John Goes to George Rogers Clark Memorial

On May 18, 2007, John and I went home for the weekend in my car to Lawrenceville, IL. We had a great time meeting my entire family, but my dad was very skeptical about my new friend. He thought he was entirely too old for me to be spending the weekend traveling with him. John and I decided to take a trip across the river to Vincennes, IN. There are so many historical places in Vincennes, but John really wanted to go to the George Rogers Clark Memorial, which is a permanent memorial, commemorating the winning of the Old Northwest and the achievements of George Rogers Clark and his associates. We walked all along the grounds and even stuck our feet in the Wabash River. We then went to the museum to see all of the history. The museum is the large round building in the background of our picture. We finally decided to head back home and eventually back to Carbondale. We had so much fun, and I can't wait to go back.

Latitude and longitude coordinates: 38.67889 / -87.535001

Mileage: 318.54

Total Mileage: 810.82

John at Devil's Kitchen

On May 30th, 2007, John & Danielle visited Devil's Kitchen Lake in Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge. They sat by the lake and enjoyed the view, the peace, and the quiet. John desperately wanted to jump into the lake, but there was no swimming allowed and it was getting quite dark.

Latitude: N 37* 38.64' Longitude: W 89* 6.13'

Miles: 14.95 miles Total Miles: 492.28

Abigail goes to the tee ball game!

I had the chance to take Abigail home with me tonight, and luckily enough I had some fun plans. After class we went back to my place to study for my exam tomorrow, but she got to watch TV since she doesnt have to take it. I found out her favorite show was Clifford! Then we traveled to Murphsboro Ill to watch my little cousin's tee ball game!! She had lots of fun cheering them on, and even laid under the lawn chair for a short nap. She said she has had so much fun traveling this session that she is sad to see it come to an end!

Abigail and Nicolette Williams traveled to the ball diamonds off of Harrison Rd in Murphysboro

Miles traveled this trip: 22.0 Miles

Latitude: 37.78 Longitude: 89.39

Total miles traveled: 1057.62

John going fishing at Mermet

When class was over on Tuesday, May 29.2007. John and I decided go to Mermet Lake and see the fish. My daughter Kayla joined us so she could take the picture of John and I. We walked around Mermet Lake and enjoyed the peace and quiet of the woods. We seen numerous fish hopping around in the lake. When it was time to leave we stopped at the sign that said Mermet Lake and took a picture. The flowers were beautiful and John really liked them.

John was on his trip with Kim Eddington and her daughter Kayla.
Miles traveled this day for John 103
Latitude 37 and longitude 88
Total miles for John: 477.33

Abigail's Trip to Carterville

On May 22nd Abigail and I traveled to Carterville, Illinois. We visited Cannon Memorial Park. We walked, played, and relaxed. Abigail got to meet my new nephew, Joseph. After we finished our day at the park Abigail and I were exhausted. We decided to come home and take a nap before we headed for class.

Distance traveled with Abigail - 20.74 miles
Total miles traveled - 1005.14
Latitude - 37N 46' 26.3"
Longitude - 89W 5' .8"

Rebekah Moore

To the Winery We Go!

After waking up late Monday, May 28, John & I decided that it was too late to travel to St. Louis. Instead, we decided that it would be a great day to take a trip to Blue Sky Winery in Makanda, IL. After we gased up the car, we went by and picked up our friend Christine. As soon as we arrived, John nearly jumped out the window before I had a chance to stop the car! He was running around the place checking out the scenery. We walked around the winery and enjoyed the peaceful afternoon. John was pretty thirsty after running around. Once he stopped, we enjoyed a small glass of ice cold Sangria. The weather was perfect for a day at the winery! John was tuckered out and fell fast asleep on the ride back.

Miles Traveled: 32.46 miles
Latitude: 38 N
Longitude: 89 W
Total Miles traveled for John: 374.33 miles

John traveled with Jennifer McDaniel.

Abigail goes to Rend Lake

On May 24th, Abigail and I took a trip to Rend Lake. We took a swim at South Sandusky Beach. After our dip, we visited the Rend Lake Dam. I could hardly keep Abigail from jumping in again. We had a great time! She can't wait to go swimming again.

Miles Traveled: 68.4
Latitude 38 N
Longitude 89 W

Total Miles Traveled: 984.4

Jerry Case

On May 23, Abigail and I traveled to Marion, Illinois to visit the Southern Illinois Miners Ballpark. She enjoyed the wind in her hair but was not able to go inside the ballpark to experience the cracker jacks and beer, maybe next time. After the paparazzi had their time attacking Abigail with photos, we went to 17th Street for some BBQ. Abigail was not that hungry so she only had a sandwich before we headed home for the night.

Miles Traveled: 32.48 miles
Latitude: 37 N
Longitude: 89 W
Total Miles for Abigail: 916 miles

Morgan Schrock

John the Superdog!

On May 24th, John and I headed to Elco after class to meet my boyfriend Allen. After John and Allen played in the yard, we rode in my car to Metropolis, IL to see Superman! When we arrived, John was so excited, he was running everywhere! John wanted to pose as Superman, while I posed as Wonder Woman! After our picture, John and I ran up the ramp to the Superman statue and posed for a picture there. John loved Superman, we had so much fun! After we visited the "Home of Superman," we went to McDonald's and ate some chicken nuggets! Mmmm tasty! With our full bellies, we finished the drive home. When we arrived, we took our baths and went straight to bed! What a fun day that was full of adventure!

Miles Traveled: 112.12 miles
Latitude: 37 N
Longitude: 88 W
Total Miles for John: 341.87 Miles!
John traveled with Rachel Billingsley :)

John's Trip to DeSoto

On May 23rd John and I traveled in my car to DeSoto, Illinois. Upon arriving in DeSoto, John and I went to my house. We then walked to the tornado memorial monument, which is located at the DeSoto Village Hall. The monument, is in memory of all the people who died in the 1925 tornado. My roommate and her dog Lucy, joined John and I on our walk to the Village Hall. John enjoyed running and playing with Lucy. After returning from our walk, John helped me with my homework. After doing homework, I had to go to my night class, so John stayed at the house and played with my roommate and Lucy. When I returned home from school John and I ate dinner, then relaxed for the rest of the night. Amanda Reed Distance traveled with John: 14.93 Total Distance for John: 219.75 Longitude: W 89 Latitude: N 37

Abigail's Trip to Christopher

On May 22nd Abigail jumped into my car and we headed towards Christopher. I let Abigail stick her head out the window while I drove but she got her head stuck so that ruined the fun. Finally we got to our destination, my house. Well in the front of my house there is a beauty shop so we tried to get our hair done. There was only enough time for one of us to get our hair done so of course it had to be Abigail. She got her ears curled and her fur brushed. Later I went to bed while Abigail strutted her stuff in front of my other dogs.
Distance Traveled with Abigail: 57.7 miles
Total Distance for Abigail: 883.52
Long. : -89
Lat. : 37
Hayley Joseph

John's Travel to Jail

John traveled to Benton, Illinois on May 22nd. We left from Carbondale and came to my house. He met my dog Chico. They had a wonderful time playing together. When my husband came home, we took John to the County Jail. After we had our picture taken we went and ate at Pizza Hut. John really wanted some food, but I told him that he couldn't. After we left Pizza Hut we came back to my house and relaxed for the rest of the night.

Jessica Varner

Longitude: W -88°59'48"

Latitude: N 37°55'12"

Miles on Trip: 69.02

Total Miles for John: 204.82

Abigail Travels to Golden, Illinois

Abigail went home with me over the weekend and boy did we see the countryside. She rode in the car for 5 hours on 5/18/07 and that was one way. She stayed in the car and traveled around Camp Point, my home town, all weekend until Sunday. Sunday May 20th she took a trip to Golden to see the Windmill. We went on the tour of the newly restored windmill. The Prairie Mills Windmill was built in 1873. It has all of its original millstones and wood gear mechanisms. After we made the trip back to Carbondale, Abigail was happy to be home.
She traveled a total of 513.06 miles with me.
The total miles for Abigails travels are: 825.82

Longitude:W 91 ° 1' 26.9"

Latitude: N 40 ° 6' 42.2"

Stephanie Todd

Abigail's Travel to John A. Logan College

Abigail traveled to John A. Logan College this morning, 5/18/2007. I work at the college and wanted to show Abigail off to all my co-workers and friends at the college. She loved everyone that I work with. I work in the Information Technology Department with 13 men and 1 lady so she had a blast getting to know all the men. We have the statue at the college and also a wooden horse, that the general rode. Abigail was a little scared of the horse so that is why we are seen together by the statue. She is ready for someone to take her this weekend and get away from Southern Illinois.

Name: Karen Frick
Dog: Abigail
Miles on Trip: 16.5
Total Miles for Abigail: 312.76

Correction of correction

ok I hadn't noticed, but shelby had already corrected my mistake for her total mileage. so 135.8 is the up-to-date total for John.
-Rebecca

Correction

Total miles for John is 141.28. I accidentally added my miles to Abigail's - sorry!

John Travels to Pinckneyville Park

John traveled with me yesterday May 16th on a journey to Pinckneyville, IL. It was a nice and sunny day so we decided to visit the City Park. John wanted to explore the park’s sights. As we entered the entrance to the park, John was surprised to see an over 50 year old training plane used in the Korea War. John was fascinated with the air craft and I had to hold him back before he climbed into the pilot seat. To John’s delight, he saw his beautiful wife Abigail in the park smelling beautiful flowers. John and Abigail continued to walk along the paved walking trail throughout the park.

Name: Shelby Kellerman
Dog: John
Miles on trip: 62.92 miles
Total miles for John: 135.8 miles
Picture- will be posted soon

Abigail's Travel to Pinckneyville

Yesterday on Wednesday May 16 Abigail traveled to Pinckneyville, Illinois. She left school with me and then went to the park. While at the park Abigail was able to take her picture with the old caboose. While on the trip she also ran into John who just happened to be out and about playing at the park as well. They were able to spend some time together at the park as well as get their picture taken together.


Name: Natasha Kania(in the pink shirt)
Dog: Abigail
Miles on this trip: 62.72
Total Miles for Abigail: 296.26
Latitude: 38° 04' 35" N
Longitude: 89° 23' 46" W

John stays local

John was tired from his longer travels back to back over the past few days, so he said he just wanted to take it easy today. After class, he went to work with me at Parrish School. Even though he was tired, he played out on the playpod with the kids. It was so windy, he almost blew over the fence...that's when he said he was ready to head home. He relaxed on the bed while I worked on homework and he got many more hours of sleep than I did! He says he is ready to go on his longest trip yet tomorrow, and he is glad I kept him local today.
-Rebecca Hallock
Miles Traveled: 5.48
Total Miles: 239.02

Abigail in McLeansboro

Monday, May 14th

Today I took Abigail went to visit one of the most famous sites in Hamilton County. This site is the grave of the 31st governor of Illinois, John Stelle. I could not get Abigail to say in the picture long enough. Abigail thought it was fun to run around the cemetery. There is a lot of open space out there, so she had a good time. I did have to keep Abigail from digging any holes. Abigail tried, but I kept telling her no. We had a good time and we traveled 116.4 miles on our trip. The total miles travel with Abigail so far are 233.54 miles.

Ben Vinyard

John Travels to the Bottoms

May 15, 2007
After leaving class today John went with me upstairs to work for an hour. Sadly, it was not very entertaining for either of us. Next John traveled home with me to Murphysboro, IL where he was introduced to the Bachmann family. John seemed to like everyone a lot with the exception of my mother because she was worried that he would ruin her furniture. Lucky for everyone John was very well behaved and my mother soon grew to enjoy his company. The family and John were getting ready to go out for dinner when a family crisis occurred. We learned that my Uncle fell off the roof of the new Minor's Stadium in Marion where he was working for his job. This resulted in a brief delay in dinner and our new dinner party consisted of John, my younger sister Karlee, my best friend Ashley and me! Finally we headed down to the river bottom's towns of Gorham, Jacob, and Neunert. We stopped at the local favorite Bottom's Up Bar and Grill for dinner where John enjoyed the sights, sounds, and food of a local jewel. After dinner we headed up the road to the old Gorham High School where my father attended when he was younger. The school is no longer open due to unrepairable damage, asbestos, and the dwindling population of the river bottoms. To end this eventful night John got to experience the delightful singing of the girls on the ride home and then he fell fast asleep with my little sister once we arrived back at my house.

Name: Kendra Bachmann
Miles traveled: 52
Total traveled: 67.4
Latitude and Longitude (Neunert/Bottom's Up): 37*43'22"N, 89*32'44"W
Latitude and Longitude (Gorham High School) : 37*43'06"N, 89*29'09"W

Abigail went home with me today to McLeansboro. She went with my family and me to eat at Auten's Pizza House. Auten's is a very well known and special restaurant in McLeansboro. People that come to visit our town must have Auten's pizza. Even those people who move away from here always make Auten's one of the places they visit while coming home to see friends and family. Abigail enjoyed a slice of pepperoni pizza and an RC cola. She traveled a total of 117.17 miles with me. As this is the first posting for Abigail, her total miles are 117.17.

Jill Sutton

Crab Orchard Lake is where John went today. It was a nice 15.4 miles total for our trip. It wasn't far, but it sure was nice. We saw water, boats, and beautiful trees. We were at a latitude of N 37 44' .030" and W 89 08'.888"
Elise Veitengruber