World Guy rolls through

Friday, July 4, 2014
Passing motorists on U.S. 231 have seen an odd sight in Putnam County over the past few days, as Erik Bendl, the "World Guy," has slowly made his way north, rolling a giant globe as he goes.

Passing motorists on U.S. 231 saw an odd sight in Putnam County early this week, as Erik Bendl, the "World Guy,"" has slowly made his way north, rolling a giant globe as he went.

Bendl and his dog Nice have walked and rolled their giant globe ball in parts of 42 states, all in the name of diabetes awareness. Bendl chose the cause after his mother passed away from the disease.

For several days recently, however, Bendl walked without Nice, after the dog suffered an injury in southern Indiana.

The trip likely would have ended not long after it started if not for the help of Joyce Barrett, who first met Bendl as he rolled the ball near Memphis, Ind.

"I thought, 'Am I really awake? What is that?' It was a man and a ball and a dog," Barrett said.

To satisfy her curiosity, Barrett turned around and asked Bendl about the ball and his trip. She ended up befriending Bendl and Nice, whose recent leg injury was jeopardizing the trip.

The connection was good enough that Barrett stayed with Nice in a hotel in Scottsburg as Bendl continued his trip.

"God puts people in your path for a reason," Barrett said. "The dog got lame and Erik was ready to stop his trip. He didn't want to."

Even with Nice back in good health, Barrett again met up with the duo in Cloverdale on Monday evening, and Nice got another break from the road as Bendl made his was from Cloverdale to Greencastle.

"People help me out a lot," Bendl said. "Not often does somebody babysit my dog and follow me for 50 or 60 miles."

More often, people make donations to the effort or provide Bendl with support, such as the salads provided Tuesday by the staff at Putnam County Hospital.

On this trip, Bendl is making his way from his hometown of Louisville, through Indiana, to Michigan, the only state east of the Rockies he has yet to visit.

Barring injury, that will make 43 states, with Arizona, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming still on the list. Bendl says he has no designs on Alaska or Hawaii.

In terms of miles traveled 13 trips (12 of them with Nice in the last seven years), Bendl stopped counting two years ago when he reached 6,000 miles.

"If 6,000 isn't good enough for you," Bendl said, "I don't know what to tell you."

According to Bendl's blog, www.worldguy.org, he was in Parkersburg as of Friday.

To follow this and future trips or to support the Worldguy Foundation, visit the blog.

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