French Lickin' and still Tickin'

I had breakfast at a little restaurant a mile north of my “campsite”, which was recommended by Carl Allen. Good thing he told me where it was, because there’s no sign on the road and it’s just a little nook called Hey Jude’s, attached to a truck repair station. But boy, did they serve me the biggest, best pancake I have ever eaten. That is saying a lot because, as many of you know, I am an expert when it comes to breakfast, a skill handed down from my dad. I could have spent the whole day shooting the bull with Linda Atkins and Rita Cummings, who work there, and Jim Harris, whom it seemed familiar enough to have lived there. Their picture is right here.

I was planning on traveling through Bono, IN but on the map it shows an area called the “Devil’s Backbone” that sounded pretty scary. The folks at breakfast told me it was a big, steep ridge; aptly named and even scarier than it sounds. Needless to say, I decided to avoid it.

I took the picture of French Lick, IN especially for my bowling partner Randy Vandemark. I know he loves casinos and, well, he loves French lickin’ too. Right, Paula? By the way, I took a picture for a few guys from Purdue University standing by the Larry Bird Drive sign in French Lick. Hawkeye tells me that's where he's from. He didn't go to Purdue, but in Indiana you have to look for any icon you can get.

It poured rain between French Lick and Paoli, an eventuality that I had planned for by packing everything in my saddlebags in big garbage bags. I could have used one of those pair of Elton John sunglasses with the windshield wipers. When I stopped under the awning at a guitar shop in Paoli to check my directions, the storm passed me by, but it was heading northeast, in the same direction I was. I followed that dang storm right into Salem, sometimes having to slow down just so I wouldn’t catch up with it. Ride like the wind, baby!

When I had lunch at Elaine’s Diner in Salem, the lunch crew verified my route for the rest of the day. Then again, some had never even been as far as Muncie, IN. One thing I know for certain from this trip; always listen to the advice of the lunch gang at the local eateries. And they always have advice.

When I arrived in Seymore, IN I decided to check into a hotel, do my laundry, and get a good night sleep. The desk clerk said they did not have a laundry at the hotel, but there was one only three blocks away. He failed to mention that three blocks equaled a mile and a half. I decided to walk it instead of cycling, and it felt pretty good lugging my laundry that far, even returning to the hotel at 11:00pm. Am I losing it? Perhaps my perspective on life has gotten a little more laid back, if that is possible. Whatever it is, it’s cool with me.

Andrea gave the Daughter to Father speech at the Gaylord High School Senior Banquet tonight. This is a really big event, and as she was describing it to me over the phone, I started crying like a baby. I am so proud of her. Call me sentimental. I don’t know what the people at the Pizza Hut were calling me, but who cares. Just call me dad, I guess. Christa is bringing a copy of the video on Friday. I’m sad to be missing events like this, but I WILL be back for graduation.

I have posted the latest map per your request. So far I have traveled 1,666 miles in 20 days. That’s pretty much right on target for my goal of riding 80 miles a day. A goal I thought might be overly ambitious before I started.

Now, as an aside, here is a little cycling knowledge I picked up during this trip. At first, when I looked in my rearview mirror (yes, I have a little mirror attached to my helmet) and saw a big truck coming I braced myself and said a prayer. Now, I’ve got a different attitude, which is kind of a sick, parasitic relationship. When I see a big log truck or semi coming, I get ready to catch it’s draft, just like driving a race car. Life is like that; sometimes the things you fear the most turn out to have hidden value that you never could imagine.

Point of Interest: Every state that I have been through so far allows motorcyclists to decide whether to wear helmets or not. I wonder what that means….

For Real Inspiration: If you are just checking out my blog, I encourage you to visit the March entry entitled “Life can be too short to put off your dreams.” It is a more important message than anything I am doing on this adventure. If you want to show you really care and are inspired to achieve one of your lifelong goals, make a small contribution to the Kyle Casey Memorial Scholarship Fund.