Email 6

5/27/02

Welcome to path email number 6. I am in the home stretch now. I have walked 286 miles with about 68 more to go. I also have a few photos up www.intheirpath.com then click updates page for the email journal.

Weather: It rained on Monday so I only walked one mile. Then was cloudy Tuesday and the rest of the week was in the 70s.

Where I walked this week: I left Oberlin and walked along route 58 all the way to lorain. Route 58 north from Oberlin to Amherst then on to Lorain, at Lorain It goes from Route 58 north to Route 6 and passes through Avon lake also Rocky River. Route 6 goes all the way into Cleveland.

The safe house where I stayed: I stayed with Gwen Wood and her family in Oberlin. Then with my friends Kate fry and Sue Lacy as I get closer to the outskirts of Cleveland. Next week I will hit the city limits, I will be staying with Stephen Kahnert his wife Shelia and sons Peter and Matthew.

What I learned about the underground railroad: Unfortunately not to much I was really trying to focus on walking this week and did not have as much time as I did early in the walk.

The people I met: I visited Prospect school (hmm that was last week Friday) then on Tuesday may 21st I visited Lake ridge academy. I talked to 1st through 8th graders there. Finally on Friday the 24th of May I visited St. Joseph School in Amherst Ohio. For drivers this week my gang from Shadybrook in Cleveland really stepped up. Gwen Dwyer was driver on Monday but it was rainy and dark so it was too dangerous to continue when I ran out of sidewalk. On Tuesday, the 21st, drivers are Bob and Shirley Mindheim also from Shadybrook. I walked from Oberlin to Amherst north on 58. Wednesday the 22nd, Linda Durnbaugh was driver and I walked to Lorain 58 north. Thursday, 23rd, Sally Pisarchek, driver Lorain to Sheffield on route 6 east. Friday 24th Mariel, is my driver I will walk to Avon Lake Housing with Cecilia Render. Drivers and housing have gotten a lot easier since I am so much closer to home.

Who walked with me: My good friends Ken and Ann Esposito and their son Eliot came all the way from New England to walk with me. When they heard about IN THEIR PATH! They started planning to come. Kalyine Waters got much of the Oberlin part of the journey on film. She is going to use it as part of a follow up to a documentary I was part of last year.

One thing I really want you to know about my week: To all Clevelanders and Ohio folks from surrounding areas. Come and walk with me the final miles! Meet me on Friday May 31st at 11:00am at the corner of Brathenal Rd. and Lakeshore Blvd. I will be walking the last leg of my trip (about 3 miles) to the welcome celebration at Citizens Academy School. 1827 Ansel Rd. For More call 216-791-4195 or call my cell phone and leave a message.

Until next week same time .....different place but always IN THEIR PATH!

Joan Southgate