Welcome to Illinois

 Iroquois, Illinois

 Everett Butler gave me a place to stay tonight with a roof over my head. Supposed to get pretty cold! It will be sweet being out of the weather.

Near Buffalo, IN

 
This gentleman took a break from his work, chased me down, and chatted about a bike ride he took in the 80s.  In those days he was a rower for Purdue University; today he farms.  He was picking rocks out of this field, I was bicycling against the wind, and we thought it might be a good idea to exchange tasks.  The wind has had me slowed down to 4 miles an hour at times. At this rate I should make the West Coast around 2016.  Near Royal Ctr., Indiana, on a nice sunny Saturday with very heavy winds.

Justan Charles Turner

 Justan got out of the Army this last February.  He was with Bravo Battery, 4th Bn/319 Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne in Afghanistan. He's home; he's going to use the G.I. Bill to become a gunsmith.  We met when I was looking for a place to pitch my tent near Buffalo, Indiana, and I was totally beat by the wind which has been busting my butt the whole day!  I never worked so hard for 15 miles in my life.

Justan and his family are such wonderful new friends.  Justan presented me with his 173rd Airborne patch and this will be given a place of honor upon my return home.  His Mom gave me an "It was then that I carried you" token that will see me safely through this adventure.  Chuck...you have an awesome family of which you must be so proud.  Justan...see you in Denver next year.

 Really rained last night but I was snug and warm in my little sleeping bag and tent.  I have Illinois in my sights as the next targeted state...just keep peddling into the wind...

Steve, Jake, and David will do this someday.

50+ miles today

Made it to Fletcher Lake, Indiana, today.  Wind was brutal, cold, misting, so the sleeping bag nestled in my tent feels mighty fine.  Exhausted!

Nickel Plated Trail, a rails to trails, just outside Denver, Indiana.

May 1, 2014

Most certainly Huntington, Indiana, has been the highlight of the trip.  So many fine people, such a great community residing in a beautiful setting. Attending the prayer breakfast at the University this morning was spiritually uplifting. I was given the opportunity to share a bit of the details of my trip with the group there and express how much I appreciated their support while traveling through their fair city.  Huntington will retain a special spot my heart, and I look forward to returning here with Andrea after completing my trip.  After attending the prayer breakfast I was given the opportunity to visit one of the middle schools where I was interviewed by a journalism class. Such fine students, so poised, and obviously bright. What an honor!

Chris Bucher took time out of his busy schedule to service "Traveler" ...the name that I've given my bicycle. He refused any compensation for his work and now has my bicycle in good working order and ready to hit the road again. He did inform me that I've worn out my chain...not surprising in that I expect to go through three chains on this trip and possibly four.  Tremendous pressure is placed on the drive system for my bicycle as it's loaded down with not only my weight but about 40 to 45 pounds of gear.

 The time came to say goodbye to Everett Carroll (the chief of police) and his beautiful daughter as I begin to to take steps to resume my trip. Goodbye Huntington, Indiana. You will retain a warm spot in my heart through the remainder of my trip and in the years to come.  Also a special thanks to The Harold Press and the Huntington County TAB for taking an interest in my trip.  Goodbye to all for now and I will look forward to seeing you after my trip.

New friends - Huntington, Indiana

Near Zanesville, Indiana

The winds have been absolutely brutal on this phase of the trip. It's beautiful country, fairly flat, and would generally be easy bicycling if it weren't for the wind blowing in my face at 30 miles an hour.  I decided to hotel it tonight in Huntington, Indiana. The people here are incredibly friendly! I went to a coffee shop to get a latte, asked about hotels, and the proprietor directed me to a bicycle friendly hotel that only charges bicyclists $30 per night! On the way to the hotel I was stopped by a gentleman who turned out to be the chief of police and who was asking about my trip.  He said both he and the Mayor are big bicyclists and invited me out for a beer and dinner.  I will let you know how it goes. As I have traveled through a number of towns, I end up making the news. I guess folks are fascinated with a stupid old man riding a bicycle across country!  In any event, there have been about three towns where my picture has been taken and I've been told that I would be the front page in the next newspaper. I'll have to go back and see if I can find the articles sometime down the road.  I believe I will take a rest day as my knees are pretty sore from peddling into the wind. This could change if the wind turns the right direction, bicycle weather is perfect, and I get antsy to hit the road.  We will see.

One never knows how, when, or where new friends will be made.  In this instance in Huntington, Indiana, I was approached by the police chief who is an avid bicyclist.  After chatting for a bit he invited me for an evening out for dinner, beer, and socializing with his friends.  Dinner was attended by the mayor, his wonderful wife, the police chief, and another avid bicyclist. I'm ashamed to say I would destroy their names if I tried to post them at this time so I will have to do that later.  We had a great evening of dining, drinking, and telling bicycle stories. We traveled many of the same trails, had many of the same experiences, and all in all it was just a wonderful evening.  I was very touched in that the mayor presented me with a medallion that will be a wonderful memento from my visit in Huntington, Indiana, and a great keepsake from the bicycle trip where I have made so many new friends.  The mayor invited me join a morning prayer breakfast where I will have the opportunity to meet more of the citizens from this wonderful city.  All in all it was a great evening, full of laughter, and a sharing of like interests. What a joy and only an experience that one can gain by stepping out of their comfort zone and traveling across this great land at 10 miles an hour.

 

Into Indiana

Indiana Stateline

 Wind is severe, very difficult bicycling, sore knees, be glad when I get to Monroeville!

As soon as I pulled into Monroeville, the town librarians made a point to direct me to the hostel where I would have a roof over my head this evening.  They were so nice and caring!

Needless to say, upon arriving at Monroeville I was totally beat and I must confess that I look better than I actually felt at the moment this picture was taken.

These gentleman made certain that I was comfortably situated at the hostel. The gentleman on the left served with the 196 infantry, was twice wounded before returning home to resume his life in Monroeville.  The one on the left loves old cars and travels all over the United States to show his Hudson.  Thank you citizens of Monroeville for your graciousness, hospitality, and great accommodations.