This picture is from my 2008 Labor Day trip. Although the trip eventually included wonderful experiences in Point Pleasant, WV (Mothman), and Marietta, OH (Lafayette Hotel), the highlight of the trip occurred right at its beginning. I took the photo at right about fifteen miles from home at the Crabfest in Blanchester, OH. That’s Gene Sullivan landing next to the spike of a 68-foot horseshoe crab after jumping over its body and through the “flaming gates of Hell”. Crabfest is no more, and neither, apparently is the church that sponsored it. But Gene and the crab survive. The crab has been moved about twenty-five miles east to Hillsboro, and Gene, at 73, has, or at least had, a 50th anniversary “Jump for Jesus” tour planned for the summer of 2020. I could find no current information on the tour so do not know whether it has been canceled or postponed by the coronavirus pandemic or has been affected by something else.
Trip Peeks are short articles published when my world is too busy or too boring for a current events piece to be completed in time for the Sunday posting. In addition to a photo thumbnail from a completed road trip, each Peek includes a brief description of that photo plus links to the full-sized photo and the associated trip journal.
My wife bought me your Dixie Highway book for my birthday and I spent a nice “stay-at-home” Sunday afternoon reading it. I used to live in Calhoun, GA and remember seeing the Dixie Highway signs but at the time didn’t realize the extent of the road. I picked up your other books in Kindle form so I can read them while I dream of my next roadtrip adventure.
That sounds familiar. I remember seeing Dixie signs on streets in Dayton, OH, when I was a kid but had no idea how complicated it was or how far it stretched until many years later. Thanks for your purchases. I hope you enjoy the books.
I know I will, gives me some motivation to get out and road trip when this is over and make more photos!
I’ve visited your website and doubt that you really require much motivation. 🙂 Even so, I’ll be pleased if you find some there. I saw lots of great images including some from the Blue Ridge Parkway with which I’m somewhat familiar.
I really wish Jump for Jesus was happening. This is awesome.
Oh, I do too. I believe I even saw a preliminary schedule (though with no nearby dates) when I first put this post together a few months ago. Now I can find nothing.