred.

Indiana SR 124 as SAM and ME walk to John's reserved motel and din din.

Thank you, again, John.

Tomorrow it is supposed to be a sunny warm day.  SAM and ME plan to continue West on SR 124, with our evening destination being MT. ETNA, some 25 miles distant.  There seems to be no "services".  If we do not find suitable overnight spot, I will set up the tent...if only to keep out pesky bugs and varmits.

POST 1127; JUNE 01, 2013; WILLSHIRE, OHIO

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Hope I can keep this update on a positive note.  After arriving in WILLSHIRE, Ohio, was relagated to the City Park for the night.  Succeeded in posting our photos, but visitors took the available daylight before I could complete the narration.  In the process of puting the computer away for the night, I dropped it...hitting the concrete...apparenyly damaging my Mouse and portable Keyboard...so, back to the dark ages to complete this update.

More important, however, were the squadrons of mosquitos...and no repellant. 
Slept perhaps one hour, ending with masses of welts...and angry as H___.

Also, my new Poncho is a bust...cannot understand such a porduct can find it's way onto the marketplace.

It is now 8:00 am, June 02 - Sunday.  The local Village restaurant opened at 7:30...and is PACKED...certainly an "EVENT" for this, the last Ohio village before crossing into the State of INDIANA

But for the wonderful folks of Ohio, I might pack up my bags and slink off into never never land.  Instead, I am downing some breakfast, will attempt to re-supply SAM, and head into AMISH Country - INDIANA...a number Amish families were see n last evening cruising around Willshire, Ohio in their one-horse carriages dressed in the manner of Pilgrims stepping ashore at Plymouth Rock 250 years ago.

State Road 33, as SAM and ME walk & Roll out oh AT MARYS...destination:  WILLSHIRE, Ohio, some 27 miles distant.

Please say HELLO to CHRIS...who stopped alongside the roadway to find what SAM and ME were about.  After 20 minutes, Chris handed me his Business Card, inviting me to  visit nrxt time through CINCINNATE, Ohio...a $20  bill wrapped around his card.  Thank you, again, Chris.

A mini-farm.

Arriving at the village of Rockford, Ohio...

Beautiful homes continue.

Grain Elevator....receives grains from surrounding ranches...stores the grain until a Buyer comes along...and effects shipmeny to the Customer's destination...often, a CO-OP (Coopeative) is organized comprising many local ranchers...lowers costs and improves bargaining positions  = higher profits for everyone.

Please say HELLO to JAP and LISA..local Ohio motorcyclists..JAP says he received his "nickname" whe n he insisted on riding a Japanese motorcycle.

SAM giving thanks for another safe arrival...this one in WILLSHIRE, Ohio.

Downtown WILLSHIRE, Ohio.

Gary's Retail Beer Hall (Sales)...turned WILLSHIRE from a "DRY" town   into a "wet" one.

Please say HELLO to LISA...who took me under her wing...just when it looked like SAM and ME might not find a place to stay the night...be walking to the Village Mayor,
home asking permission to "camp" in the Village Park.

Water Tower

City Park Gazebo

Please say HELLO yo BEKKAH...

Bekkah joined SAM and ME for nearly two hours...bringing two bottles of welcome Ice Water...and just chatting 'til it was dark...leaving me to the hords of mosquitos

Is now 11:00 am...sitting in the Village Restaurant...must pack SAM back up and find our way into INDIANA.

POST 1126; MAY 31. 2013; ST. MARYS, OHIO

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As we near the Indiana State border, OHIO is promissing a rousing sendoff...RAIN...RAIN...RAIN...the same weather fronts hammering Oklahoma, but we are a bit North of the real danger zone...just going to be plenty wet !

PIQUA, we finally reached a bit before darkness set in.  We checked into the LA QUINTA Motel, where we received maximum discount..."for contribution you are making...".  Even so, $70.00 is beyond our budget...but then, we will soon be crossing vast open distances where facilities will be few and far between.  For now, anyone having a hanker'n to use the above "DONATION" button, now would be a good time.

LA QUINTA is on the extreme Eastern edge of PIQUA.  By the time we got packed up and on our way, it was 10:00 am before we left behind the actual city...

We have something like 35 or so miles to walk to the city of ST. MARYS, our newly chosen destination for today...and with heavy rain promised, we have little time remaining to walk that far before dark. 

SAM and ME must put it in HIGH GEAR if we expect to avoid walking these narrow heavily travelled roadways at night.  SAM does have headlight and tail light, but every passing 18-wheeler will subject us to another pass through the CAR WASH.

Route 66 as it leaves the Northern residential district of PIQUA, Ohio.

As we were in a rush, we bypassed downtown PIQUA...this is a look back into the old downtown district looking back South from Route 66.

City Park as Route 66 leaves PIQUA behind.

Click image to enlarge for easier reading.

SAM and ME are about to enter into the open countryside...evidence by the line of quickly deterioriating mobile homes along side Route 66...NOT the famous US 66...rather, local Ohio State Road 66.

A "WEED" surviving along side the macadam (asphalt) of Route 66.  Even weeds can be beautiful.

Rather extensive PIQUA Water Works...a small DAM blocks a rather insignificant stream flowing next to the above building.

Water Works DAM and meagre water outflow.

After walking one hour (4 miles) to cross town, we are finally passing the first of many small farms and ranches.

Storm front clouds are rising up to the SouthWest...promise of getting SAM and ME pounded by some heavy rain in the next couple hours.

Entrance to a particularly beautiful ranch home.

Sky is now filled with towering rain clouds...will not be long now ...

Shallow slow moving waterway.

Please say HELLO to SHELBY.

...like in the car, I ask...oh, everyone says that, replies the comely young lady making an attempt to lure SAM and ME in for a quick beer.

Another hour North on Route 66, I discover the name of the local County is: SHELBY

Makes one wonder about the car...OK, forget the car...wonder about SHELBY.

These horses were for some reason, a bit timid of SAM and ME.

Original plan was to walk only as far as FT. LORAMIE.  With the imminent downpour and NO motel available, SAM and ME opted to continue on to the sity of ST MARYS, some 14 miles further on...making our trek for today about 35 miles...and, with our late start (10:00 am), we would not reach ST MARYS before dark.

FT. LORAMIE, Ohio.

A few miles up the road appears the DANNON (Yogurt) factory...in the Southern outskirts of the small city MINSTER...where the rain clouds finally open up on SAM and ME.

SAM turned on her head and tail lights, too.  Passing vehicles gave us as complete a douche as if we were walking through a car wash.

This easy-on-the-eyes farm house - complete with front yard lake - is for sale.

As SAM and ME walked out of MINSTER, we were still 14 miles South of our destination, ST MARYS.  It was raining pitchforks...I was soaking wet - as my PONCHO ripped early on...and even though very tired, I began pushing SAM with a vengence...taking extra long strides...taking extra fast strides...ignoring the passing cars and trucks.

Just before arriving at ST MARYS, the rain stopped...my PONCHO was destroyed...and the Sun was already low behind the trees lining the streets of ST MARYS.  Stopping at the first Convenience Store, was told the nearest Motel was on the other (North) side of town...nearly 2 miles (1/2 hour) away. 

SAM and ME had arrived in ST MARYS in record time...nearly 5 miles per hour...but  reaching the motel wouild require us to talk through town in the dark.

We had not stopped for food (lunch), but the kind ladies at LA QUINTA packed us a small lunch upon leaving PIQUA, so after putting SAM to bed, I attacked this blog instead of heading out to eat. 

Got the blog photographs sorted out and entered into GOOGLEs blog format, but my mind would not work to complete the narrative at the late hour...nearly 11:30 pm.

so, Please say HELLO to KALEY, Receptionist of the QUALITY INN & SUITES, who also offered us a discount...for our bravery and dogmatic effort(s).  Kaley even offered to show us to our Room 118, but I assured her I could find it.

It is now 7:15 am, June 01, 2013. 

Continental Breakfast started at 7:00, and yes, I am hungry...and still quite tired...even though the new bed - pillow-top - is one of the most comfy ever.

It has been raining a torrent for the last two hours...has let up for the moment.

SAM and ME are shooting for the border (with the State of INDIANA), some 25 miles distant...with absolute promise of two more days of storms and rain. 

I stopped in at the local TRUE VALUE Hardware Store, where I purchased a new PONCHO...

We shall see.......