Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Pedal Day 34 - ILLINOIS!












"The best thing about the future is that it . . . only comes one day at a time."
-Abraham Lincoln, found by Margaret while she was shopping!

"The quieter you become, the more you hear."
-Anonymous, found by Margaret while she was shopping and I was pedaling!

"I have learned that being with those I love is enough."
-Anonymous, found by Margaret while she was shopping and I was pedaling uphill!

"Never let yesterday . . . fill up today."
-Anonymous, found by Margaret while she was shopping and I was pedaling uphill in three feet of snow! Not really and I'm thrilled that she can do fun stuff while we pedal!

Century.4! We pedaled 103.19 miles today, 46 of them in Wisconsin. Our route took us from Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin to Dixon, Illinois. We pedaled some of our day on bike trails again. Out of Wisconsin we rode on Badger State Trail and we entered Illinois on the Jane Addams Trail. When we come across trails we usually take them to get a break from the sun, hills, and traffic. 
We are now in state number six with eight states to go. Total mileage so far is 2,299 miles!
States crossed thus far: Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin! 
About eight miles out of Mt. Horeb, Jonathan had a flat. We're getting good at changing tubes and tires but it's not something to which we look forward. The cows across the road, however, thought it was quite interesting and came to the fence to watch.
Margaret met us for lunch at the Red Apple Inn in Monroe, Wisconsin. Good food but we were next to the smoking section. Since smoke can't read it invaded the non-smoking section and even though the food was super . . . the place was stinky!
In Monroe we met Gene who told us about the Badger State Trail out of Monroe. He also helped us find a place to eat. Gene rides in one of those electric scooters and gave us an escort to the Red Apple Inn. We followed him and invited him to lunch but he already had plans. He was a great help for us today.
Dixon, Illinois is known for being the home of Ronald Reagan. Tomorrow morning we plan to drive to his home, take photos, and we'll share them with you tomorrow evening. I'm really doing this for Mike Dorough, a friend of mine and one of the best youth guys in America! Mike is one Ronald Reagan's greatest fans. I don't think we'd cease being friends if I failed to get the photos but I'm not taking any chances!
Ronald Reagan is one of my favorite presidents. I remember when he was a cowboy in the movies. He was always a good guy. That was when Hollywood was good. Hollywood now is green, gross, and greedy with way too many actors who don't like much that America stands for. I remember the Hollywood that was American with patriots like Jimmy Stewart who flew twenty-five combat missions as a B-17 pilot, Gene Autry flew C-47s in Burma, Charles Bronson was a nose-gunner on a B-17 with twenty-one combat missions, Kirk Douglas was a communications officer on a submarine, James Garner was wounded several times in Korea, Audie Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor and was the most decorated American soldier in World War II, Walter Matthau flew combat mission with 8th Air Force as a B-17 tail gunner, and the list goes on and on. Ever wonder why Jack Palance had such sharp facial lines? He had facial reconstruction after his B-17 crashed in England in 1943! 
What do we have in Hollywood now? Well I know of an actor who played a Navy pilot in Top Gun! There are now very few, if any, Hollywood heroes . . . or Top Guns!
Pardon the soap box stuff. I'm just big time patriotic. I still get teary-eyed when I hear "The Star Spangled Banner." So for me to be in the hometown of a real American president is a big deal. In this town lived a man who is still highly respected by most: a man who led our country for eight years, a man of integrity, a man of convictions, a man with a good reputation.
"Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than having silver or gold" (Proverbs 22:1).
Ronald Reagan was ninety-three when he died. The date was 05 June 2004. As someone once said, "A giant oak has fallen in God's forest."
Someday each of us will die. Someday people will talk or write about each of us. We are, at this very moment, writing our own reputations.
Choose a good one!

8 comments:

  1. As Chuck Swindoll says, "A tree is best measured when it is down." I thought of this when I read your last comments.

    I laughed out loud thinking of you guys changing a tire to an audience of cows! We live next to a pasture of cows. They are inquisitive critters.

    It sounds like some other states could use GA's no-smoking law for restaurants.

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  2. When I saw your "Hometown of Ronald Reagan" picture, I literally got a lump in my throat. As Archie and Edith Bunker used to sing, "Those Were the Days." Not that the 80s were perfect by any stretch, but my oh my how far America has fallen. Before God calls me home, I'd love to go the Reagan Library in California and Dixon would be a GREAT visit too! Standing at the spot in Berlin where he said, "Mr. Gorbachev, TEAR DOWN THIS WALL" was a great expereince I will never forget. Can't wait to see your photos from Dixon, but don't let my Reagan obsession slow down the Shettle Shuttle Across America. You have an rendezvous with the Atantic Ocean in Maine.

    Reminds me of when Reagan said, "You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness."

    I am afraid that America has taken a giant step into the darkness, but I PRAISE GOD that our hope is built on NOTHING LESS than Jesus' blood and righteousness! "Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!"

    Sure do love, miss and pray for you guys! Happy pedaling!

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  3. This blog post is proof that you (Barry) does not watch much television or movies. The only people in the list of Hollywood actors I knew were James Garner and Walter Matthau. And, I only know Mr. Garner cuz he was in "The Notebook." Which is a fantastic movie by the way. Its ok though Barry, I still love ya! Besides, God doesn't care who in Hollywood we know as long as He is at the top of our list! Hope the wind is at your back pushing you along today! Love ya!

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  4. Are you guys keeping a tire log? It will be interesting to reconcile at the "Atlantic dipping" of your front tire the number of tires & tubes, punctures & replacements you've actually experienced versus what you expected to have before you "rear wheel dipped" in the Pacific. By now have you determined if you could have benefited by having an "off-road" bike for the trails & unpaved roadways and your "road" bikes for the paved hwys.

    I guess punctures are part of cross country biking. Maybe you have passed the "puncture point" in your trip.

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  5. I wonder what time zone this blogging server is located? My last post was time stamped 6:41 AM, EDT is 9:41 AM. Must be PDT. I don't want people to think that I'm so eager to publish that I'm here in my PJ's reading blogs.

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  6. Yet another 100 mile day - now it is rather ho-hum, so I think you should shoot for a 200 mile day next. Ronaldus Magnus was the first president I ever voted for, I am proud and honored to be able to say. We are a bit removed from his stature currently in our presidential arena.

    WARNING: This next bit of political commentary does not necessarily reflect the views of Barry, Margaret or Jonathan. It does however reflect the views of Todd Anders of 620 Hunters Green Ct., Lexington, KY, 40509.
    I stole this from some radio guy whose first name is Rush Limbaugh. What do God and Obama have in common? Neither one has a birth certificate.
    What do God and Obama not have in common? God does not think He is Obama.
    This now ends the political commentary.

    You are one state closer to Ohio, which is one state closer to Kentucky, which you are not pedaling through. I have alerted our local media that you are riding across all of America and are purposely avoiding Kentucky. Expect some nasty press soon.

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  7. I'm glad to know that someone else tears up when they play "The Star Spangled Banner". It always gets me and I pray that it always will. Remember somewhere in the world today someone will give their life in defense of this great county. Someone's father, son, brother or friend. Never forget.

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  8. Great Blog Today!!!More followers added, great pictures, great history, and great pedaling(103.19 CONGRATS!), and great comments. Way to go Todd!
    Barry, Jonathan & Margaret,just like the postman,
    delivers miles through rain, sleet, & snow. Now that's impressive! Margaret, glad to see you are having fun also. Be safe and remember you are being prayed for daily.

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