Old Home Motel - Revisited

Dropping a few more pictures your way of the Old Home Motel.  See my blog post below for the full story.

In Chiefland there is no beer - sing along with me

The second day in Florida I managed a 103-mile ride from Leesburg to Chiefland. While I like to balance my exercise with cookies and frosting, I normally bribe myself with a beer if I can tackle a century. 

It was a challenging ride.  Pulling into town I got a flat tire, my water had run out and I struggled to find a place to stay. Eventually settling on a mom-and-pop hotel, I went to Winn-Dixie for dinner and a beer, then found out Chiefland is a dry community, on Sunday's only. What are the chances?

Freeport-Standard Picks Me Up

Another shout out - this time to Illinois, and reporter Jane Lethlean -

Read entire article HERE.

Crossing the big steel bridge over the Illinois River, Judy Steffes of West Bend, Wis. said she wondered what it would be like to be a Green Bay Packer fan in Chicago Bear country.

She did not need to worry. The rural people of this state were just as nice and accommodating to her as the Texans were on May 18, when she embarked on a cross-country bicycle ride to create awareness of the exercise that comes with riding a bicycle.

Steffes made a stop in Freeport on Monday. Her first stop was at Cub Foods. She was looking for places to see in the “City of Lincoln.” Someone suggested she visit the Stephenson County Historical Society Museum. She was disappointed to find it closed.

The next stop was Freeport Public Library to use a computer to upload her blog to the newspaper she works at in West Bend, Wis. Her readers depend on her weekly journal of her travels.

With just a couple of hundred miles left in her trip, Steffes said her journey has been one of continued discovery of the niceties of people. Her bicycle is her common denominator to conversation. Strangers approach her to listen to her stories. The bicycle breaks down the barrier.

Price Chopper

A fond memory-

So far my favorite store is the Price Chopper in Pocahontas, Arkansas. The girl running the register at the checkout is Brooke.

"My day is going just awful, how's yours," said Brooke. Her greeting seemed more out of habit than genuine concern. She looked 17, round face, and an all-about-me attitude.

"Is this community named Pocahontas after the Indian Pocahontas," I asked.

"No," said Brooke confidently, then.... "Who's Pocahontas?"

It kind of cracked me up.

"Where are you from," questioned Brooke.

I told her the Milwaukee area, and was met with a blank stare. "Wisconsin," I said.

More meaningless wide-eyed, gum chewing.

"I biked here from Dallas and I'm headed home to Milwaukee," I said.

"On a bike? No, you're not," said Brooke with a very matter-of-fact tone.

I bit my lower lip so I wouldn't laugh.

Brooke tipped up on her toes and glanced over the checkout counter to look at my legs. Like I'd have 'On Wisconsin' stamped on my knees. I left Brooke and went to consult another clerk about the park by the river.

"Hey, what's the name of that park by the river," said the clerk who turned the question back on Brooke. "Blackfoot River Overlook," said Brooke. Who followed quickly with, "I just made that up, I have no idea," she said.

Brooke was fast on her feet, but probably not the best resource for increasing tourism in Pocahontas, Ark.

Pittsfield, IL - Watson Hotel

One of the lovely rooms in the historic William Watson Hotel in Pittsfield, Ill.

This pictures SO does not do the hotel justice.

Illinois "State Sovereignty, National Union"

Big, industrial, steel bridge over the Illinois River.

Sunrise outside Havana, Ill.

Homeward bound...crossing the Illinois border

Visited the Mark Twain Museum in Hannibal, MO.

and finally...........one state closer to home!

Ride, ride, ride.....Hitchin' a Ride

Bowling Green, MO-

What are the chances?

Tom & Dick from Fond du Lac Express,

a moving company based in Fond du Lac, Wis.

Met them outside Crystal's Restaurant in the

small community of Bowling Green, MO.

They were going back home this morning and had room

in their truck for one bike and one passenger.

For the record ---

FARMINGTON, Missouri - Crossed into Missouri last week Thursday, June 16.

Since beginning the tour May 18 I've collected about 1,600 miles, crossed Texas and Arkansas, experienced one flat tire, one broken spoke, one really-bad dog chase, saved one snapping turtle, suffered zero saddle sores, and cobbled together some totally awesome adventures.

***************************************************************

I can tell I'm not in the smooth south anymore as roads in Texas and Arkansas were pretty flatulent.

That means the road is really flat, right?

Exiting Poplar Bluff, MO and heading north there's a lot more up-down, primarily because I'm at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains.

Crossing through the beautiful Mark Twain National Forest on Highway 67 I pull into the small town of Farmington, MO. It is much like the Farmington in Washington County (Wisconsin) as both are bisected by a Highway H and both have that small, country feel as several homes had red, white, and blue bunting decorating the front porch. There's the Farmington Press Daily Journal, the County Mart grocery and the Farmington city pool is across the road from a pasture full of cows.

One of the impressive things about Farmington, MO is the old St. Francois County Jail. It's not like the famed Fillmore Turner Hall, but carries just as much history. Built in 1870, the jail is on the national historic register. On the north side of the building a plaque details The Jailbreak of 1932 when 31 prisoners huddled in the back of their cell as nine sticks of dynamite were used to blow a hole in the north wall. Five prisoners fled and were later recaptured, one was shot and another was shot and killed while climbing a fence that surrounded the jail. In the aftermath, the steel window that weighed 14 pounds was found two blocks away on top of the high school. In 1996 the jail was closed and years later the upstairs converted into a hostel for bicyclists. It's called Al's Place, in honor of Al Dziewa - an avid, local bicyclist who lost his battle with cancer in 2005. (See photo in prior post.)

The upstairs of the old jail was formerly the sheriff's residence; the hostel retains much of the original architecture with thick wood beams running the length of the ceiling, exposed red brick and round windows. The city remodeled and upgraded the interior adding three bedrooms with seven bunk beds, two full bathrooms, air conditioning, a complete kitchen and a couple areas to relax on leather couches and watch TV or check the Internet. There's also a laundry room and enclosed space on the lower level to safely store bicycles.

Many cyclists on the TransAmerican Trail, traveling east-west stop at the $20-a-night hostel. I just happened upon it via word of mouth and ended up spending the day.

St. Francois County Jail - Farmington, MO

The exterior of the county jail turned hostel. (See blog post and picture below.) That's also a view of the north side of the building that former inmates blew up with dynamite.

West Bend on the Map in Missouri

Representing West Bend at Al's Place - a bicycle hostel in Farmington, MO.

Farmington, Missouri

Entering Farmington, MO. Came into town on Hwy OO. Saved a HUGE snapping turtle; I didn't know those things could jump. A lady stopped and we used her window scraper. The turtle latched on and it took me two elephant heaves to get it to the side of the road. Phew! If you need anything else rescued, just give me a call.

Mark Twain National Forest

In the middle of Mark Twain National Forest along Hwy 67 in southeast Missouri.

FAMOUS CONNECTION...

A lot of the smaller towns I bicycle through often laid claim to some famous person.

The super small community of Linden , Texas had been home to Don Henley of the Eagles.

Popular TV talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres went to high school in Atlanta, Texas.

And, of course, Hope, Arkansas is all about William Jefferson Clinton. Born in Hope in August 1946, the city has made Clinton's birthplace on Hervey Street a presidential landmark. Clinton's boyhood home on 13th Street is also marked and the old train depot features a timeline of President Clinton's life on his journey from Hope to the White House.

There was an interesting thank-you letter in the collection from Hillary Clinton to Dale Drake, a cousin of Bill Clinton.

Dated March 13, 1980 the letter noted how Chelsea "was so excited to receive real money.

She put it in her bank but thinks she'll use it to buy a baby giraffe," wrote Hillary.

The Clinton's weren't the only people to turn heads in Hope. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee hailed from Hope.

There were a series of musicians that toured Hope, stopping in town via the train.

Black-and-white photos showed piano player Count Basie in Hope during 1932 and Duke Ellington and his 13-piece orchestra from 1935.

There was also a small tribute to Elvis Presley who rocked Hope in Feb. 1955. Admission to the City Hall Auditorium was one Holsum bread wrapper or one Campbell's soup can.

Nevada County Picayune - Sharing the Love

Sharing an article from the Nevada County Picayune - and sending a shout out....

Read the article in its entirety HERE.

On May 18, Judy Steffes set out on her annual summer bike ride. Steffes, from West Bend, Wisc., has spent her summers riding all over the world for the past 15 years. She lives by the philosophy that the day a person is born and the day he dies are both dates on a headstone, but the dash in between is your life.
Steffes has taken bike tours in Germany, Spain, New Zealand and all over the United States. She often speaks to youth groups and averages 50-60 miles a day depending on the weather. Steffes said that the longest she traveled in one day with the 80 plus pound gear that she carries on her bicycle was 140 miles. The purpose? "I love it," she said. "I love having the adventure."

Steffes said that she travels day to day and often sleeps in churches. She carries a small sleeping bag on her bike.

"I sleep hard at night, like a mini-coma," she joked.

Going to Madison

Leaving Arkadelphia , Arkansas a woman pulled up along side me in her car and asked where I was headed.

"I'm going to Madison ," she yelled back.

What are the odds?

Patty was a teacher from Houston . She was a small woman dressed in a simple black t-shirt, khaki shorts, sandals and fashionable rectangular glasses.

She was headed to teach a summer enrichment program in Wisconsin

It gets weirder.

"I can't believe you're riding a Centurion, I used to work for them," said Patty. "That's a really old bike."

Normally people who yell out a car window want to know if they can give me a ride.

Patty didn't have room.

She was loaded down with friends, which included two cats, two caged rats, and a trunk full of crayfish, mill worms and pill bugs.

"My class kept these alive the entire school year and I thought I'd bring them along to summer school," she said.

I reassured Patty.... I'm pretty sure we had pill bugs and mill worms in Wisconsin .

In order to ensure safe travel, Patty filled plastic baggies with ice and surrounded each miniature tank and box so the menagerie wouldn't swelter in the southern heat.

After a 40-minute conversation, Patty said she would be living in Madison with her parents during the next month.

"If you pass through and I'm not driving Mr. and Miss Daisy, you can call and you'll have a place to stay," she said.

From Texas to Arkansas ---

Do you remember Dolly Dimple Dolls? Me either. Dolls were printed on sacks of flour from the Arkadelphia Milling Co. in Arkadelphia Arkansas.

Moms cut them out, stitched and stuffed them. Little girls loved them.

Hope, Arkansas... birthplace of President Bill Clinton. That's me on the right.

Crossing the state line from Texas into Arkansas in Texarkana. Picture taken in front of the federal courthouse where I would later encounter U.S. Marshalls who surround my bike because of an apparent security threat.

A bronze sculpture outside the state capitol in Little Rock representing the Little Rock Nine, a group of students who tried to integrate Little Rock Central High School in 1957.

A rifle used to shoot around corners, on display at the

Historical Society in Jefferson, Texas.

Madisonville, Crockett, and more from TEXAS

Look at the stairwell in this old house.

You're looking at the 25 stairs through the entryway of the home. Magnificent...

The famed Washateria in Madisonville, Tx.

Entering Houston Co.... just to give you an idea what the scenery is like.

Mural from Crockett, Tx. Funny... Crockett was named after Davy Crockett,

even though he only spent one night in the community.

Then he went to San Antonio and was killed at the Alamo.

My tired face after climbing Hyder Hill. It was tough... a man pulled over to check on me while I rested by the city sign just to see if I was okay.

Sat on the corner with these old timers and listened to them play music.

The one had a Gibson mandolin.

They helped me find a place to stay in this historic mansion in Nacodoches.

Some of the funky wallpaper in one of the 18 rooms in the house (in first pic above)

Pics from Austin, TX

Blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughn - statue overlooks downtown Austin

This was the coolest sculpture located right outside the State Capitol in Austin.

ABOVE AND BELOW:

Jammers get ready to sprint.

Bloody Pick A from the Hell Cats roller derby team. The writing on the back of her shorts reinstilled the message for anyone who was lost - it read, 'I like it bloody.'

Pictures from AUKLAND and - THE CASE OF THE MISSING BAGS

Different views from None Tree Hill in Auckland

Gas in New Zealand is sold in liters and is currently at $1.97/L. Found a fifth grader to help me with the conversion math. Taking into account the gallons/liters and the exchange rate between US dollar and Kiwi dollar, the New Zealanders

are paying the equivalent of $8 a gallon.

One Tree Hill in Auckland.... now called None Tree Hill since some local got a bug up his butt and cut down the one tree because he felt offended.

Me and my bags. Missing for 23 days and I get them two days before I leave for home. Timely!