Beginnings

If you live in Columbus, Ohio you readily recognize one of the major features of the region. The Scioto River meanders through the area.

For most people, in their minds it begins at the Columbus Zoo and courses through downtown Columbus. In places, it is deep and wide enough for boating and skiing. Downtown, the Riverfront is being primed to become a focal point for daytime and evening activities.

Yet few people realize that most rivers, whether mighty and wide or simply as large bodies of water begin as a trickle somewhere many miles upstream.

Today we journeyed to the headwaters of the Scioto River on the Hardin/Auglaize County line. We arrived just before sunset on a chilly and blustery November Sunday. The sky was a dull gray. So gray the navy could hide destroyers and battle cruisers in the sky if needed. We experienced the evidence of winter earlier in the trip while driving through the high point in Ohio, Bellefontaine. That area had a thorough dusting of snow. A noticeable chill was in the air.

The river, according to a sing begins as a small drainage ditch in a farm field. Although the sign claims it marks the beginnings of the river, the ditch continues for some distance back into the field. I'm not sure whether the sign marks the official point where the river begins or it's placed there to satisfy those of us who are curious.

There is a farm road that runs parallel with the ditch/river. We attempted to drive the road, but the past few days have been rainy and the road, while appearing solid had a soft and slimy mud covering on the surface. After traveling what seemed to be almost a mile, I decided to turn around.

The ditch/river didn't seem to be getting smaller and the slimy mud coating on the farm road surface began to become deeper and slipperier as we traveled. I had no desire to get stuck in the middle of a farm lane and Diana was getting impatient with the journey. It was a combination of dinner time and fear of getting stuck. Since the journey to the area is not that far, I decided to wait on better conditions to follow the ditch/river to it's initial trickle.

The last official state sign that memorializes the river is on a bridge on State Route 385 about 1/2 mile away from where the marking sign above is located. While this isn't the first time we've been to the area, this is the first time we've seen the sign in the pictures above.

We've been to other river origins. Like the Olentangy, the Great Miami, the Wabash and the Sandusky. Each have there own unique places of beginning. In later entries, we'll try to capture so photos and post what we note.

Ok, So When Was He Here?

As most of the readers of this blog know, I enjoy things that are ironic. Here's another example of one I've found.

Rene Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle was a French explorer and was believed to be the first European known to have seen the Ohio River.

Exactly when he was at the River depends on who the person responsible for the Historical Marker Signs in West Virginia is at the time.

According to two signs within 5 feet of each other in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, it could have been twice. But only if La Salle had lived to be over 100 years old. It could have been in 1669 or 1769 depending on which sign you believe is correct.


History books say La Salle's visit to the Ohio River took place in 1669. La Salle was murdered by his followers in 1687 after they mutinied while seaching for the mouth of the Mississipi River. Seems La Salle has mistakenly landed in Texas when he thought he was in what was to become Louisianna. The fellas just weren't too happy that their destination was several hundred miles away.

Which means the sign that says Point Pleasant is in fact correct and the one that says Ohio is not.....unless La Salle made a posthumous return trip in the late 1760's.

Another Beautiful Fall Day

With Indian Summer upon us, Diana and I embarked on a hike along the trails at Chestnut Ridge Metro Park.

We chronicled our trip to the Hocking Hills a few weeks ago, but found something interesting yesterday.


Many people think that beautiful fall colors are only available in Vermont, Upstate New York, the Smokey Mountains or even close by in the Hocking Hills. Yet, the Columbus Metro parks offer some of the most beautiful views in our back yard.

The pictures below are pretty much just randomly placed and won't necessarily follow the story line.

Chestnut Ridge has long been a favorite place for us to get away close by and enjoy nature at it's finest. First, the trails offer some workout as, there is a slow but steady pitch to get to the top of the ridge.

Located at some of the first few bumps that begin the formation of the Applachians and between Carroll and Canal Winchester on the back roads, it's close by yet reminds one of places much further away.

These are just a few of the great photos we got to take as well as enjoying a great walk with Mother Nature and the joy of getting out and getting some excercise.

Song Of India

One of the neat things about the internet is that I can track where (geographically) and how someone got to this blog. For example, I've seen visitors from my own hometown as well as visitors from New Zealand, South Australia, Australia and Chile as well as locations across the United States..

One person, and I have no idea who it is or was, recently used a Google search looking for the theme song for former WBNS radio host Irwin Johnson and landed on this page. I could respond personally if I knew who he or she was, but I don't.

But I do know the answer to the reason for the Google search.

Irwin Johnson, known better locally as the Early Worm because of his morning wake up show used Tommy Dorsey's "Song of India" as his theme song.

For many years, Johnson as the "Early Worm" ruled morning radio Columbus. I don't know when he began that reign, but it continued through the 50's and possibly into the 60's. I don't remember listening to Johnson, but everytime someone mentioned great radio announcers in Columbus, the either the name "The Early Worm" or Irwin Johnson would be among the first to be rattled off.

Tommy Dorsey was the leader of a Big Band when Big Band's were all the rage in the 30's and 40's. Tommy brought to the forefront the talents of Jo Stafford and a scrappy young male vocalist from Hoboken, New Jersey Frank Sinatra.

Like The Early Worm, Dorsey's theme song for openning and closing his national radio programs was "Song of India".

Who knows. Whoever initiated that search may search once again and find their answer.

Update: In reading some old archives of the Columbus Citizen Journal, Irwin Johnson worked for WBNS from 1940 to 1969. When he retired, Bill Hamilton filled the morning show slot.

Columbus Day Hike

On Columbus Day, Diana and I decided to head for the Hocking Hills to enjoy a day outside. Ohio often is overlooked as a place to find natures beauty, but the Hocking Hills region competes with some of the best places to see scenery and enjoy the outdoors.

It was a beautiful but warmer than normal fall day and the fall colors were coming into view. The air was fresh and that special aroma that is uniquely fall was in the air.

Our first stop was Ash Cave.

Ash Cave is the largest recess cave in the state. The photo you're seeing was taken from the top rim of the cave. In wet weather, a small water fall drops from the top rim 90 feet to the small pool below. The floor of the cave is sandy, giving an almost beach like feeling.

Yesterday, three girls were playing in the sand and admitted it was just like beign at the beach.

We decided to walk the trail to Cedar Falls. Unfortunately it was about this time that we discovered the battery in the camera had called it a day and we were not able to take more pictures. However, I have some photos of the falls from a previous trip two years ago.

The signs on the road say the trip from Ash Cave to Cedar Falls is two miles. But our hike through the woods convinced us the trail somehow must be longer. Upon our return home, we learned the trip was three miles each way.

First, after a fairly easy start, the trail does become more ambitious. Not impossible, but if you're out of shape, you know you've been exerting yourself on the trail. We arrived at Cedar Falls about an hour and a half after our start. The photo seen was taken slightly over two years ago after a rain storm. Queer Creek was thundering over the drop into the pool below.

While we were there this time, there was no water spilling over the cliff. Unfortunately, the photo was taken with a cell phone from a distance that didn't make for a clear picture. Note to self, remember to keep the battery charged in the digital camera. The area is quite scenic and peaceful. Unlike nearby and better known Old Mans cave, the Cedar Falls and Ash Cave areas can provide some solitude and quiet in a scenic environment if that's what your seeking.

After exploring the are briefly and taking a short breather at one of the picnic tables, we gathered up our courage for the trip back to Ash Cave and the car.

It was really a neat day.

Legendary Station of the Year

I was in the Nashville area this past week for some training (Dave Ramsey Certified Counselor Training) and stopped to snap a shot of the WSM-AM radio tower along I-65 just south of town. The unique Blaw-Knox designed tower was a beacon for all to see.

At the time the tower was erected, it was the tallest broadcast tower ever built. Of course with todays radio towers going over 2,000 feet, the WSM tower is tiny compared to them.

When the tower erection team was finished, they headed to Cincinnati, Ohio to erect a similar tower for WLW radio.

For years WSM has long been known as a powerhouse and innovative force in broadcast radio.

So you're asking why I have an interest in WSM?

Just out of high school in 1973, I took a job with WRFD AM in Columbus to run their Sunday morning public affairs and church programs. Since WRFD was a daytime only station and could only begin broadcasting at New York City sunrise, the sign on time varied from 6:00 am during the summer months to 7:15 in the winter.

On my way to the radio station, I would listen to the radio in my car either to local station WTVN (Ed Eppley) or nearby WLW (Nick Young) during the summer months as they were still playing contemporary music on my way to the radio station to begin the broadcast day. However as the days grew shorter, my trip to the station began around 6:30. By 6:00 am WLW had made the transition to religious broadcasts and WTVN followed at 6:20 am. As I was going to be listening to my fair share of God's word over the next few hours in my job, I began to seek out stations from around the nation on the AM band that I could listen to that were playing music. The only stations that were playing music at that time were country themed stations such as WWL out of New Orleans and WSM out of Nashville.

Frankly, at the time I hated country music. But not so much as to avoid listening to a boring public affairs program or some fire and brimstone radio minister (they all seemed to be based in Texarkana, Texas) giving me a trip tik on my souls destination. If you were looking for anything other than fire and brimstone preachers or the a topical discussion on the school lunch milk program, you were limited to these 50kw flame throwers and the voices of Patsy Cline, Buck Owens and Jim Reeves. A little Bluegrass may have been sprinkled into the mix too. Oh, and WWL's King Edward Cigar time checks.

Remember, this was before FM radios were widely available in automobiles. And the FM stations were largely duplicating their AM sisters or playing elevator music.

So having listened to this legend of a radio station made it really neat to see the tower that brought not only the Grand Old Opry and other assorted country tunes to my ears.

To add to the unique find, while in the Nashville area, I learned WSM was named legendary station of the year by the National Association of Broadcasters. Based on its history, that was a long time coming.

While leaving town on Saturday I listened to the solid gold sounds of country music. My music tastes have mellowed and it was fun to listen to the country gold tunes stream from my cars speakers. As I got closer to home and the sun had left the horizon, WSM was streaming threw the atmosphere with the sounds of that Saturday evenings Grand Old Opry program.

Yes, WSM truly is a Legendary Station.

Labor Day

I cant' think of a better way to celebrate Labor Day than to chill out. And that's what we did.

Once again, we headed to Lake Erie and parked our chairs in the grove of trees, enjoyed the sites, the people walking by us, the boats sailing in our midst and just chilled at the Marblehead Lighthouse.

The lake was the choppiest I've ever seen it. And the breeze was more than just gentle. But the skies were perfectly blue and the temperature modest. And the late summer bugs never showed.

I commented that I thought this was our best trip to the lake and lighthouse.

I can't explain it, but I am at my happiest and most content when there.