Columbus, Ohio

We were met at the outskirts of Columbus by two police cars and two mounted police, that escorted us to the state fairgrounds to met the governor. A brisk wind kept the flag unfurled as we rode through the city streets. the police escort lead us to the fairgrounds. It was the opening day of the state fair. We were lead to a spot and told the governor would arrive soon. We sat on our horses and waited. A small group of eight or ten people surrounded cameramen from every TV station in Ohio approached us. This is the governor someone say. I didn't know which of the men was the governor, half of the group wore short sleeve shirts, the other half, undercover state police, wore jackets.We dismounted and I took out the proclamation. I stood between my horse was on my right side and Barry's horse was on my left. The governor stepped forward and gave us a warm welcome as the TV cameras rolled. I as about to present the governor with the proclamation, when Barry's tall 17 hand saddle bred horse bought him foot down on my foot and pressed all of his weight down on his front feet.Chaos erupted. I yelled, you son of a bitch, in pain, as I hit his horse with my elbow to get him off of my foot. The cameramen stepped back in shock, the governor's bodyguards quickly surrounded him. It happened so fast that no one immediately realized what was happening. As I tried to raise my now broken foot, everyone seem a little amused. fortunately the media cut that part out of the evening news.The governor had the police drive me to the hospital for x-rays. The horse had cracked three bones. I left the hospital with a large cast on my foot and carrying one boot. After two weeks I broke the cast off and put my boot back on. A hotel in Columbus had offered us complimentary rooms during our stay. I felt good to sleep in a bed again. Columbus veterans had lined up some talk shows and other speaking engagements at Rotary clubs, schools and organizations. The mounted police stabled our horses while we were in Columbus. I'm sure the horses appreciated the rest stop. Hundreds of packets of information were printed and distributed. Mayors from surrounding towns off of our route invited us to their towns. Barry made several day trips to towns close by as I hobbled about Columbus speaking. We had to decline many of the invitations from the more distant towns, but asked them to write letters of support for us to bring to Congress. I left left Columbus with the cast on my foot and one boot in the saddlebag. As we rode out of town, people stopped us with apples for the horses and buckets of water. After four hours of riding a man asked where we were spending the night. I told him wherever we happen to be at the end of the day, we never knew. I had a small two man tent and a sleeping bag tied to the back of my saddle. Barry, in true mountain man style had a bedroll and a canvas ground cloth.