Where's Joe?
Indiana (again), Ohio, Indiana (again)
Stage 14 of the Journey: May 17 - May 29, 2006
Indiana (again)
May 17
Today marks the beginning of the final month of this incredible bicycle/educational adventure. There are plenty of people to thank, so we better get started. First, Joe and the Appalachian Heritage Alliance want to thank Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher for giving Joe the first "Unbridled Spirit Award" and an official send-off from the Capitol steps in Frankfort. It was really cool to hear elementary students from eight schools chanting, "Ride, Joe, Ride!" A special thanks to Education Secretary Virginia Fox for inspiring the students and leading the chant.
General Lew Wallace
Joe pedaled 48 miles to Crawfordsville. He visited the home and study of General Lew Wallace who is best known as the author of the novel "Ben Hur." He is less well known as the territorial governor who captured and then allowed to escape, Billy the Kid. When Joe was a teenager, he spent an afternoon in Wallace's study. Back then, he had free reign to rummage through the desk, books and anything else that struck his fancy. Which he did. Nowadays, everything is protected under glass.
For information concerning the festivities surrounding Joe's homecoming, go to www.cyclethegorge.com See you there!
May 18
Jim Host, former Kentucky Commerce
Secretary, understood that Joe would be an excellent traveling
ambassador for Kentucky as well as a 14,000-mile advertisement for
Kentucky tourism. And he was correct. Joe told people across the nation
of the beauty and appeal of Kentucky as he appeared in newspapers,
magazines, on radio and television, all across the country. Thank you,
Mr. Host, for your support; in your official capacity as well as a
private sponsor. Your sponsorship played a vital role in the success of
this unique Kentucky Bicycle/Educational project.
Joe rode 50 miles to Noblesville. He got
caught in a locally severe thunderstorm. Lots of lightening.
Pretty scary.
May 19
The first airplane was built in a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio, by professional bicycle builders Orville and Wilbur Wright. The aircraft was taken to the Outer Banks of North Carolina where it flew into history near the town of Kitty Hawk in 1903. Orville and Wilbur's bicycle shop was purchased, disassembled, shipped, and reassembled as a museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Today, Joe visited the museum at the birthplace of Wilbur Wright in Milleville, Indiana. That makes four states basking in the reflected glory of a couple of bicycle guys. Joe pedaled 65 miles to Richmond. It was a beautiful day for riding.
Ohio (again)
May 20
Joe crossed the Ohio border and rode 68 miles to Springfield where he was met, to his great delight, by some hometown friends. Brian and Carmen Billings and their children Bo, Brook, and Betsy from Powell County will visit a spell and tomorrow become "Official Riders of the Tour." Brook wants to say a special web site "Hello" to her friends Katie and Neeli back home in Kentucky.
May 21
This part of Ohio is very bicycle friendly. There are bicycle paths going in every direction, which is also the best description of Joe and Brian's route for today. Brook and Bo pedaled along for several miles making them the youngest riders of the tour. Kentucky kids, if that needs pointing out. During the day, they stopped at an automobile race course and met 12 year old Ryan Fleming who drives a 1/4 Midget Miniature race car. This type of racing is serious stuff. In a few years when Ryan wins the Indianapolis 500, remember, you heard of him here first. Brian and Carmen and the kids bid Joe farewell and headed home to Kentucky. Joe wants to thank you all for visiting, for lifting his spirits, and for your friendship.
Joe, Brook, Brian, Bo
May 22
Today Joe pedaled into downtown Dayton to see the stainless steel replica of the first Wright Brother's airplane. Then he went to the Carillon Historical Park to see the third actual airplane, the Wright Flyer III. It was completely restored, with the help of Orville himself, and has 70% of the original parts. The first plane, the Wright Flyer I, is on display at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC. Wright Flyer II was destroyed. Today also marked the 100 year anniversary of the Wright Brothers receiving a patent on their new flying invention. Joe was interviewed on the Dayton Channel 2 TV station and by the Dayton Daily Times. The first thing the reporter told Joe was, "I already know all about you." He and his wife had recently visited Kentucky's Red River Gorge Scenic Byway. While there, they stopped in the Gorge at the Gladie Interpretive Center in Menifee County. They spent "a half hour" reading the map of Joe's adventure that Hope Crosby keeps posted on the wall. Hope has tracked the entire adventure and printed out the daily updates, Joe's "Stories from the Road," and newspaper articles for visitors to read. It's a wonderful display. Thanks, Hope!
Wright Flyer III
May 23
The first airplane manufactured for sale to the general public was the Wright B Flyer. It marked the beginning of commercial aviation and created an industry that changed the world. At an airport near Dayton there is a replica of the Wright B Flyer built with modern materials to the exact specifications of the original. When the Berlin Wall fell, this plane flew over the German city as a tribute to freedom. Today, Joe flew in that plane. Only two people are qualified to fly the plane with a passenger. At the controls for Joe's flight was a retired Air Force pilot named Mitch. There are only two seats and they are perched forward of the wings. No cockpit. Wind in the face. To put it mildly, Joe was thrilled. Two brothers from Ohio were the first to understand that air traveling over a moving curved wing created pressure differentials that created lift. To this concept they applied their mechanical abilities learned from their bicycle trade and changed the world. We are so pleased that our bicycle rider got to experience a small piece of that history.
Joe flies in the Wright "B" Flyer
May 24
Now that Joe has his feet back on the
ground, we'll return to our "thank you" list. A special thanks to Joe
Lilly, Lindsay Railey, and the folks at New!West. Joe Lilly arranged the
Official Send-Off by Governor Fletcher, the Unbridled Spirit Award, and
thought up the Ride Joe Ride name for the website link to the AHA web
page. (People outside the area can't spell "Appalachian.") Lindsay
contacted newspapers and other media outlets throughout the trip to help
Joe advertise Kentucky. It's hard enough just to keep up with Joe.
Lindsay had to stay one step ahead. Thank you, folks!
There is less than a month and less than
a thousand miles remaining on the trip. Joe and Rocinante have a few
more miles to crank out, but basically they're headed for the barn. And
they are going to relax and enjoy it. Joe is giving newspaper and
television interviews almost daily. Barbara has driven up to visit for a
couple of days. That always brightens the trip.
May 25
While Joe and Barbara are hanging out, we'll interrupt our "thank you" list and insert our one and only "phooey" nominee. And that goes to Dell Computers. You may have noticed the daily updates have been a bit longer and Joe's "Stories from the Road" less frequent. That wasn't the game plan. Joe's computer is down - again. If you have not received an email reply, that is the reason. We paid the big bucks for next day on-site service. The first time took over a week. This time, weeks already. Barbara is bringing the computer home and we will try to get it fixed. If school was still in session, Joe would really be upset. So Dell Computers, Phooey!
Indiana (again, again)
May 26
But this project would not be what it is
without the computer. Joe stayed in contact clear across the country.
And the person who taught Joe to use the computer was our old buddy,
Cliff. If you recall, Cliff rode with Joe at the beginning of the trip.
After the day's ride, he would give Joe a computer lesson. By the time
they reached Seattle, Cliff was confident Joe could handle the task.
Cliff also set up and paid for Joe's email account. Still does. Also,
Cliff added a huge romantic chapter to the story by finding and later
marrying Sherry. Bicycling. Who knew? Thanks, Cliff. Cliff is also in
charge of the big bicycle race and festival surrounding Joe's return
home on June 16, 17, 18. For more information, check out the website at
www.cyclethegorge.com.
Joe crossed the Ohio River and rode down
the Indiana side. He's in Scottsburg, heading west.
Fortunately, Joe Ward (right), David Dillard and Kirk Kandle got Joe back on course
May 27
Joe knew the longest covered bridge in America was around here somewhere. He stopped at a lovely farm with a big round barn to get directions. Wayne Burcham and his 20 year old son, Jeremy, were testing a 351W Ford engine they had just rebuilt for their classic 1970 Mach 1 Mustang. After a great conversation that solved over half of the world's problems as well as the directions to the covered bridge, Joe bid farewell to his new friends. The longest covered bridge in America is near Medora. It is no longer open for regular traffic but you can hop the guardrail and walk down to it, go through it, and then walk back up to the main road. Which Joe did. As he reached the main road he noticed three more bicyclists going to the bridge. He decided to wait and talk to them. (You know Joe.) When they came out of the bridge, Joe hello-ed down to them. One guy looked up, studied a second, then shouted, "Joe Bowen! You're off course. You're supposed to be north of here!" This sure surprised Joe. Turns out, they guy, retired now, was a long-time reporter for the Louisville Courier Journal named Joe Ward. In 1971, he interviewed Joe about the '67 bicycle ride. Until that interview, Joe Ward was not a bicycle rider. Afterwards, he was. He commuted to work at the Courier Journal by bicycle for 20 years. He was recognized by the bicycle community for pedaling over 50,000 miles to and from work. Amazing. Joe Ward had followed Joe Bowen's current ride on the web site which explains how he knew where Joe was supposed to be. Both Joes and the other riders, Kirk Kandle and David Dillard, rode together for about 25 miles. Folks, we couldn't possibly make this stuff up. As usual, it just happens.
Longest covered bridge in the U.S.
May 28
Joe rode a leisurely 55 miles from Bedford to Jasper. Your daily update narrator forgot to mention that yesterday, when Joe rode into Bedford, the marquee at the Bob Evan's Restaurant read, "Ride, Joe, Ride!" Thanks, folks. Joe hopes to soon find a hotel that will let him use their computer so he can do another of his "Stories from the Road." We might as well re-visit our "phooey" award to Dell Computers and their high priced, next day, on-site service. What a joke. What a rip-off.
The sign on the marquee reads "Ride Joe Ride." A nice surprise
May 29 (morning)
For dramatic effect, we will divide today's entry into morning and afternoon accounts. This morning Joe pedaled south to Lincoln City, the boyhood home of Abraham Lincoln. Young Abe lived here, at the edge of the frontier, from age 7 to 21. His mother died of milk poisoning when he was 9. The Lincolns moved from Kentucky because on two occasions they had been swindled out of their farm due to contested deeds after the sale. In Indiana, the law required a survey and court records before land could be sold. Joe then headed south to the Ohio River.
And now, it's home to Kentucky!