Feb 21st 2011. West of Mayview to Farmer City 50km = 31.1 miles.

Tonight I am the guest of Matt. Thanks so much

Feb 22nd 2011. Farmer City to McLean.  47.6km  = 29.6 miles.

Tonight Bob and Vera are forcing steak and ice cream into my big and willing mouth   Thanks so much!

Feb 23rd 2011.  McLean to 136/county road 3200 east junction   50km = 31.1 miles.

The food and company was so good I commuted back and forth for Bob and Vera’s steak and ice cream again! Also came back for a long lunch and more ice cream

Feb 24th 2011. US136/county road 3200 to 3km/2miles east of Ipava.  50km =  31.1 miles.

Tonight I am guest of Steve and Carol. Thanks so much

Feb 25th East of Ipava to Macomb  40.3km  =  25 miles.

Tonight I am the guest of Richie and Mo, Thank you very much 

Total for 104 Road days: 4,655.4  km = 2,892.8  miles = 110.4  marathons

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Before leaving Carol’s Cabin Renne’s husband Alan showed me around their dairy farm across the road from the cabin. It’s a monster operation as they have a few hundred cows which have to be milked 3 times a day starting at 4.30am. Each cow has a daily yield of 10 gallons. A hard life I think but Alan tells me its the greatest job in the world! They are so busy they built a whole new barn in the summer themselves. They poured 5,000 yards of concrete in it’s construction.
They also seem to have a maternity ward for their cows as calves are always being born. A huge pit was also dug to store the 3 million gallons of water needed for the farm reservoir.

I ran on into Port Jefferson, a small homely village and stopped in the 47 bar for a break. As I drank my coffee I got talking to Mark a project manager for a large construction company working in Louisiana on the cities rebuild after the terrible Hurricane Catrina disaster of a few years ago.
Mark works down in Lousina  returning to visit his girlfriend whenever he can. This being Valentines weekend he has made a big effort. He says there is an unlimited amount of work down there in the 15 year rebuild project. If you cant find work there you don’t want to work. Part of the labor shortage is due to a population drain where terrified people quite literally abandoned good houses in a effort to start a new life elsewhere. Mark gave me $50 towards my journey expenses.
That day I made it to Newport and stayed on Alan’s brother, Ted’s farm.

Next morning Sunday was a nice day. I stopped  for breakfast at a nice diner in Versailles called The Sweet Shop. Many of the locals were there having breakfast or coffee after Sunday service. I seemed to have made quiet a stirring in this sleepy town as it took me an hour and a half to have breakfast and get back on the road. I had my breakfast paid for and many well wishes.
Half an hour up the road I was stopped by a newspaper reporter who had been tipped off by a local.
on and on I went down route 47. I was aiming for Union City on the Ohio/Indiana state line. I didn’t have a contact for tonight so hustle will be the order of the day and will have to be sharp.
A little later a car slows down.
” Hey what are you doing? ” Says the driver.
” Running around the world. ”
” No shit! ” Says he.
” Yes shit! ” I say and then add.
” Where are you from? ”
” Union City. My name is Dean. ”
” Well Dean do you know any backpacker types that would put me up for the night in exchange for some stories of the road? ”
Dean drives off and comes back a few minutes later.
” How many nights you planning to stay? ”
” Just the one. ”
” I just spoke to my wife and you are welcome to stay with us but we do have a very small house. ”
” Sounds good. If I can put my sleeping bag on a sofa I am in Heaven! Can you give me your cell phone number please?”
An hour later I am stopped by the road by a man called Ronnie. He asks me into his home for a coffee. I go in and talk to him and his wife Teresa for a few minutes. They tell me that if Deans offer falls through that I should phone them as they have a vacant rental property in Union City.

I arrive in the city to find my phone has no service there. Payphones are non-existant or out of order as people rarely use them these  days. I go to the police station and ask them to phone Dean.

” Can you come down to the station to pick up your friend? ”

I’m hoping Dean is not back home drinking beer!

It turns out Dean is a model citizen, a pastor.

Union City is a divided city. Divided by the state line. Dean lives on the Indiana side and I run as he drives slowly towards his house. We cross over into Indiana and I remember a childhood song that seemed to stick in my mind for years. No particular reason other than it’s a beautiful song by R Dean Taylor called Indiana Wants Me (Lord I can’t go back there)  PLAY

His wife Azariah is stunningly beautiful and hails from Thailand. They have 3 young boys from their eight year marriage. They met when Dean was an English teacher in Thailand. Previously Dean was with the USA military in Iraq. He saw so much death and destruction that he decided there must be more to life than war so quit the military and studied for his pastorship.

The whole family squeezed into one room during my 2 night stay to give me the boys room, an incredible kind gesture.

Next day was Valentines day and I was able to abandon my beloved Nirvana. To keep my hands to myself. To be able to run another day without pushing her was a joy! I ran 50km mostly into a strong headwind to Losantville and waited for Dean to commute me back.
So on towards Noblesville. The weather is starting to heat up. Today I had a tailwind. i ran strongly.

Craig a triathlete hosted me for 3 nights in Noblesville and did a lot of driving to commutte me back and forth.

It is amazing that almost everyone I meet seems to be on flexitime. This meant I could run two more days buggy free.

One of these days the Boone County sheriff called out to me and said he got a complaint that a runner was running on the shoulder of the road! Imagine someone complaining about someone running and not even on the road. After telling him what I was doing he told me to proceed with caution. So I gave even more room to the traffic by running on the grass verge beyond the hard shoulder till I got to the next county, Montgomery county.

We went out for a lovely steak dinner with Craigs two young sons, Jack who is 9 years old  and Joey who is 7. They are both very sporting and seem to spend their evenings either playing basketball or swimming.
Good luck to your preparations for the Louisville Triathlon Craig. I know it’s so important to you and thanks for being yet another great American hero.

On my last day in Indiana I put in a long day – over 61km/ 38 miles. On the way I was joined by Curt and Don who took turns pushing Nirvana. Later I was joined by Dave and Janet. This was my second longest day of the world run after my 68km/44 miles in Newfoundland. these runners helped keep me going through a fatigue barrier especially after yesterdays 53km/ 33 plus mile day it was a very tough day.

Janet and her husband Kevin will host me for a couple of nights in Danville, just over the state  line in Illinois. Last week I averaged around 50km / 31 miles per day so tomorrow I will take a rest day. But its not a total rest day as I am a guest at Kevin and Janet’s running clubs Fat Ass trail race. Runners can run from one to four 7.1 mile loops, a sort of non-competitive fun run and you choose your distance. I decided I will run and walk one lap as I obviously dont want to get injured on the very slippery muddy trails but want to join in in the spirit of the event.

ILLINOIS…. This is the way forward Runners wanted and a place for my hat! Please spread the word amongst your friends, Family and running clubs. Please scroll down to USA on the ROUTE page.

Please click  HERE  for a route map and route.

  I would love to bring my tales of the road to your doorstep I can make reasonable commutes if you can return me to my finishing spot!Please  EMAIL ME theworldjog@gmail.com

Illinois:
(Danville, Champagne,  both arranged) Farmer City (arranged) Havana (arranged)  Ipaya, Table Grove, Macomb, Colchester, Carthage, Hamilton, Keokuk,

Feb 18th 2011. Crawfordville to Indiana/Illinois state line 61.3km  =  38.1 miles.

Staying  with Kevin and Janet tonight and tomorrow for a rest day in Danville, Illinois. Thanks so much

Feb 20th 2011 Illonoisstate line on US136 to Mayview, west of 53.8km = 34.4 miles

Tonight I am staying with Tracy and Laura.  Thanks for all your great help

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I was running up a long gradual hill in Westfield Indiana today and feeling a bit tired. I stopped for a cappuccino and then continued on up route 32 west. I think I need some help.

I am at mile 18 and there are about 10 more to go. I am asked many times what I think about when running. Well it varies. But this is typical. I can get into a dream state. Perhaps that’s how I took that wrong turn last week? A wrong turn that turned out to be a good turn as I met some more amazing people that I will write about soon.

So today I was plodding up that long drag when I heard his voice in my head.
” Tony I believe you got some news for us today? ”
” Who are you? ”
” News Hound from Sky News! ”

NEWS HOUND LOOKING FOR A SCOOP

 
I get to mile 19 and it levels out a bit.
” So what you want? ” I ask.
” Tony tell me about the man in the red coat. ”
” Santa you mean? You are a bit late. ”
” No the other one. ”
” Well you are a couple of days late for Valentines! ”
” No No! ” Barked hound.
” Well you must mean Liverpool my old soccer team but I don’t know what they are doing anymore. ”
They are from England but out of Europe now… Soccer is a mixed up sport now.. Figure that one out.
” Ah I get it now Hound Dog! I ran my 100th marathon of this World Run  a couple of hours ago… Is that the breaking news? ”
” No No Tony… It’s far more important than that because its very warm today and you nearly ditched that red coat! ”

I NEARLY DITCHED THE RED COAT TODAY

 
Mile 20.
” Yes its getting very warm now and the big news is that it seems the worst of the winter is over and you know what Hound Dog… I nearly took that red coat off that has not come off my back since October 25th! ”
” Yes I can see  and smell that Tony the fields are starting to thaw and the water is all over the road. You are getting a lot of splashings as the trucks go by. ”
Mile 21.
” How far you going today? ”
” Well Hound you know the way those  super models say they don’t get out of bed for less than 100k? ”
” They want to run for Ireland in the Celtic Plate 100km international next month? ”
” No silly they want 100 grand! ”
Head scratch and mile 22.
” Well Hound I don’t  like to get out of bed for less than 42k.. Two for the price of one. ”
” Whats that in American? ”
” 26.2 miles or a marathon.. I don’t like to get out of bed for less than a marathon or I’m not a happy camper. ”
” But you haven’t camped since Newfoundland! ”
” No silly… That’s an Irish expression for not being too happy about something. But I may ease back next week or the week after..You know the recession! ”
Mile 25 and coming into Jolietville..
” So whats that news again Tony? ”
” They told me its 61 degrees Farenheit. Whatever that is but I know its getting hot! Summer is on the way.. I don’t want to tempt fate..”
” Anyway Hound… What you doing here? A bad news week.. Did they kick you out of Egypt or swim from Australia? ”
” Give me a break Tony.. I just want a scoop.. And what were you saying about the super models getting out of bed to run the Celtic Plate 100km? ”
” No another misquote Hound!  I said they don’t get out of bed for less than a 100 grand for a photo shoot. ”
 Mile 26.
” Hey Tony when those models take off their clothes don’t the truck drivers honk their horns? ”
” Yes always. ”
” Well Tony why were the truck drivers honking at you when you were taking off that red jacket? ”
” Look Hound… This is your exclusive when I take that red jacket off I will have my own photo shoot of the occasion..The first time since October   I think we beat the winter…And the truck drivers are honking to tell me to get off the road! ”

” But Tony surely if you take that red Event Montane coat off Great Outdoors will not be too happy with you? ”

” I am hoping that Great Outdoors, Irelands leading camping and outdoors store will give me a blue Event Montane coat as it is the best one on the market.”
”  No need to turn the subject blue….  Tony I see you just stopped… 28.4 miles today. Are you going back to bed? ”
” No Hound.. I just worked a bit of overtime. ”

CAROL'S CABIN.

A FEW PEOPLE TOLD ME THEY DONT KNOW HOW TO MAKE A COMMENT TO THE BLOG. SIMPLE JUST CLICK ON THE OTHER COMMENTS AT THE BOTTOM OF A BLOG.  THEN TYPE YOUR COMMENT AND SUBMIT

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9th Feb 2011:  3km/2miles west of Ashley to W.Mansfield 52.6km = 32.7miles

Guest of Julie and Pete Thanks for your great help

10th Feb 2011  West Mansfield to DeGraff Jct at 508.  35.1km = 21.8 miles.

Thanks very much to Renne and Alan for putting me up in their luxurious hunters cabin resort called ” Carol’s Cabin ” Tonight and tomorrow, 11th for my rest day  :)

12th Feb 2011. De Graff Jct to Newport. 46.5km = 28.9 miles

Thanks so much to Ted and Jodie for putting me up tonight

13th Feb 2011.  Newport to Union City, Indiana. 49km = 30.4 miles

14th Feb 2011 Union City to Losantville Indiana,  36/35 jct  50km =31.1 miles.

Tonight and last night I am the guest of Dean and Azaliya. Thanks for your kind help

15th Feb 2011 Losantville to Pendleton 36/38 jct (Speedway gas station) 47.5km = 29.5 miles.

Feb 16th Pendleton finish to Westfield airport. 45.7km = 28.4 miles.

Feb 17th 2011 Westfield Airport to Crawfordsville. 53.4km = 33.2 miles.

Tonight, last night and Tuesday  I am the guest of Craig and sons Joey and Jack. Thanks very much lads  :)

Feb 18th 2011. Crawfordville to Indiana/Illinois state line 61.3km  =  38.1 miles.

Staying  with Kevin and Janet tonight and tomorrow for a rest day thanks so much

Total for 98 Road days: 4,363.7 km = 2,711.5  miles = 103.4  marathons

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Nancy and I were dropped off by Jerry where I had finished up yesterday. It was a glorious day  for running with little traffic along 39 west and then onto 21.
The fields were full of beautiful horses, too beautiful to be the work horses they are. They stood in the snow covered fields looking miserable just waiting for the next days work.

Nancy and the work horses.

We stopped after a couple of hours for lunch in TJ’s restaurant for lunch. We both ordered meat pie. I like to treat any runner that runs with me to the snacks.
We made quiet an entrance to TJ’s. We had a good laugh with the locals and even the owner and cook came out for a photo and presented us with diaries and pens.
Then it was time to run on and on we  ran back onto route 36 which was now a busy 4 lane. Nancy retired at 27.7 miles putting her into first place on my ‘ accompanied league ‘ of the world run. Jerry picked her up and let me run on for another 40 minutes to get the extra 4 miles for my 50km. A good day at the office.
Next day was Sunday and I was joined by Stephanie for about 9miles/15km. We were running at a nice pace. So nice to be able to run without Nirvana for a change. Stephanie is an artist. She has an incredible passion for the canvas. She spent some time studying and painting in Paris. It’s a bit cold here now to be painting some landscapes. She is going back to Colorado where she once lived. We agreed to meet up to run again when I get there.
After an hour we arrived at an auto dealership. It was owned by her father Les.
I called out.. ” Les… You got the coffee on? ”
” You bet.. Come on in.. ”

'' You got the kettle on Les? '' Can you believe the word of a car dealer?

I love this running and stopping to talk to people.. I do it all the time. This is a run but its also a journey. I have drawn a mental picture of my route so far from Merrion Square, Dublin from the finish line of the Dublin marathon across Ireland to Newfoundland and across Atlantic Canada. Across the fields of Maine which many people have referred to as a mini Alaska. The wonderful people of New England and the excitement of the Pennsylvanians as their beloved Pittsburgh Steelers prepared for the Super Bowl. ‘ Troy Will Destroy ‘ signs hung on many supermarket walls. They had my support but alas despite a late charge Green Bay triumphed.

A little later Nancy drove out to join me for another hour before Jerry arrived with Nirvana in the back of his pickup.
More goodbyes… The never ending goodbyes.. It’s so hard. I find it very easy to make solid friendships but the reality of life on the road is that almost all of these goodbyes are permanent. A few I will probably see again but fewer I will forget…. I will never forget how these hundreds or is it thousands of ordinary people have taken me to their hearts. Just like a son, even though I am older than many of them their maternal instincts are making my world dream a reality.

Then a little while later I was met on the road by Mark, a friend of Nancy and Jerry. Mark and his wife Debbie were to put me up for 2 nights in their Mt. Vernon home. These two days I averaged a little over a marathon a day. The traffic was heavier with a very narrow hard shoulder on US 36w/229w. There was also a lot of slush I had to run in and out of as I ran along. Running on snow and slush can make your feet cold as opposed to running on the blacktop.
As usual a precious two day invite means I can run without Nirvana. I never cease to be amazed by the efforts people put in to help me. It seems everyone is on flexi-time in their jobs or they just loose time.

Great American people Mark and Debbie put up with me for two nights in Mt. Vernon.

Mark works in construction. There is not much going on at the moment during the winter. Also the recession has hit Ohio very badly. Along the highway there are houses that are literally abandoned. Many of them are literally falling down due to neglect. They were probably owned by an elderly person that has died. Perhaps their siblings live too far away to be able to care or sell the property or even want to pay the property taxes. Besides some properties in Ohio can be bought on Ebay for a couple of thousand dollars.. In many cases one can withdraw the purchase price from an ATM in a couple of days. Big industry has deserted the area. A steel mills in Youngstown has gone to China.
Over in Detroit where the motor industry has literally crashed the local authorities tried giving away (for free) vacant houses to other adjoining residents to encourage them to extend out. There was limited take up on this offer as many people were so cashed strapped. So in order to avoid ghettos the authorities just flattened vacant houses.

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago about the Amish community in upstate New York and how they reject modern conveniences and technology preferring to live a simpler more labor intensive life. Many Amish also live in Pennsylvania and in this part of Ohio.
Yesterday I saw an Amish horse and buggy struggle up a steep hill. About 3 times the horse stopped, took a breather and then gave it another go till he eventually got to the top. All this while a patient motorist waited behind till it was safe to overtake. This made me happy as I continued my own struggle up the hill with Nirvana!

AMISH BUGGY

Well I witnessed for myself this morning how one Amish man skirted around the rules. No telephone means not in the house but a payphone was set up in a home-made telephone kiosk shed. By luck yesterday I had finished  for the day at an Amish hand-crafted furniture factory. AS is my normal practice I  photographed my finish location which happened to be the sign for their factory.

Even luckier just as I was getting ready to leave an Amish man called Moss came along to make a phone call from the kiosk!
” Hi My name is Tony, I am from Ireland and running around the world! What’s your name? ”
” Moss. ”
” I got a buggy too! ” I said feeling a bit dumb.
And then dumber.
” I lead a simple life too but only sometimes! I sleep in barns, camp and run around on foot! ”
And even dumber!
” I know you don’t use computers so I wont bother you with my website. ”
” Where do you get your news from Moss? ”
” The newspaper. ”
” Do you use any form of old radio? ”
” No. ”
” I would love to spend a night with an Amish family.. Would they welcome me? ”
” Yes but you would find it different! ”
” Are you going in there to make a phone call? ” I cheekily asked.
” Yes. ”
” So its not allowed in the house but in a phone kiosk in the garden? ”
” We don’t like phones in the house as it is too much of a disruption. This phone is for the community. ”

AMISH TELEPHONE KIOSK AMONGST THE TREES

” But Moss I see you got an led flashlight on top of your cap! Is that not modern technology? ”
” Yes I like this. There is no light in there. ”
” I don’t want to offend but can I take your photo Moss? ”
” Well we don’t do photos. ”
And then Moss asked me about the run and we parted.

Hey Moss I got a buggy and like the simple life too.

Later that evening Mark told me about some of the gun laws in the state. About how many people have permits to carry around concealed pistols. It’s called ‘ Carry and Conceal. A permit holder once he has passed a competency test can carry a handgun.
” It all adds up to a safer society. ” Says Mark.
And then adds. ” If a criminal knows I have a gun he is not going to break into my house. It has been proven that in mandatory gun ownership communities that the crime rates drop..”
” And they are even considering allowing concealed weapons into bars providing the owner is not drinking because the type of person that goes in to such places with a shoot up in mind knows that nobody else will have a gun… Same on a school campus.”
Then he showed me his Ruger38 handgun and Smith and Wesson 380  and a selection of antique muskets, Chinese military and modern hunting rifles. Quiet a collection.

Tuesday I left Centerburg looking for route 521 which was about a mile outside of town. I had decided to take this little used route to Delaware as 36 was very busy with little or no shoulder. It was a very cold morning. Somehow I missed the sign or more likely there was none. Before I realised it I was almost in Sparta 6 miles/10km out of my way. I was not going to turn back as I could still head west from Sparta on route 229. I ran on through a couple of small villages and at the end of the day stopped for plate of beef hot pot in Ashley. It was to be a bitter cold night. Many people have told me over the last few weeks that this winter has been the harshest in living memory.
I need to find some place to stay. My contacts have all run out in this area.
I knocked on a couple of farmhouse doors just outside Ashley. I introduced myself in the usual manner and asked if I could sleep in their barn or garage. I got a whole load of refusals from a series of nervous people even though they could see I was running.
When I went up to one house two dogs came out! These dogs are rarely tied as rural houses have an invisible electric fence which give the dog a zap. The dog soon learns his boundaries and does not venture further. Often as I go by they chase me to the boundary and mercifully stop! Here I was behind the boundary. Luckily the owner came out and called the dogs to heel. Sorry cant let you stay here… No room, not my house, the dogs would bark at you all night were the reasons.
Jason in the 4th house said yes. So I settled down on some insulation material, my air matress and sleeping bag for an early night.
A few hours later Jason told me his wife Leighhel had told me to come in.
Next morning over breakfast Leighhel joked that she had given out to Jason.
” What do you mean you are letting a stranger sleep in our barn? Are you crazy? ”
Later after she had checked my website from a piece of paper I had handed Jason.
” What are you doing letting him sleep in the barn. Bring him into the house. Are you crazy! ”
Women!
So I was brought inside to a nice toasty bedroom with a heater running all night.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE IS A STRANGE MAN IN THE BARN? ARE YOU CRAZY GET HIM INTO THE HOUSE!

Off I went in the morning into the cold wind. It has been the coldest few days of the world run so far. The wind cut through my face. Moisture on my eyelashes froze.  With my balaclava it is often difficult to breathe.  It’s too difficult wiping my face without moving the balaclava. My face is sore from the rubbing of my leather gloves.
It’s very tough but I am not complaining as I am living my dream. I am having a blast. I am tougher than I have ever been in my life. I got to be, I need to survive.

I ran about 20km/12 miles to a village called Prospect. I went into Subway for lunch. Three people, two men and a woman are at a table. the woman is particularly interested as her name is Julie and she is a runner. One of the men, Pete is her husband. After the usual questions Julie is excited. I would love to run a bit with you she tells me. so I tell her to go home and get changed. But I got one rule…
My runners push Nirvana!
Julie returns and I am still eating lunch. She asks Pete to pick her up on the road after about an hour and a half. then I ask Pete to put Nirvana in the back of his pickup to save his wife the bother of pushing the buggy! I love small town America.. A short while ago these people were strangers and now I am handing over my most prized possession without a moments hesitation.
Out on the road Julie has told me I can come back to their place tonight and they will return me in the morning. I can even run on a bit longer on my own and Pete will come out again for me. So I do and get over 52km/ 32 miles for the day.
Back in the house Julie tells me she did a lot of volunteer work in the Peace Corp. can you believe she brought a dog back from Mali?
From Timbuktu, Mali to be exact and there is no quarantine required for entry to the United States. Just a certificate of health and fitness from the local vet in Timbuktu!
Now it was my turn and I said with a big grin my most hated head-wrecker question!
” Hey Julie.. How did you get it across the ocean!? ”
” On a plane of course! ”
” What on the seat next to you? ”
” No in the cargo hold. ”

PETE AND JULIE OF PROSPECT OHIO.

Next morning Julie leaves me back to the Logan county line just outside of West Mansfield. It’s even colder today but it’s supposed to take up tomorrow for a few days. I was very tired today. Not just because of yesterdays effort but because the logistics, the constant stream of emails and the effort I am putting into this blog is eating into my rest time. I am not getting enough sleep and the cold is energy sapping. I run on. Its about 24km/15 miles to the next town called Bellefontaine. I approach town  with my stomach falling out with the hunger even though I had a huge breakfast. It’s a big town with little traffic on the 4 lane highway on the way in. I follow US 47 west which bypasses the downtown. Before I know where I am I am on the way out of town without even seeing a single restaurant or gas station. I stubbornly refuse to backtrack even though there is probably nothing for 3 or 4 hours run.
So I push on for another half hour and sit on a fence in the cold. As water bottles freeze so quickly I rely on my thermos for my drinking water. That’s a joke I drink more coffee than water and got a whole highway of yellow snow to prove it.
As I was sitting on the fence a cop car stops in the middle of the highway and I tell him I am running around the world and about not getting anything to eat in town. I tell him I am having a picnic. My canned tuna and fruit are also frozen. Everything is frozen and my hands are starting to freeze.
The cop tells me my best bet is to go back to town and I say there is no hope of that! Then he says go about 7 miles up the road, hang a left on 508 for De Graff and go 3 miles out of my way.. No hope either.
He drives off, I pack up and run the 7 miles. I came to the junction and see a restaurant at the junction. It looks closed and there is a sign counting down the days till spring. If it was open the cop would have known. I see three cars and as I have nothing to lose go over. Much to my surprise Val’s Diner is open. I’m delighted and order a plate of fried liver, onions, cottage cheese and a baked potato.
I have run a little over 35km and just under 22 miles.
Because there is such a huge interest in my trip I turn it to my advantage and finish for the day.
When the inevitable question comes around about where I am going to stay tonight I say that I was hoping someone would know someone with a barn I could sleep in.
The customers are very friendly. I am talking to the waitress Amy when the owner Brandon comes out to me while talking on his phone.
Brandon hangs up and says.
” I got a place for you! It’s a local woman called Renne. She got some luxury cabins she rents out to hunters and there are no hunters in town now! ”
I am delighted. Soon Renne comes over to the restaurant. I leave Nirvana in a backroom and just take my night baggage.

Brandon tells me my dinner and breakfast in the morning have been taken care of!

WITH BRANDON, RENNE AND A CRAZY LOCAL!

Renne can’t do enough for me. She drives me over to the 5 star hunters cabin called Carol’s Cabin: named for Aunt Carol Morgan, a little country farm girl that grew up to embody grace, beauty, patience and a love for creation.

It’s not really a cabin. It’s a huge house. It even

has a pool table and all the food I can eat
Her son Xavier arrives to stoke up the wood burningstove. No messing around with matches or firelighters. Xavier lights it up with a blowtorch!
” I learnt that in the boy scouts! ”
As I settled down for the night I could hear the coyotes howl in the distance.

INSIDE CAROL'S CABIN. I AM ENJOYING MY REST DAY.

Well what can I say? Thanks to my friend John-Michael Field from Wilbraham, Ma. I stayed in his home for a couple of nights last month.

He penned this song for me!

Press >> HERE To hear The Irishman Upon Your Floor (The Ballad of Tony Mangan)

Tony’s takin’ his time, runnin’ around the world…three years! Please check him out at: theworldjog.com-blog if you have not done so already… I told Tony I’d write him a song-an anthem, it turns out-it’s the least I can do. Tony, we’re hoping that everyone the world ’round hear about you comin’ and gets in touch through theworldjog and puts you up for the night with a fat steak! Carry on!
Lyrics:
The Irishman Upon Your Floor

Across the miles and years he’s run
Setting records in setting suns
10 marathons in forty-eight (hours!)
450 K in three days straight
The ultramarathoner’s curse
If you don’t run then you feel worse
If Tony could, he would retire
But the travelin’ bug set him on fire

Chorus:
From Dublin off to Newfoundland
His magic letter in his hand
He is the Buddha in disguise
Circlin’ the world, no compromise
The Irishman upon your floor

Sun’s not quite up, the mornin’s stark
This ain’t a stroll out through the park
The trip goes on, and on and on
At fifty K a day…
His focus is beyond belief
Each measured mile some small relief
Each step is gold through wind and cold
He’s steady on his way

Tony, where’r’ you travelin’ now?
We know you’ll labor on somehow
We’ve sent the word ahead of you
To tell them that you’re passin’ through
Tony, where you travelin’ now?

Nirvana’s path is straight and true
Faithful friend she’s been to you
Across the miles past curious smiles
You both go floating by
The WorldJog’s a dynasty
Gathering friends from A-to-Z
Your family grows out on the road
We’re with you every mile

Tony where the hell you been?
We’re dyin’ to hear from you again
The weather’s chasing at your heels
Where will you find your next hot meal?
Tony, where the hell you been?

Final Chorus:
Tony where the hell you been?
We’re dyin’ to hear from you again
We’ve sent the word on up ahead
That you’re much obliged for any bed
The Irishman upon your floor

4,000th KM RUN TODAY PLEASE FEEL FREE TO MAKE A SMALL DONATION TO MY CHARITY ” AWARE “ ON THE SIDEBAR!

OH HI OHIO!

Running across the state line into Ohio I was struck by the large amount of potholes and neglect by the authorities to clear the edge of the road and the sidewalks from snow. I was running into East Liverpool on routes 68 and 39. There was a lot of obvious neglect. I even noticed two drive thru beer barns!

ADRIVE THRU BEER BARN.

I kept running. It was windy, very windy.

Gradually the roads improved. I ran over some bridges on the 4 lane highway out of town. The guard rails were not very high. It was a bit scary as I looked down and saw that long drop down into the frozen Ohio River that borders Ohio from Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Yesterday I read about a tractor trailer that was blown over in a storm in nearby Lisbon.

James Bennett, an English potter, established the pottery industry in East Liverpool, and it became the community’s leading employer. East Liverpool became known as “The Crockery City.” East Liverpool once produced more than half of the United State’s annual ceramics output.

NEAR OHIO STATE LINE

Then after the hustle and bustle of East Liverpool and its 13,000 residents things settled down. I enjoyed some lovely soft and gentle rolling hills.
I am going to miss these hills in a week or two I will be out in the prairies. The prairies where one can see a tree ten miles away. Flat as a pancake. Windy as Hell with no hills for protection.

I got a text from Nancy. I will be staying with her and her husband tomorrow. She had heard about me from her ultra running friend Kim on Facebook and had contacted me. Nancy is going the extra mile. She had been ringing around her friends trying to fix me up with a place to stay in Carrollston tonight. Eventually she rang the Methodist church. They were going to put me up in a local hotel till Charlotte and her husband George both lay pastors for the church said they would have me.

Charlotte loves to do voluntary work for the community. It doesn’t matter what it is she will volunteer. George’s passion is quail breeding. He is also a substitute teacher for the local high school. They also run a very suscessful and well supported youth club for teens which keeps them busy with sporting and artistic activities and hopefully out of harms way.
He got a call to go into class tomorrow. A 7am start.
” Problem is Tony you will have to get up at 5am so as I can drop you back at last nights finishing position! ”
After spluttering my coffee I said.. ” Sure. No problem! ”
I now realize I am not a morning person any more since this world run has started. Perhaps when the hot weather comes along I will improve. For now I find it really hard to get going in the mornings. This puts serious pressure on me with the short days.
Then George got a wonderful idea.. A brain stormer!
” Charlotte why don’t you take the pickup tomorrow and drop Tony off and that way he can lie in? ”
George I love you! Happy days!
So I left at my leisure the next morning. A local reporter wanted to interview me before I started but decided it would have to wait till lunchtime. We made the arrangement for 12.30 to 13.00 at a BP gas station. The roads were very quiet but it was very windy and I didn’t get there till 13.30. We had a good chat and it went on for over an hour. Now you know why I try my best to avoid them but the people I am going to assume I would like it and arrange them! They rarely make a difference publicity-wise as many of these papers are weekly editions and I am long gone when they hit the shelves.
Today I ran 45.6km/28.3 miles.
Nancy rings to find out where I am. I think I am running towards Uhrichville and have found a way to take a back road to avoid this minor town. It turns out I am heading towards a larger town called New Philadelphia. The sign posting is so bad I didn’t even know I took the wrong turn!
” Where are you? ”
” Just past the Red Onion Bar on route 39. ”
” Well you should have left 39 for Barnhill at Roswell. ” says Nancy.
She is a 50km runner and wants to come out with me tomorrow. She tells me she has a friend who is a journalist. I go deaf. Then another one from Delaware texts and wants to know when I will be there. It’s about 4 or 5 days away and I ignore it.
Nancy’s husband Jerry is driving. We are driving to their farm of 210 acres. I call it a ranch but he laughs and says no it’s a farm. I feel stupid when I still don’t understand the difference. I think JR Ewing would be proud to live here. He has 3 miles of trails around the property for Nancy to run on. A nice place for a race.
Jerry is also a taxidermist. He has a workshop attached to their log constructed mansion.
He stuffs deer, elk, coyote and bears.
Earlier I told him about my head-wrecking ‘ joke ‘ I get subjected to at least 6 times a day, every day.
The big smiling, bet nobody ever asked you this one before…. ” So how you get across the ocean? ”
” I got one too… Says Jerry.
” The husband always says will you stuff the wife and hang her up on a plaque? ”
” But then who will do your washing and cleaning and cook for you? ” Said Nancy.

I am sure he could have plenty of nixers!

Running out of Smethport towards Kane there were some snow flurries but nothing sticking. In fact it was a beautiful day, the nicest in a long time. I was told that a local runner called Gregg had driven to St Julien’s about 13 miles up the road and over a mountain. His aim was to run back and meet me. I asked him why he just didn’t run out from Smethport and return to town after running with me.

” Well Tony then you would have to push Nirvana over the mountain at Mt. Jewett. ”

 Thanks Greg who even got a day off work to run with me.

THANKS GREGG!

So then I arrived in Kane. My host for the night Lisa drove out to greet me on the outskirts. I was in a great mood singing my head off to Glen Millers Pennsylvania 6500!

” I will be there in half an hour Lisa, Stick the kettle on for a cup of tea! ” I shouted across the road.

I arrived 15 minutes later. Lisa and her husband Tom had an Irish flag in the window to greet me.

LISA WELCOMES ME TO HER HOME IN KANE

 They had been tipped off that I was in the area by their ultra running son Yassin Diboun who lives in Portland, Oregon. Their great friends Dave and Melody came over for a while. Dave was a runner himself with a marathon best of around 2’22. He told me that Irish marathoner Mark Carroll’s wife Amy is from Kane.

Lisa has done some wonderful voluntary work as an English teacher in such places as Afghanistan and India.

As Dave and Melody live close to tomorrows finish in Marrionville they took me under their wings that night. It was another great day on the road as Lisa and Tom said they would come over for dinner so they transported Nirvana. After a couple of hours I stopped in a roadside convenience store.  Just as I was going in 3  hunters were going out.

” You out running in this weather? ” said one.

” Yeah,I’m actually running around the world! ”

The store owner was also standing at the door.

” My name is Ted I’m a reporter with our local paper. I was looking for you but you never called me from Lisa’s house last night to do the interview!”

” Ah! But I just stopped for coffee and see you got none! ”

” Do they sell coffee anywhere else in town? ” I teased.

So he heated up some water in the microwave in a  cup. A box of tea bags were taken off a shelf and an impromptu interview was done.

Later I wondered what the convenience storekeeper/ Kane Republican reporter would have done had a meteorite fallen a couple of miles away..Gone get someone to mind his store!

It continued to snow and it was hard going running in the hard shoulder with the slush. They were not ploughed today. My  feet were cold running on it. Traffic was heavy.

One man pulled up in a pickup.

” You ok? ”

” Sure am.. I am running around the world! ”

Eyes to Heaven he steps on the gas and says..

” Well have a good run! ”

So I made it to Dave and Melody’s incredible house. Dave built it himself overlooking a lake on a hillside. It was a house that a millionaire would be proud to own. It took him 15 years to build.

TOM AND LISA WITH MELODY AND DAVE

Melody had a passion for stained glass and used to make it as a hobby 20 years ago. Dave sometimes helped her and eventually by accident they turned it into a nice business in which they had so much work they started turning down work offers.

I was asked at dinner if anything funny happened to me on the road today. It seems there is hardly a day when something hilarious doesn’t happen.

Well there I was looking for my way out of Kane to Marrionville. I took a wrong turn.

Stopped to ask a truck driver for directions.

” Which way is it to ROUTE 66….I was about to ask and then loosing my bottle and not wanting to be thought of as an eejit instead asked…

” Is it Route 62 or 66 to Marionville? ”

” Marrionville is straight ahead about 25 miles on route 66. ” says the truck driver.

So there I was photographing the famous iconic ROUTE 66 sign and even stopped to ask a puzzled local to take my photo.

So Dave says.. ” My God you are right! ” I have been living in this area for 30 years and never realised it! ”

We talked about it for about 10 minutes and then someone said.. ” But doesn’t Route 66 start in Chicago? ” I feel dumb again. What we got here is Pennsylvania State route 66!

I GOT MY KICKS OUT OF ROUTE 66

Next day, Saturday and its really cold. Still snowing and the road is busy again as I push on and on through the slush in the hard shoulder.

I stop after about 2 hours for some warmth in a bar. Its about noon and a man looking the worst for wear is sitting on a bar stool at the counter next to me. He keep repeating himself. laughing and repeating the same old silly question. ” So how did you get across the ocean? ”

Everyone asks this as thought they had thought of it first.

He asks me my route and says he knows someone in Rimmersburg.

” You know Rimmersburg? ”

” never heard of it! ”

” But you must know Rimmersburg… Everyone knows Rimmersburg! ‘

Bartender says. ” He is from Ireland, he never heard of Rimmersburg! ”

Drunk pulls out his phone and says… Hold on let me phone my friend… You will be alright tomorrow night for a place.. He is a Charitable Man! ”

Drunk spends 10 minutes trying to convince Charitable Man I am legit and he had it on good authority I was seen running in the snow today.

” Of course he didn’t swim across the ocean! ” He says as he puts down the phone. And then adds..

” He don’t trust you! ”

I run on for another couple of hours.. Its warmer now. Then I see a few snow mobiles outside BK’s Bar in Snyderburg. I go in and order a burger and chips for lunch. there are about 8 locals drinking bottles of beer. They pay for my lunch. one of them Greg donates $5 to Aware. 

BK'S BAR TO MY RESCUE!

They are a good bunch of lads and we have a laugh. they are checking out my website on their mobiles as I eat lunch. One of them a man called John said I could stay with him and his wife that night.

” How long will it take you to run 6 miles Tony? ”

” In these conditions between an hour 15 and 30 minutes. ”

” Ok you get running and I will follow you in an hour but make sure you turn left at Brenner Road. ”

True to his word John meets me down the road. I go into his house and his labrador licks me to death. Everyone seems to have a labrador. I been told it’s Americas favourite dog.

John takes me out to a steak house for dinner. I insist on paying but he is very forceful and won’t have it.

We pick his wife Debbie up from her job in JC Penny’s. I understand she is a Jehova Witness. Later I find a ‘ good living ‘ book that was put into my computer bag. I am not inpressed.

Sunday morning we are sitting at the table drinking coffee.  John has been wracking his brains and phoning his contacts for a place for me to stay near East Brady. He cant think of anything.

Then he calls a friend called Burr an antique car restorer. So John tells Burr  he needs help but its best if we meet for breakfast in a diner in nearby Clarion.

JOHN AND BURR PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH A COUPLE OF HIPPIES WILLING TO HOST ME THAT NIGHT.

Burr knows the very man. He knows everyone

” A couple of hippies.. The last of the hippies and I am sorry but they are smokers!

” They live in a place called Wildcat. Don’t ask me why it’s called that its just a house between Rimmersburg and East Brady.

” Its easy to find. After you go through Clarion just run another 20 miles on route 68 and about half a mile after the scenic overlook turn left… Easy! ”

On the way I stopped in a town called Sligo. A touch of Ireland in Pennsylvania the town named after it’s Irish namesake.

SLIGO... A LITTLE PIECE OF IRELAND IN PENNSYLVANIA

Moses the attendant in the local store told me I could stay with local people had I wished. he was a friendly man and was quiet excited at the thoughts of me running into his store during the world run. I got treated to as much homemade soup as I wanted but only had time for on delicious cup.

Earlier John said he would drop Nirvana off. Just as I draw level at the sign that says Scenic Overlook 1/2 mile, right on the line John pulls up in his pickup. What’s the chances of that. I think he should buy a lottery ticket on the way home. So I unload my faithful buggy and roll her down the hill to Bookie and Kathy’s house. They greet me with..

” I hope you like meat pie as we got it for dinner? ”

 ” Sure do!

” When they told me you are a couple of hippies I said,

” Darn hippies I got to eat nuts and leaves for dinner! ”

We have a laugh and they take good care of me.

Next day their son Patrick is going to Chicora to see a friend in an auto dealership, as its about 20km/12 miles along my route and over a couple of steep hills I am delighted. I made good progress and stopped in a BP station for coffee and pastry. The staff greeted me enthusiastically and the manager gave me them for free!

I had gotten off to a very late start so pushed my way into Butler just before dark. I have now run out of contacts and tried my luck at the Catholic church. I just wanted a roof over my head in some hall but was refused. However Tom in the Methodist Church saved the day. He is a very good natured man. I stayed that night in an office building of sorts and was told to help myself to whatever food I wanted from the food bank which they had ready for distribution.

Pastor Tom stopped by later telling me he has a day job and does his pastoral duties in the evening and weekends. We chatted about my trip and his time in Ireland 7 years ago.

He got a Donegal tweed hat he is so proud of. He pulled it off for my inspection. Good quality Donegal tweed, made in Howth, co. Dublin. He warned me that there is a storm coming through that very night.

I awoke to find no more snow on the ground but much ice. It turns out it was an ice storm.

I got another late start as I waited for the cold rain drizzle to blow over.It was around 11am. I was just wheeling  Nirvana to my starting point, last nights finishing point when a black man said ” Good Morning. How Are you?”

I just said I was fine and walked on. He called me back and said..

” I don’t mean to offend but you look like you could do with a couple of bucks? ”

I was so taken by surprise when he pushed $4 into my hand. That donation will go to the charity.

I think as the old timer said last week that only someone who is down on his luck would be pushing a cart around in this weather!

I am clean shaved and showered every day but today it was to happen on two more occasions. I stopped in Evans City for a coffee and pasteries and sat on some sacks in a convenience store. Just as I was about to go the manageress gave me a quaterpounder burger and said.

” Sir this is compliments of the store. ”

” Thanks very much but do you think everyone thinks I am a tramp? ” I asked.

” Yes! ” She replied. I reckon my theory is correct.

I ran on through even more slush and heavy traffic arriving at the junction town of Deer Lake Extension just before dark. I phoned my contact Tim who is Barbie’s son from Caudersport from last week. While waiting for Tim to arrive I had even more coffee in a gas station. The lady there was not very friendly. When Tim cam in he confirmed the bad vibe.

Her head was spinning off its sockets when I was answering Tims questions about it being cold with my usual reply.

” Well it’s a great day when you are living your dream of over 20 years!

” I can’t believe I am here doing this trip, what I’ve always wanted to do! ”

On the way to his house he was telling me about his job as a consultant for the Ohio nuclear power plant.

I kept running along route 6. Once again it was very hilly. When I get to Ohio in a few days time the hills will be more or less gone till the Rockies. The hard shoulder was fairly clear today.. A good job by the snow plows. Towards late afternoon I start looking at the clouds. A clear sky this time of year usually means its going to be a cold night and even colder morning. Clouds trap whatever heat is around which usually means a milder night and morning. Tonight it’s cloudy.
After 3 stops I make my way to Coudersport.

I meet Pete my host for tonight at the courthouse and stop my gps watch at exactly a marathon. Well it was a bit more but I usually subtract a bit. I don’t really know why I do this as gps watches are actually more accurate than some online maps. The latter don’t always calculate the distance going down into valleys whereas the gps will calculate every stride.
At the courthouse steps there was another reporter for the Bradford Era. This one was of French origin. I think he was calling himself De Laney… I was calling him Delaney and suspected he was Irish. He certainly had the wit. We had a good laugh.
I sometimes feel like I have ridden a stage of the Tour de France at the end of the day as I take my left-over snacks out of my cycle top pockets and drink from my water bottle as the press wait. A few pictures and an interview. No pretty blondes dressed in yellow or even teddy bears! One difference, this tour is three years and not three weeks.
My answers all come out on auto pilot. I am usually fiddling with my clothes and packing my stuff away as I shoot out the familiar lines  without a moments thought. I even answer their questions before they ask them. I know them all. And I can tell by their tone what is coming next. I will sometimes speed it up by saying.. ” 6 pairs of shoes, just over 2, 000 miles between a marathon and 50km per day, I’m 53, not married and no kids! I started with the Dublin marathon last October and will finish with the Dublin marathon in October 2013.
Please thank the American people for me, mention my charity, website and sponsors. You can get a huge amount of info from my About page of my website. I recommend your research from the Irish Times article just scroll back to December and also the Irish Runner article.”

Sometimes I get: ” What running shoe do you like best? ”
” No comment…. I ain’t got a shoe sponsor! ”
” But you must have a favorite? ”
“  I do and it will be the first company that gives me some! ”

So Pete drives me over to his home in Bradford about fifteen minutes away. He is yet another bicycle shop owner. He does a lot for the area organizing cycle rides from his shop. Previously there was not much of an interest but he has got an enthusiastic group that meet twice a week in the spring for a trail ride and a mountain bike ride.

THANKS FOR TAKING CARE OF ME IN BRADFORD PETE.

At the dinner table his dog comes over to me and hits me with his paw and gives a strange whine that sounds like it’s a war dance.
Then Pete goes over to the refrigerator and gets out about 6 different tubs of Ben and Gerry’s ice cream for me to make a selection.
I choose caramel. Later the dog comes back for round two. It’s a big dog. I have forgotten the breed. I have also forgotten about his south paw and push him away as he tries to lick the fallen ice cream from my trousers leg. He puts up his paw again and swipes just as I duck away on my chair. Another war dance whine. Pete is laughing. I’m a bit scared and tell him. He takes him out for a walk. Returns with the shattered dog which is now  out for the count. I guess I won on a technical knockout.

SORRY FOR THE LACK OF PHOTOS..  I AM HAVING A PROBLEM DOWNLOADING THEM AND WILL DO SO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

That Monday morning it was freezing cold. People had been warning me for over a week it was to drop to -17 Fahrenheit. My conversion scale tells me that’s -27 Celsius! And we are not even talking about the wind chill factor as I have my hands exposed holding onto Nirvana’s handlebars.
So what do I do? I figure I have a long day as I want to try to reach Galeton a little over 6okm away. I was super optimistic planning the route the night before. I will head out early… I have averaged nearly 50km or around 30 miles every day last week.. So what’s another 50km and then more with the early start!
I can never get an early start.. Its always my fault as it takes me a while to get going in the morning.
So there I am running down route 6 pushing Nirvana when an old timer called Greg shouts out..
” Hey bud are you collecting soda and beer cans from the side of the road? ”
I think he thinks I am a tramp pushing a supermarket trolley while collecting the cans to return for their deposits.
” I figured nobody would be out in this weather if they didn’t have to be. ” Said Greg and then added.
” You want a job for a couple of days I got some lumber that need moving but don’t have a lot of money. ”
” Actually I am running around the world! ”
Then the usual questions.. I get into his car for some warmth putting my 3 pairs of gloves over his heater.

Hey bud are you looking for a job!

I tell him about all the wonderful people I am meeting.. He says.
” People are wonderful everywhere in the world. It’s the governments of the world that is messing up the world. It doesn’t matter about language we are all the same and I guarantee if it were not for the governments of the world we would all be much happier.
I run on and half an hour later he comes back with a bag of gloves and some packages of hand warmers. I hand him back the gloves and am already using the hand warmers. They are shaped and look like tea bags but once shook up they give about 8 hours warmth when pushed in behind a glove.
I fell a bit short of Galeton so Tony come out to pick me up in his pickup truck. I finish for the day in a place called Rexford at mile marker 206. I am staying at his house tonight with his wife Jill.

Jill and Tony

 
Tony is a manager in the local lumber yard. They are not so busy now with the recession.
I hear about all the natural gas that’s being drilled in the state of Pennsylvania. Something like 8,000 wells. One of the biggest gas areas in the world. It’s very controversial. They are drilling for it in a horizontal manner putting explosives and chemicals down the wells. Apparently the rigs don’t have to tell anyone what chemicals are being poured down. they are answerable to nobody.. Even the fire brigade don’t even know when they go down to fight the few fires they have had. It seems there was a lobby by gas drilling companies to keep it that way and they are protected by law.
Meanwhile people have told me water has been contaminated on farms. Farmers have had to have have their cows slaughtered because their milk is also contaminated.
The onus is on the homeowner to prove their water was not contaminated before. They would have to pay about 1,000 dollars for such a test in advance of any problems and few paid that before having problems.
” But there is surely a benefit to the local economy? ”
I had been asking this question to many people over the last few days.
” Sure there are now jobs in an area which has been depressed for the last five years or so but now gas prices have risen and its now economically feasible to drill.”
” Anyone with a skill like a welder is working and being well paid. But many of the jobs and much of the money is going out of the state and there are huge amounts of Texans here.”
Almost immediately after crossing the state line yesterday I could smell natural gas. I have smelt it many times since. Surely this is not safe? Surely contaminated water is not safe. I find it amazing that gas exploration companies are not answerable to the federal government

Next morning Jill and Tony drop me back to where I left off and I run on from Rexford and stop in a service station in Galeton for coffee. They are opening a Subway snack bar soon. As I am going I am told I can have a free sandwich as he staff are being trained in by giving out the freebies. Nice one but the didn’t force me with the potato chips as the normally do! I stick it in the back pocket of a cycle top I wear. I run on and am greeted by many members of the town. It seems many have read about me online and phoned their friends to say I am on the way.
I am running up Denton Hill. It’s steep and wicked in places and goes on for miles.
A guy in a red jeep pulls up ahead. He gets out and offers his hand as I approach.
” I am Dave from the Potter County Tourist Board. ”
I note he is dressed in neat casuals and joke.
” Hi Dave, you going to run with me? ”
” Ha Ha not exactly but do you mind if I drive on ahead up the hill and take a photo? ”
” No problem Dave.. Go for it! ”
Five minutes later a red jeep drives back down the hill and I think its Dave’s. He has probably got a telephoto lens and took it from a distance.. Strange I thought.
So I sit on the guardrails and eat my sandwich. Half an hour later I am at the summit, altitude 2,424 feet.

I'm loving it!

Dave has his camera out. I think he must have been a journalist in a former life. They are all the same they go to the top of the steepest hills and wait for that knackered look on your face.
I always like to piss them off by cracking a big wide smile and say ” I’m Loving it! ” Just like I was in a fast food commercial and a million dollars depended on my emphatic line delivery.
” Sorry for the delay Dave I thought you were gone and I got a Subway.”

” That’s great Tony I will get the rest of the story from your website. ”
I am wondering why Potter County Tourist Board are interested in my world run.

” One more thing Tony… Just why did you pick Potter County? ”
” Well I look to see where I am… Then I look at Colorado…. I get a google map, press avoid highway…. And Bob’s your uncle! ”
” Eh! ”
I don’t think the tourist guru was happy with that one and continued.
” Tell me one more thing…”

And he asked what many people have been asking over the last couple of weeks.

” Why are you not heading south instead of west? ”
“Well its not that simple when you are running! Just over a week ago I had a big mountain range to the south and then there is the storm that is heading this way, so it’s best to head west for now and south when I can.
“ Besides I am heading for Colorado now and cant go too far south or I will have to come back up! I am running gradually south-west picking my way around the major towns and mountain ranges. Am also trying to get decent roads with hard shoulders because of the slush.
” So I gotta listen to local advice too.”
” Besides it doesn’t really matter as I am well stocked up by good equipment from Great Outdoors from Ireland.
” I haven’t had a single day when I have been miserable from start to finish with the weather. Their equipment has kept me warm, safe and comfortable.”
My pride and joy is the Event Montane red shell waterproof/windproof jacket that I am never out of and will probably get buried in!
Down the hill and into Caudersport I ran. Yes it had been a nice day. I didn’t even have to push Nirvana as Jill and Tony were delivering it to the place I was staying in tonight.  Well to a car dealership anyway. Jim works there as a driver driving cars around from the companies 6 shops for customers to test drive. Just as I was arriving a journalist snapped my picture and I did another interview.
On the way back to Jim’s house he tells me his wife blew up her car engine a few days ago.
So I go in to their house and 3 dogs are sniffing me. A pleasant lady puts her hand out and says..
” I’m Barbie”
I say… ” I know you blew up the car!”
” No that was Jim’s wife Kathy. I’m their neighbor. ”
So we have a couple of bowls of stew and have a laugh.

Kathy, Jim and Barbie.

20th Jan 2011 Cortland US13 and Main St. 40.7km = 25.3miles.

Tonight I am a guest of Melissa, Trever and Lukas. Many thanks.

21st Jan 2011. Cortland to 9 miles south of Ithaca. 50km = 31.1 miles.

Tonight I am guest of Ian and Sherry and family Many thanks

22nd Jan 2011. start 9 mls south of Ithaca finish Elmira. 40.2km = 25 miles

Tonight I am a guest of Paul and Wanda. Many thanks

23rd Jan 2011. Elmira to Tioga Jct. (Pennsylvania) 35.4km =22 miles.

Tonight I am a guest of Tom and Sheila. Many thanks

24th Jan 2011. Tioga Jct to Rexford ml marker 207 (on US6south) 50km =31.1miles

Tonight I am a guest of Jill and Tony. Many thanks

25th Jan 2011. Rexford to Caudersport 50km = 31.1 miles.

Tonight I am the guest of Kathy and Jim. Thanks so much

26th Jan 2011. Caudersport to Smethport 42.2km = 26.2 miles

Tonight I am Pete’s guest. Thank you very much

27th Jan 2011. Smethport to Kane            40.2km =     25 miles.

Tonight I am Lisa and Tom’s guest. Wonderful people, thanks so much

28th Jan 2011. Kane to Marionville.   40.3km = 25.1 miles

Tonight I am Dave and Mel’s guest.  Thanks a million

29th Jan 2011. Marionville to Shippenville. 37.1km = 23.1 miles.

Tonight I am John and Debbie’s guest Thanks so much 

30th Jan 2011. Shippenville to East Brady, 44.2km = 27.5 miles.

Tonight I am the guest of Bookie and Kathy Thanks very much

31st Jan 2011. East Brady to Butler, 37.3km = 23.2 miles.

Tonight I stayed in Butler’s  Methodist Church. Many thanks to Pastor Tim

1st Feb 2011. Butler to Deer Lake Extension, 41.4km = 25.7 miles.

2nd Feb  2011. Deer Lake Extension to Wellsville, OHIO. 45.2km = 28.1 miles.

Tonight and last night I am the guest of Tim and Mary-Beth. Thanks so much for your kind help

3rd Feb 2011 Wellsville to 8km east of Carrollston. 43.9km =  27.3 miles

Tonight I am staying with Charlotte and George. Thanks very much

4th Feb 2011. East Carrollston to New Philadelphia. 45.6km = 28.3 miles

5th Feb 2011. New Philadelphia to Junction US 36west/county road 10.

50.2km = 31.2 mls

Tonight and last night I am staying with Nancy and Jerry. Wonderful people! Thanks a bunch

6th Feb 2011 36W/co.rd10 to 2km east of US 229/62 junction.  44.4km = 27.6mls

7th Feb 2011. 2km east of US229/62 Junction to Centerburg. 42.5km = 26.4miles

Tonight  and last night I am the guest of Mark and Debbie. Thanks for helping with the dream

8th Feb 2011 Centerburg to 3km/2miles west of Ashley. 38.8km = 24.1 miles

Staying with Jason and Leighlay Thanks for your help

9th Feb 2011 3km/2miles west of Ashley to W.Mansfield 52.6km = 32.7miles

Guest of Julie and Pete Thanks for your great help

Total for 90 Road days: 3,975.2 km = 2,470.1 miles = 94.2 marathons

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I am going through the most amazing chain of hospitality at the moment… It’s just unbelievable!
Almost 2 weeks ago when the weather deteriorated my friend John Geesler from St. Johnsville called his friends in Pitsfield, Ma. I had been stormed caught in a storm in nearby Shakers Village. I had taken refuge in the local museum of the Shakers sect. The workers there made me feel at home and did everything they possibly could to make me feel comfortable.
John’s friends Beth and Brad arrive and take me to their home. It’s God darn cold…A cold wind is taking my face off.

Beth and Brad

They are fussing, checking my route and making phone calls down my route to try to organize places for me to stay.
I have a pile of laundry on the floor that they have offered to wash for me. Then I discover their labrador dog is licking my multidays old underpants!
Brad rushes over and the other labrador jumps up on takes his brathurst hot-dog off his plate. Brad just smiles and says the dog needed it more than him… The dog knew better than to touch the Food Demons!
They both have to be in work for 7am. So at breakfast I am pleading with them to leave the phone down and not be late for work on my account.
But Brad doesn’t care and insists on taking me for breakfast in a nice old fashioned diner.
I look at the menu and laugh. Nobody there can see the irony when I point out ” Irish Breakfast served on an English muffin. ”

So then I ran on and as mentioned in a recent post stayed with my friend the Kurahura Kickers in Little Falls NY. In all I stayed there 5 nights in Stan, Joann and Sweet Pea’s house. I took two rest days there and they commuted me back and forth for 3 running days.
Just as I got beyond their range another club member Mark and his wife Renne offered to put me up just outside of Waterville.
That day I ran 60km /37miles. Another member of the club, Dave Putney who I know from a race a few years ago clocked out of work at noon and joins me on the road for 31km/19 miles. We are joined for about an hour by Kelly-Ann a noted track team coach in the area. Its so fantastic running with other runners…It makes the time fly.
John has also driven out now it must be over 80km/50 miles but he doesn’t care. He delivers Nirvana. I wanted to run with the buggy this morning but he insisted. So he parks ahead and runs towards to run back to his pickup. John doesn’t run in traditional running gear. He prefers to wear his factory work clothes when he runs. He says his work uniform is very comfortable. I see him running towards me in his brown uniform. He jokes and says..
” I’m the UPS delivery man and I got Nirvana for you! ”

Running with the UPS man.

He told me of the story of the cop stopping him as he was running in his street clothes! The long hair and headband didn’t help!
Mark and Renne have a delicious chicken salad dinner prepared. They also invite John and Dave, another couple and Marks business partner Paul.
Mark is a bicycle shop owner.
Paul comes over in the morning to drop me back to my finishing spot. I run through some beautiful scenery that day. Its still biter cold. I don’t think too much about temperatures or even weather forecasts these days as I gotta run and whats the point of worrying… People are more worried for my safety than I am. I don’t even care about mountains… I am living my dream…Throw it all at me. I run into a junction town called Georgetown. My tracphone doesn’t work. So the lady in the gas station allows me to use hers to call Paul. I tell him I would like to run another 9 miles and ask him to leave to pick me up in about 40 minutes. Its an hours drive. No problem, he says.
On the way back we passed many Amish people AMISH DETAILS in their horse drawn black carriages.

Aimish horse and cart

Amish believe in a simple life without modern conveniences. I have been though they reject modern technology it is ok to use other peoples. John has had an Amish neighbor come in to borrow a cordless drill. A lot of the strict rules and regulations have been skirted about. For example they obviously don’t have a phone but some may have a pay phone installed in their garden! They ride their horse drawn carriages but accept a ride in someones car.
Today I ran over 50km/ 32 miles.

Paul drives me back to Junction 80/13 and on I go… My never-ending life of goodbyes. I get around the corner and am ambushed by the Cortland press. Someone has tipped them off as to my starting point and time and I am giving an interview that lasts nearly half an hour in the freezing cold (later I see a copy riddled with mistakes)
 I get to Cortland and John’s niece Melissa, her husband and their 18 month boy called Lukas are putting me up.
This chain of events just seem to be never ending.
A man named Peter has tracked me down to Melissa’s house. He is very keen to run with me for a stage of the world run. Melissa is very accommodating and invites him around at 6.30am. We have breakfast and set off. Peter tells me he has taken a day off work to run with me. Later I discover he has donated 100 euro to my charity Aware… Thank you so much Peter I got joined by an Dubliner called Innis who ran for only a short time as he was in a hurry off to New York City. Innis is a student over here these last four years. Word has gotten out of my run as Lynn has posted something on a triathalon forum. John has also contacted the Finger Lakes Running Club.
So Ian a sportswear and bike shop owner comes out. He has also raced many triathalons and ultra races. He is a race director for a 100 mile trail race.

With Ian outside his Finger Lakes running store

I am going to be staying with him tonight. He runs me into the town of Ithaca and we go to his store. He is incredibly generous and sponsors me a couple of pairs of shoes, some apparel, clothing and a massage stick.
I say to Ian that as todays run was a bit short and tomorrows is very long I would like to run another 9 miles to get my 50km. He picks me up 2 hours later.
I go back to his house and on the way way Ian was telling me his wife, Sherry had a baby girl Nora only two weeks ago. It would be a full and crowded house as Ian’s parents George and Brenda would be there and so too was Linda, Sherry’s mother..
” But this is too much for you Ian! ”
” Nonesence Tony we would like to have you as our guest! ”
I get talking to George..
He is very extroverted and a funny man.
” What kind of an Irish man has an Italian name like Tony! Come here Anthony! ”
I say. ” What kind of an American is called George? Saint George…..”
He says.. ” George Washington! ”
I say ” George Bush ” He almost pukes into his coffee!

Then Sherry asks.. ” How did you get the buggy here ”
I said. ” When Ian came along and Innis came along he asked him to put it into his car and drive it over here.”
So Sherry says.. ” I am not surprised Ian didn’t want to push the buggy…. He wouldn’t even push his own kids! ”
So Ian gets on the phone and finds a place for me to stay for tomorrow. A rival bike store in Elmira

Next morning at breakfast its a very full house with all the grandparents and a couple of friends come over.
Sarah a 17 year old high school student with a passion for running. She has already run a couple of marathons and 50km races. Her mam was a marathon Olympic trialist. Sarah tells me her passion for running is such that she was dreaming of a journey run across somewhere like the USA and then hours later she hears about me. They just had to come over for breakfast. They brought delicious cookies. Then Sarah says she would like to skip rehearsals for a musical she is performing in to run the 25 miles to Elmira with me!
On the way we are joined by Korey.. We run to Paul’s bike shop. He is out skiing but we let ourselves in as he suggested.
That evening I go with Paul and his partner Wanda to the local bike club’s annual meeting and pasta dinner. I am introduced to the members as an Irishman that is running around the world but many years ago cycled around the world… ” So he is one of us ” The members were told.
I am not sure but it sounded like they passed a vote to make me an honorary member. I give a talk for about 10 minutes on my world run.
One of the members called Tim says he would like to run a couple of hours with me… He gets teased a lot…Especially when I mention he has to push the buggy! Any time Tim opens his mouth at the meeting he is told to just go and push the buggy!
Paul puts some air in my tyres next morning as Tim and I set off.
We cross the state line into Pennsylvania and soon I have clocked up 2,000 miles.Then his wife and mother came to pick him up.
Its bitterly cold. Its about -17 degrees. Even though its so cold I am rarely out of control. I have good gear and am still loving the challenge. There is also a headwind with a serious wind-chill factor. It seems people are more worried for me than I am for me! I feel I have become hardened and dont even check temperatures and weather forecasts now… I still gotta run!
My plan for today was to run to Tioga. Yet another bicycle shop owner, Tom and his wife are my hosts tonight! This is the 4th time this week I have been hosted by bicycle shop owners.
I moved onto rural Pennsylvania highway 287 and enjoyed the run so much. It was very hilly but with little traffic.
On the way a man called Mark pulled up and asked if I was ok. When I told him what I was doing he gave me his coffee! One of the nicest coffees I ever had! If you are reading this Mark… Thanks a million!
I arrived in Tioga Junction thinking I was in Tioga. I phoned Tom as arranged to pick me up from the gas station. It was only later I realized I was about 4 miles short of town.. Ah well a short day to a very good week.. My best so far over 200 miles and just a little shy of averaging 50km per day.
I had a nice quiet evening listening to Tom and Sheila’s travels and telling of my own…

Tom and Sheila

And what do you think they spent a large part of the evening doing? They rang around their friends and found a friend of theirs in a town called Galeton that is going to put me up tomorrow.
My head is literally spinning with all the thank yous and goodbyes.. I am literally lost for words.. I am sometimes afraid my goodbyes and thank yous sound hollow but they are not… I just am having trouble coping and often just say that I don’t know what to say anymore…I am overwhelmed to a point of speechlessness as I bid my goodbyes. This is the hardest part of travelling.. All the goodbyes to wonderful beautiful people and only a small fraction of I will probably ever see again but I shall never forget…
I am doing the running….. But you my friends are making it possible