LIFE ACROSS AMERICA 2010

Wow! It’s a rest day and I for one … definitely can use some rest … I must be getting “old”, eh?

A little history of St. Joseph, Missouri … located on the banks of the mighty Missouri River.

• A clean concise way of describing this area is in the slogan “Where the Pony Express started and Jesse James ended.”
• Previous to that time period is the time period of July 6, 1804 … when Meriwether Lewis and William Clark did their thing as part of the “mapping” of the  Louisiana Purchase.  (so there is a lot of very rich history here, check it out at: www.lewis-clark.org )
• Then there’s the history of the Blacksnake Hills Trading Post from the era of 1826, founded by a fur trader, Joseph Robidoux.
• Several years later we come into the era of Jesse James … who moved to town in the fall of 1881 under the assumed name of Ton Howard, after most of his gang had been killed in a bank robbery up in Northfield, Minnesota.
• Jesse James was killed by “Bob” Ford and yet he was arrested and charged with murder.  The “James Home” is now a museum.
• Finally a note about the “Pony Express” which was established in 1860, many years before Jesse James, as the threat of the Civil War loomed ahead of them.
• A sad note … The Pony Express lasted just 19 months … because its founders went bankrupt, after being replaced by the 1st Transcontinental Telegraph and Railroad.
• I love the “local flavor” in which they say … “the city of St. Joseph has changed with the years, but its past has not been forgotten.”
• There are lots of attractions to be visited … so if you get a chance … stop by St. Joseph, MO., and delve into the rich history of this beautiful area.

Back to the work of the “rest day” … clean the bikes, clean the clothes, visit with my “children and grandchildren” … it doesn’t get any better than this!

To all my friends back in Santa Rosa, CA, the SRCC “Acorns” we love you and miss you friendly smiles.

To Brett G., John M., and Rand L. … thanks for your support … you are amazing!

To my family and friends at church … I say “noone said it would be easy … they just said it would be worth it!

Channel 4 News (Gary) out of Kansas City called this morning and decided they would hook up with us tomorrow morning when we start our trek to Chillicothe. (another 92 mile day!)

I’ll check in with you later. (as D.C. says “hugs and kisses”.

• Wow!  What a day!  At 12 noon … we will interviewed by Greg Miller, a reporter from Channel 3 News Press NOW, St. Joseph, MO.
• Greg emailed and said it should be on the 9 o’clock news show later this evening.
• Then this afternoon, our whole family (Paul, Katrina, Luc, Lani, Libby, Aaron, Kambrala, Lillie and Lani all went to visit a friend of ours, Warren Hurley, who is a fireman/driver for SJFD, St. Joseph Fire Department, at 2701 St. Joseph Avenue.
• It was a lot of fun and we took a lot of pictures at the fire station … check it out on Facebook …
• There must have been some mixup because I thought we were invited to attend a blood drive in St. Joseph however I must have missed our contact time.

What a great day of fun!

Today was a festive day … in spite of the rain and everything. 

Because it was the 4th of July … the birthday of our nation.  (I had a couple of small flags on my bike which managed to stay in place.)

It was a 88 mile day … with a 16.4 mph average.

And it was wet … wet … and then some more … wet!

Not many pictures today … just an overwhelming urge to get it over and done … take a shower, clean up and dry off.

A great surprise … Aaron, Kambrala, Lillie and Lucy … met us at the Drury hotel … they are staying here tonight.

After they arrived and Aaron gave me the new Shram Red cassette … Gerard (the mechanic) was able to switch out my rear cassette and put a new rear tire and tube on.  So all I have to do now is get the bike cleaned up for Tuesday and another possibly rainy day.

They ate with all of our cyclists and we were able to introduce Aaron and his family to everyone. 

We spent the evening together … visiting and remembering what it was like in 1996 when Aaron and I did it together.

Lillie and Lucy are so cute, it was fun watching them play together and with Adella.  It was fun singing my song to Lillie … Grandpa loves Lillie and watch her “rock” to the music.

In the evening, we all read scriptures together, said our prayers and said goodnight as they went up to their room.

Talk to you tomorrow.

What an incredible day! I rode all day with Adella and she was able to ride the entire 108 miles with a 13.6 mph average.  We were lucky enough to ride with Rand and his son, Will.(They were able to share our TV interview on the road with us.)

Basically we had fun today … we took a lot of pictures.   We started off the day taking a picture with Off. Shawn Herrman of the Abilene PD.

Then later we took pictures with Scott Coover, Sheriff of Morris County, Kansas … also with his Undersheriff who happened to be the Mayor of White City, Kansas … there also was a parade in town as we came through … we also talked with one of the city councilmen and a reporter/photographer named Gilbert Ash … who was from UNICEF and took a lot of pictures with us and the Sheriff.

Our SAG stop was in White City so we have some really neat photos of their monument in KATY Park to the Armed Forces members who gave their lives for our country.

Adella also had her picture taken on another horse … down on Main Street, with a local politician.

We had threatening rain clouds and a lot of cross winds and in your face winds … all day long!  (that’s 108 miles worth of wind, wow!)

We also received a call from Fox News, Channel 27, Topeka, KS, and about 10 miles away from the hotel they stopped us on highway 4 East …  and did an interview for their 6 p.m. or 10 p.m. broadcast.

After the interview … as we cycled into Topeka on our way to the Holiday Inn … it started raining hard … so we were wet by the time we made it to the hotel.(Luckily we are able to wash our wet clothes tonight.)

After we arrived at the hotel … we and several other cyclists were interviewed for an article in the Topeka Capital-Journal paper (www.cjonline.com) by staff reporter … Kevin Elliott kevin.elliott@cjonline.com, later after dinner, he also took a picture with some of us and also the ABB staff. (Michelle, Judy, Gerard, Pam and Alex)

Hopefully there is room in the article for Kevin to include many of the incredible “causes” that other cyclists are riding for while doing the cross country challenge with ABB.

On top of all that … and to add to the many surprises today … the MormonTimes articles came out, and guess what else happened?

Our family and grandchildren …Paul, Katrina, Luc, Lani, and Libby came by for a quick visit with Adella and Grandpa … we went for ice cream and took some neat pictures!

Well, that’s about it for now … tomorrow is another 88 mile day … I’m looking forward to St. Joseph, MO and a much needed “rest” day!  (Also we’re looking forward to seeing Aaron, Kambrala, Lilly and Lucy on Sunday!)

Guess what?

Before I forget it … what did Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower say about his presidency?  Don’t know? 

 No problem, let me help you out!

“The proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene.”  Dwight D. Eisenhower, Homecoming Speech, June 22, 1945.

Abilene became a town (or a spot on the map) way back in 1857 when the Hershey’s settled into a dugout in the banks of Mud Creek.

Abilene also became the 1st cowtown when the Kansas Pacific Railroad and Chisholm Trail crossed. 

Here is Abilene’s claim to fame … “Everything you have seen or heard about cowboys happened here first!”

The town is the home to some famous lawmen:  Tom Smith and Wild Bill Hickok …

Well, that’s my walk down history and memory lane with you … about Abilene, Kansas.

What can I say about cycling into Abilene?

What an incredible day!  It was awesome!   The “wind Gods” smiled on us and gave us the “wind beneath our wheels” and a great big tailwind!  (How about a 20.6 mph average for 64 miles into Abilene?)

Thank you for a really neat lesson in “cycling strength and power’ … taught to me by Phil (one of our most consistent, safe, and strongest riders … who put the “hammer” down and dropped me on one of the rolling hills and then he was gone … although I was able to keep him in sight until we all stopped for a picture at the ABB 1/2 way point which was marked on the highway!

Also thank you to Kiwi Rick (from New Zealand) who agreed to work with me trying to keep Phil and Gerard in sight ,,,  Rick is an awesome paceline partner … way to go, Rick!  (We were doing 28 mph together only to find out later that Phil and Gerard were crusing along at 30+ mph. Darn!”

Adella started early today with Pam and their goal was to not get caught by the ABB peloton … at least until the 1/2 point of the ABB ride. (see the Facebook photos)

After that …. and another 9 miles came an awesome SAG stop … where I was able to enjoy fresh blueberries, sweet cheeries, small cupcakes … plus all of our normal stuff to eat.

As we left the SAG … I was able to get my picture taken with a local deputy sheriff … Jab Jacquart … very friendly and willing to take a picture with us. (another tiny little guy … not!)

Once again I hooked up with Kiwi Rick … and … we had a blast .. pedaling our wee little behinds off! (It was really cool because we would turn LEFT and the wind would be in our faces for about a mile … then we would turn RIGHT and we would have a tailwind for  5 miles … no way to describle it other than, AWESOME!

I then hooked up to the cycling train of:  Big John H, Larry J., Kiwi Rick, Gerard, Pam, and Joy.

Once in Abilene we stopped at the cafe … “The Dish” … great food, friendly hostess, great decor, and lots of cyclist camaraderie!

While there … I notice a framed saying titled …

FAMILY

“Let’s be grateful for those who give us happiness, they are the charming gardners who make our soul bloom.  Marcel Proust”  (I took a picture of it because it really touched my heart!)

Then back to the hotel and now to finish the blog, go to DQ, and get ready for a new day of 108 miles tomorrow … cycling into Topeka, KS. (Channel 27 out of Topeaka may give us an interview tomorrow.)

Here’s a note from the SLC reporter Hikari about the upcoming article in Mormon Times/Deseret News:

• Hi Larry and Adella!

  Just wanted to let you know that the article on you guys will go live online tomorrow (JULY 3) at mormontimes.com
  
  Also, the print edition runs on THURSDAY (JULY 8). I will make sure to grab some and send them home for you to the address that Adella gave to me!

  I have been telling people all about you guys! I’m glad to hear that things are going well!

  -Hikari

Well, that’s about it for today … talk to you tomorrow.

“Set in America’s heartland, McPherson has become one of Kansas’s most progressive communities.”(The McPherson Sentinel)

German Mennonites and Swedish immigrants settled this community.  Farmland adjacent manufacturing keeps the local economy strong, even though it’s always changing.  All the residents that I’ve met so far (including the local firemen) are very friendly and seem genuinely concerned for our safety on the road.  What I’ve seen so far is a thriving community with a “spirit of home” that is obvious to us visitors.  I love the “Main Street” atmosphere with its local shops, etc. If you have time check out the Opera House and the Museum. (adapted from the Visitor Edition of the Sentinel)

Now back to our 64 mile ride from Great Bend to McPherson, KS … it was a little chilly this morning (for me) and a little wind in your face, yet not too bad.

Adella and I rode together to the 1st SAG stop … because we had a phone interview with Brent Ferris on KZST, 100.1 FM, in Santa Rosa, CA. … we stopped at the side of the road and did our interview … giving some of the “highlights” of our ride so far … like climbing over Monarch Pass, 11312 feet … Adella racing some horses with her bicycle and then taking a picture on the same horse, and Larry meeting the mature silver haired foxy ladies of Cimarron .

We even were able to mention a couple of amazing and interesting people we have met … one of them  being Rabbi George S. … from our local hometown of Santa Rosa, CA.   I think Brent wants us to talk more about the “wild and crazy” or very unusual and interesting people we’ve met so far.   I forgot to mention to Brent … “you know we are in Kansas and that we are riding bicycles, right?”    I did tell him that we’ve cycled 1869 miles so far … Wow!  Sometimes that’s even hard for me to believe?

After the SAG stop … Adella decided to ride by herself and I started out by myself on the last 40 miles facing an “in your face” headwind …  after riding the 1st 23 miles with Adella … For the day, I still ended up with a 14.6 mph average, not bad for an old guy!

After I entered the city of McPherson, KS, I decided to stop at the local fire station at 312 E. Kansas.  I met some amazing firemen and they gave me a mini tour and who also allowed me to take a picture with them in front of their brand new fire truck … it’s more like an incredible fire-fighting machine. (rumor has it that it cost a of money … yet it’s worth it … if it protects the good people of McPherson!) 

 Basicallythe title in the local paper article should read …  a retired Oakland, CA, ”cop” stopped by to thank local firemen for the great job they do … a personal “thank you” to: Cpt. Chris Biehler, Lt. Jeff McClure (a very funny guy), FF Jeff Wendt, FF Willy Lulloff, and FF Will Krehbiel … they were amazing to me because they took the time to share two of their most precious commodities with me … their “time” and their new “fire engine”!  Thanks guys!

After a friendly photo session … (check out the Facebook account of “Give Blood”) I rode down to Braum’s Ice Cream Parlor and had a Hot Fudge Milkshake … it was awesome! 

While there Larry Johnson and I talked to a local Mennonite lady and her granddaughter … she was a 2nd generation Mennonite and had a big farm in the area.  Very friendly to us and said she used to ride bicycles where ever she needed to go somewhere, so she was amazed at what we were doing … also she had been a “blood donor” and said that her church had just held a big blood drive.

Then on to the Best Western to check in, and now Adella and some of the “ladies” have gone to the opening of the new “Twilight” movie.  We’ll see what she has to say when she returns.

I just talked to Jen Shoffner(our publicist) and she’s taking a couple days of vacation over the weekend.  (Great job Jen … you deserve it!)

I also talked to a reporter (JaNae) from the McPherson Sentinel about how “Giving Blood in the one Gift that truly comes from your heart!) … she promised to check out the website and our Facebook account.  (Thanks to Fran’s children for bringing her into the loop for his cause!)

Today started out a little slow … slow to wake up, slow to get packed up, slow to get to breakfast, slow to get loaded, and slow to get started … and yet … finally on the road.  (Adella decided to ride with Lauren today, because she’s still having challenges with her knee.)

I started off with Tony, Wade and Fran (they were gracious enough to let me ride with them)  … I rode with them to the 1st SAG stop (this is the MIDWAY point between SF and NYC) … yet the longer I rested …  the more my legs, back and muscles stiffened up, so I decided to take off on my own to give myself a chance to warm up before they caught up with me … it wasn’t too long before Larry J … caught up with me and we decided to ride together … pulling from “mile marker” to “mile marker”

Wow!  Larry’s 75 years young … yet, he’s a very strong rider … so we were cruising along between 18-19 mph and guess what?

Noone caught up with us … so after the 2nd SAG stop … we decided to do it again!

Along the highway I saw a couple of Kansas State troopers who had stopped a big rig … I stopped and talked to a Master Trooper Stanton … and he agreed to a picture with me and I gave him a big “hug” and thanked him for his service and asked him to be safe out there, he then asked me what happened to my legs, so I told him.  He then told me how he had been “hit” in the back by a passing motorist’s mirror and told me to also “be careful”.

We continued our trek and started getting blasted with more “crosswinds” yet we were both very consistent and before we knew it, we were pulling into Great Bend, and Larry pulled off for a “smoothie” and I went to the hotel to help unload our luggage.

After I was finished I rode back over to WalMart to buy some lotion (Curel) and sunblock … also to get my glasses fixed … I guess when I hugged the state trooper, the eyeglass screw fell out. (typed with  a smile!) Yet the Vision Care lady was able to fix it right away… so now I’m a happy camper!

We are now receiving lots of media contact calls from Bethlehem, PA, Kansas City and St. Joseph, MO plus Richmond, Indiana, Gainesville, FL, Atlanta, GA, Mobile, AL and Dayton, Ohio.

A special thanks to our friends at the local blood centers … you are amazing!

If you get a chance … our pictures are now updated on Facebook … at Give Blood.

Wow!  Can you believe it?  Yes, it’s true …

We are already  in Dodge City, KS … and we’ve  cycled 1720 miles and we are on Day 24.  That is amazing to me!

Great job, Adella!  You are an amazing trooper … and we are almost 1/2 way to Portsmouth, NH.

I received an email from Paul Maher (my roommate in 2008) … he will be riding 5 days with us across upstate New York … it will be great to see and ride with him again.

We took lots of very neat pictures today … make sure to check out Facebook at the Give Blood account.

I again rode with Tony, Wade and Fran … they were nice enough to let me ride with them … after Adella decided to ride with Lauren.

Today was Wade’s turn to have a “blowout” on his rear tire … we stopped and got it fixed, then Gerard rode with us to the SAG stop and we were cruising at 2s6-27 mph. (He was just taking it easy on us!)

Today was a “fun”  ride … with a 19.5 mph average to the 1st SAG stop and a 17.5 mph average for the overall day!

We stopped for a lot of pictures … saw a lot of “feedlots” for thousands of cattle, they were huge and seemed to go on for miles.

We stopped in the quaint little town of Cimarron at an old time 50″s soda fountain … it was awesome!

I had a Hot Fudge Mikeshake that was delicious and I met 5 of the town’s most famous silver haired “foxes” … I can’t remember all of their names, yet, that had lived there for years.  One had a grocery store with her husband, one was a school teacher and a librarian, another said that she “waited on” her husband, and another one was a “blood donor” … they were amazing and allowed Adella and I to take a picture with them, they were funny and had a great sense of humor. (check out the pix of Cimarron’s Five Silver Haired Foxes)

We stopped to get some interesting pictures at the Santa Fe Trail historical markers, and at the Dodge City Cowboys tribute where Tony and Wade carried their bicycles all the way to the top of the monument for a picture.

We are now at the Dodge City hotel and getting ready for some much needed fun tonight at the Boot Hill Museum.

Also we were able to wash and dry our clothes … thank goodness!  (Clean shorts are a must for this kind of cycling tour!)

While that was going on … Adella was playing piano and then Gerard and Robert decided to sing, play piano and harmonica. (They really sounded great together)

In the meantime, Adella played ping pong with Wade and it was “down to the wire” for each game … yet … they had a lot of fun playing each other!

This afternoon Gerard is teaching us some new “tips” on cycling, how to look back without falling down, how to make quick turns, how to dodge rocks, and most of all … how to make quick and much needed stops. (Boy do we need this!)

Tonight there will be a Gun Fight at 7 p.m. scheduled in honor of Michelle our cyclist “mom”, and at 7:30 we will attend the “Miss Kitty” show … a good time will be had by all in attendance or else!

The trick to Dodge City is not how easy it is to get here … it is how easy it will be to get out of Dodge City alive?

It should be a lot of fun … and … I’ll check in with you on the details later.

Note: A special thank you to Lauren Larsen for talking to Scott today … you are both amazijng.

Also this afternoon, both Adella and I did an phone interview with Gary K … from Life South in Florida … preparing for our visits in Atlanta, Gainesville, and Mobile.  (We have met before on the Five Points of Life ride in 1997 when we rode through to Gainesville, FL.

That should be enough for now.

Whoopee! 105 miles from Lamar, Colorado … to … Garden City, KS. (average speed 16.4 mph)

Yes, it’s true we are now in KANSAS! 

This is Day 23 of our trip … once again I rode with Tony, Wade and Fran …

What a beautiful state …  for us cyclists lots of “rollers” … and … unfortunately … lots of wind … mostly cross winds which means it’s really hard to develop an effective paceline, because, the “rumble strips” are always in the way for the 4th rider … because it stifles the proper echelon positioning to find the sweet spot. (the area of the draft where you are most protected from the cross wind.

Yet it was a great day!  Even though I had a flat on the road … it was right after Scott’s group also had a flat … so it must have been a “sympathy” flat!

Thanks to Tony … because he helped me fix it and Gerard came by with the pump … which saved me using a compressed air bottle.

Lots of cool pix today … both mine and Adella’s! (don’t forget to check out the pix at “Give Blood” on Facebook.

Later in the day … Tony had a real intense “blowout” which completely ruptured the tube and the tire … it was awesome!

He was able to ride it to a stop, just like the professional he is … good job, Tony!

Well, that all for right now … I may add more later.

Today started off very early … we said our prayers and read our scriptures.

Breakfast was at 5:00 a.m. and  load time was 5:45 a.m.

So we were on the road early … I rode by myself in the beginning.

Then I rode for awhile with Rand, his son, Will and his good friend … we were cruising along about 15 mph and I was waiting to see if Adella was going to catch up with me.

After a period of time I decided to move on up the road … and I guess that is when Adella caught up with Rand and he told her that I had just left because I thought she wasn’t coming … it was funny because she really sped up and caught up with me just as the SAG van appeared and she needed water and pulled off to fill up.

From that point on … I decided to hook up with Fran, Tony, and Wade … so we rode together all day … and … a total of 121 miles for me … 16.5 mph average.

We had 3 scheduled SAG stops and it was a long, long  day. 

Note: There are some very large “feedlots” in or near Lamar … with thousands of cattle being prepared for the market.  (Check out the pictures on Facebook)

Also Wade had a flat and I must say … his father, Tony is very fast and very efficient at changing a tire.

We are now at the hotel catching up on the blog and looking for a quick snack before we have our scheduled dinner.

That’s it for today … talk to you tomorrow.

Wow!  Today was a well deserved rest day.  We were picked up at 9:00 a.m. by Rudy Sosa, the Regional Director for BonFils in Pueblo, CO. area.  We were in competition with a huge annual Hot Rod car show held in Pueblo.

We spent the morning visiting with and thanking the local “blood donors” … it was awesome and we met some really incredible men and women at the BonFils blood center. (check out the pix on Facebook at “Give Blood”)

I was able to squeeze in a “haircut” in between the blood drive and the afternoon barbeque and birthday party for Kristin (one of Adella’s childhood friends from SR) which was held at her family’s home in Pueblo, CO.

We had a blast visiting with Merrill, Jody, and the rest of the family, who are friends of ours from the Santa Rosa, CA, area … you should see all the baby pictures … I loved it … surrounded by munchkins … hence the many pictures of babies on Facebook.

By 3:00 p.m. I was exhausted and returned to the hotel for a well deserved nap … Adella woke me up later and said it was time to eat dinner … so off to dinner with Fran and Rob (fellow cyclists)  in the hotel restaurant.

We are now catching up on our packing for a 3:30 a.m. wake up … hopefully in time to get a “sunrise start” on our next long 120 mile day from Pueblo to Lamar, CO.

Not sure what the weather tomorrow will be like … it seems that we are getting “conflicting” weather reports … windy, possible T-storms, rain, wind at our back, wind in our faces … just not sure?

Too much to think about … I’m going to bed!

A special thanks to Julie, Rudy and his family, and all of the blood donors who are on the “tree of life” at the Pueblo, Bonfils Blood Center … there are so many who have helped saved “lives” of those in need … just like me!

Talk to you tomorrow.