Riding in Tribute to:

BETTY CHRISTEN

FINAL RADIO UPDATE - THE AMAZING RIDE FOR ALZHEIMER'S

FINAL weekly update interview on The Amazing Ride for Alzheimer's with WBKV 1470's Morning Show with host Bob Bonenfant.

Discussed ride through Chicago, homecoming reception, reason for the ride, Cedar Community, my dad, total mileage (can you guess?), and amount raised for Alzheimer's research!

Click HERE to listen to the podcast!

Don’t forget about the last PUSH to raise our final goal of 

an additional $3500 for Alzheimer’s research!  

Click HERE to read MORE!

Riding in Tribute to:

STELLA MALCOLM

Home again, Home again!

West Bend, Wis. - Pulled into home base around 1 p.m. Thursday. A couple people driving past waved and had conversations through open car windows welcoming me home.

Total miles over 20 days was........ 1,031! 

Big thanks to all the sponsors and everyone for their support.

Going to give my legs a break and enjoy my own bed. 

SPONSORS:

Cedar Community
USCCA

Wiedmeyer Express

Thrivent Financial

Marine Corps League/Kettle Moraine Detachment

The Cottages On Golden Pond

Martin Jewellers

Almost Home! Join me tonight to CELEBRATE!

Milwaukee, Wis. - Started at 6 a.m. from Kenosha. Have 35 miles under my belt. Almost home.

Join me tonight at 6 p.m. at West Bend Tap and Tavern as we celebrate another successful tour and Amazing Ride for Alzheimer's!

Don’t forget about the final PUSH to raise our goal of $3500 for Alzheimer’s research!  

Click HERE to read MORE!

WHERE'S JUDY?

Last map to follow along with me as I make the final trek towards "Destination Wisconsin!"


View http://batchgeo.com/map/e45026d31ae071f647b69c10e01a7bcf">The Amazing Race for Alheimer's
in a full screen map

Riding in Tribute to:

HELEN REINKE

Paying it forward and.....see you in West Bend!

Kenosha, Wis - 90 miles and it was a long and adventurous day on the bike. Started by getting lost in Indiana. Found my way to the bike trail and proceeded to cross into Illinois and the unknowingly cross back into Indiana.

A couple of off-duty Chicago police officers, Ed and Dana, got me back on course. 

Ed and Dana

They asked where I was from. I said, "West Bend - north of Milwaukee but not as far as Green Bay."

GB was NOT the right thing to say. They winced in unison.  I forgot I was in Bear country.

Easy path up Chicago's lakefront - took in some of the sights...

... even helped one young man from Belize fix a flat. "You are an angel," he said. I gave him my spare inner tube because he had two holes in his tube and a patch would have never held.

Drifted into Higher Gear bike shop in Highland Park, Illinois and spent some time with Austin, Peter and Anna.

Check out the 30-inch racer thighs on Peter. He's from England and was part of the 2012 short track Olympic team.

From left: Austin, Peter, me, and Anna

He had the confidence to wear a pink helmet and pink biker shoes.

We all traded touring stories and then the store refused to charge me for the tube I bought to replace the one I gave away. "Paying it forward," said store clerk Becky.

Home stretch on Thursday. Kenosha to West Bend. 

Meet at WB Tap and Tavern at 6 p.m.  I should roll in by then. 

I NEED HELP!

I'm on the home stretch and...

I NEED A FINAL PUSH!

As I cross over the border to Wisconsin, I'd love to rev up the RPM's.........BUT ----

I'M GETTING TUCKERED OUT AND COULD USE YOUR HELP!

I'm setting a goal to RAISE $3500 IN 24 HOURS
as I make the 

HOME STRETCH TO WISCONSIN!

CAN YOU HELP?

100% of all donations go directly to Alzheimer's Awareness
for programming at the 

COTTAGES AT CEDAR RUN, 

the nation's first facility dedicated to Alzheimer's disease
and related dementia care.

Click HERE for MORE INFORMATION or to DONATE SECURELY NOW!
Or
PLEDGE a donation by sending me an email with your name, address and pledge amount to:
thebikewriter@gmail.com

As I pedal on to make a difference for Alzheimer's................

STAY TUNED!

I'll keep you updated on the progress of this final push!

THANKS!

Sharing the Road in Pics

Some random photos from the road......

Nice day biking in Indiana. Wide paved shoulder on the road helps. This was as I made my way to Goshen to get my bike fixed.

This is Matthew holding my old chain on the left. It's the same number or links as the new chain, but you can see with all the riding I stretched it.

The problem is that the shifting doesn't react and my pedals slip when I change gears. All in all, it was worn out and needed to be replaced.

While Matthew worked on the bike, I ran next door and got him a raspberry shake and some food for myself. This is the second business I've hit on the tour called Chief. #whocarespoliticallycorrect

Sampled of some of the back country roads in Indiana. This was as the skies grew dark and I pedaled right into an oncoming storm. I ducked into somebody's garage and then....

....two big dogs came running out. So what would you do?

Riding in Tribute to:

BETTY CHRISTEN

I Can Smell Wisconsin From Here

East Chicago, Indiana - tough day at the office. Headed out of Mishawaka,

Indiana early with the goal of crossing the state line into Illinois. 

On Highway 2 when I stopped to ask for directions for the safest route - that's when I learned I had to go north to go west.

I regrouped and pedaled into Michigan City, Indiana. Managed 41 miles before noon; even with two rain delays I was making good time.

Pedaled west down the shoreline and through Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore which made national news last year after a boy got swallowed in a sinkhole while climbing to the top of the dune.

He was buried for 11 hours, rescue crews managed to dig him out. The kid was apparently the GrandMarshal at the local parade this year.

There was a big orange sign saying the dunes are now closed.

Biking through the park was a nice break from the busy traffic. It reminded me of the road up to Long Lake with the trees forming a nice canopy.

Drifted into East Chicago, Indiana, with 83 miles on the day. Plan on taking the bike paths through Chicago today. I can smell Wisconsin from here. 

Alzheimer's: Lessons Learned - Ask For Help

Rolling out the red carpet - in Mishawaka

Sitting outside the Kroger grocery in Mishawaka, Indiana at 5 p.m. on Monday. So off my charted course and below my target miles. Long day on the road with a flat tire and stretched chain that needed to be replaced and now it was pouring.

But I was dry and under shelter and finally getting food and a man walks up and says, "Got everything you need?"

It was John Reisdorf - Mishawaka 3rd district city councilman John Reisdorf, and he ended up being a good guy and a savior.

"The last elected official that helped me with this tour was the mayor in Salisbury, New Brunswick," I said. "He let me spend the night in the council chambers and the fire department rolled out a cot for me to sleep on."

"Well, we can't be outdone by New Brunswick," said John, reaching for his keys.

"Take this, it's to an apartment I own and there will be nobody there and you

can safely spend the night," he said.

Just so kind. I notified my team back home, laid out the circumstances and then said, "Let's run a background check."

Everybody worries about my safety and so do I, but John came through with flying colors: Republican, 49 years old, City resident for the last 20 years, sports announcer for high school games for 10+ years. Well-known in the community and well-liked and his daughter was valedictorian in her 2013 high school graduating class.

I found the apartment easily enough and it all seemed to good to be true....and then it got better. John and his daughter Maggie stopped to visit; we even stepped out for a bit to tour the town.

By the way, we took Maggie's car.

Their kindness put the cherry on top of the day and it reiterates the message about how many good people are out there.

Riding in Tribute to:

HELEN REINKE (right)

NOTE: Want to pay tribute to your loved one? 

I'll ride a day in their honor (includes mention on blog). Click HERE to learn more.

A swig of orange Nehi and a tire repair

Ligonier, Indiana - Here's my day: Saw some Amish in Ligonier. Asked a guy for nearest bike shop. He said "Goshen, five miles."

Bought an orange Nehi before going five miles to Goshen.

On my way to Goshen via the old Lincoln Highway I found this piece of metal in the road and decided to remove it with my tire.

Matthew

Matthew (right) at Lincoln Avenue Cycling, which was actually 15 miles to Goshen, helped fix me up with a new chain and rear cassette.

Making my way to South Bend and running into this. 

RIDING IN TRIBUTE TO -

KATHRYN FURGER

NOTE: Want to pay tribute to your loved one? 

I'll ride a day in their honor (includes mention on blog). Click HERE to learn more.

75 miles on Sunday - Smelling Wisconsin

Kendallville, Indiana - Long day on the road Sunday. Thought I'd be able to log 100 miles but Mother Nature made it a challenge.

Late start waiting for rain to quit and then got detoured finding my way out of Napoleon, no bicycles allowed on Route 6 bypass

Finally got my groove on - sunny skies, 83% humidity and 15-mile-an-hour headwinds.

Nice flat roads for the most part, decent shoulder along the side of the road and just crossed from Ohio into Indiana.

The Catholic Churches have been great about allowing me to stay the night - throw my sleeping bag down in their church hall and leave in the morning.

Many times it seems like they're leaving the porch light on, just waiting for me to roll in.

Logged 75 miles on Sunday and landed in Kendallville. Hoping to cross into Illinois on Wednesday.

I can almost smell Wisconsin from here. 

Dave and Dave

Napoleon, Ohio - morning started off with rain and an accidental activation of the security alarm at St. Augustine Catholic Church... But things are looking up thanks to Dave and Dave.

Met them at Frisch's Big Boy during breakfast.

Dave (on the right) is the assistant women's basketball coach at Defiance College. "Been there 26 years now," he said.

Dave and Dave

I mentioned UW-Green Bay's team and Marquette. We swapped familiar names on the game.

As the fellas were leaving Dave laid a $20 on my table. "My mom suffered dementia before she died," he said.

The Amazing Ride for Alzheimer's is entering its final week. Details on how to support the cause are listed on the Cedar Community website HERE.

Thanks for all the generous support - it helps keep me going each day.

I'm in my element now with 71 miles on Friday, 64 miles on Saturday and looking to break 100 miles today.

Better get going!

Caregiver Copes With Alzheimer's: Screaming on a Tractor