Finally Home

6000 miles and several rainstorms later, I broke from the pack and finally pulled in to home, where Stacy and the dogs were waiting. What a relief to be home after such an exhausting trip!

I want to take a minute to thank everyone who has supported me along the way, through donations or hospitality. It's been a life changing experience thanks to all of you! I've raised about $3000 so far, and there are a few days left to make your last minute donations!

Last Leg Home

Before we set out for home, the four of us stopped by the Columbus Fire Union Hall, a beautifully restored railroad station, replete with pieces of fire department history. 

We hung out a little longer than planned, as a thunderstorm passed through downtown. Hoping that this would be the last of the rain, we made one more stop before pulling out of town to visit Brutus Buckeye, the Ohio State mascot.

Hoping for clear skies, we set out through West Virginia on our way home. I visited my first Cracker Barrel (to think that I'd passed at least a hundred of them along the way and never stopped!) and the weather gods seemed to be on our side. But not for long. About 40 miles west of Frederick, MD, the skies opened up. Two of my riding buddies lacked any rain gear, but it probably wouldn't have helped anyway. We had no choice but to wait it out under an overpass...

Final Days, and a Surprise Visit

I'm home now, and have fully entered slacker mode, so the final few updates are going up now. My deepest apologies!

The ride from Chicago and down through Indiana was grey and rainy, but brightened by a lunchtime meeting with my old friend Matt Despos in Ft Wayne, IN. Once I made it to Columbus, I pulled in to the city's downtown station, which houses Engines 1 and 9, Truck 1 and the Battalion Chief. About an hour later, I heard the familiar rumble of Harleys... three of my brothers from Kentland had traveled the 400+ miles from Landover, MD to join me on the last leg of my journey.

After dinner, we spent a few hours with the Columbus Fire guys, talking about tactics, fires and running box alarms. No fires, but the companies did make a pluck a hapless victim from the clutches of the Ohio River.