The Spirit drives deeper into Ohio to North Baltimore for the weekend

With a stop in North Baltimore, Ohio, OOIDA’s touring tractor-trailer, The Spirit of the American Trucker, makes its third stop of a four-town tour of Ohio.

Jon Osburn, skipper of The Spirit, plans to be at the North Baltimore Petro Stopping Center until Aug. 6. It is off I-75 at Exit 167.

After he leaves North Baltimore, he plans to be at the Truck World truck stop in Hubbard, Ohio, on Aug. 8-10.

The Spirit has recently stopped at the Ohio communities of New Paris and Wapakoneta.

In Wapakoneta, Jon said truck drivers were talking about the good freight rates they were getting, especially flatbed rates.

“I’ve got guys coming in here smiling about their rates. They normally don’t do that,” Jon said.

The Wapakoneta truck stop is a historically significant place, Jon mentioned. It was the first truck stop on an interstate highway. It was built in 1956 shortly after President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 into law.

The truck stop is vintage, but it also is well maintained, Jon said.

The next stop for The Spirit, North Baltimore, was platted in 1874 when the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was extended to that point. It is south of Bowling Green, Ohio. Strangely, Ohio also has a Baltimore, but it is east of Columbus and about 140 miles away from North Baltimore.

FYI, the Iron Skillet at the Petro Stopping Center has gotten rave reviews on Trip Advisor.

“The 24-hour soup and salad bar was a pleasant surprise! The vegetable soup that is made daily by their new buffet cook was amazing!” wrote someone signed on as Jody in a review.

Whenever you see The Spirit tour truck, go say hello to Jon. He enjoys visiting about the Association’s activities and current issues. You also can join or renew your OOIDA membership for $10 off the regular price there. Also, you can get vouchers for flu, shingles and pneumonia vaccines from Jon at The Spirit.