LIFE ACROSS AMERICA 2010

“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!)