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.

IN TRIBUTE: Marcie Schroeder

Today I'm riding in honor of Marcie Schroeder.

If you would like me to 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 your contribution.

The entire $100 donation, is tax deductible and will go toward Alzheimer's programs at Cedar Community.

A day full of history and kindness of strangers

Thursday I was trying to make time and got as far as Ottumwa, Iowa. 

I don't often write about the churches that turn down my requests as I think it's just part of the adventure of the tour, but after the pastor at the church declined my request, a woman named Sharon stepped up and let me stay at her furnished trailer. 

"It's less than a mile up the road and here's the key," she said. "There's air conditioning and a shower and a fridge; just feel at home."

So generous - and I slept like a stone. 

Friday morning I headed to Fairfield and stopped at Johnson's corn stand. 

"This spot has been in the family for 30 years," said Mrs. Johnson who was assisted by her two kids. 

On to Fairfield where I detoured at AJ's Bike Shop for a quick check in tire pressure. 

"This used to be home to a monument shop," said AJ.

AJ and Mark were a biker's dream - helpful, funny, and they provided good directions to get out of town. 

Here's a look at their rates: 

I like the one "if the repair draws blood."

On to the next small town of Brighton. 

The other thing that was amusing was the Amish guy at the gas pump with his horse and buggy. I asked permission to take his photo and he said he didn't mind, but drove away. 

Next, I found myself in Washington County - and I'll dedicate this photo to Sandy Lang. 

IN TRIBUTE: John Feith

Today I'm riding in honor of John Feith, courtesy of Edith Schultz of West Bend.

If you would like me to 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 your contribution securely by clicking HERE.

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

IN TRIBUTE: Gene Wendelborn

Today I'm riding in honor of Gene Wendelborn.

If you would like me to 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 your contribution. You may also send in a contribution to support the bike tour.

The entire $100 donation, is tax deductible and will go toward Alzheimer's programs at Cedar Community.

Click here to submit your donation. 

IN TRIBUTE: Thelma & Norma

Today I'm riding in honor of Thelma and Norma.

If you would like me to 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 your contribution.

The entire $100 donation, is tax deductible and will go toward Alzheimer's programs at Cedar Community.

Click here to submit your donation. 

Dedicated to the City of West Bend

Here's a photo gallery of the river walk in downtown Oklahoma City. It's an example of what West Bend is aiming for in its downtown - minus the corporate Sonic headquarters, the baseball stadium and a bigger waterway.

It's called Bricktown and the historic district was funded with a penny tax on every dollar.

The Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark is just one of the centerpieces. And that's former Milwaukee Brave Warren Spahn, a native of Oklahoma.

Surrounding the ballpark is a waterway with shops and parks

and restaurants and might large sculptures.

The walkway is crowded with couples and families and ducks with fancy hairdos. 

The sculptures are of the Centennial Land Run. It's beautiful cowboy and western art.

I chat with David and Irma (above) while on the trail. They relocated to Oklahoma City about seven years ago and rave about the foresight of city leaders.

"This is a conservative community but the MAPS tax really has been money well spent, "said David, "The tourism increased and the shop owners and local economy really benefits."

The arena is just outside Bricktown and on a side note....

The hot topic of conversation was that Kevin Durant is

leaving the Thunder for the Golden State Warriors.

Situations.....

So sometimes on these tours I get myself into situations that even I can't imagine.

I'll give you the Reader's Digest version. On the road for about two weeks and the weather in Oklahoma is so steamy even my socks are soaking wet.

I join Joyce and Jackie for breakfast after pedaling 15 miles from Clinton to Weatherford. We eat at Lucille's, a well-known stop on Route 66.

"Got married when I was 16," said Joyce. "We've been married longer than you've been alive."

The couple had three children and more than 10 grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Joyce and Jackie had already attended a great grandchild's soap box derby race that morning.

The couple knew a lot of people at the diner. Jackie was 83 and a retired truck driver. 

Jackie wanted to drive me in the worst way to see the real Lucille's truck stop on Route 66.

The story of Lucille raising a family during the 1940s was one of fortitude and then despair when the government shut off access to her gas station when they rerouted the new interstate. 

Lucille's was a photo op for all travelers on the Historic Route 66. 

Not long after that stop I started to cramp up. Maybe the sweltery weather or something I ate. I pulled under an overpass and sat for a while. Temperatures were sunny and in the 90s. 

I eventually got back on my pony and made it 10 miles to a Love's truck stop.  

Two words: Air conditioning. 

I sat for a while, crunched some ice and weighed my fatigue and my options. 

After about 40 minutes a man exited a van hauling a mobile home. He was in his 70s, wore a Navy hat and said, "Pretty hot day for biking."

Next thing you know I'm in the back of the van talking to his wife, Sue, and they're giving me a safe lift to Oklahoma City.

Sue and I talk about books, the demise of media and the adventures of touring. 

The couple drop me off in downtown Oklahoma City, with its skyscrapers and traffic lights. 

I don't think I'm going to find a church in the vicinity so I roll into the lobby of the Courtyard Marriott. 

It's located next to the Chesapeake Energy Arena where the NBA Oklahoma Thunder play. 

I ask the clerk, Josh Allen, for help and directions to a youth hostel. 

Josh asks if I would stay if he could make a night at the Courtyard affordable.

That definition of 'affordable' is something that's probably not going to be in Josh's wheelhouse. 

And you are not going to believe what happened next....

This is me in my room at The Courtyard in downtown Oklahoma City.  Let's give it up for Josh Allen.

He totally was excellent customer service. He got me a bottle of water and a banana and I was getting out credentials and ID and going on and on about the tour and all he said calmly was, "I believe you."

I must have just looked and smelled like a total mess; I KNOW I wasn't their normal clientele... and Josh just helped. 

Let's hear it for Josh!

Where's Judy?

View nm las vegas in a full screen map

Uplift Capitol of the World

Molly McDowell was the wonderful neighbor to First Lutheran Church. She had been the janitor at the church for 30 years. 

"When I was a sophomore in high school I worked at the local bra factory," she said. "That was a big employer for women in those days. 

Molly is 76. She was soft spoken and talked about family and McLean. 

"My grandfather, Cal Fraser, would sell eggs to the cafes in town," she said. "That was way before the government got involved." 

The bra factory lent itself to the town's current handle of the "Uplift Capitol of the World."

"I was in the cutting department," said Molly. "The bras were cotton back then and if you were sewing you had to be fast." 

Today the Devils Rope/Route 66 Museum is housed in the very building that used to be the bra factory. 

Finding my OWN rattlesnakes, thankyouverymuch!

Some photos from Vega to Amarillo and into Conway, Texas. Clicked off 65 miles on Thursday. 

Thought this was an interesting because it featured the colors of the Green Bay Packers but did not say it was the Packers.

_______________

I understand with the recent storms I will have no trouble finding my own rattlesnakes on the road. A woman from the Lutheran church in Amarillo said, "Oh they're terrible this year!" Her comment about rattlers was similar to how we talk about mosquitoes or lake flies. 

_______________

A look at the crazy amount of garbage people leave behind in the cornfield at this free tourist attraction along I 40. One man said they're half empty spray cans that people leave for others. It looks horrible.

_______________

This big guy (below) is just down the road from the Cadillac field. He's touting the Second Amendment.

_______________

Gas prices in Amarillo right before the July 4 holiday.

_______________

This is Mike. I met him at a rest stop along I-40 just east of Amarillo. He was getting on his rain gear and I asked him if the headwinds were always this strong. "It's the Panhandle," he said. We talked a bit about the storm warnings and I thought I was in the clear because the threatening skies were definitely ahead of me. 

"But if you look here there's another system coming up behind us," he said pointing at the radar on his phone. "If I could fit your bike on my bike id be happy to give you a lift."

Oh my. I had to hustle. 

_______________

You can see the rainbow ahead and I didn't even bother with a photo of what was behind. 

Headwinds were about 15 mph and I had 15 miles to go before I would find shelter at Loves truck stop.

That was exhausting ... And the so was finding a place to stay. 

There were no churches at the intersection town of Conway. The Executive Motel wanted $69 and the Motel Cafe wanted $40. 

I asked the manager at Loves if u could throw up my tent on a piece of grass out back. "You can," he said. "The truckers any bother you but the snakes might."

Inviting, but no. 

The skies were really dark and the Lightning was large so I opted for Motel Cafe. 

Pam at the counter checked me in. "Oh yeah the snakes are bad this year. Matter of fact we just had one crawl up the drain," she said as I slid my credit card across the counter. 

#allabouttheadventure

Tall Tales from Texas - Part 1

Rosemary and Blondie

My last set of photos as I passed through Tucumcari, New Mexico and crossed the Texas border.

Sharing this photo album:

Lots of old-school neon signs line the Historic Route 66 in Tucumcari

Loved the Motel Safari sign (above) with the tobacco ad
showing the "most doctors" endorsement.

The Blue Swallow Motel came highly recommended by locals.
Owners put a lot of work into the building.

"Cooper" was the greeter at the Historical Society in Tucumcari.
It was the former Central School House in 1903. In the 1930's
it was a soup kitchen, and from 1936-37 it was a hospital.

Just one of the nuggets from the display. The writing is priceless.

Some of the photos at the Historical Society that really captured my attention.

Majorette Dorothy Aull and Twirlers Ruthie Callers Drake
and Juanite Graham from Tucumcari High School.
They were known as "The Rattlers.'

The story of outlaw Black Jack Ketchum fascinated me. It dated to 1901
and there was a lot of documentation on his "hangin'."

According to the article in The Quay Sun:

Ketchum was very pale as he mounted the platform but showed no fear. A priest stood at his side. He declined to make a speech and merely muttered "Goodbye, please dig my grave very deep." Ketchu mad the strange request that he be buried face down.

When the body dropped through the trap, the half-inch ropes severed his head cleanly as if a knife had cut it. Many spectators turned away in horror. Dr. Slack pronounced life extinct in five minutes. The drop of seven feet was too great for so heavy a man. 

Credited with 15 murders, 38 years of age, 6 feet in height, 200 pounds, black hair, mustache and beard, muscular and strong and a very dark complexion.

___________________________

Just a glimpse at the current temp...

Lots of opportunity to pick up a souvenir

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand.......

Obviously a snake.

I'm told to beware of snakes, especially when I step off the side of the road.

(Photos below) Taking advantage of a smidge of shade along I-40.