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They did it! All 88 counties!
Justice Stratton congratulates her Circuit Riders in Williams County (#88)
Riding the circuit in beautiful Ohio . . .
Circuit Riders For Stratton Complete Ride to alll 88 Ohio Counties!
Updated October 16th with Defiance (#87) & Williams (#88) Counties!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Pickaway County: Ashville Fourth of July Parade
July 4, 2008, Ashville, OH. We wanted to celebrate the birth of our country in a small town, much as the pioneer circuit riders may have done at the first Ohio July 4th celebration in 1803. So, we headed south to Pickaway County to ride in the 79th Ashville Fourth of July Parade.
Ashville has one of the oldest and largest community Fourth of July celebrations in the state. This year the parade's line of march was ten blocks long with floats, antique vehicles, bands and community groups on both sides of the street.
When a canon was fired signaling the start of the parade, thousands of people, both in the parade and along the parade route, cheered, yelled and gave our 232 year-old country a proper birthday party.
What made us proudest of all was that, despite persistent and increasing rain during the hour and a half long parade, Ohioan's stayed their ground, like pioneers of old, and gave our great country their total respect and admiration.
Ride on . . . .
Gallia County: Gallipolis River Recreation Festival
Gallipolis, OH, July 3, 2008. Gallipolis is situated along the Ohio River in Gallia County in southeast Ohio It was settled by French pioneers in 1790.
About twenty years later, Welsh settlers from England joined them and the routes of this historic and beautiful river city were planted.
Today, visitors can still see the French and Welsh influences in the magnificently restored homes and buildings all along the riverfront and around historic Gallipolis City Park.
The park and riverfront were the locations for this year's 43rd annual Gallipolis River Recreation Festival to celebrate the July 4th holiday. Having a festival along the banks of one of America's biggest and most historic rivers is something really special.
We had a great time watching private boats and commercial barges navigate the Ohio River and Ohioans, young and old, navigate the games of skill on the midway.
Our ride to Gallipolis gave us a chance to meet voters in Pickaway, Ross and Jackson Counties, and to visit Bob Evans Farms in near by Rio Grande, OH and the Adamsville Log Cabin Village adjacent to Bob Evans Farms.
A must stop in Gallipolis is the Park Front Diner and Bakery for some 1950's music, great food and fond memories of times gone by. The Fonz of Happy Days would be right at home! Ride on . . .
The Marion County Fair
Marion, OH July 2, 2008. If the Marion County Fair is any measure, this year's 'fair food' is going to be some of the best ever. Marion County beef, pork and lamb producers provided some of the best tasting and the best valued food on the midway.
One of the highlights of our visit was meeting with Ohio's senior U. S. Senator George Voinovich. Back in 1996, the then-Governor Voinovich appointed Judge Evelyn Stratton to the Ohio Supreme Court. Senator Voinovich said to tell all Circuit Riders For Stratton to 'Ride Safe' and that he supported their efforts toward the re-election of Justice Stratton and toward getting all Ohioans involved in these important 2008 elections.
The back way from Dublin north to Marion along the Scioto River and through Prospect and Waldo is one of the best motorcycle rides in central Ohio. We spent two days at the Marion County Fair meeting voters, watching tractor pull and live stock competitions and, yes, eating more than our share of fair food.
Ride on . . .