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The BiKeWriTer | Day 2 – Simi Valley, California

By
Judy
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Filing from the Newhall Library which is a small burg in the city of Santa Clarita

Day 2, June 24, 2010 SIMI VALLEY – Finally got in some good bicycling today. Sunny, 74 degrees and 47 miles from West Hollywood through Beverly Hills, Sherman Oaks, Ventura Ave, Woodland Hills, across Santa Susanna Pass to Simi Valley, home of the Ronald Reagan Library.

Pastor Gary Stevenson from Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church let me stay in the parish youth room for the evening. He also invited me to share in a community meal that night.


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The church began the effort several months ago to help the homeless and people having trouble catching a break in the poor economy.

I spent most of the evening at a table with Ken, his wife Irene and their friend Bernita.

Ken lived in Simi Valley for 25 years; he was a walking history book. We talked mostly about the Hollywood happenings in the community in the 1970s.

Errol Flynn and the Adventures of Robin Hood was filmed in Simi Valley, as was (Johnny Weissmuller) Tarzan, Rin Tin Tin , John Wayne cowboy flicks and, if ever the Star Trek crew beamed down to another planet… it was shot in Simi Valley.

“Bob Hope bought property in the area in 1967; he called it Hopeville,” said Ken.

A brush fire put an end to Hopeville, taking with it a majority of the movie sets except for the original Fort Apache, a movie directed by John Ford with a cast starring John Wayne, Shirley Temple and Henry Fonda.

Simi was also home to Corriganville; it was America’s first theme park opened in 1953 by cowboy actor Ray ‘Crash’ Corrigan.

The 2,000-acre site featured a blacksmith shop, Marshall’s office, general store, Silverdollar Saloon, and Wells Fargo Bank & Hotel. Corriganville had over 20,000 visitors a day and made over 3,500 movies.

Ken and Bernita took turns telling stories.

Ken, 59, had large, square wire-rim glasses and spoke with an easy-going slowness, like there was nothing on his calendar for infinity.

He had patience and a good memory, except his timelines were a little cloudy and he’d often generalize – “it happened in 1970-something.”

Bernita, 66, was a well-insulated woman with a lot of spunk. She had long grey hair and wore a small, framed pendant of Jesus around her neck.

Bernita had relatives in Green Bay and Milwaukee and felt an instant connection to me. She spoke with urgency and an outline.

“I have three things to add and then I’ll be quiet,” she said… several times.

The pair said Simi Valley was known as the safest city in the United States and the primary industry used to be farming.

“Apricots, peaches, oranges and even hay across the entire valley,” said Ken. That dried up when Simi Valley failed to keep up with farmers in the Midwest.

“Zsa Zsa Gabor used to go to Ralph’s Market on L.A. Avenue, which was next to Green Acres, and I bet that’s how they got the name of the show,” said Bernita, finishing her sentence with arms folded, lips pursed and a confident head-nod of satisfaction.

Ken said he didn’t know too much about that.

He said Simi Valley doubled in size over the last five years. Once Rocadyne, a jet and rocket fuel company, went under the city turned into a bedroom community with neighbors commuting 40 minutes, one way to L.A. or Ventura.

In Simi Valley today, the industry (a loosely used term) is strip malls.

“You should go see Grandma Prisbrey’s house where her husband built a foundation around their trailer using cement and bottles,” said Bernita, with another serious head-nod and a matter-of-fact attitude.” Like ‘you can take that to the bank.’

Ken swung his gaze from Bernita to me, nodding in affirmation. “That bottle work actually enhanced the value of their property,” he said, noting the Prisbrey’s were on top of four earthquake faults.

In fine detail, Ken tried to explain how to find the Prisbrey place while Bernita looked like she was about to fly out of her seat.

“He went to the dump and brought back bottles,” she said, a bit exhausted.

I later found Grandma Prisbrey’s Bottle Village was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in July 1984.

The bronze-plated plaque on the fence said the small plot on the main drag through Simi carried a fantastic assemblage of remarkable twentieth-century folk art.

In 1956, Tressa Prisbrey, then nearly 60-years-old, started building a fanciful “village” of shrines, walkways, sculptures and buildings from recycled items and discards from the local dump. She worked for 25 years creating one structure after another to house her collections.

Today, Bottle Village is composed of 13 buildings and 20 sculptures.

It kind of reminded me of the witch’s house in Fox Point. There were waist-high walls of blue bottle glass set in cement. A series of headlights from a vehicle were stacked two rows high in the shape of a water fountain you may see in a town Centre.

Ken returned to the topic of Hollywood films and television shows.

Big Sky Ranch, which was an area with more housing developments, apparently was the place to see remnants of the old Hollywood sets.

Little House on the Prairie was one of the last television shows filmed in Simi Valley. “You know who wrote the music for Little House on the Prairie,” said Ken.

“You won’t find much of that set left; they exploded the town in the last episode,” said Ken.

During the season finale the railroad was apparently set to come through town and there was nothing Pa or Mr. Edwards could do to stop it.

Seriously, they had to raze all Walnut Grove so the railroad could go through.

Ken looked at me with a blank stare as if to say, ‘it was just a TV show.’

But seriously, the whole town? I guess that’s government – even back in the day.

TIDBITS…

– There are really beautiful trees in California. One species has bright flowers that look like fine pink feathers on a fly-fishing lure.

purple trees California, LA

The other spectacular tree, the Jacaranda has soft purple trumpet-shaped flowers the color of a ribbon in an Easter bonnet. In Beverly Hills the streets were lined with Jacaranda, which looked like somebody pulled a broad brush of lavender though the treetops.

– I was on the UCLA campus today. Wow, that’s big.

– Saw a guy eat out of the dumpster on Hollywood Boulevard today. He got a pretty nice slice of pizza with maybe three small bites taken out of the pointy end. I admire the California mentality towards recycling.

– Simi Valley has a population of 150,000, the city is about 15 miles across, there are two main east/west roads and bicycling lanes on most streets.

– Simi Valley is built in a soup bowl, so to speak. You have to climb six miles up and over and drop down six miles to get into town. Then, there is a steep climb up and over to get out. Anywhere you stand in Simi, you’re surrounded by the Santa Susana Mountain range.

The BiKeWriTeR | Day 1 in LA

By
Judy
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0

June 24, 2010 –


 

I’m not a typical tourist. Expensive hotels, attractions and theme parks just aren’t my thing.

I really tried to grow my boundaries and explored spending the night at the historic Hotel Roosevelt in West Hollywood. The 300-room hotel dates to 1927, is located on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was first to host the Academy Awards.

 
The hotel reportedly is haunted by Marilyn Monroe; her reflection has been seen in the poolside nightclub, Tropicana. Montgomery Clift supposedly has been heard playing a trombone on the ninth floor.
 
The hotel has been used in a bunch of movies and TV shows, including “Knots Landing”, “Moonlighting” and “Beverly Hills Cop II.”
 
Through the years, the hotel has bee remodeled and lost a ton of its’ history. It used to have a grand archway and elaborately painted ceilings. Now, it’s a boutique hotel and all the history has been covered; paintings, pictures and memorabilia have been dumped in a closet.
 
As much as I wanted to grow as a person, the $30-a-night Hollywood Hostel down the street on Hollywood Blvd. was more my speed. Across from the Kodak Theatre, down the block from Grauman’s Chinese Theatre…it was perfect.

 


With a couple flat tires in the 15 miles from LAX to West Hollywood, I sought a bicycle store and found a Hollywood cemetery called Hollywood Forever; it’s on Santa Monica Blvd.

 

Back in the day, it was probably amidst fields and trees and on the outskirts of town. Now, it’s an immaculate landscape of crypts, gardens, mausoleums and monuments housed behind a black wrought-iron gate across the street from Tom’s Smog & Auto Repair, Manuel’s Tires and Hollywood Discount Mufflers.

Hollywood Forever started in 1849 and was originally Hollywood Memorial Park.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery is the “final resting place to more of Hollywood’s founders and stars than anywhere else on earth. More than 101 celebrities and notables are buried there; the most famous is Rudolph Valentino.

The Italian star, primarily cast as a “Latin Lover,” died at age 31 after an appendicitis operation became aggravated by peritonitis. Within a matter of a week Valentino fell into a coma and died.

Valentino’s funeral was held in New York. His body shipped cross country by train for a second funeral in Beverly Hills. He had no burial plans – but then a friend, June Mathis, said she could take his crypt. Unfortunately, she died – and now Mathis and Valentino lie in adjoining crypts at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Tough to find him without a $30 guide or GPS.

Other recognizable stars include Peter Lorre, Jayne Mansfield, Cecil B. DeMille, John Huston and Mel Blank, all of which I was unable to locate. I got lost in the maze of this wonderful cemetery. HUGE granite memorials to people whose names I couldn’t even pronounce like Dolukhanyan Vantset, Mary Laura Tedeschi and Kerop Shushianyan.

Apparently the cemetery also houses a lot of Albanians, Russians and a huge Jewish population.

Stars I did find include Tyrone Power, who was a big-deal actor in the 1950s with The Mark of Zorro. Power died in 1958; he was 44.

I also saw a nice memorial to Hattie McDaniel; the first African-American to win an Academy Award in 1939 for Gone With The Wind.

I also found actor Douglas Fairbanks and guitarist Johnny Ramone from the Ramones.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery is the “final resting place to more of Hollywood’s founders and stars than anywhere else on earth.”

TIDBITS…

– It seems to be human nature to be in Hollywood and think you’ve seen a star. I went exploring this morning and thought I bicycled past author Stephen King. Then I’m like, ‘why would Stephen King be hanging out in California’s version of the Wisconsin Dells?’ I checked online and King still resides in Bangor, Maine.

So, I almost saw Stephen King today.

– The airline saw fit to check my bicycle, for safety’s sake. Upon landing and retrieving my bicycle box I could tell it had been opened. There was a nice note from Transportation Security Administration inside that said they were “required by law” to inspect all checked baggage. Mine was among those selected for physical inspection. I hope they found that repacking a bicycle is not the easiest thing. And they failed to do it correctly.

– Spent the night at the Hollywood Hostel on Hollywood Blvd. $30 a night, across from the Kodak Theatre and down the street from Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel is performing next door and Toy Story 3 is playing at the El Capitan cinema. Adult admission is $20.

– The big HOLLYWOOD sign in the Hollywood Hills is just outside my hostel window. It’s rather easy to spot the 45-foot letters. I asked how to bicycle to the sign and locals say it’s not really possible. For years it’s been cordoned off by gates and security. There’s a lot of graffiti in the area and officials believe the sign would be tagged if left open to the public.

– Lots of tourist attractions. Explored the shopping area around the Kodak Theatre and read the sidewalk about the ‘road to Hollywood’:

 

One segment read, “You’ve got to come to Hollywood,” they said.
 
“Movies is the third biggest business in the world. Safety razors is first, corn plasters second, and movies third.” So I went. – Cowboy star.

 

– West Benders are stalking me. Crazy coincidence that the day I land in LA, my friends Ric and Amy Leitheiser and family are also in LA. Through cell phone challenges and traffic issues we managed to hook up for a cold one last night on Hollywood Blvd. I love how my friends take care of me.

The BiKeWriTeR | Simi Valley

By
Judy
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0
June 25, 2010 – Made it to Simi Valley today… about 50 mi.
Getting out of LA was good. Challenging – but good. Much slower pace in Simi Valley.
74 and sunny
Found a church for tonight. Pastor Gary Stephenson at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran has given me the youth room.
Five couches to choose from. Sweet!
Tomorrow I’m exploring. Apparently, the Ronald Reagan Library is seven miles away on the outskirts of town and have to climb over a hill to get there. Reagan apparently liked the view.
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I’ve already got the name of an old-timey diner to try tomorrow morning. Tonight.. the church is feeding me; it’s their community night – me and the homeless. I should fit right in….

VIDEO | TheBiKeWriTer | A little bit of Lincoln

By
Judy
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0

It is an odd experience to be pedaling through a new community and hear someone call your name.

It happened in Springfield, IL. I met Brian while entering town. He was on a bicycle too.

Brian had questions about touring. He led me to St. Aloysius Church and the rectory across the street. He took off before I rang the doorbell.

The priest wasn’t home so I opted for camping at the county fairgrounds nearby.

After a stop at the grocery, I made my way west and that’s when I thought I heard my name the first time.

I turned to look and that felt weird. So I started to take off, and again I heard my name.

I stopped and this time Brian, the only one I knew in Springfield, was biking to catch me.

“I raced home and asked my wife and she said it’s OK if you want to stay with us tonight,” he said.

Brian didn’t have to ask twice. Funny, too, that he was well aware of the protocol at home.

A bike is a common denominator. Brian was genuine. A good guy and a warm bed sure beat camping.

I followed Brian home and we chatted the whole way.

Brian’s wife Lynn was a doll. She had a sharp wit and conversation came easy.

“I really would like to tour,” said Brian. ”Not like you… but just a couple of days.”

I was encouraged. I looked at Lynn.

“I don’t want to do it,” she said. ”I like things like home and a bed.”

Brian said, as much as he wanted to tour he had some reservations.

“Of course, I’d miss my wife,” said Brian. ”But I’d really miss my C-pap machine.”

Lynn rolled her eyes.

“Stop making excuses,” she said.

I echoed Lynn’s ribbing. Brian was outnumbered.

That was until their neighbor Terry came over. Terry was part of the family. He jumped right into the conversation, changed the topic to food, and then went to get some.

Terry was a self-taught baker. He brought over homemade chocolate turtles with crisp pecans.

While we raved about the treat Terry talked about how he was preparing to retire by following his wife around the house. Closely.

“Oh she hates it,” said Terry. ”I can’t wait.”

Spent some time at the Lincoln Museum in Springfield, IL. The fascinating history of a lanky lawyer who was described as ”unkempt” and ”often out at the elbows.”

Lincolns also had “a very defective taste in hats.”

He wore straw hats and broad low brimmed or felt hats. Best known for his stove pipe hat Lincoln habitually used it as a desk and filing cabinet stuffing letters legal papers and scribbled speech notes inside.

One entry read, ”It was not always wise. As a congressman attending the 1849 inauguration of President Zachary Taylor, Lincoln supposedly had his hat stolen losing whatever literary treasures were inside.”

North of the museum is Lincoln’s tomb. The Oak Ridge Cemetery is immaculate and majestic and has an aura about it, probably because of its strong ties to history, tragedy, and the final dark days surrounding Lincoln’s presidency.

A couple interesting notes:

  • Lincoln’s casket was moved 17 times.
  • The docent also said the casket was reopened five times. There had been a trend in the 1800s of grave robbing. One scoundrel even wanted to steal Lincoln’s remains and hold them for ransom.

Pedaled 62 miles from Springfield to Clinton, IL, and then 99.69 miles to Ottawa, IL on Thursday. Dodged an incoming storm in the morning but picked up some strong miles on the Constitution Trail, a wonderful paved trail through Bloomington, IL.

Ended the day .04 miles short of a century. When I checked in that evening with my team back home I was encouraged to get back on the bike and spin it around the parking lot to even out the mileage at 100. I just didn’t have the strength.

If the way that somebody lives pleases the Lord, the Lord will lead him into good things. Psalm 37:23 Easy English Bible

The 2022 Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s is raising money this 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 2022.” 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. Cedar Community is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, and donations are tax-deductible.

TheBiKeWriTer | Warnings on the road

By
Judy
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0

“What happened to the trail,” I asked, as a beautiful B&O converted rail line suddenly stopped.

The paved trail, which ran straight east-west, was an awesome find and a good way out of dicey Indianapolis, which was heavy with traffic and had no decent shoulder on the road.

“The end,” said Sandy in blunt fashion, “This is it, girl… trail over.” Sandy slapped me with a hard reality and I laughed out loud at the situation.

Yolanda and her sister, Sandy, were also stopped at the end of the trail, but their bike ride was half done for the day.

“You’re lean like a jellybean,” said Sandy. “How much protein do you eat?”

The sisters were inquisitive and fun. “We like to ride, but not like that,” said Yolanda, pointing to my hobo house on wheels.

The B&O Trail was going to be my lifesaver as the sign at the start on Speedway Drive read ’Springfield, IL 193 miles’ and then an arrow pointing west.

The B&O trail is a rails-to-trails project along the historic Baltimore and Ohio railroad corridor.

The first US public railroad was chartered in 1827 by Baltimore businessmen to compete against the newly open Erie Canal.

Construction began in 1828 and by May 1830 the train was operating between Baltimore and Ellicott’s Mills Maryland.

Originally horse-drawn, the successful trial run of Peter Cooper’s Tom Thumb in August 1830 inaugurated the steam locomotive era.

After a brief break and some conversation with the ladies, it was back on the road. ”Not so fast, sister,” said Sandy. “We got to lay some Jesus on you.”

With that Sandy and Yolanda took my hands in theirs and we formed a small tight circle of newfound friends and the sisters prayed that I have a safe journey home.

Indianapolis to Waynestown, IN, and I had clocked about 71 miles. I struck up a conversation with John Olson in the parking lot at Dollar General.

A quick chat about mapping and distance soon turned into, ”You can come home with me … we have a trailer for camping and you can stay there.”

John lived up the road another 10 miles in Newtown, IN.

His family was awesome. A lot of girl power.

“How many times does your dad go to the store and come home with a lady in spandex on a bike?”

“Never,” said the girls in unison as we sat around the dining room table.

John’s wife, Paula, was beautiful as well as a generous and easy-going hostess. ”You actually saved us tonight because our daughter Hope brought her boyfriend home for the first time…”

I felt like an added distraction but apparently a bit of a saving grace for a young teenager who was meeting his girlfriend’s muscley father.

“John has always worked out but he wanted to bench 400 pounds by his 40th birthday,” said Paula.

The Olson family was a treat. Paula and John were high school sweethearts. Married at 20, they became an instant family when they agreed to become foster parents to three boys.

After the children were placed Paula said, ”We looked at each other and were like … we are not having kids.”

A couple years later they had Hope and their family grew. Paula and John continued to open their home to foster children.

They adopted Charity, an avid reader, and Bella, an eager camper and member of the cross country team.

“When people ask I say I have five daughters,” beams Paula.

Faith is 11 and very artistic and Ruby is mighty brave at age 6 as she is making a quick recovery since having her tonsils removed in June.

Two cups of coffee and some conversation was a great start to a Monday before hitting the road and rolling into a vicious dog chase.

Those two boys actually planned it pretty well.

The first one came out of the grass with a big bark and wore down my fight or flight and the second was like a slingshot and they cracked the whip. Then the chase jumped into Stage II.

That second dog was part sheepdog and channeling his best greyhound. He could smell fear but knew fatigue would do me in.

At 58 my heart was still racing as I slid into Hillsboro. What a great welcome sign!

Mark me down for 85 miles on Monday, Newtown to Monticello, IL.


Found another great east-west trail out of Danville, IL that got me off a crummy Hwy 150. The Kickapoo Trail was crushed gravel and hopscotched a bit past St. Joseph, IL.

In Champagne, IL you’ve got to figure if you leave the door to the stadium open someone is bound to roll through it.

If the way that somebody lives pleases the Lord, the Lord will lead him into good things. Psalm 37:23 Easy English Bible

The 2022 Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s is raising money this 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 2022.” 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. Cedar Community is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, and donations are tax-deductible.

VIDEO | The BiKeWriTer | Illini Stadium was open wide

By
Judy
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0

July 12, 2022 – AmazingRide, IL – Pedaled 81.59 miles from Newtown, IN to Monticello, IL. Drifted in on fumes.

Interesting day as someone left the door open to the University of Illinois “Fighting Illini” Memorial Stadium and someone rolled right onto the turf field.

Met Veteran Thomas Scott at breakfast.

Headed to Springfield, IL through a construction detour in Cisco.

If the way that somebody lives pleases the Lord, the Lord will lead him into good things. Psalm 37:23 Easy English Bible

The 2022 Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s is raising money this 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 2022.” 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. Cedar Community is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, and donations are tax-deductible.

If the way that somebody lives pleases the Lord, the Lord will lead him into good things. Psalm 37:23 Easy English Bible

TheBiKeWriTer | Small town – big surprise, Milan, IN

By
Judy
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0

Everywhere you looked in Milan, IN there is a sign touting an accomplishment from 68 years ago.

The small town sure was proud of that team but odd it had not accomplished anything since?

It was the clerks at Jay C Food Store who enlightened me.

“We had the team that inspired the movie Hoosiers with Gene Hackman,” said Andrei Petravicius.

I was stunned.

”We have a museum and one of the fellas we beat was a young Oscar Robertson,” said Wayne Jones about the former Milwaukee Buck.

And in all these years nobody had a son or a grandson who was talented enough to make another run at a state title?

“That’s why it’s such a big accomplishment,” said Petravicius. ”We are such a small town we weren’t even supposed to win the first time.”

The final score in 1954 was Milan 32 Muncie 30.

Susan Cottingham was the director of the Milan ‘54 Hoosiers Museum, formerly a bank.

Susan was kind enough to meet me at the museum at 8:30 p.m. and let me look around.

It was a magnificent collection of high school and Hollywood memorabilia that put the tiny town of Milan, IN on the map.

The Rollin Cutter rim was attached to the side of the side of the garage/ granary on the Cutter farm in 1948. It was made from a burlap sack and stitched with bailing wire on the bottom.

High-top tennis shoes line the top row of a locker that carries the individual names of players on the team.

A clothesline of colorful uniforms is strung along the ceiling.

The bicycle from the movie along with the hospital bed are two of the items from Hollywood donated to the collection.

None of the big stars have visited the museum in Milan. But that seems to be OK with the people in the community who still revel in the accomplishment of the 1954 Indians.

If the way that somebody lives pleases the Lord, the Lord will lead him into good things. Psalm 37:23 Easy English Bible

The 2022 Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s is raising money this 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 2022.” 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. Cedar Community is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, and donations are tax-deductible.

TheBiKeWriTer | Dodging the rain in Indiana

By
Judy
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0

There are so many small town charms to find while bicycling.

Making my way northwest out of Milan, IN and ran across this peach stand. The father- son team of Art and Mike Johnson had been working the same busy intersection for 34 years.

“You’re going to get wet today,” said Mike. Dressed in a straw hat and sporting wire rimmed glasses he picked out two peaches and told me to wait two days and they would be super juicy.

Art was 88. ”I was here when the old Oak still stood,” he said pointing to the stump. Mike pointed out the line of power poles and said the farmer sold the land but with the caveat they build their line around the old Oak. ”That’s why it curves out here,” he said pointing to the odd pattern of the poles.

A little ways up the road dark clouds were coming in. Had to make a quick stop to get this big boy off the road.

Spent about three hours watching the rain from inside a McDonald’s. Before I got there I sought shelter in a mom and pop wood carving shop in Batesville, IN.

It was 1922 when William Weberding received a woodworking set from his dad; it was a set of chisels to help pass the time during his recovery from pneumonia and an appendectomy.

William’s interest in woodcarving continued after he recovered. He became an apprentice at a furniture company in Batesville in 1932 and when he was 16 he would spend evenings carving religious statues.

William started a small shop in a 10’ x 12’ building. He was always very Catholic and religious and did a lot for the community. He said, ”We were raised to treat people right.”

William and his wife Monica had five children and over 70 years made one-of-a-kind religious carvings and creations for many parishes across the archdiocese and even the country.

There was an extensive effort involved in recreating the beautifully ornate partition wall behind the altar of Sacred Heart of Jesus church in Indianapolis after a fire gutted the church in 2001.

Photo credit: Del Vechio, Jennifer, The Criterion, 4 May 2001, https://n.b5z.net/i/u/10004198/f/Criterion_Sacred_Heart_1.pdf

Recently the family business was contacted by the Batesville Casket Company. It needed carved gold eagles added to a casket which could also be removed so that family could keep them.

The catch is they had to be completed in four days. “We were able to meet the deadline. We had no idea who the customer was until Mr. John McCain passed away.

“We were very honored to have a little piece of making Senator John McCain’s last wishes fulfilled. A big thank you to Batesville casket for the opportunity.”

Some interesting small town Americana while ducking in out of the rain.

On a side note:

  • Left the McDonalds and picked up 44.57 miles Milan to Greensburg, IN.
  • Saturday was a similar scenario but not as comfortable as I hid out for an hour under some pine trees at the side of the road. Finished the day late at 8:15 p.m. just outside Indianapolis with 71.57.

The 2022 Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s is raising money this 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 2022.” 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. Cedar Community is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, and donations are tax-deductible.

TheBiKeWriTer | Greensburg, IN and its famous tower tree

By
Judy
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0

It’s really hard to believe it when you see it. Pedaled into the small community of Greensburg, IN on a very wet day and couldn’t help notice there’s a tree growing out of the top of the Decatur County Courthouse tower.

According to local history it was early in the 1870’s when a small sprig was spotted in the northwest corner of the tower.

People watched it grow and deemed it a ”freak of nature” as somehow a small seed had taken root in the crevice of the roof 110 feet above the courthouse square.

County officials feared a forest of trees may damage the rooftop so in 1888 a steeplejack removed a portion of the shrub.

What was left grew to a height of 15 feet and the trunk a diameter of 5 inches. The tree weathered the storms of different seasons.

Later it died and was removed but another tree started growing on the southeast corner.

Tourists started coming out for a look see. Businesses on the square took advantage and played off the name.

The Smithsonian Institute of Washington D.C. came out to identify the species of tree; their decision was a large tooth aspen. Today it is a white mulberry tree.

The reason it happens is still a mystery and there is no definite explanation how the seeds from the first tree germinated in place.

As far as sustenance, most believe the dust from the interior as well as dust and moisture from the outdoors does the trick.

One jokester said the tree was fed by the ”spring in the clock.”

Today a ban is in place on all tree jokes in Greensburg, IN.

On a side note: Thanks to Phillip at the Community Center for helping find a safe place to stay in wonderful Greensburg, IN.

If the way that somebody lives pleases the Lord, the Lord will lead him into good things. Psalm 37:23 Easy English Bible

The 2022 Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s is raising money this 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 2022.” 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. Cedar Community is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, and donations are tax-deductible.

TheBiKeWriTer | Interesting notes from the road

By
Judy
-
0

So much adventure on a bike. I would highly recommend it.

  • The Ark Encounter exceeded my expectations in terms of size and detail and creativity.
  • The Creation Museum was thought provoking and I found some small nuances that were entertaining – especially those aimed at children and their inquisitive nature.

Small town America rocks and so do the people. A shout out to all my hosts – it has been fun making new friends and I’ve been totally spoiled.

Funniest story is the Florence, KY water tower. In 1974 it initially read Florence Mall because of the new shopping center but the highway department told the mayor the business advertisement was a violation on a public water tower.


The creative fix was to paint a Y with an apostrophe and for $500 the problem was repaired. Hokey but popular with the people of Florence, KY and it is now a recognizable landmark with a unique story.

I’ve stumbled upon a lot of phenomenal bike trails. The Cardinal Greenway in Indiana was a 68-mile paved trail that took me southeast from the Marion area to near the Kentucky state line.

Another great trail today, the ALT Trail, ran along the Ohio River about 2 miles between Lawrenceburg, IN to Aurora, IN. It was paved with some magnificent art in the historic downtown and a tie to the famed Lewis & Clark Trail.

The artwork celebrates the strong brewing and barrel-making history of Lawrenceburg, IN.

Taking the time to stop and snap a photo when I see something truly ingenious. Kid’s toys and bikes have a special place in my heart and remind me of my Dad, who started me on a lifetime of adventure.

Barns remind me of my mom and the strong farming community which makes this country great.

A very kind man and his wife took me in one night and offered me a safe place to stay. He was trying to be helpful and gave me the Wi-Fi code and asked his wife to give me some food. I declined the food but he was insistent. She asked me what I wanted and I asked what she had. ”Ingredients,” was her one-word response.

I just thought that was super funny and part of why I love being on the road.

Camped at a former KOA site on the Old Dixie Highway in Kentucky. The A-frame office was charming and dated with wood paneling interior and white pegboard in the food and supplies side.

The sign about the train was adorable. You can just feel the frustration.

The owners took a lot of care to maintain the campground. ”You can stay the night,” said Richard. ”But don’t take up a lot of space and don’t get run over on that road.”

Richard had brilliant roses and some artwork to add comfort at the entrance to the bathrooms.

The No. 1 comment I get when people ask where I’ve come from or where I’m going is… ”That’s crazy.”

If you get a post card please consider dropping it off at Cedar Ridge so they can add it to their Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s display. Who doesn’t like reading somebody else’s mail?

If the way that somebody lives pleases the Lord, the Lord will lead him into good things. Psalm 37:23 Easy English Bible

The 2022 Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s is raising money this 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 2022.” 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. Cedar Community is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, and donations are tax-deductible.

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