I kept a road diary on the 8 hour drive from Harrisburg, PA to Cincinnati, OH where I met up with Malcolm, the British political activist I am following as he does canvassing work through Ohio.
It's true - driving is very much like riding a bike. Despite not having driven a car in years, it felt reassuringly familiar. Except for the bit about the fuel-injection cars. (See post 'Three More Days')
Also the price of gas/petrol started to plummet just as I was getting ready for the drive to Cincinnati. On average it's about $2.30 a gallon now.
10:30 am - Left Harrisburg in 'The Spirit of America' car . Within the first 5 minutes, I made my first wrong turn, going the opposite way on Interstate 81. The mistake cost 20 minutes because I had to wait for the next exit to get back on track.
It really was perfect driving weather.
The first part of my trip was on the Pennsylvania turnpike which gave me a beautiful view of the autumnal colours.
2:33 pm - 'Welcome To West Virginia: Wild and Wonderful'. West Virginia had the highest posted speed limit at 70 mph.
2:47 pm - 'Welcome to Ohio: So Much To Discover'. Each American state has several slogans and this was the one on the highway's billboard at the West Virginia/Ohio state line. 'Birthplace of Aviation' is the slogan on Ohio's license plate.
There were many other interesting billboards on the trip which I didn't have time to photograph.
WHO RULES YOUR LIFE? JESUS CHRIST OR SELF? Can't remember which state.
COAL: PENNSYLVANIA'S #1 SOURCE FOR ELECTRICITY. This idea of clean coal has been on my mind since free hats with this slogan were passed out at the Bill Clinton Rally in Harrisburg. Last night when Malcolm and I were in a bar with fellow Trick or Voters, our new friend Dan had a great line - 'Clean coal is like clean shit. It's a big myth.' I also learned of Senate Bill 139 which John McCain co-sponsored with Senator Joe Lieberman which would reduce coal production by 78% and has caused a lot of controversy in PA, Ohio and Northern West Virginia - basically along the very route I travelled to Cincinnati.
HELL IS REAL. Spotted in Ohio.
Interesting facts I accumulated and jotted down in my notebook while listening to National Public Radio through the state of Ohio:
The last person who became president without carrying Ohio was JFK which is why McCain has stepped up his campaign in the Buckeye State.
It's estimated by the The Census Departmentt that by the year 2040 in the United States whites will lose their majority.
46 million Americans don't have basic health insurance.
Gunsales are up 10% despite the economy. Some believe it's because with an Obama presidency looming, gun owners are worried his administration will affect their 2nd ammendment rights.
30% of the American population who will vote is voting early.
26.4 million viewers watched Barack Obama's 30 minute 'infomercial' broadcast on 29 October 2008 on American television
5:27 pm - Passed through Harrisburg, Ohio which is 100 miles outside Cincinnati
6:30 pm - Cincinnati!
7:00 pm - Kentucky, the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln noted on the 'welcome' billboard. It's also the location of the Cincinnati airport where I've come to collect Malcolm who has flown in from Minneapolis on his trans-atlantic canvassing trip