Yeah, the further away from Fort Wayne you get, the better things are.

The glacier only came down to the northwestern 2/3rds of Ohio. Just south of Dayton is a city named Moraine. There are tons of fossils around here. Lots of Indian history, Underground Railroad stuff. Dayton has more scientists and engineers than any city this size. Tons and tons of stuff has been invented here, including the airplane. Our county passes park levys by like 60+%, we have a great park system. 5 big dams were built, all with private money, after the 1913 flood, the lakes resulting from these, and the 5 rivers going through the Miami Valley, give us tons of recreational areas. We have converted lots of old rail lines into bicycle paths, the system goes all the way to Cincinnati. While we have lost a lot of manufacturing and automotive industry jobs, folks like me with strong technical engineering skills can always find work. Nearby is Wright-Patterson AFB, the logistical and research headquarters for the Air Force. We have two large Universities, and a very good Community College. Dayton Dragons class A baseball has been a sell out for the 5 years or so they have been here. Dayton kicks ass.

I'm going to Shawnee State Park, surrounded by Shawnee State Forest, near Portsmouth, Ohio. This is south central Ohio, I can see the Ohio River from some of the overlooks. The glacier didn't go that far, it is Appalachian foothills. Shawnee is called the "Little Smokies of Ohio". I've hiked all the backpack trail there, there are 7 campsites spaced about 6 miles apart, you can construct loops with 3, 5, or all 7 nights, or go 12 miles if you are able. Each campsite has potable water, so you don't have to carry water. The northern loop has about 3 of the 300 foot climbs each day, and is a bit of a challenge. I've gone to Shawnee on car tours for fall colors each year for over 10 years, you can easily spend all day on the forest roads, seldom pass another car, and see some of the greatest color anywhere. There is a nice campground I've stayed at with tent camper, RV, and this time, a tent on a motorcycle. You can swim in the lake, rent a boat, fish, although I've never done any of that. I know a place there where I always have a nice, serene spot with a large pond, all to myself, and I can drive to it. I love Shawnee.

I could go on about things like the two Major League Baseball teams, Football teams (how many major sports teams does Indiana have?), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Erie shoreline, on and on, but I gotta go get out and enjoy Ohio now. See ya'll Monday.

-Chuck, Vegetarian fanboy