Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
THOUGHTS FROM THE RIDE
Well, I have finished safe and sound! Yea!! 4,409 miles and 72 days later, Yorktown, Virginia looked great. I finished my ride at Yorktown Victory Monument, which is where the British surrendered to America. I am very happy to have finished in one piece.
The challenges of logistics (maps, roads, and distances), weather (rain, sleet, snow, wind, and sun), terrain (14 mountain ranges including the coast ranges of Oregon, Cascades, Maury, Bitterroot, Clear Water, Tipton, Blue, Beaverhead, Pioneer, Powell, Smokey, Appalachian, Blue Ridge, and Garden), nutrition, the bike and so much more.
I appreciate your support, it was needed! I was happy to know that people were really interested and concerned for me. Thank you so much!!
It definitely was a life changing experience - being on your bike and knowing that each and everything depended upon me. I know that life is precious and that I need to make my time count. It can be complicated or it can be very simple. You have a choice and I really plan on making each day important. I believe when I find the days running together, that most likely, I am trying to do too much. How much is enough to satisfy my need to be productive, to be a good husband and father, and to take care of community and business responsibilities? I hope that my belief in God and my determination to make a difference of some kind (small as it may be) in this life will direct me in a positive way. I do enjoy nature and the environment, which needs all the help that I can give her. I do believe Lance has a determination more focused than anyone I have seen to fight the battle of cancer for all of us! Cancer can be overcome just as we have with other diseases. I will try and support that fight the best I can.
Life is short, I am excited about its future for me.
My very best to each one of you.
Larry
The challenges of logistics (maps, roads, and distances), weather (rain, sleet, snow, wind, and sun), terrain (14 mountain ranges including the coast ranges of Oregon, Cascades, Maury, Bitterroot, Clear Water, Tipton, Blue, Beaverhead, Pioneer, Powell, Smokey, Appalachian, Blue Ridge, and Garden), nutrition, the bike and so much more.
I appreciate your support, it was needed! I was happy to know that people were really interested and concerned for me. Thank you so much!!
It definitely was a life changing experience - being on your bike and knowing that each and everything depended upon me. I know that life is precious and that I need to make my time count. It can be complicated or it can be very simple. You have a choice and I really plan on making each day important. I believe when I find the days running together, that most likely, I am trying to do too much. How much is enough to satisfy my need to be productive, to be a good husband and father, and to take care of community and business responsibilities? I hope that my belief in God and my determination to make a difference of some kind (small as it may be) in this life will direct me in a positive way. I do enjoy nature and the environment, which needs all the help that I can give her. I do believe Lance has a determination more focused than anyone I have seen to fight the battle of cancer for all of us! Cancer can be overcome just as we have with other diseases. I will try and support that fight the best I can.
Life is short, I am excited about its future for me.
My very best to each one of you.
Larry
Saturday, July 14, 2007
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Thursday, July 12, 2007
THE FINISH LINE!!!
Hello everyone,
On my way to Virginia, I had to go through a tunnel at Cumberland Gap National Park at the point where Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee meet. They would not let me go through the tunnel on my bike and there was no way around the tunnel. So I loaded my bike on a hazardous waste escort truck and it drove me through the tunnel. The Cumberland Gap was explored by Daniel Boone who was hired by the government to create an East to West route through the mountains. I visited the Daniel Boone State Park in Tennessee that had some very interesting exhibits.
I spent the Fourth of July in Radford, Virginia. I did not go to the park to see the fireworks, as it was two miles away, and I was too tired and did not want to ride in the dark. In this part of the country, they really take the Fourth seriously. Everyone had an American flag out and some people had three or four.
The Blue Ridge Mountains were the last mountains to cross. The Blue Ridge Parkway was built in the 1930's. It was built by the government to basically create jobs. There were two major climbs, one was four and a half miles and one was three miles at 4000 feet elevation. After you cross the Blue Ridge Mountains the elevation drops to zero.
I stayed at the Northbend Plantation that is over 200 years old and is in Charles City. There are many huge plantations in this area. I spent about two hours talking to the plantation owner's daughter and daughter-in-law about life, family, kids, and work. The only thing we did not get around to talking about was religion.
If I had been with other riders on this trip, I probably would have stopped more and taken more side trips. It really was about the ride and meant total involvement in preparation, the bike, maps, routes, nutrition, distance, weather, places to stay, and mental focus. You really cannot plan more than two to four days ahead as it is imperative that you do not get ahead of yourself.
At last, I reached the Memorial Monument in Yorktown. The finish line is here; I really cannot believe it. My equipment performed great. I started having some tire problems toward the end of the ride. I blew a tire and tube and then had a flat all in a 24-hour period. This is not surprising considering all the different surfaces you ride on off of the pavement such as gravel, grass and dirt. I am very glad to be here; however, I am very tired. Total mileage for the trip was 4,409 miles.
Nancy met me at the finish line and we are staying in Virginia Beach. The Historic Triangle is centrally located between Richmond and Virginia Beach and consists of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown. Each town is full of little shops, taverns, and antique stores.
Last night, we had dinner with Nancy's brother, Brad Tisdale, and his wife, Susan.
I will write one more blog next week to summarize my trip. Thanks to everyone for their encouragement and support.
Talk again next week,
Larry
On my way to Virginia, I had to go through a tunnel at Cumberland Gap National Park at the point where Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee meet. They would not let me go through the tunnel on my bike and there was no way around the tunnel. So I loaded my bike on a hazardous waste escort truck and it drove me through the tunnel. The Cumberland Gap was explored by Daniel Boone who was hired by the government to create an East to West route through the mountains. I visited the Daniel Boone State Park in Tennessee that had some very interesting exhibits.
I spent the Fourth of July in Radford, Virginia. I did not go to the park to see the fireworks, as it was two miles away, and I was too tired and did not want to ride in the dark. In this part of the country, they really take the Fourth seriously. Everyone had an American flag out and some people had three or four.
The Blue Ridge Mountains were the last mountains to cross. The Blue Ridge Parkway was built in the 1930's. It was built by the government to basically create jobs. There were two major climbs, one was four and a half miles and one was three miles at 4000 feet elevation. After you cross the Blue Ridge Mountains the elevation drops to zero.
I stayed at the Northbend Plantation that is over 200 years old and is in Charles City. There are many huge plantations in this area. I spent about two hours talking to the plantation owner's daughter and daughter-in-law about life, family, kids, and work. The only thing we did not get around to talking about was religion.
If I had been with other riders on this trip, I probably would have stopped more and taken more side trips. It really was about the ride and meant total involvement in preparation, the bike, maps, routes, nutrition, distance, weather, places to stay, and mental focus. You really cannot plan more than two to four days ahead as it is imperative that you do not get ahead of yourself.
At last, I reached the Memorial Monument in Yorktown. The finish line is here; I really cannot believe it. My equipment performed great. I started having some tire problems toward the end of the ride. I blew a tire and tube and then had a flat all in a 24-hour period. This is not surprising considering all the different surfaces you ride on off of the pavement such as gravel, grass and dirt. I am very glad to be here; however, I am very tired. Total mileage for the trip was 4,409 miles.
Nancy met me at the finish line and we are staying in Virginia Beach. The Historic Triangle is centrally located between Richmond and Virginia Beach and consists of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown. Each town is full of little shops, taverns, and antique stores.
Last night, we had dinner with Nancy's brother, Brad Tisdale, and his wife, Susan.
I will write one more blog next week to summarize my trip. Thanks to everyone for their encouragement and support.
Talk again next week,
Larry
Monday, July 9, 2007
ALMOST FINISHED
Hello everyone,
Hope all is well. I left Kentucky and Tennessee and am now in Virginia. I made it through the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains. The mountains were every bit as as hard as I thought they would be. I am glad to be out of the mountains, but am now dealing with the humidity and heat. Yesterday was very hot and I knew that it would be important to take in additional fluid, so for the first time on my trip, I stopped and purchased three containers of Gatorade and drank all of them.
Unfortunately, my GPS system bit the dust. It stopped working a couple of weeks ago.
I did want to mention that while I was riding in Missouri, my sister, Rosalie Wooten, my neice, Carrie McLiney and her husband, Casey McLiney drove to see me. We had a very nice visit and it was good to see them.
I have now ridden 4000 miles and am getting very close to the end of my journey. Nancy, my greatest supporter, is driving to Yorktown to pick me up. It will be good to see her again. I did get a chance to see her in Clinton and Sedalia; however, these were not rest days so I did not get to spend as much time with her as I would have liked. I really appreciaate the fact that she took over the completion of the constuction project that we had going on at our home. She has been a real trooper in her support of the journey.
Talk again soon,
Larry
Hope all is well. I left Kentucky and Tennessee and am now in Virginia. I made it through the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains. The mountains were every bit as as hard as I thought they would be. I am glad to be out of the mountains, but am now dealing with the humidity and heat. Yesterday was very hot and I knew that it would be important to take in additional fluid, so for the first time on my trip, I stopped and purchased three containers of Gatorade and drank all of them.
Unfortunately, my GPS system bit the dust. It stopped working a couple of weeks ago.
I did want to mention that while I was riding in Missouri, my sister, Rosalie Wooten, my neice, Carrie McLiney and her husband, Casey McLiney drove to see me. We had a very nice visit and it was good to see them.
I have now ridden 4000 miles and am getting very close to the end of my journey. Nancy, my greatest supporter, is driving to Yorktown to pick me up. It will be good to see her again. I did get a chance to see her in Clinton and Sedalia; however, these were not rest days so I did not get to spend as much time with her as I would have liked. I really appreciaate the fact that she took over the completion of the constuction project that we had going on at our home. She has been a real trooper in her support of the journey.
Talk again soon,
Larry
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
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ILLINOIS AND KENTUCKY
Hello everyone,
The Katy Trail ended in St. Charles, so farewell to Missouri and hello to Illinois. I crossed the Mississippi on the Grafton Ferry. The ferry captain asked me what I was doing, and when I explained I was riding across the country to raise money for the fight against cancer, he gave me back the $3.00 he had charged me to cross the ferry.
My brother, David, met me in Alton and we had a very nice dinner at Tony's restaurant. It has been a long time since we have spent any one-on-one time together and we had a very good time.
Illinois is very dry, the winter wheat looks good, but the soybeans and corn are burning up. I'm sure the humidity and heat are here to stay the rest of the trip.
On to Carlyle, where my nephew, Tim O'Reilly, and two friends Steve Pitliangas and Jim Rives met me for dinner. Again, it was another enjoyable evening. Tim proceeded to ride with me for two days through Carbondale and Golconda. We spent the night in Anna at Dick and Midge Bigler's house (Brooke O'Reilly's parents). I really appreciated their hospitality.
About one mile before entering Carbondale, the road was concrete and the shoulder was asphalt with the shoulder lower than the road. When Tim went to get back on the road from the shoulder, his front wheel caught the edge and down he went. I knew he had to be hurting, and so did the people in the cars that saw him go down, as a couple of people stopped to check on him. He said he was okay and continued to ride with me the next day. Tim left me in Golconda, so once again I am back on my own.
I had a rest day in Elizabethtown. I stayed in a cool bed & breakfast owned by the state of Illinois called the Rose Hotel, which was built in 1812. It overlooked the Ohio River and this was the first time I had seen the Ohio River. The town also had a very good bar with very cold beer. I had some great fried catfish for dinner.
I now have made it through Illinois and am now in Kentucky. The state of Kentucky reminds me very much of Missouri. Very few shoulders on the road and very small towns along the route.
I stayed at the First Baptist Church Hostel in Sebree as there were no hotels in Webster County. The pastor of the church, Bob Hardison, and his wife, Violet, are two very special people. They have set up the youth center of the church as a hostel for cyclists. It had separate rooms for sleeping, mattresses, sofas, shower, a full kitchen, and snacks. Bob and Violet's home is next to the church/hostel and they invited me and the other six cyclists that were staying at the hostel to their home for dinner. Violet fixed the most amazing dinner of ham, green beans, corn, sliced homegrown tomatoes, cantaloupe, and corn bread. For dessert there were cookies and three kinds of homemade ice cream. What a delicious feast! She also did every one's laundry for them. They enjoy meeting the cyclists that visit their hostel. They truly do make you feel right at home.
I rode to Cave In Rock and took a ferry across the Ohio River as there is no bridge.
All is well in mind, body, and bike.
Talk next week,
Larry
The Katy Trail ended in St. Charles, so farewell to Missouri and hello to Illinois. I crossed the Mississippi on the Grafton Ferry. The ferry captain asked me what I was doing, and when I explained I was riding across the country to raise money for the fight against cancer, he gave me back the $3.00 he had charged me to cross the ferry.
My brother, David, met me in Alton and we had a very nice dinner at Tony's restaurant. It has been a long time since we have spent any one-on-one time together and we had a very good time.
Illinois is very dry, the winter wheat looks good, but the soybeans and corn are burning up. I'm sure the humidity and heat are here to stay the rest of the trip.
On to Carlyle, where my nephew, Tim O'Reilly, and two friends Steve Pitliangas and Jim Rives met me for dinner. Again, it was another enjoyable evening. Tim proceeded to ride with me for two days through Carbondale and Golconda. We spent the night in Anna at Dick and Midge Bigler's house (Brooke O'Reilly's parents). I really appreciated their hospitality.
About one mile before entering Carbondale, the road was concrete and the shoulder was asphalt with the shoulder lower than the road. When Tim went to get back on the road from the shoulder, his front wheel caught the edge and down he went. I knew he had to be hurting, and so did the people in the cars that saw him go down, as a couple of people stopped to check on him. He said he was okay and continued to ride with me the next day. Tim left me in Golconda, so once again I am back on my own.
I had a rest day in Elizabethtown. I stayed in a cool bed & breakfast owned by the state of Illinois called the Rose Hotel, which was built in 1812. It overlooked the Ohio River and this was the first time I had seen the Ohio River. The town also had a very good bar with very cold beer. I had some great fried catfish for dinner.
I now have made it through Illinois and am now in Kentucky. The state of Kentucky reminds me very much of Missouri. Very few shoulders on the road and very small towns along the route.
I stayed at the First Baptist Church Hostel in Sebree as there were no hotels in Webster County. The pastor of the church, Bob Hardison, and his wife, Violet, are two very special people. They have set up the youth center of the church as a hostel for cyclists. It had separate rooms for sleeping, mattresses, sofas, shower, a full kitchen, and snacks. Bob and Violet's home is next to the church/hostel and they invited me and the other six cyclists that were staying at the hostel to their home for dinner. Violet fixed the most amazing dinner of ham, green beans, corn, sliced homegrown tomatoes, cantaloupe, and corn bread. For dessert there were cookies and three kinds of homemade ice cream. What a delicious feast! She also did every one's laundry for them. They enjoy meeting the cyclists that visit their hostel. They truly do make you feel right at home.
I rode to Cave In Rock and took a ferry across the Ohio River as there is no bridge.
All is well in mind, body, and bike.
Talk next week,
Larry
Thursday, June 21, 2007
CONTRIBUTIONS TO LARRY RIDES AMERICA
I would like to thank everyone for their contributions to my ride. Currently, $190,000 has been raised. Your generousity is so very much appreciated. Following is the list of people and businesses that have made donations:
Mark Allenspach
Aftermarket Alliance
Catherine Anderson
Two Anonymous Donors
Doug Arnold (Sherman Williams)
Bob & Becky Bach
Ann & Norb Bagley
Chris Baldwin
Annie Barnes
Tony Bartholomew
Bill & Cindy Bates
Andrea Baty
Jim & Lorna Batten
Whit Bazemore
Patrick Bauer
Cynthia Bennett
Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin LLP
Midyette Bigler
Armine Boustani
Jim Budzinski
John & Crystal Buerlein
Jim Bugg
Jay Burchfield
Tom & Saundra Burks
Virginia Bussey
Evee LeeAnna Butchetta
Roger & Kathleen Cady
Joe & Marie Carmichael
John & Jennifer Carnahan
Carrollton Speciality Products
Ron & Sue Carrot
Ken & Pat Carter
Jenny Carr
Kathryn Charles
Allen Casey
Michael Chevalier (R.B. Howes & Company)
Mike & Krystyna Clarke
Jeanette Clinkenbeard
Jeremy Collins
James Combs
Steve Connolly
John Courtney
KC Cowan
Andrea & Tom Croley
Trevor & Cabrini Croley
Anne & Warren Davis
Kim & Carol Day
Credit Suisse - Chris Baldwin
Dian DeChant
Eddie & Molly Deck
Greg DeLong (Edward Jones)
Betty & Joe Dukert
Ann Drennan
Drury University Athletic Department
Jack & Beverly Emmitt to Honor Vicki Hume's Birthday
Kathy Van Eeuwen
Doug Evans
Frank & Sara Evans
Nancy Fazzino
Alan Fears
John & Jeris Ferguson
John & Pat Ferguson
Dain O'Reilly Flisher
Isabel O'Reilly Flisher
P.J. O'Reilly Flisher
Buddy Freeman
Tom and Susan Froehlich
Rob and Cindy Fulp
Gary Funk
Charlie Gallagher
Dorthy Gardner
Walter & Martha Gaska
Laura Gemery
John Gentry
Kevin & Shelley Gerschefske
David Gohn
Carol Gough
Brian & Julie Gray
Joe Greene
John & An Greene
Bill & Elayne Gordon
Kathleen Griesemer
Larry Gurian
John & Lee Haik (James Decor)
June & Sam Hamra (Wendy's)
Joe Hankins
Bill & Ginger Hardie
Bill & Louise Harding
Alexis O'Reilly Havens
Rich & Dana Havens
Eric & Tricia Headley
Greg & Becky Henslee
JoDee & Peter Herschend
Diana Hicks
Dallis & Darlene Higginbotham
David Hogan
Kevin & Cindy Hogan
Dwayne Holden (Custom Metalcraft)
Jack & Robin House
John Hume
Vicki Hume
Jim & Jeannette Hutcheson
Steve & Pamela Hutchinson
Mike Ingram (Ingram Enterprises, Inc.)
Linda & Jerry Jared
Trish Jeffrey
Brian & Kelly Johnson
Jeff Johnson
Richard Jones (Merrill Lynch)
VIrginia Jones & Buddy Ball
Amy & Ross Keller
Kurt & Kim Keltner
Michele Kiser
Dave Koenigsfeld
Melissa LaBolle
Kurt & Sally Larson
Paul Lederer
Felicia Liebman
Larry Lipscomb
Brenda Logsdon (Whitlock, Selim & Keehn)
Saunny & Tom Lynch
Sallie Mae
Tom & Jennier McFall
Terry & Mary Kay Meek
Ed & Jane Mellers
John Mihalevich
Ron Middleton
Mike Miner
Father Fergus Monaghan
Chuck & Nickie McCann
Tom & Ann McAlear
Rick & Jane McElvaine
Casey & Carrie McLiney
John Montgomery
Dick & Linda Morgan
Peter Morse
John & Jeanie Morris
Bob Murray
Kari Myli
Doug Nabholz
James Nelms
Mike Netzel
Charlie & Mary Beth O'Reilly
David, Lindsay, Matt & Austin O'Reilly
Erin O'Reilly
John O'Reilly
Kenna Lou O'Reilly
Larry & Nancy O'Reilly Family Foundation
Lauren O'Reilly
Nancy O'Reilly
Pat O'Reilly
Terry & Scott O'Reilly
Tim & Brooke O'Reilly
Tony O'Reilly
Ben Parnell, Jr.
Todd Parnell
Mike Patton
Jim & Debbie Penn
Glen Perrini (East Penn Manufacturing)
Steve & Julie Peterie
Dave & Sue Pitts
Angie & Mike Pivac
Tom Prater
Wayne & Sherri Price
Larry & Linda Pryor
Tom & Penni Quinn
Tom Rankin
Ronald Rashkow
Joseph Ray
Joe Rayl
Bill & Camille Ricketts
Jim Rives & Eileen Bartow-Rives
Blaine & Liz Rollins
Carol Rose (Rose and Associates)
Bob Roth
Susan Rowe
Tom & Joyce Samsel
John Schaefer
Michele Schafer
Steve Schneider
Tom & Diane Seboldt
John & Helen Selig
Jeff & Kelly Shaw
Wade & Shanne Shipman
Paula Shumaker
Mindy & Brent Singleton
Amy & Randy Smith
Ted Smith
Larry Snyder
Springfield Engineering Company (Jerry Fielder)
Springfield Trust Company
St. John's Hospital Foundation
Thessaly Startzell
Phil Stocker
Tom Stout
Tony Stubblefield
Mike Swearengin
Jon Swope
Bianca Taulman
Peggy Taylor
Ron & Sue Carrol Terry
Erica & David Thiessen
Rhonda Thomas
Paula Tindell and the Victim Center Advocates
Becky Tinkham
Mrs. Howard Tisdale
Don and Phyllis Tisdale
Stephny Tisdale & Cary Barneycastle
Gerald Toler
Bill & Ann Turner
Doug Ulman
Colin Wallis
Arch & Tina Watson
Sylvia Weitzman
Terry & Jean Whaley
Mike & Nancy White
Phyllis & Carl Wilcox
Randy & Marge Wilson
Mike & Carol Williamson
Gary & Lynda Wingo
Bob Woodworth
Majorie Wolfe
Rosalie Wooten
Randy Wooten
Steve & Betty Wutke
Thank you everyone! We continue to receive donations and hope to reach my goal of $250,000.
Mark Allenspach
Aftermarket Alliance
Catherine Anderson
Two Anonymous Donors
Doug Arnold (Sherman Williams)
Bob & Becky Bach
Ann & Norb Bagley
Chris Baldwin
Annie Barnes
Tony Bartholomew
Bill & Cindy Bates
Andrea Baty
Jim & Lorna Batten
Whit Bazemore
Patrick Bauer
Cynthia Bennett
Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin LLP
Midyette Bigler
Armine Boustani
Jim Budzinski
John & Crystal Buerlein
Jim Bugg
Jay Burchfield
Tom & Saundra Burks
Virginia Bussey
Evee LeeAnna Butchetta
Roger & Kathleen Cady
Joe & Marie Carmichael
John & Jennifer Carnahan
Carrollton Speciality Products
Ron & Sue Carrot
Ken & Pat Carter
Jenny Carr
Kathryn Charles
Allen Casey
Michael Chevalier (R.B. Howes & Company)
Mike & Krystyna Clarke
Jeanette Clinkenbeard
Jeremy Collins
James Combs
Steve Connolly
John Courtney
KC Cowan
Andrea & Tom Croley
Trevor & Cabrini Croley
Anne & Warren Davis
Kim & Carol Day
Credit Suisse - Chris Baldwin
Dian DeChant
Eddie & Molly Deck
Greg DeLong (Edward Jones)
Betty & Joe Dukert
Ann Drennan
Drury University Athletic Department
Jack & Beverly Emmitt to Honor Vicki Hume's Birthday
Kathy Van Eeuwen
Doug Evans
Frank & Sara Evans
Nancy Fazzino
Alan Fears
John & Jeris Ferguson
John & Pat Ferguson
Dain O'Reilly Flisher
Isabel O'Reilly Flisher
P.J. O'Reilly Flisher
Buddy Freeman
Tom and Susan Froehlich
Rob and Cindy Fulp
Gary Funk
Charlie Gallagher
Dorthy Gardner
Walter & Martha Gaska
Laura Gemery
John Gentry
Kevin & Shelley Gerschefske
David Gohn
Carol Gough
Brian & Julie Gray
Joe Greene
John & An Greene
Bill & Elayne Gordon
Kathleen Griesemer
Larry Gurian
John & Lee Haik (James Decor)
June & Sam Hamra (Wendy's)
Joe Hankins
Bill & Ginger Hardie
Bill & Louise Harding
Alexis O'Reilly Havens
Rich & Dana Havens
Eric & Tricia Headley
Greg & Becky Henslee
JoDee & Peter Herschend
Diana Hicks
Dallis & Darlene Higginbotham
David Hogan
Kevin & Cindy Hogan
Dwayne Holden (Custom Metalcraft)
Jack & Robin House
John Hume
Vicki Hume
Jim & Jeannette Hutcheson
Steve & Pamela Hutchinson
Mike Ingram (Ingram Enterprises, Inc.)
Linda & Jerry Jared
Trish Jeffrey
Brian & Kelly Johnson
Jeff Johnson
Richard Jones (Merrill Lynch)
VIrginia Jones & Buddy Ball
Amy & Ross Keller
Kurt & Kim Keltner
Michele Kiser
Dave Koenigsfeld
Melissa LaBolle
Kurt & Sally Larson
Paul Lederer
Felicia Liebman
Larry Lipscomb
Brenda Logsdon (Whitlock, Selim & Keehn)
Saunny & Tom Lynch
Sallie Mae
Tom & Jennier McFall
Terry & Mary Kay Meek
Ed & Jane Mellers
John Mihalevich
Ron Middleton
Mike Miner
Father Fergus Monaghan
Chuck & Nickie McCann
Tom & Ann McAlear
Rick & Jane McElvaine
Casey & Carrie McLiney
John Montgomery
Dick & Linda Morgan
Peter Morse
John & Jeanie Morris
Bob Murray
Kari Myli
Doug Nabholz
James Nelms
Mike Netzel
Charlie & Mary Beth O'Reilly
David, Lindsay, Matt & Austin O'Reilly
Erin O'Reilly
John O'Reilly
Kenna Lou O'Reilly
Larry & Nancy O'Reilly Family Foundation
Lauren O'Reilly
Nancy O'Reilly
Pat O'Reilly
Terry & Scott O'Reilly
Tim & Brooke O'Reilly
Tony O'Reilly
Ben Parnell, Jr.
Todd Parnell
Mike Patton
Jim & Debbie Penn
Glen Perrini (East Penn Manufacturing)
Steve & Julie Peterie
Dave & Sue Pitts
Angie & Mike Pivac
Tom Prater
Wayne & Sherri Price
Larry & Linda Pryor
Tom & Penni Quinn
Tom Rankin
Ronald Rashkow
Joseph Ray
Joe Rayl
Bill & Camille Ricketts
Jim Rives & Eileen Bartow-Rives
Blaine & Liz Rollins
Carol Rose (Rose and Associates)
Bob Roth
Susan Rowe
Tom & Joyce Samsel
John Schaefer
Michele Schafer
Steve Schneider
Tom & Diane Seboldt
John & Helen Selig
Jeff & Kelly Shaw
Wade & Shanne Shipman
Paula Shumaker
Mindy & Brent Singleton
Amy & Randy Smith
Ted Smith
Larry Snyder
Springfield Engineering Company (Jerry Fielder)
Springfield Trust Company
St. John's Hospital Foundation
Thessaly Startzell
Phil Stocker
Tom Stout
Tony Stubblefield
Mike Swearengin
Jon Swope
Bianca Taulman
Peggy Taylor
Ron & Sue Carrol Terry
Erica & David Thiessen
Rhonda Thomas
Paula Tindell and the Victim Center Advocates
Becky Tinkham
Mrs. Howard Tisdale
Don and Phyllis Tisdale
Stephny Tisdale & Cary Barneycastle
Gerald Toler
Bill & Ann Turner
Doug Ulman
Colin Wallis
Arch & Tina Watson
Sylvia Weitzman
Terry & Jean Whaley
Mike & Nancy White
Phyllis & Carl Wilcox
Randy & Marge Wilson
Mike & Carol Williamson
Gary & Lynda Wingo
Bob Woodworth
Majorie Wolfe
Rosalie Wooten
Randy Wooten
Steve & Betty Wutke
Thank you everyone! We continue to receive donations and hope to reach my goal of $250,000.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
KATY TRAIL
I just finished riding the Katy Trail, which is a historic trail of the route of Lewis and Clark. I encountered a lot of rain. This is the only part of the ride where I am on a crushed limestone trail and the rain made it very sloppy and slowed me down. My bike was covered with a white limestone mud and dust.
I saw Daniel Boone and his wife Rebecca's tombstones near Marthasville.
I stayed at a cool bed & breakfast in Augusta and the residents are excited because this summer, the professional biking tour (Tour of Missouri) will be riding through their town.
Made it through another state as I finished Missouri today. I will be crossing the Mississippi and Illinois rivers on the Grafton Ferry, which will take me into Illinois. I have now ridden 3100 miles.
Take care and talk again next week,
Larry
I saw Daniel Boone and his wife Rebecca's tombstones near Marthasville.
I stayed at a cool bed & breakfast in Augusta and the residents are excited because this summer, the professional biking tour (Tour of Missouri) will be riding through their town.
Made it through another state as I finished Missouri today. I will be crossing the Mississippi and Illinois rivers on the Grafton Ferry, which will take me into Illinois. I have now ridden 3100 miles.
Take care and talk again next week,
Larry
Monday, June 18, 2007
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Springfield News-Leader Article on Larry
Message from Vicki:
The Springfield News-Leader will be featuring an article on Larry's ride. I believe it will be in this Sunday's edition June 24. If not this Sunday, then the next.
The Springfield News-Leader will be featuring an article on Larry's ride. I believe it will be in this Sunday's edition June 24. If not this Sunday, then the next.
Friday, June 15, 2007
BACK IN THE MIDWEST
Hello everyone,
On the second night that Charlie, Mike, Tom, John, and I were camping in Pueblo, a storm came in with a wind like you would not believe. It blew over some of our tents, so we packed up and took shelter in a hotel room.
We had planned on riding from Eads to Tribune; however, Vicki discovered that the Ride Across Kansas was starting from Tribune with 800 riders on the day that we would be leaving. So we decided to ride to Leoti and spend the night. The guys left from Leoti, and so once again I am on my own.
I had a rest day in the quaint town of Lindsborg, Kansas. The first settlers of this town were from Sweden, and the Swedish ancestry and cultures have been preserved there. The signs, food, and names of the residents are all Swedish. There are many Swedish Dala Horses (which are carved wood horses brightly painted) sitting on the sidewalk.
I have now traveled 2600 miles. I made it through Colorado and Kansas and am now in Missouri. It is good to be back in the Midwest in familiar territory and out of the mountains. The weather is now hot, windy, and I am dealing with the rain. The wildlife I am now seeing is pheasant and quail. I will be traveling the Katy Trail so I am now off the TransAm Route.
Talk again next week.
On the second night that Charlie, Mike, Tom, John, and I were camping in Pueblo, a storm came in with a wind like you would not believe. It blew over some of our tents, so we packed up and took shelter in a hotel room.
We had planned on riding from Eads to Tribune; however, Vicki discovered that the Ride Across Kansas was starting from Tribune with 800 riders on the day that we would be leaving. So we decided to ride to Leoti and spend the night. The guys left from Leoti, and so once again I am on my own.
I had a rest day in the quaint town of Lindsborg, Kansas. The first settlers of this town were from Sweden, and the Swedish ancestry and cultures have been preserved there. The signs, food, and names of the residents are all Swedish. There are many Swedish Dala Horses (which are carved wood horses brightly painted) sitting on the sidewalk.
I have now traveled 2600 miles. I made it through Colorado and Kansas and am now in Missouri. It is good to be back in the Midwest in familiar territory and out of the mountains. The weather is now hot, windy, and I am dealing with the rain. The wildlife I am now seeing is pheasant and quail. I will be traveling the Katy Trail so I am now off the TransAm Route.
Talk again next week.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
IN COLORADO WITH GREAT COMPANY
Hello everyone,
I left Wyoming and am now in Colorado.
I spent one night at the Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa, which is one of the nation's oldest and largest natural hot mineral springs spa. The springs are located at 7,600 feet elevation and have been in operation continually for the past 140 years. The resort adjoins National Forest land and the Colorado River.
My brother, Charlie, my cousin, Mike O'Reilly, John Mihalevich, and Tom Prater met me in Frisco and are riding with me all week. It has been an adventure with these guys and it has been great to have the company. We are having some fun.
Rode through Royal Gorge and it is always impressive to see the Royal Gorge Bridge. Hanging 1,053 feet above Colorado's Arkansas River, the bridge is the world's highest suspension bridge and is a legendary feat of engineering. It is over 1,260 feet long and 18 feet wide. The original cost to build was $350,000 and with today's cost estimated at 15 million. It has each of the state flags on the bridge. We camped at Royal Gorge KOA.
Tonight and tomorrow we are camping at the beautiful Lake Pueblo State Park. It has plains to the east, and to the west, The Sangre de Cristo, Pikes Peak and Greenhorn mountain ranges provide a scenic alpine backdrop. The lake's irregular, 60 plus mile shoreline is rimed with limstone cliffs. At an elevation of 4,900 feet it has a mild climate.
The weather is now much more pleasant. We had a couple of thunderstorms, and at one point, I had to find shelter and the closest thing I could find was a road grader. I climbed inside and waited out the storm for about an hour. The other guys had to find shelter along the side of the road in a ditch and also in a trailer.
Crossed over Hoosier Pass, which is the highest elevation pass of the trip. Had a blowout, but no problems, I was able to get it fixed. I have ridden about 550 miles in the last nine days, since the last rest stop in Lander. Tomorrow is a rest day, so no riding for me tomorrow.
Hope all is well with everyone. Things are going great and I am now getting close the the halfway point of the ride.
Talk next week,
Larry
I left Wyoming and am now in Colorado.
I spent one night at the Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa, which is one of the nation's oldest and largest natural hot mineral springs spa. The springs are located at 7,600 feet elevation and have been in operation continually for the past 140 years. The resort adjoins National Forest land and the Colorado River.
My brother, Charlie, my cousin, Mike O'Reilly, John Mihalevich, and Tom Prater met me in Frisco and are riding with me all week. It has been an adventure with these guys and it has been great to have the company. We are having some fun.
Rode through Royal Gorge and it is always impressive to see the Royal Gorge Bridge. Hanging 1,053 feet above Colorado's Arkansas River, the bridge is the world's highest suspension bridge and is a legendary feat of engineering. It is over 1,260 feet long and 18 feet wide. The original cost to build was $350,000 and with today's cost estimated at 15 million. It has each of the state flags on the bridge. We camped at Royal Gorge KOA.
Tonight and tomorrow we are camping at the beautiful Lake Pueblo State Park. It has plains to the east, and to the west, The Sangre de Cristo, Pikes Peak and Greenhorn mountain ranges provide a scenic alpine backdrop. The lake's irregular, 60 plus mile shoreline is rimed with limstone cliffs. At an elevation of 4,900 feet it has a mild climate.
The weather is now much more pleasant. We had a couple of thunderstorms, and at one point, I had to find shelter and the closest thing I could find was a road grader. I climbed inside and waited out the storm for about an hour. The other guys had to find shelter along the side of the road in a ditch and also in a trailer.
Crossed over Hoosier Pass, which is the highest elevation pass of the trip. Had a blowout, but no problems, I was able to get it fixed. I have ridden about 550 miles in the last nine days, since the last rest stop in Lander. Tomorrow is a rest day, so no riding for me tomorrow.
Hope all is well with everyone. Things are going great and I am now getting close the the halfway point of the ride.
Talk next week,
Larry
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
WYOMING
Hello everyone,
I left West Yellowstone, which is on the border of Montana and Wyoming. Yellowstone was beautiful with lots of wildlife. I stayed at the Old Faithful Inn and had a chance to watch Old Faithful. While leaving Yellowstone, I once again crossed the Continental Divide twice.
Two points of history I think are worth mentioning:
March 1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill creating Yellowstone National Park, which is 3,470 square miles. It is the first National Park not only in our country, but also in the world.
John D. Rockefeller visited Yellowstone in 1926 and was profoundly impressed with the grandeur of the Teton Range. In 1929, the Grand Tetons received National Park status, but the ranchers did not want to give up their private holdings of the land in the area, so he formed The Snake River Land Company in 1927. He acquired 35,310 acres and deeded the land to the government to be part of the Grand Teton National Park.
I am now in Wyoming, which has been my least favorite state of the ride. It is mountainous, dry, cold in the mornings, and warm and windy in the afternoons. If the wind was not in my face, it was trying to knock me off to the side of the road. The road snakes through the mountains so the wind is basically in your face during the entire day. Speaking of snakes, I was riding up a mountain in slow gear, when I thought I was getting a flat tire. I heard a hissing sound, but it was not a tire, it was a rattlesnake coiled up on the side of the road ready to strike at me. I quickly dodged it. I did not stop, but got a view of it. It was a large snake and I was probably about three feet from it. The closest medical attention would have been back in Lander, Wyoming, and 40 miles from my location.
Lander to Jeffrey City was the toughest day of the ride. It was 60 miles and against the wind. Jeffrey City is an abandoned uranium town. Lots of vacant buildings; however, a few loyal residents remain. This is a place of no phones - there are no phones in the motel room, no phones in the one bar in town, and of course no cell phone coverage. This is a very remote and desolate place.
On Memorial Day, I thought of so many families that have lost a son or daughter in the war. I pray for all those effected by the senseless war.
On your list of places to visit leave off Wyoming. The only bright stars of Wyoming are Yellowstone and The Grand Teton National Park. Both are beautiful.
I have now traveled approximately 1700 miles. Togwotee Pass has been the highest pass for far on this trip.
Until next week,
Larry
I left West Yellowstone, which is on the border of Montana and Wyoming. Yellowstone was beautiful with lots of wildlife. I stayed at the Old Faithful Inn and had a chance to watch Old Faithful. While leaving Yellowstone, I once again crossed the Continental Divide twice.
Two points of history I think are worth mentioning:
March 1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill creating Yellowstone National Park, which is 3,470 square miles. It is the first National Park not only in our country, but also in the world.
John D. Rockefeller visited Yellowstone in 1926 and was profoundly impressed with the grandeur of the Teton Range. In 1929, the Grand Tetons received National Park status, but the ranchers did not want to give up their private holdings of the land in the area, so he formed The Snake River Land Company in 1927. He acquired 35,310 acres and deeded the land to the government to be part of the Grand Teton National Park.
I am now in Wyoming, which has been my least favorite state of the ride. It is mountainous, dry, cold in the mornings, and warm and windy in the afternoons. If the wind was not in my face, it was trying to knock me off to the side of the road. The road snakes through the mountains so the wind is basically in your face during the entire day. Speaking of snakes, I was riding up a mountain in slow gear, when I thought I was getting a flat tire. I heard a hissing sound, but it was not a tire, it was a rattlesnake coiled up on the side of the road ready to strike at me. I quickly dodged it. I did not stop, but got a view of it. It was a large snake and I was probably about three feet from it. The closest medical attention would have been back in Lander, Wyoming, and 40 miles from my location.
Lander to Jeffrey City was the toughest day of the ride. It was 60 miles and against the wind. Jeffrey City is an abandoned uranium town. Lots of vacant buildings; however, a few loyal residents remain. This is a place of no phones - there are no phones in the motel room, no phones in the one bar in town, and of course no cell phone coverage. This is a very remote and desolate place.
On Memorial Day, I thought of so many families that have lost a son or daughter in the war. I pray for all those effected by the senseless war.
On your list of places to visit leave off Wyoming. The only bright stars of Wyoming are Yellowstone and The Grand Teton National Park. Both are beautiful.
I have now traveled approximately 1700 miles. Togwotee Pass has been the highest pass for far on this trip.
Until next week,
Larry
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