Big THANKS to West Bend Noon Rotary

                                                                               

A great turnout this week as the West Bend Noon Rotary held its meeting at Jumbo's Frozen Custard and featured ME as their guest speaker.  The primary topic was the Amazing Ride for Alzheimer's and the upcoming tour bicycling from Nova Scotia to West Bend.

Talked about the sponsors, the miles, the goal to raise money for activities for residents with Alzheimer's at Cedar Community. Announced the West Bend radio AM 1470 WBKV will be carrying live tour updates on the morning show. I'll phone in a couple times a week and speak with show host Bob Bonefant and bring everyone up to speed on my mileage, my whereabouts and the latest adventure.

I showed everyone at the meeting the photo of me and my dad and my sister on the Steffes 'baby-seat bike' from 1965 and told the story about my dad getting pulled over by the cops in Shorewood. "You can't do that," said the officer to my father.  My dad pushed off the curb and said, "Arrest me."

I know my father, who has Alzheimer's, doesn't remember the story but he laughed the hardest when he heard it!
                                                                          

                That little red-headed one up front that looks like a boy is me.

Guest speaker at West Bend Noon Rotary

                                                                                     

Save the date, Monday April 28! I will be the guest speaker at the West Bend Noon Rotary meeting at 4 p.m. at Jumbo's Frozen Custard, 1014 S. Main St.

                                                                     

I will be talking about this year's bicycle tour for Alzheimer's. I will have my bicycle on hand as well as some vintage photos of my dad and his famous baby-seat bicycle. I will (hopefully) be able to unveil my new tour jersey and share some exciting news about sponsors and a local radio station that's jumped on board to provide live updates during the three-week tour!

Bring your friends and family to Jumbo's on Monday, April 28.  We'll see you there!

Riding in tribute...

                                                                        

We did this last year with great success and we'll do it again on this year's tour from Nova Scotia. I will ride in special tribute each day to a family member or friend.

All it takes is a $100 contribution to the Amazing Ride for Alzheimer's and a photo. About a half-dozen people have already submitted donations, photos and requests.

We will post the photo atop the webpage in a 'special tribute' section. There are about 20 available days open for special tribute - - where I will spend that day riding in someone's honor.

Send a postal address and I'll also mail a post card from the road.

You can email the picture to judyharley@yahoo.com.  Please send a name and some contact info. The check can be made out to Cedar Community Foundation. Be sure to label 'Amazing Ride' in the lower left memo section.

This year's tour leaves June 27 for Nova Scotia.

The West Bend Noon Rotary will be hosting a public speaking engagement about the tour April 28 starting at 4 p.m. at West Bend tap & tavern.

What a following....

                                                                          

I was with my dad at the Holy Angels rummage sale over the weekend. We looked through tools and old record albums. Came across this little cycle and decided to get it for my 2-year-old nephew. I was standing in line, carrying the trike and searching for a couple dollars when someone behind me said, "Hey..."  I turned around and the guy said, "I don't think you're going to make it back from Nova Scotia on THAT."

Funny......

Another nice donation

Hat tip to Duke Long, owner of Interstate Sawing Co. Inc. in West Bend, for a nice donation to the tour.
                                                                                 

Long has a strong bicycling history and I'm glad he believed in the tour to write out a nice show of support.

The extended forecast may include near 47 degrees on Sunday - - crossing my fingers that I can finally take the bike outside for a little spin!

New tour sponsor

Many thanks to the Kettle Moraine Detachment 1203 Marine Corps League for a wonderful donation and sponsorship of this year's Amazing Ride for Alzheimer's Tour.
                                                                          

To date the 2014 tour has collected $26,000 for Alzheimer's activities and entertainment at Cedar Community. Sincere thanks to the veterans at the Kettle Moraine Detachment 1203 for their support and others who have backed the tour.

Today marks 100 days and counting until I leave for Nova Scotia to pedal back to Wisconsin. I have 3,800 military push ups under my belt as I work my way towards a promised 10,000 before I leave.

Thanks for the support!

Received a nice donation today from Patrick Madden of the Madden Vanderloop Law Firm S.C. To date I've raised a little over $25,000 for Alzheimer's activities at Cedar Community. Other primary donors include USCCA, Wiedmeyer Trucking, Helen Reinke and Thrivent Financial. There are still two sponsorship spaces left to fill on this year's jersey -- and time is running out as we should go to layout and print before the end of March. Give a shout if you'd like to join in the effort on this year's Amazing Ride for Alzheimer's as I bicycle from Nova Scotia to Wisconsin.

Below is one of my favorite photos from my Germany tour in 2008.

                                                                               

                                                                         

Next tour - on the moon?

When I was touring in Germany in 2008 I stayed with a woman who lived in Prien am Chiemsee - about 65 miles outside Munich. She pulled me out of a cemetery as I was setting up my tent for the night. Christiane was a former flight attendant - back when stewardesses wore hats and white gloves and you could smoke on the plane. I remember she set me up with a flat in Munich a day before I flew out - it was her grandfather's place, overlooking the Englischer Garten. Christiane said, "If I ever hear of someone bicycling on the moon - I'll know it's you."