Photo Gallery | Along the bike trail

June 26, 2017 - Netherlands - Sharing a few photos from the bike trail today.

The price of a little petrol in Amsterdam.

A brilliant bicycle in Holland. Perfect for transporting children or a case of Pabst from Jeff's Spirits on Main. 

 The artwork at the roundabouts is very Calatrava.

The tree-lined canals run through all the towns with designated bike lanes on each side. 

It is cozy and beautiful all in the same breath. 

My first windmill sighting in Holland. It's on my bucket list to get a tour inside before I leave. 

Fields of flowers line both sides of the bike path as I make my way from Amsterdam to Leiden. 

A thatched-roof house. Very gingerbread. 

Stopped to help Fernando at the side of the road; his chain slipped off. The unique thing about a cycle in Holland is that they all seem to have wrap-around chain guards. Good at keeping grease off a pant leg but a total hindrance with small screws if you need to fix. We teamed up and solved it. 

No planning and wa-LAH ... adventure!

June 26, 2017 - Netherlands - Adventure by the seat of my pants ... is quickly becoming the standard method of travel on these tours. 

Rode the jet stream from Detroit into Amsterdam and landed an hour early. Cobbled together my bike, which included repair to a broken spoke and a flat tire, and I was off. Don't ask me “where to” as I had no maps and, yes, I can see your eye rolls all the way in Europe. 

I got lost six or seven times, and it was beautiful. 

Met storekeep Dirk Smits at his corner grocery “Smits Traiteur” in the old part of Hoofddorp. 

"You're in Holland," said Smits. 

It seemed an educated head nod to my lack of direction. 

Smits was a third generation grocer. 

"My grandfather started the store in 1885. His name was Jaap Langareis. "Brothers Langareis" was the name of the store," said Smits. 

At 46 years old, Smits had a knack for multitasking - blending casual conversation with the art of stocking shelves and filling customer orders. 

"We originally started as an old-fashioned green grocer selling vegetables and now we have Dutch strawberries and other items from Mexico and Peru," said Smits, "Nothing but the best."

His glass display counters carried a vista of gorgeous olives, prepared meats and tables of fresh colorful fruits.

An elderly lady sat in a cozy, high-backed wicker chair and placed her order. 

"Many of the older generation still only know Dutch," said Smits. "Their English is limited to 'Yes, no and bye bye.'"

Smits prepared a plate of noodles for me. It had a hint of hot spice with a peanut sauce base.

The neighborhood grocery was open six days a week. "Sunday is closed," said Smits. "We're Christians.  If you give me a million we wouldn't open the store. We see the Bible as the holy book of God." Smits printed out a map for me on his computer - 12km to Leiden. 

Off I went with a full stomach and the best of intentions.... only to get distracted and lost again. 

Launching The Amazing Ride in Tribute to My Dad Today

June 26, 2017 - Washington County - Today, the first day of The Amazing Ride For Alzheimer's, I'll be traveling in the Netherlands to kick off the bicycling fundraiser in tribute to my dad, Al Steffes (photo below), who has Alzheimer's disease.

As in the past, I'll ride in tribute each day over the next three weeks to someone affected by Alzheimer's.

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.

HUGE "Thank You!" To All Of The Amazing Ride Sponsors!

HUGE "Thank You!" To All Of The Amazing Ride Sponsors!

SHE'S BACK!

Exclusive from the Washington County Insider:

West Bend, WI - After a three-week all-inclusive tour from New Mexico to West Bend, Judy Steffes is finally home in West Bend.

By all-inclusive we mean that the trek included storms, flat tires (a lot of them), immense heat, leg and foot cramps, one major gluteal injury from a crash on day one, and a whole lot of interesting, kind, and amazing people

Steffes returns home from her annual bicycle tour to raise funds for Alzheimer’s programs at Cedar Community after 21 days of bicycling through New Mexico, Texas, Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin. Traveling along a portion of the well-known, historical Route 66, the labor of love took Steffes through a few very long stretches of what the locals referred to as “nothing,” and meant it. No food, no water, no restrooms, not a single luxury.

She was welcomed home tonight as she approached the West Bend welcome sign on the corner of Valley Avenue and West Washington Street (Hwy. 33) by Hank and Essie, Barton’s beloved mannequin sweethearts, as well as others who braved the heat. Then it was on to a good, old brewski to refill the tank.

Photos above courtesy: Ruth Marks

Photo below courtesy: Deb Slais

I have Alzheimer's.....

Local businessman Pat Bohn from Bits N Pieces Floral talks about finding out he has Alzheimer's.

Doctor Todd Delivers Roadside Assistance

While on her annual tour to raise funding for Alzheimer's, cyclist and journalist Judy Steffes shares an encouraging word.

"While neighbors try to make sense of what's happening across the country I thought I'd shed some light on great people who are stepping up and showing fantastic generosity and trust.

Friday was a big day on the road and I'm really pushing my limits. Normally I land in a community and make it my home base at 4 p.m. but after grinding out 68 miles I though I had 20 more miles left in my tank.

I'm riding on a bit of emotion as well. Midway though directions from the locals I realized I got myself into trouble.

This was a Friday afternoon and everyone wanted to start their weekend which can make for a dicey situation on the road.

A narrow shoulder combined with heavy truck traffic was not a good recipe.

That's when Dr. Todd Gray came to my rescue - literally.

"Wisconsin," he said. "I went to medical school in Wisconsin."

Dr. Gray didn't mind that I stunk to high heaven. He was patient with my putty for brains and dragged me to a safe place in Iowa City.

"I just can't see leaving you here," he said.

I reassured him that feeling was normal.

That didn't seem to help him as he checked on me three more times before he left.

Just a quick reminder and some reassurance.... there are great and caring people, especially in an environment when we are wary of what might happen next."

Hurrying home to my "bubbler"

A photo gallery of my spin back across the threshold of the Midwest. Donald at Car Mart in Kirksville, Missouri stepped up and donated a Missouri license plate to my collection. "Bet you can't wait to get back home to your bubbler," he said. 

I thought that was hilarious. Usually people say something about sleeping in my own bed. 

Met Ellen during a break in Greentop, Mo. She ran a quilt shop with her daughter in law. "This building has a lot of history," she said. "It used to be a motel, a grocery, a barbershop...."

Ellen talked about the changes in quilting and how 'machine quilting' provided so many more options and designs.

She had some of the most expensive equipment in the county. 

Ellen also talked about her in laws who both had memory-care issues. "It takes a lot out of someone who is the caregiver," she said.