*THU SEP 18* *West Park Auto, *LaGrange to Angola, *IN* The route directions were simple. After Circle-up I got on Hwy 20 and rode to Angola. Once again the shoulders were 8 foot wide. Its because its Amish countryside. There wasn’t much horse manure. I went to the Angola Library. I had the impression that the niece of my friends, the Imlers, worked there. I found out I was wrong and phoned the Imlers. Bill answered and told me they had just returned from Indonesia on a 30-hour trip, so he was trying to get his body-clock back on the Eastern time zone. He volunteered that I could have a Home-stay with them and told me he would get back in touch with me when they had worked out the details. While I was talking with Bill about the March one of the receptionists overheard me. She told me she was phoning the local paper and have a reporter come to the library and interview me. So I waited for the reporter. She interviewed me and made an appointment to visit the campsite later on in the afternoon. I found the campsite and waited for the Imlers to contact me. When they phoned they indicated Marilyn VanValkenburg, Dona Lou’s sister and the wife of Van, who was the campus minister at the Iowa U. Wesley Foundation the summer of 1960, shuttled them to the Park. We went to visit Van, now in a nursing home. I don't think he remembers Lin and me. Then we went out to dinner. Marilyn asked about our history since I graduated from Drew Theological Seminary. I gave the history--local parish and EI/ICA, family farm. Everyone else finished their dinner while I was talking! Once I finished dinner they took me on a tour that gave me a chance to see their family farm and farmhouse. It was amazing to see how much heritage they’ve retained. Marilyn drove us back to the Imler’s residence and dropped us off. I think she lives in the house next to the Imlers. I spent some time getting my NYC baggage together and then went to bed. We got up at 5:45am, had breakfast at 6:15, and drove back to camp at 6:40am. When we got to camp a little before 7am, the Imlers had a chance to see what the Climate March is like operationally. They stayed for the Circle-up and then said “Goodbye”. I thanked them and got on my bicycle to travel into Ohio. It was delightful to re-establish contact, be hosted by them, and have a chance to view and appreciate Dona Lou’s family heritage.
participants (1)
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Lin Zahrt via OE