And that’s a wrap on the 2024 Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s the Wichita, KS to Wisconsin tour. Sixteen days on the road, 962.58 miles, zero flats and TONS of adventure.
Tidbits from the tour…
Interesting Amish community in Kalona, Iowa. You could hear the horses clip clop on the brick streets before you saw the carriage slip down the alley. As I pedaled out of town I spotted an Amish girl on a bicycle. An e-bike to be exact. It seemed wrong somehow. “Why Grettle… you move with wings on your new bicycle,” said the Elder. “Yes, Silas… under my traditional skirt I have legs that are strong like bull.” At least that’s how I imagined the conversation.
Lots of vintage signs in many small towns. Jack & Jill grocery was in West Branch, Iowa. The same community that was home to the Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum.
Photo courtesy Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum
Found a couple nice trails on tour. The Badger State Trail went north/south between Monroe, Wi and Madison, Wi. Hard-packed gravel, well market, a couple muddy spots but considering the monsoon rains this summer the trail was actually drier than expected.
I was shocked with the trail system in Madison, WI. Pleasantly so, the trail system reminded me of Germany. Very well marked, painted areas at road crossings, respectful traffic that gave way to bicycles, and lots of people taking advantage of the paved paths. So well marked it got me completely through a very busy Madison. Gold standard.
July 7, 2026 – Ohio – It’s the people you meet along the way that really make all the miles in between so worth it. Stella and her sister RuthAnn were an early morning hoot after a storm the night before drove me into a small corner Post Office in Rudolph, Ohio. It ended up being my Hilton for the night. I was safe from the lightning and the down pour. The Post Office celebrated its Rudolph ties with strands of Christmas lights, reindeer images, and a huge reindeer statue. The the aroma of a recent visit from a skunk made it memorable.
Left my accommodations around 6:30 a.m. The only thing I needed was water and the next town was 10 miles away. Keeping an eye open I spotted Stella checking on her flowers. “Come on in hun,” she said, friendly like. “We’ve got water.”
Stella, 81, and her younger sister RuthAnn, 79, were all smiles. Stella flipped on the kitchen tap and started showing off her treasured flowers.
“These are all hybrid lilies,” Stella said, gesturing across the garden. “Those are tree lilies because they get so tall and this one smells like cinnamon.”
While their flowers are flourishing today, the conversation quickly turned to the sisters’ younger years.
The ladies were enthusiastic participants in the international Volkssport movement, earning stamps, pins and patches for completing organized fitness events.. “We would bike, swim, and walk,” said MaryAnn. “We weren’t runners… and we’re still not,” bellowed Stella… patting her belly like she was thumping a drum.
“We were insane,” said RuthAnn.
One memorable weekend took them to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, another favorite was crossing the Mackinac Bridge.
“We only did like three,” RuthAnn said, smiling. “But this one guy had done it every year.”
“It was fun,” Stella added. “Back in the day.”
Not every ride went according to plan.
RuthAnn recalled one Michigan bike ride that turned into quite an adventure after her bicycle began falling apart on a remote rail trail.
“I realized I was losing my derailleur. It was falling apart,” she said. “I stopped. I’m in the middle of nowhere.”
After walking her bike across a four-lane highway, she knocked on the door of a nearby house.
“I woke this poor kid up,” she laughed. “I said, ‘I’ve got to get back to town and get my husband.’ He said, ‘I can’t take your bike because I’ve got a sports car.’ I said, ‘That’s okay, just take me.'”
Stella couldn’t resist chiming in.
“That was a disaster,” she said.
Then came another unforgettable story from the sisters’ cycling days during a charity ride from Toledo to Put-in-Bay.
“We started biking in Toledo,” RuthAnn said. “We took the ferry over, rode around the island and then it started storming.”
With no tents or shelter, riders huddled beneath semi-trailers waiting out the weather.
“It was hilarious,” she said.
The next day brought even more rain, crashes and difficult riding conditions.
“A few of us hardy, insane souls decided, ‘No, we’re going to bike,'” RuthAnn recalled. “I finally said, ‘RuthAnn, you’re frigging insane. You need to stop now.'”
When a support vehicle offered one last ride, she accepted.
“They said, ‘We’ve got room for one more.’ They put my bike up, put me in, and I was asleep before we got to Toledo. It was horrible.”
Looking back now, the sisters simply laugh about the adventures.
Now the pair live a simple life. “I’m not really on the Internet. Just enough to do Facebook,” said RuthAnn. “I have a SmartPhone but dumb fingers.”
Earlier in the tour…
Got an early start out of Union City, Mi and found myself on a lonely county road deep in Amish territory. The faint white lines from the wheels of the horse-drawn buggies mark the edge of the black pavement.
In a blink I was out of Amish country and according to Siri went from Michigan to “Welcome to Indiana” and then within a mile it was back to “Welcome to Michigan” and after a race along a busy highway it was “Welcome to Ohio.”
From Union City into Archibald, Ohio. A lovely small town with rich history painted on the side of a red brick building.
Hat tip to Jess and Mia at Archibald Fire Department for finding me a cool place to stay for the night.
A quick rest and another day of 90-degree adventure until Mother Nature was in my rear-view mirror. The rich dark skies were fine to the north, but when the system skirted south the winds whipped and an open garage door was my safe spot for the next two hours.
Jenny and Todd Brown were welcomed hosts. We were like fast friends who hadn’t seen each other for years but caught up quickly on their triplet sons, their youngest son and his baseball adventures, and how the next generation of Browns was keeping them busy with another on the way.On a paved trail headed through Fremont, Ohio – home of the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, I ran into someone from my tribe. Wen was from China and bicycling around the world… and he had a lot of stuff.
“I know… too much,” he said. Wen’s English wasn’t the best and my Chinese was for shit, but you know… now there’s an APP for that. We went back and forth on the weather, miles, and you gotta love playing the guitar to be pedaling it cross country.
On a side note:
-The rainbow from the Rudolph Post Office after the storm.
-Pedaling into Rudolph with the onset of Round 2 of storms I quickly found a church. The cleaning crew was just leaving. It was a teenage boy. The wind was picking up and dark skies looming. There were rumbles of thunder. “I’m told NOT to let anybody in,” said the kid. He was great at following directions. “How about you call your boss and we just explain the situation….” He cut me off. “I’m not giving you my boss’s phone number,” said the kid. He was the perfect employee. “How about YOU call him and then we could…” Cut off again by the kid from the church who said, “I’m not going to help.” And with that he got into his car and sped away with the crack of a lightning strike in his wake.
-John, Linda, and Amy from St. Peter Lutheran Church in Norwalk, Ohio were a great help in finding a place to stay. At first it was going to be a home under renovation but that changed and I was well cared for that night with a big meal and a cool place to stay.
-A quick mileage summary – Milw – Lake Express Ferry- Muskegon, Mi to Holland, Mi – 53 mi.
Holland to Richland, Mi – 61.32 mi
Richland to Union City, Mi – 36 mi (very hot)
Union City to Archibald, MI – 80 mi
Archibald to Rudolph, Mi – 52.26 mi
Rudolph to Norwalk, Mi – 64.25 mi
Norwalk, Mi to Lodi, OH – 49.04 mi (storms)
Lodi, OH to Alliance, OH – 55 mi (storms again)
Starting to find the hills of Pennsylvania, so I must be getting close to Pittsburgh and my destination of Bicycle Heaven.
The 2026 Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s is raises money every year for music programming for seniors at Cedar Community, a 501c3, so all donations are tax-deductible.
Donate via the secure website through Cedar Community. Donations should be marked “Amazing Ride 2026.” Click HERE to make a secure online donation.
Checks may be made payable to “Cedar Community” with “Judy Bike Ride” in the memo line and mailed to 113 Cedar Ridge Dr., West Bend, WI 53095
Be sure to include the Federal Tax ID Number – WI Tax-exempt since July 1962 EIN: 39-0928211
July 5, 2026 – Archibald, OH – JoJo Wilkins from Union City, MI, is the very definition of a Rotarian – Service before self. I’ve never seen a guy cut hair and work the phone like he did. JoJo let me sit in his third chair and cool my heels after a tough 95-degree day on the bike. Made it 37 miles from Richland, MI, to Union City. JoJo was trying to find a church or cooling center where I could spend the night. After an hour of conversation about the history of the shop (laundromat, tanning salon, video store), the Detroit Tigers vs. Milwaukee Brewers, and the resurgence of mullets we settled on his shop. He dropped the key in my hand, gave me a big bear hug and told me to keep in touch. “Just lock the door when you leave and put the key under the recycling cart.” I went to sleep under the watchful eye of three trophy bucks, a lot of Detroit Tigers memorabilia, and the remote to control the air conditioning.
Trying to find my groove and get in some good miles. The secret was to leave at 6 a.m. That means cooler temps, an awesome sunrise, and great country roads that smell like sweet freshly cut hay.
Prior to Union City was the cozy community of Galesburg. Small, tight-knit city of 2000 people between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, MI.
The saying on the sign at the city limit is “A great place to raise a family.”
Found the Galesburg Meat Company. Set to celebrate 50 years in business. “We’ve always been at this location,” said Audrey, still working the till at 88. “We built new about 10 years ago after lightning struck and fire destroyed the building.” Audrey worked alongside her son Mark and grandson Jake.
“I had a bike growing up. It was blue and had a bell,” she said… her voice rising an octave with excitement.
I bought some of their homemade special, dill pickle jerky.
Onto Coldwater, MI, designated the county seat of Branch County in 1842. From 3 miles out of town you can see it. A pure white church spire piercing the sky.
The steeple is 185-feet and part of First Presbyterian Church which organized in 1837, the same year Coldwater became a village. The church was Romanesque revival style brick, built in 1869 at a cost of $40,104. Sojourner Truth, a slave who escaped to freedom in 1826, spoke at the church in 1877.
Way up top and to the right, when no one was looking, a tree started growing out of the brick at the church.
Dutch Uncle Donuts. A tradition in Coldwater, MI. Glass cases full of frosted donuts. The red, white, and blue sprinkles were a favorite.
“Don’t park there… that’s my drive-thru lane,” said a lady as I perched my bike at the side of the building. It was the clerk, a smiley Asian woman who worked the shop alone and did everything.
Where is the “Dutch Uncle” I asked. She waved her hand at me like… Ohhhh stop kidding around. “Are you alone,” she asked. “That’s the best.. then you can do what you want.”
I told her my name but she refused to tell me hers. “When people know your name, then they tell you what to do.”
I dubbed her Sandy… she kept the shop humming with a no-nonsense personality.
Side notes from the road…
-Long day. 80 miles from Union City, Mi to Archibald, Ohio. Sunny, hot, and… oh, there was a bee in my bra. That’s the most action I’ve had in a long time. Did not get stung. At least it wasn’t a tick.
-Speaking of insects. Look at this beautiful Luna moth. Saw it on the wall at the Dollar Store in Union City, MI. Fun fact: Luna months have a lifespan of 10 days. They have no mouth and live off the energy from when they were a caterpillar.
Coldwater, MI, was also the place with the story about Old Sam, the horse who served during the Civil War and at the end of his life, was secretly buried by veterans under the cover of darkness with his fellow soldiers in Oak Grove Cemetery.
The 2026 Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s is raises money every year for music programming for seniors at Cedar Community, a 501c3, so all donations are tax-deductible.
Donate via the secure website through Cedar Community. Donations should be marked “Amazing Ride 2026.” Click HERE to make a secure online donation.
Checks may be made payable to “Cedar Community” with “Judy Bike Ride” in the memo line and mailed to 113 Cedar Ridge Dr., West Bend, WI 53095
Be sure to include the Federal Tax ID Number – WI Tax-exempt since July 1962 EIN: 39-0928211
July 3, 2026 – Coldwater, MI – In the heart of downtown Coldwater, MI, at the 4-way stop there is a tribute story to a soldier who, under the dark of night, was secretly buried by his comrades who never spoke about their final mission.
Visitors often stop to admire a Civil War cannon standing watch in the town square. Just a few steps away is another memorial that tells the story of a different kind of hero. It isn’t dedicated to a general or a soldier. It honors a horse named Old Sam.
Sam never wore a uniform, yet he faithfully served alongside the men of Michigan’s Light Artillery during one of the nation’s darkest chapters.
According to the plaque, Sam was a 12-year-old horse when he was purchased from Branch County for the newly organized Michigan Light Artillery unit. Before the war, he had worked as an omnibus cart horse and was believed to be of Morgan horse stock. Purchased by O. Clark and S. Sealy, Sam became one of 72 horses selected to pull the heavy wagons and artillery that would follow soldiers into battle.
From 1861 through 1865, Sam endured the hardships of the Civil War.
Like the men he served beside, he often went hungry. He was wounded more than once, yet he continued pulling heavy loads over rough roads, through mud, rain, and smoke. Day after day, mile after mile, Sam never had the choice to quit. He simply kept going.
His finest hour came during the Battle of Chickamauga on Sept. 19, 1863.
As Confederate forces overwhelmed Union positions, Sam was part of a single six-horse team hidden in a wooded area. When the battle turned desperate, those horses were called into action. Sam helped pull one of the battery’s six Parrott cannons to safety.
The other five cannons were captured during the fighting. Eventually, all were recovered before the war ended, including Battery No. 6, Cannon No. 26, which today stands in the Coldwater park as a reminder of both the soldiers and the faithful horses who served beside them.
When the Loomis Battery was mustered out of service on July 28, 1865, Sam’s journey came full circle.
He was one of just two horses purchased by Brevet Brigadier General Cyrus Loomis and brought back home to Coldwater.
The war was finally behind him.
Sam spent his remaining years grazing peacefully on the Clark farm at the south end of Coldwater. But retirement didn’t keep him completely out of the public eye. Each year, he proudly took part in the community’s Decoration Day parade, joining veterans as they remembered those who never returned from the battlefield.
On Nov. 8, 1876, Old Sam died at the age of 27.
The men who had depended on him during the war could not bear to see him forgotten.
Under the cover of darkness, a group of Civil War veterans quietly carried Sam’s body to Oak Grove Cemetery. They buried him along the cemetery’s perimeter near the graves of Civil War soldiers. To protect the resting place of their loyal companion, they concealed the exact location. Only the veterans present that night knew where Sam lay.
More than a century later, that secret remains.
Although his original grave has never been identified, a memorial marker now stands in Oak Grove Cemetery, ensuring visitors remember the horse whose courage matched that of the men he served beside.
The 2026 Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s is raises money every year for music programming for seniors at Cedar Community, a 501c3, so all donations are tax-deductible.
Donate via the secure website through Cedar Community. Donations should be marked “Amazing Ride 2026.” Click HERE to make a secure online donation.
Checks may be made payable to “Cedar Community” with “Judy Bike Ride” in the memo line and mailed to 113 Cedar Ridge Dr., West Bend, WI 53095
Be sure to include the Federal Tax ID Number – WI Tax-exempt since July 1962 EIN: 39-0928211
July 1, 2026 – Richland, Mi – Three young men visited me at Township Park in Richland, Mi, on Tuesday night. I tucked myself in to camp in the baseball dugout and in the middle of the night went to retrieve my power bank that was charging in the pavilion next door. “Wanna hit of our joint,” said one young man who laughed like Beavis & Butthead. Although, hard to discern, they all laughed like Beavis.
“No thanks,” I said, like a fussy granny. It was 12:10 a.m. The park was closed, but… after all these years nothing has changed. Kids found their way in and by 2 a.m. they were busy lighting fireworks, spending a lot of “quiet time” in the car, and getting high.
Walking back to my bunk I thought I should have given a more hip answer to the kid’s offer. Something like, “No thanks… I’m already baked.”
Is “baked” still a trending term?
Hot days pedaling
After taking the Lake Express Ferry out of Milwaukee (thanks to my host Paula and Dave for the overnight) to Muskegon, Michigan my first stop on this tour was a bike store. I reluctantly dismissed the care of my bicycle prior to leaving on tour to Pittsburgh and found a 1-inch gash in the tire.
Finally on the road after a quick fix from Breakaway Bicycles & Fitness I wove my way down the shoreline to Ferrysburg, Grand Haven, and wrapped up with 52 miles into Holland, Mi. Jim and Kay from warmshowers.com adopted me for the night. Avid recumbent cyclists the pair just wrapped up a weekend with their 8 grandsons. The boys range in age from 1 to 16.
“Don’t ask me how many bikes I have,” said Jim as he opened his garage door. “People are often surprised we only have one car,” said Kay.
The pair ran their own veterinarian business. “Sometimes I bike to work and if I had a euthanasia case I’d bring a cart and tow the remains back to the office,” said Jim.
Jim and Kay shared stories about their tours across the USA. “In Montana we ran into sleet where the rain would freeze to our face,” said Kay. “We sought shelter in a church. It was a memorable tour.”
Dedication to saving history
An impressive part of touring includes stopping to admire the history communities have worked to save. In Allegan, MI, there was a beautiful historic wrought iron bridge.
According to the documentation on site, the Second Street Bridge, in Michigan is a Registered Historic Site.This simply ornamented wrought iron bridge was built in 1886.It replaced an earlier wooden one that had begun to fall into disrepair.
Designed by the King Iron Bridge and Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio,the double intersection Pratt Trust Bridge was completed at a cost of $7,532.25.Eighteen feet wide and spanning 225 feet of the Kalamazoo River,it is one of the largest existing bridges designed by the firm.
Following a battle by city officials and local citizens to save the bridge from demolition,it was restored at a cost of $552,000 in 1983.The bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Side notes from the road:
Stopped to refuel at Hastings Friendly Market in Allegan, Mi and found their water-refill station had some interesting documentation on the safety of their drinking water. “PFAS Free and Fluoride Free”
The old county roads are welcoming. A decent shoulder, great views of farming, and a shady canopy of old trees provide respite from the heat. Today a mother doe and two fawns surprised me.
Some interesting artwork at the side of the road.
Found my twin while on a back road headed to Richland, MI. It was outside Aunt Sha’s Shed
Holland, Michigan
Twizzlers break overlooking the Palomita Reserve, a 40-acre nature preserve
Picked up my Michigan plate from Wayne at The OK Tire Store
The 2026 Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s is raises money every year for music programming for seniors at Cedar Community, a 501c3, so all donations are tax-deductible.
Donate via the secure website through Cedar Community. Donations should be marked “Amazing Ride 2026.” Click HERE to make a secure online donation.
Checks may be made payable to “Cedar Community” with “Judy Bike Ride” in the memo line and mailed to 113 Cedar Ridge Dr., West Bend, WI 53095
Be sure to include the Federal Tax ID Number for the Foundation: 39-1249432
You may also find a downloadable donation form HERE.
West Bend, WI – Planning for the upcoming 2026 bike tour has been an exhilarating nightmare. The destination is Pittsburgh, Penn. and Bicycle Heaven. Never heard of it? Me either, but I’m charged and ready to hit the road.
A Cliff Notes version of Bicycle Heaven – it’s “the world’s largest bike shop museum.” I hope to get lost in there… and maybe, just maybe, never find my way out.
I plan on relishing in the high-rise handlebars, banana seats, and baseball cards tearing through the spokes. I want to relive the sweet jumps, the skinned knees, and the memories made on a bike.
The plan is to pedal to Milwaukee and leave the next day on the Lake Express Ferry to Muskegon, MI. The general direction after that is south, with a hard veer east, and then south again with plenty of adventure in the mix.
Do I know where I’m staying? No.
Do I have my map all ready? No.
Totally winging it and can’t wait to bring everyone along.
It’s the unexpected encounters on the road that are most enjoyable. Stopped at a Hy-Vee in Carroll, IA to take a break from the heat.
Normally I will pull my pony into the entry of the store, just for an extra measure of security and there tends to be air conditioning and fewer flies, so that’s a bonus.
I normally just mind my own business when…
“I’d like to do something like that,” said the man in the red Hy-Vee shirt pointing at my bike. “Get to work without using any fuel…. like a rocket.”
His name was Eric and he had my attention.
“And the rocket, you wouldn’t need a license or registration and it would be easy to find a place to park.”
I like the registration aspect. Eric used his black croc sandle to give the shopping carts an extra nudge.
He had a mop of black hair with curls that stuck to his sweaty forehead.
”You would only be flying about a thousand feet in the air.” Eric really thought this through.
Then he was off…
“Service with a smile,” he said to an old man walking in.
The man said huh and Eric cheerfully repeated. “Service with a smile.”
The old man waved him off. But Eric was not to be deterred… there would always be another customer. The next elderly lady did not disappoint.
”Aren’t you hot,” she said as she shuffled into the store in bright red capri pants and toothpick legs.
”I’m gonna cut my head off and put it in the freezer it’s so hot.”
Eric lit up, and so did I.
”Me too,” said Eric chasing her into the store.
With a brief pause in the entertainment I sat on a milk crate and checked messages on my phone… until two black crocs crept into view.
”I have a good idea.” It was Eric.
“How about getting a wagon to carry a cooler with ice behind your bike and then you could have a cold drink whenever you want.”
It was an excellent, if not heavy invention.
I was in no hurry to leave the Hy-Vee. It was instant entertainment.
Eric talked frequently. He eagerly shared details about his head-on accident where he almost died. “Jaws of Life and Flight for Life and 8 years of therapy and I’m as good as new,” he said.
While Eric was fielding carts from the parking lot a cheery clerk got a hold of the store PA and sang the Happy Birthday song to Sue.
This whole 15 minute break reminded me of an episode of “The Middle.”
Eric returned with another idea, for me to ride with a friend and get a “duplex” and I’d get there much faster. “Wear earbuds so you wouldn’t always have to listen to the other person,” he said.
The next round of Eric, was when he came through the entry with music blaring on his phone. “Got music or a radio with you? I got Pandora on my phone.”
It definitely felt like he was vying for my attention.
“How long does it take you to charge your bike,” he asked.
I stood up and told him there was no charge; I was the engine.
Eric looked at me. Then he grabbed the front of his shirt tail to wipe the sweat off his forehead and a big hairy watermelon belly fell out.
”Well I have a 28 speed with 8 cylinders,” said Eric proudly.
Eric was definitely a local treasure for the Hy-Vee in Carroll, IA and so far my most entertaining break.
Side notes on tour…
An awesome double silo outside Grundy Center, IA.
Marvin had a roadside stand on the main drag in Grundy Center. He was sitting alone under a shade tree. “I have corn and tomatoes, melon and cantaloupe and peaches are in the truck.” He was 85. Retired. I bought a jar of raspberry jam for my mom. Marvin said it was from the Amish. “You’ll get that home in one piece,” he said. “If you don’t wreck.”
Met some young entrepreneurs outside Dickeyville, WI. Rhett and Colton set up a lemonade stand. Colton would spot potential customers and Rhett would hold the sign up and holler “Lemonade!” I happened to be the first customer that day. I’ve been advised in the past, “Just give the kids a quarter Judes… don’t dicker on the price.”
The service was excellent. “You can sit there on that corner for some shade,” said Colton offering me a spot under the umbrella. I took advantage of it… testing the sturdiness of the Fischer Price plastic picnic table. It held my weight but for some reason popped the littlest girl, Faith, off her perch. “How’s it going today ladies?” Colton piped in, “Awww they’re just here to drink and bother us,” he said. It reminded me of a Little Rascals episode. I gave the girls kudos for carrying on the tradition of driving men nuts.
This year’s tour is intended to highlight previous Winter Olympics as we head into the 2026 Winter Games in Milan, Italy.
Local speed skater Jordan Stolz is expected to compete in four events and if you would like to be part of Team Jordan feel free to pledge your support by using the QR code below courtesy the Dan Jansen Foundation.
Jansen’s foundation is a 501c3 and he’s agreed to donate 100% of all support noted to Jordan Stolz. Be part of Team Stolz today.
Trying to knock down a 100-mile day on this tour but by the 80-mile mark I’m just not feeling it.
Started early, leaving Ogden, IA at 6:10 a.m. It was a gorgeous pink sunrise after a storm that must have dropped 5-inches of rain easy. Fell in love with quiet Ogden while drifting into the community and saw the Standard Station.
What perfect preservation of a step back in time. The milky white exterior, simple red piping by the roofline and two pumps standing guard on the small island. I imagined leaning out the window of our wood panel station wagon and watching the numbers on the gas meter click away as my younger sister reveled in the aroma of the toxic gasoline fumes. Then my dad would flip that flat metal arm back and return the hose with a kathunk.
Made my way through the Farmers’ Market in Ames. Three blocks long, a petting zoo, and another head nod to history.
Through Marshalltown, IA with my eyes set on Grundy Center. I had 29 miles to go. Headed north with some headwinds and by Conrad I had enough.
It was very difficult finding a place to stay in Conrad. Nobody at the church and while there was consistent traffic at the Post Office nobody knew anything. Nobody knew the mayor or council member or a priest.
I stopped a man walking into Casey’s grocery and he pointed me to another church about three blocks to the north. While pedaling Lillian Avenue I asked a woman in a golf cart for directions. It was Jamie, she had common sense and took me home.
“Honey, this gal is looking to throw her sleeping bag down for the night and I thought she could use our camper,” she said to husband Rick.
Another common-sense person. Rick did not argue; they made it just that simple.
Then the real kicker, while touring his woodworking shop I found Rick was in IT, setting up computer security and whatnot. “I’ve worked in Dane County,” he said about his tie to Wisconsin. “Also, Washington County.”
With that, we found we knew the same people in law enforcement.
Such a small world and great new friends.
Side notes on the tour:
Searched for the history center in Marshalltown, IA. What I found instead was a diner with a simple storefront and a long legacy for loose meat sandwiches.
”One wet,” said the man sitting at the counter round the turn. “Wet” I understood meant extra grease. The waiter wrote the order on a white paper napkin.
The sandwich came with mustard and a pickle. Cheese was extra. A spoon was required.
The fist-sized serving came double wrapped in paper. Grease had already soaked through the first layer of paper and the bun. A steady stream of customers came through the door, like church let out. Nobody looked at a menu. The place was legend.
-Both Nebraska and Iowa have kernels of corn littering the shoulder of the highway. It’s fun to see when one rogue seed takes hold in a slim crack in the pavement.
-Love how the communities embrace the history on the Lincoln Highway in Iowa.
-Battling a lot if rain since entering Iowa. Was headed east out of Carroll, IA and there was a big homemade road sign $7 corn. “Better keep pedaling … storms on your heels.” I vaguely saw the man dressed in camouflage sitting in the shadows… he had a booming voice. I picked up my rain apparel from the Fareway grocery in Jefferson, IA. The clerk at the deli handed me a large garbage bag and wished me a safe journey.
-Interesting to note, the grocery over the bridge in Jefferson left pallets of chips and Gatorade lining the wall outside the store. “Do you put all this away at night?” The clerk looked at me like I was nuts.
-Jefferson was one of my favorite communities. St. Joseph’s church readily offered me space to stay the night and when pedaling back after a quick grocery shop I saw a boy in a red cape walking with his mom down the tree-lined street; very Norman Rockwell.
-Updating my mileage. Long days are courtesy A1 Health and Fitness – training since November 2024 and it is paying off.
Utah airport to UPS store and host – 21 mi.
Olympic Training Rink, bike store, Jordan River Trail – 24 mi.
Salt Lake City to Park City – 36.40 mi.
Interview Eric Heiden to host – 14 mi.
Park City, UT to Evanston, Wy – 65.54 mi.
Evanston, Wy to Fort Bridger, Wy to Lyman, Wy – 44.26 mi.
Lyman, WY to Green River to Rock Springs KOA – 50 mi.
Kimball, NE to Chappell, NE – 67.43 mi.
Chappell, NE to Paxton, NE – 61.17 mi.
Paxton, NE to Brady, NE – 63.95 mi.
Brady, NE to Kearney, NE – 81.55 mi.
Kearney to Chapman, NE – 60.90 mi.
Chapman, NE to Columbus, NE – 58.64 mi.
Columbus, NE to Blair, NE – 79.55 mi
Blair, NE to Denison, IA – 67.94 mi
Denison, IA to Jefferson, IA – 60.29 mi
Jefferson, IA to Ogden, IA – 26.05 mi (lots of rain)
Ogden, IA to Conrad, IA – 85.14 mi
Conrad, IA to Independence, IA – 78.61 mi
Total = 966.87 miles.
This year’s tour is intended to highlight previous Winter Olympics as we head into the 2026 Winter Games in Milan, Italy.
Local speed skater Jordan Stolz is expected to compete in four events and if you would like to be part of Team Jordan feel free to pledge your support by using the QR code below courtesy the Dan Jansen Foundation.
Jansen’s foundation is a 501c3 and he’s agreed to donate 100% of all support noted to Jordan Stolz. Be part of Team Stolz today.
This was my map yesterday as I hit the road to finally pass from Nebraska into Iowa. A farmer looked at the image and said, “Is that the hills or your heartbeat?” I said both.
Nebraska has been one of my favorites – mainly because of the wide shoulder on the Lincoln Highway…. And the people. The people and their respect for farming and history.
Columbus, NE in particular had an awesome painting in its downtown at 26th Street and 13th Avenue. It was titled Discovering the colorful history of Columbus; commemorating Columbus‘s sesquicentennial 1856 to 2006 by artist designer, David Reiser.
“The mural reveals important moments in the cities development by peeling through eight of the numerous layers of time from present to past.
An aspect of the mural is the transition of color through the piece. It was intentional to use black-and-white as the most recent history, then to sepia tones in the addition of more color for further back in time.
The mural measures 26 feet high by 84 feet wide. The city history began with its founding May 28, 1856; that layer shows three of the 13 founders coming to Columbus.
Those depicted are Jacob Lewis, Vincent, Kramer, and John Brower. Intentionally positioned over one of the oxen is a bison from a previous layer in time to show what was here before the Founders arrived by representing the Pawnee Indian tribes in the area with bison.
Another layer is a portrait of William F Cody commonly known as Buffalo Bill because the first exhibition of the world, famous wild West show organized with Frank and Luther North was held in Columbus.
Also is a layer to note the construction of the Loup River public powerhouse in the 1930s .
Below the Loup and Buffalo Bill layers is the late model general locomotive layer depicting the importance the railroad has had and the cities growth and development.
The layer on the left of the mural. Includes the Behlen manufacturing, water tower, and a modern train. The water tower helps symbolize industrial growth, and the modern train shows something old being replaced with something new.
The contrast not only exemplified through the trains or the bison and ox, but also with grain silos and the agriculture layer of the painting.
The grain silos are juxtapose with the teepee to show that TP one started the planes and have been replaced to silo.
The Columbus arch tops the entire composition because it is primary and recognized symbol of the city.
There were two arch tops that welcome visitors to Columbus traveling Highway 30 also known as the Lincoln Highway in the 1940s and 50s.
One located near the intersection of 23rd Street and 23rd Avenue and the other north of the viaduct near the intersection of 13th St. and 33rd Ave.
A self portrait of the artist peeling back the layers of time.
Below are a few of the other murals depicting history in Nebraska.
There is amazing art everywhere along the Lincoln Highway.
In Overton, NE I needed a break from the sun. I walked into a Pump n’ Pantry and the kid behind the counter said, “I don’t know if you’re gardening or looking at gemstones.” I assumed he was looking at my tattered bicycling gloves and perplexed by my rearview mirror on my glasses.
There was an adorable little tourism info building just before heart attack hill as I headed out of Nebraska.
Kim, the attendant, started a black-and-white history video on the Lincoln Highway. Pretty remarkable. Henry Ford, who was getting rich with his automobiles and the assembly-line process, refused to chip in even though a cross country paved road would have done wonders for sales.
There were great images of old cars getting totally stuck on mud roads.
Fun fact: Did you know when the Lincoln Highway first opened the lines down the middle of the road were painted black?
Couple or random tidbits:
One of my favorite signs so far from North Bend, NE.
The weather has been mostly sunny and in the mid-80s. Awesome bicycling weather. I am in the sun from about 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. The skin on my arms has peeled twice.
Absolutely loved the cozy Pony Express Museum in Gothenburg, NE. These kids were 17, swapped horses after 10 miles. Rode 100 miles a day.
There was a great quote at the Wild Bill Cody home tour. It was from Annie Oakley. “When a man hits a target, they call him a marksman when I hit a target. They call it a trick. Never did like that much.”
This year’s tour is intended to highlight previous Winter Olympics as we head into the 2026 Winter Games in Milan, Italy.
Local speed skater Jordan Stolz is expected to compete in four events and if you would like to be part of Team Jordan feel free to pledge your support by using the QR code below courtesy the Dan Jansen Foundation.
Jansen’s foundation is a 501c3 and he’s agreed to donate 100% of all support noted to Jordan Stolz. Be part of Team Stolz today.
Having so much adventure in Nebraska with decent roads, sunny weather, friendly people and a couple lessons from Mother Nature. She is definitely in charge on cross-country bike tours.
Pedaled out of Paxton, NE. The Cliff Swallows that build their nests under the bridge came out and paraded me out of town. It was rather amazing. They were flying on both sides at eye level. It felt very Chariots of Fire.
Met a couple really nice fellas in Paxton, NE. Rich and Todd had been pedaling since Salt Lake City, UTAH.
Todd talked about touring and how he like getting out in the morning and seeing people grouchy on their morning ride to work while he was going to spend the day in the sun having adventure.
Rich said he loved being on the road, visiting the small towns, and stopping to read historic markers. (Me too!)
My favorite historic marker so far was about Chief Turkey Leg… It was a grim encounter in 1867, especially for the people on the Union Pacific.
Lots of the historic markers provide nuggets of history that I never heard about in school. Common themes are the gold rush, the Oregon Trail, difficult journeys, forts and battles.
The small towns are more common in Nebraska than Wyoming. It’s part of the charm. Happened upon Larry’s Market in Shelton, NE. Population about 1,000.
“This used to be a Jack & Jill Store a long time ago,” said Larry. “You remember those… don’t you?”
Larry’s Market has an entire freezer dedicated to about 20 freeze pops. He cut the end off the blue one and passed it back. It’s the best way to combat a sweltery ride.
Larry was kind and easy going. He talked with the gentle tone and reassurance of the Motel 6 guy who said, “We’ll leave the light on for ya.”
Larry was managing the store and his two grandchildren. Sawyer took a break from riding his electric scooter up and down the aisles to pose with grandpa.
Absolutely love the cowboy flair along the side of the road and the murals in town dedicated to the history of the community. Common themes are trains, Pony Express, and farming.
Remember when the train was going to come through Walnut Grove in Little House on the Prairie and they exploded the whole town? That still didn’t make much sense… except if they were going for big ratings.
About three times a week this happens. An old guy will approach me during one of my breaks and come up to chat. Mike was on his way to Grand Island, NE, with his brothers and they pulled up to get a cold drink. Mike went for a walk and a smoke and wandered over by me.
”Where ya headed – Where ya been” is the normal icebreaker. Then… like it’s standard, the fellas feel the need to check my tires. Most say something to the effect, “Not going to make it much farther on these.”
I absolutely treasure these encounters.
Larry and Ed were next. They stared at me as I drifted off Hwy 30 into the Pump n’ Pantry in Silver Creek, NE.
They’re nothing but a couple good ole boys enjoying retirement. “Where are you headed,” said Larry. I told them Wisconsin. “Need a cheese sandwich,” said Ed.
The good-natured ribbing. I’m glad they feel so comfortable without even knowing me.
Just a couple of my favorite photos below:
I’ve been asked to cobble together a mileage total. Below is my best attempt. Long days are courtesy A1 Health and Fitness – training since November 2024 and it is paying off.
Utah airport to UPS store and host – 21 mi.
Olympic Training Rink, bike store, Jordan River Trail – 24 mi.
Salt Lake City to Park City – 36.40 mi.
Interview Eric Heiden to host – 14 mi.
Park City, UT to Evanston, Wy – 65.54 mi.
Evanston, Wy to Fort Bridger, Wy to Lyman, Wy – 44.26 mi.
Lyman, WY to Green River to Rock Springs KOA – 50 mi.
Kimball, NE to Chappell, NE – 67.43 mi.
Chappell, NE to Paxton, NE – 61.17 mi.
Paxton, NE to Brady, NE – 63.95 mi.
Brady, NE to Kearney, NE – 81.55 mi.
Kearney to Chapman, NE – 60.90 mi.
Chapman, NE to Columbus, NE – 58.64 mi.
Total = 648.84 miles.
Finally, on a very hot day on July 3, I took a break at a senior center in Ogallala, NE. This was on the inside door of a stall in their bathroom.
Thanks everyone for following along on the tour. I hope you’re having as much fun as I am.
This year’s tour is intended to highlight previous Winter Olympics as we head into the 2026 Winter Games in Milan, Italy.
Local speed skater Jordan Stolz is expected to compete in four events and if you would like to be part of Team Jordan feel free to pledge your support by using the QR code below courtesy the Dan Jansen Foundation.
Jansen’s foundation is a 501c3 and he’s agreed to donate 100% of all support noted to Jordan Stolz. Be part of Team Stolz today.
“Don’t park there… that’s my drive-thru lane,” said a lady as I perched my bike at the side of the building. It was the clerk, a smiley Asian woman who worked the shop alone and did everything.
