Amazing Ride is Shifting Gears! FOLLOW ME!

The Amazing Ride for Alzheimer's is shifting gears! As of May 15 this blog will retire. The good news is that you can still follow along with me this year by clicking HERE or to the "ride specific" page HERE - my new location on the Washington County Insider!

Judy Steffes (L) with Audrey Steffes (R)

This year, from June 29 through July 20 The Amazing Ride for Alzheimer's will be touring from Wisconsin and through Upper and Lower Michigan (always with a few added and unexpected twists and turns).  I'll be riding along with my niece, Audrey Steffes.  Audrey, 15, is an Olympic hopeful who will be tagging along on this year's tour. Watch her interview HERE in an Olympic preview piece about the Wisconsin Speed Skating Club on TMJ4.

The purpose of this fundraiser for 2018 is to purchase a "Cycling Without Age" rickshaw bicycle (photo below) for senior residents at the Samaritan Health Center in West Bend, Wisconsin, courtesy Bike Friendly West Bend. 100% of your donation will be applied toward the purchase of the bike.

Learn more about how to donate HERE.

Off to work today in Holland

June 27, 2017 - Netherlands - Off to work today in Holland. 

Leaving Lisse after 22 miles out of Amsterdam on Monday and a wonderful stay with Eduard and Marthy at Bed & Rest - De Dahlia. A beautiful house with energetic neighbor boys, Sam and Simon. 

Riding in tribute to Vic and Gen Albiero

June 27, 2017 - Washington County, WI - Today I'll be riding in tribute to:

If you would like me to ride in the name of someone you know, send their name, a jpeg photo, a brief note if you like, and your contribution of $100. The entire $100 donation will go toward Alzheimer's programs at Cedar Community.

Checks should be made made payable to "Cedar Community Foundation" 113 Cedar Ridge Dr., West Bend, WI 53095

Cedar Community is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and donations are tax-deductible.

Bike is cumbersome, but connects conversation

June 25, 2017 - West Bend, WI - Just sharing some of what it's like traveling with a bike in a box. 

Cumbersome is one word that nails it. 

My bike flies with me on these tours. I take off the front wheel, handlebars and pedals, pack it up and heft it through the airport ... along with my luggage. 

From what I've witnessed it's easier than a kid in a stroller. Few people offer to help which means I must look capable; "sturdy" is how one gentleman described my appearance. According to the Urban Dictionary a sturdy girl is "equally capable of climbing rocks."

I've got my system down to a science. 

The other thing that happens behind the scenes is the bike is a conversation starter. 

So far the three people I've met in line have all had a family member who has had Alzheimer's. "My friend nursed his wife until her death," said Bill. "Now he's 90 years old and taking care of his son who has Alzheimer's." 

Bill wished me luck on tour and so did the woman at the ticket desk at Delta. She even waived the fee to fly my bike. "My grandma has Alzheimer's. I really appreciate what you're doing," she said. 

On a side note: This year the bike and contents tipped the scale at 52 pounds. My luggage for three weeks weighed in at 15 pounds. 

Riding in tribute during the 2017 Amazing Ride for Alzheimer's

June 19, 2017 - West Bend, WI -  Gearing up for the 2017 Amazing Ride for Alzheimer's which will tour the Netherlands this year. I leave in a week and as in the past I will ride in tribute each day to someone affected by Alzheimer's.


If you would like me to ride in the name of someone you know please send their name, a jpeg photo, a brief note if you like, and your contribution.

The entire $100 donation will go toward Alzheimer's programs at Cedar Community.

Checks made payable to "Cedar Community Foundation" 113 Cedar Ridge Dr., West Bend, WI 53095

Cedar Community is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and donations are tax-deductible.

Riding/traveling in tribute to Pat Bohn today

Today I'm leaving for New Mexico. I'll be traveling/riding in tribute to Pat Bohn today.

Here are some candid comments from Deb Bohn about what it's like to live with someone with Alzheimer's. Family support is a big key as there's an overwhelming fear of being very alone.



If you would like to have Judy ride in tribute of your loved one, please email a photo to thebikewriter@gmail.com or judyharley@yahoo.com, include the person's name and a brief note if you like, and send off your contribution by clicking HERE. The entire $100 donation will go toward Alzheimer's programs at Cedar Community.

VIDEO: Behind-the-scenes look at packing small for the tour

I was asked if I could post a little bit more on what it's like to get ready for the tour - packing and whatnot.

Here ya go. My goal is light and tight and small. Some of the tricks - I cut the handle off my toothbrush, I roll all my clothes and put them in plastic bags to help waterproof.  Matter of fact, everything goes into a plastic bag.

Some other unique things - I put safety pins on all my zipper pulls. I call my credit card company and let them know I'll be traveling - I also check the credit limit; I don't want it to be too high just in case my card gets stolen.

Something I didn't show in the video is the packets I make up. I have a team at home, close friends who are my backup in case of emergency.

I give them a packet with all my personal information including the credit card numbers, the number to call if the card is lost or stolen, my family numbers, ID, and a copy of my will. Seriously, I try to plan for everything. 

Over the years I've made sure all my financial accounts have my brother as POD and I just try to be as tidy as I can so just in case something does happen, there's not a lot of scramble.

All my electronics fly with me, including all the power cords - that's a lesson from a past packing mistake when I had my device but my luggage was delayed for 26 days and I since the power cords were in the luggage I had to scramble to find replacements and it wasn't easy.

Right now I'm juicing up all my devices and emptying the memory card as much as possible - I'm also still searching biking websites, looking for a place to stay when I land on Tuesday.

Anybody have a friend in Albuquerque? 

Officially packing means 1/2 a toothbrush - WHAT?

The toothbrush has been cut in half, which means packing for the Amazing Ride for Alzheimer's has officially begun!

An inspiring message about caregivers

My Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s 2016 bicycle tour leaves June 21 as I fly to Albuquerque, New Mexico and then pedal home to West Bend. This is the fourth year for the fundraiser which brings awareness to Alzheimer’s and provides financial backing to music and exercise programs at Cedar Community.

I’m often inspired by some of the notes I receive so I asked Mary Ellen’s permission to share her post below.

Hi Judy,

I am so excited to follow The 2016 Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s again this year and once again make a donation in memory of my dad, Bob Becker.

This year I included my mom, LaVerne, in the picture.

Both have passed but I remember how hard it was for my mom when my dad would ask the same thing over and over again or make the distant past the present.

It was so hard for her to deal with that day in and day out.  Every night he would ask when his 5 children were going to come home for the night and every night she would tell him that we didn’t live there anymore.

Caregiving is a difficult task for loved ones so this year I am honoring my dad who suffered with Alzheimer’s and my mom for loving him through it.
Thank you for all you do to raise awareness!
Mary Ellen Hetebrueg

Jerseys are in and we're not talking cows!

The jerseys for the 2016 Amazing Ride for Alzheimer's have arrived! Megan from Horicon Bank is helping me model the new look. She's obviously the pro and I'm totally copying. 

Many thanks to tour sponsors USCCA, Thrivent Financial, Gruber Tool & Die, Dental Professions in Germantown, A&W Iron and Metal, Cast Iron, Wiedmeyer Trucking, Extra Mile Snow Plowing, Promotions Pros, Cedar Community, Husars House of Fine Diamonds and thanks to Michael Albiero for designing a wonderful logo. 

Tour leaves for New Mexico on June 21. ALL money raised stays local and benefits music activities and exercise programs at Cedar Community. 

CLICK HERE to donate!

In Less Than 12 Days....

In less than 12 days, The Amazing Ride for Alzheimers 2016 will take off on a mission to raise awareness and funding for programs that benefit those who suffer from Alzheimer's disease.

In less than 12 days, work strategies will be worked out, duties delegated and trainees trained.

In less than 12 days all travel arrangements to New Mexico will be solidified.

In less than 12 days the course mapping will be nailed in the hopes that detours and other roadblocks don't cause too much diversion.

In less than 12 days the bicycle of bicycles will have a final once-over and all working parts approved for cross-country travel. It will be lovingly crated and prepared to ride in the cargo area of an airplane headed for New Mexico.

In less than 12 days all personal items and necessities for the trek will be carefully laid out and weighed to ensure lightest provisions for a productive ride.

Advertisers and underwriters who are passionate about the vision and the cause for the trip will have been secured.

Memorials and tributes will be in place so as to honor those who wish to dedicate the ride to a loved one. (It's not too late - click HERE to add your memorial)

The goal is to raise $100,000 for Alzheimer's music and activities programs at Cedar Community; this means your donation stays LOCAL.

This isn't the first time I'm asking and it won't be the last....

WON'T YOU JOIN ME ON THE RIDE?

I'll do the cycling; you partner with me financially so that 100% of the donation goes back to the community you live in - our community - where every penny you give brings just a little more hope, a little more joy to the families of those who suffer from Alzheimer's and who will reap the benefits of these valuable programs along with the ones they love.

CLICK HERE to learn how YOU can donate TODAY! 

THANK YOU!

JUDY

2016 Amazing Ride for Alzheimer's jerseys arrive!

The 2016 Amazing Ride for Alzheimer's jerseys have arrived! Megan from Horicon Bank helped model the new look. She's the pro and obviously I'm cheating and looking to copy.

Thanks to all the wonderful sponsors for their support including Tim Schmidt and USCCA, Horicon Bank, Cast Iron, A&W Iron and Metal, Thrivent Financial, Wiedmeyer Trucking, Extra Mile Snow Plowing, Gruber Tool & Die, Dental Professionals in Germantown, Promotion Pros and Cedar Community.

Thanks so much to Husar's House of Fine Diamonds for printing and supplying the jerseys. 

Tour leaves June 21 for New Mexico!


Please remember that 100 percent of the money raised stays local and goes to exercise and music activities at Cedar Community. If you'd like to donate click here.

Melanie's 1970's song Brand New Key - with a Steffes twist

CLICK HERE for a very creative rendition of Brand New Key by Melanie. This was sung by Jessica from The Water Coolers during Monday night's Great Minds Gala in Washington D.C. where I was presented with the Exceptional Friend or Family Caregiver Award.

Bright idea, bad placement

Such a good idea in the Milan, Italy, airport. Too bad they put it right at the gate, AFTER people might have spent at Duty Free or cashed in their Euro already. Just an FYI if you plan on traveling international...

Thank you to my Italian Host Family!

Host family, Claudia and Mario

A wonderful meal with my host family, Claudia and Mario (pictured above), and their son Lorenzo. They totally adopted and spoiled me in my last three days in Italy.

Claudia took me out one evening to a festival with Italian music, food and culture. She went out of her way to plunge me into the local art scene and she helped me make a very spiritual pilgrimage within 24 hours of flying home.

Wonderful new friends are a perfect way to put a "bow" on a fabulous tour!

PHOTO GALLERY: Final Days in Italy - Exploring the Spiritual Mountainside

PHOTO GALLERY:
On my final day of touring I'm exploring the Sacred Mountain of Varese (Sacro Monte di Varese).

It's a very spiritual place that features a pilgrimage of castles and statues that depict the life of Jesus Christ and ends with a black Madonna in the Saint Mary Sanctuary of Monte Varese.

The cobblestone walkway led to 13 buildings that featured life-sized statues depicting the life of Christ.

Random reminiscing

Here's a compilation of some of the things I experienced in Varese while out geocaching for a bike box.....

I found an outdoor velodrome.

The velodrome looked to be a 250-meter track. I managed to work my way inside and onto the track. It had very high banks and I could not even reach a solid speed to stay up in the straightaways, as those have a bit of a pitch, too.

There are wonderful color posters for some of the art exhibits on display.

I went back to a local park where the manicured bushes were two stories high and mazes were cut into the trees.