Loosing Ground and Loving It

So I'm back in Van Wert......

When I left this town, I had the hardest time walking away from this new community that I'd found. The family that I had stayed with told me that if I wasn't too far away by Wednesday, that I could give them a call and they would pick me up for their 4th of July party. My prayer on the road was to find a place to camp in the next town of Delfos (only 15 miles down the road) so that I could make it back for the party, and if that was not the case, that I would be able to see these people again soon.

I made it into Delphos at 11 am to wander the town looking for some lunch. The first place to open up was a bar called Johnny A's. I started talking with Stacy, the owner/bartender. She was a very sweet woman with a personality well suited for leadership. She reminded me a little of Reba McIntire, accent and all.

Stacy was so excited to hear all the details of my trip and brought her young daughter over to hear my tale as well. She assured me that I would have a place to camp on her boyfriend's lawn and refused to let me pay for my meal.

At the suggestion of another waitress (Thoma (sp?)), she called the editor of the Delphos Herald and within the hour, I was interviewing for a story in the local paper. I will post the link for the story as soon as I get it.

I spent the day with Stacy and Kieth seeing all that Delphos had to offer. There was a celebration in the park with a band playing my favorite covers, rides, and carnival games. Later, we went to a party hosted by a friend of theirs.

I was already tired by this point, and felt a little out of place among all of these old friends, so before the party moved on to Johnny A's, I went to my tent to turn in. It was a rather lonely night, but I was confident that I would see my friends in Van Wert the next day.

In the morning, I was up and packed before Kieth made an appearance, so I took off to find breakfast.

I found a place named Jim's, a quaint Midwestern breakfast joint with a German theme. After sitting for an hour or so, I packed up to leave. As I picked up my pack, the owner asked where I was headed. When I told her my destination, she immediately picked up the tab. Two free meals in Delphos.

I called my friends in Van Wert right after and waited at the gas station for a ride. I was so glad to come back to this place and to see all of my new friends (and my new adopted Ohioan family).

I had a great time at the party. Great food, hours of volleyball, and a great 'legal' fireworks display. Everyone was glad to see me again and several are convinced that I'll never be able to leave. Part of me agrees. But I will be off again today and on down the road towards Lima.

I am looking forward to the rest of the trip, though it will be hard walking away from Van Wert a second time. Though this already feels like the last leg of my journey and I'm not ready for it to be over yet. But I can rest in that I still have two states left and they're the longest ones yet; not to mention that I hope do take some time on the Appalachian Trail.

There is so much left to experience, and I still don't know what to expect except to be confident that provision will be there.

Thanks Sooo much Van Wert!! I hope to see you all again soon!!

Christopher Andrew.