Buddy Across America Tour 2010: The ‘Roo-ful Recap

First leg: WiHi to Dayton/Cincinnati, where BudRoo made a new friend and we reacquainted ourselves with a few old ones — such as "GoGo" Goheen.

Mrs. WiHi even got a tour of my old haunts/bars in Cincy. We looked for Coach at The Gas Light Cafe in Pleasant Ridge, only to find that was "retiring" from bartending and had gone and married former Bengal Ken Anderson's daughter! Sometimes, you can't make this stuff up.

Second Leg: Ohio to Durham, N.C. Traveler's tip No. 1: If you somehow feel the urge to stop in Beckley, W.V., resist it. You're not missing a thing, except for the freak show. This is yours truly in front of Historic Durham Bulls Park, where the movie "Bull Durham" was shot more than 20 years ago.

Sunny Raleigh, home to the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes and the North Carolina State Wolfpack, whose football stadium is just across the street from the Hurricanes' arena.

Third leg: Raleigh/Durham to Nashville. While LeBron James was holding ESPN and the rest of the free world hostage, we elected to head outside and explore downtown Music City. Good call. Cort had never been to Nashville, nor had she seen the city's Parthenon replica lit up after dark. BudRoo wound up with some frozen yogurt later that night, which he inhaled. The next day, it was even better — he somehow charmed his way to personal service from a waiter on the dining deck at San Antonio Taco Co., across the street from Vanderbilt University. I think Nashville was Bud's favorite stop on the trip. Everybody bent over backwards for him there.

Fourth leg: Nasvhille to St. Louis. The folks in the Gateway City were a little more immune to his charms, but he got a kick out of walking University City while Mama and Papa WiHi took turns hopping in and out of stores. Travel tip No. 2: When staying at a Days Inn, it's best to try to avoid one of their "dog rooms."

King Arthur sought The Holy Grail. I sought Stag Beer. Hey. To each his quest.

Fifth leg: St. Louis to the WiHi. Travel tip No. 3: When your wife suggests climbing 244 steps in Hannibal, Mo., be sure to stretch out first. Trust me on this one, kids.

Five Skyline coneys, four beers, and one sweet Blue Jackets victory.

When the Jackets score, some dude in a Union soldier outfit fires this bad boy.

Remember that “SportsCenter” highlight last month of Columbus star Rick Nash doing the Captain Morgan pose during a game-winning shootout goal against Anaheim?

We were there, dude.

Upper deck, right behind the goal as Nash lit the lamp. I scored three upper-deck tickets for WOODman, Logue and myself Nov. 13, the night before the Ohio State-Iowa game at the Horseshoe. We watched Columbus rally for a 3-2 shootout victory. Hey. Free hockey!

Not as high up as you'd think, actually. And not bad for $20 a seat.

Gotta admit: I kind of dug Nationwide Arena. Wide concourses, good food (including a nice Cincinnati flavor with Skyline Chili and Montgomery Inn barbecue stands on-hand), decent sightlines, cool fans. Pity the Blue Jackets are losing money faster than the federal government, though.

It’s official: We’re tyin’ the knot.

I did it.

I finally did it.

On Saturday night, I asked Courtney Suzanne Bower to be my wife.

She accepted.

Well, actually, she hesitated for what seemed to be an uncomfortably long time.

Then she accepted.

But whatever.

And so what if the ring didn’t fit?

I did it.

I finally did it.

Somebody just lost a bet.

Anyway, I’m launching this blog (‘BBCWiHi’ is short for ‘BBC Windsor Heights’) to spread the word — and to see if there’s anything else I can write/post here that won’t get me sued. Or fired. That would suck.

We’ll keep you posted when/if there’s pertinent news. Other than trying to figure out a way to convince the surviving members of Led Zeppelin to play at the reception, everything’s pretty much up in the air at this point.

But there’s this: Lee and the Notorious W.O.O.D. have already volunteered to co-chair the ‘Bachelor Party Committee.’ God help us all.

And now, a special message from this blog’s patron saint, Lightnin’ Hopkins: