Email 17

Welcome to IN THEIR PATH!

Mom and I are doing a combination from here on email since there are so many things she has told me about. That way you will feel like you were there too.

Date: May 22, 2003

Days into the walk: 11 days 67 miles so far.

The journey has taken us through Edinboro PA, Erie PA, Westfield NY, Dunkirk NY and Chautauqua, NY. Right now mom is about 28 miles outside buffalo.

Weather this week: cold and rainy coming out of Erie, then a little better it has been cool and breezy al along. Mom says she hasnt had a chance to wear her shorts yet. :)
It was 45 degrees yesterday may 19th Brrr.

Travel plans & whats in the works: The RV club the lake erie travelers has been with mom the whole trip this time. Elaine & Homer Solomon, Earl & Patricia Carrington, Howard & Juanna Gregory and their family, Ed & Pearline Brown last but not least Barbara & Clarence Vassar. There is a great story about how mom met them that I will have to tell you some time.

What I learned about the Underground Railroad: Mom Met Charles Johnson in Erie PA who is knows lots about the Underground Railroad in this area. They have found a connection between Erie and St. Catharine's. www.canada.com/stcatharines He is also a musician and has offered to do a song about the IN THEIR PATH! journey. A PBS special has been made about the area called safe harbor. http://www.wqln.org/safeharbor/ We visited the Dunkirk historical Museum and Pat Rosing showed us around and searched out some information for us. She told us about Fredonia NY which has a barn that is a historical Underground Railroad site.

Places I visited and spoke: In Erie PA I went to Our lady of peace Elementary school and GECAC charter school 4& 5 Graders. The school is housed in what was a paper factory.

In hamburg NY I went to Union Pleasant Elementary School One student there, Zachary, had a great question for me. Do you have any ancestors that walked the Underground Railroad?

One thing I really want you to know about this week: About the seaway trail along route 5 in NY state it was beautiful there were waterfalls and streams all along the way. In Westfield mom visited an ostrich farm can you believe it?

What young people have to say: Moms young friend Kim walked along with her near Chautauqua NY as we net along she spied a deer. She was excited to say the least, seeing as shes a Clevelander. I have been talking to mom most every day and I also let the kids listen to messages that she leaves on the voice mail. My son Shelley Alex rushed in from Preschool yesterday wanting to know is grandma on the answering machine yet?? They listen to the messages over and over.

Same time different place but always IN THEIR PATH!

Joan Southgate, Teci Baldwin