Pappy Smith's Adventure Continues

Had our yearly drivers meeting! All the drivers were recognized in front of the DFA board. Sat thru all day meeting then went to dinner with family and a few friends. Great dinner. Champagne toast from my boss John Rhoads! Really enjoyed working for him. After dinner meet up with a couple drivers and friends and continued partying! No one took any pictures last night.  Great group of drivers. Only 1 I will not miss!! Will miss a few people from work! Will stay in touch with a few of them. Got up this morning had breakfast with a couple of the drivers before they head home. Headed to my daughters to see my granddaughter and take pictures before her prom! Can't wait to see her all dressed up. Will follow her to Coe Lake for a few outdoor pictures. After that will just head home to get a few things done before I head out again. I have enjoyed my time here but looking to get back on the road riding! Today was my granddaughters prom! I am very happy to be here for it. This is wo

1st day back at work had a great day talking to everyone about my ride and my retirement.  All the drivers were in today and we went bowling!  First time I've bowled in 7 yrs! It was great to sit and talk with all the drivers. After bowling went to Wasabi for dinner. Wow alot of food could not eat it all. After dinner calling it a night. Spending the next couple nights in a hotel. Tomorrow meetings all day then my retirement party! Looking forward to seeing everyone and talking to everyone. Tired so will say Good night! God Bless

Arrived home Wednesday morning.  Picked up car drove home to get some clothes for the weekend. Meet with banker took care of some business. Meet up with family and friends at Aces for a couple drinks. What a great group of people! Spent the night at the my daughters

Day 14 of my journey riding, Did a 24 mile ride from Granite City to St Louis. Im in Missouri made it to Nicks. Getting ready to shower. Nick is in meetings most of the day. Will have to see if he has time for dinner. Hot and muggy here. Going to be around 84 today. Feeling blessed and very happy to be here. Just the people who talked with me today has been a blessing!  From the man at the diner who wished me well after talking with him to the kid on the street I happened to pass and the man in a van passing me at a light and asking where I'm going and good luck. Just a short ride but inspirational. I did get on historical Rt 66 in Illinois and in Missouri. Maybe post something later. Good day

I put the wrong day down that I will be at Aces it will be Wednesday night. I fly out Wednesday morning.  One thing about not working is sometimes I forget what day it is. Haha

Today was a day of rest. I will ride tomorrow to Nicks place in St Louis. Around 24 miles from me. Looking to go home get somethings together for my 2nd part of my journey. Starting to realize what I will need and what I don't need on my bike trip. I have been slowly eliminating clothes and supplies I  have brought with me already. Looking to get better and bigger water bottles for my bike. Will need to carry more water next time. Tent ,sleeping bag and air mattress are perfect. Everything else is good  need to get some more jerky for the next part. Jerky came in handy on the long rides with nothing in between to stop and eat at. It diffently will hold you over till you can find a diner or restaurant. Started looking at the route when I get back. Looking to do 30-40 miles a day to start. The terrain starts to continue up hill for the most part. I would say I am about 1/4 of the way to Santa Monica! No time limit when I come back to start. Eric or Drew will need your help downlo

Day 13 of my journey , Rode 11 miles today to Granite City KOA. This is my destination till Tuesday morning and I leave to meet and stay with Nick Knoblauch who will keep my bike till I come back from my retirement. What a journey it has been so far! Yesterday was a tough day of riding! I rode a lot of bike trails that had gravel on them. This took me longer then I had planned. I need to make sure I have plenty of food and water. When I got to the town of Edwardsville Illinois I was waiting on a call from the warm shower host. When she did get a hold of me I was already past her location. She told me I could camp in her daughters back yard. I am so thankful for that. Someone you don't even know goes out of there way to accomadate me in my travels! How blessed I felt last night for that! Pretty good nights sleep. Got up packed up everything and headed towards Granit City. Stopped at a Waffle House for breakfast. Sure felt better after a good breakfast. Finished my short ride to t

Day 12 of riding on my journey, Got up to a cool morning! Waited for the office to open at the camp ground for my morning coffee.  Barb the owner came in made coffee and sat around with her sons and grandfather talking about my journey. Very nice people. Doing a lot of work at the camp ground fixing it up. Will love to stop back there sometime to check it out and do some fishing! Left out around 9 am.  Went thru  a town Vandalia that was the state Capitol in the 1800. Will post picture sometime soon. Still trying to figure out this blog stuff. I will have my friend Eric look at it next week and get me squared away before I head out to California. Looking to do maybe 70 miles but only got in 63 miles. Staying in someone's backyard. The people I contacted on Warmshowers did not get my message till I was passed there place so they contacted there daughter and asked if I could camp in her backyard! Her daughter said ok there are not living here yet they just gutted the place and are

Day 11 of my journey, Well last night was interesting with the wind and marble size hail. This last about a half hour. The ground was coversed completely with hail. My tent handled it well stayed dry all night. Got up this morning and was talking to my neighbor in a tent next to mine. He was telling me how he walks 5 miles to work at a truck stop. Had his license revoked. Told me he has been separated for 3 yrs. Not sure how he handles that with his wife in California.  The story reminds me of someone I used to work with. I feel sorry for him. Will keep him in my prayers. Packed up my gear loaded my bike and went to the camp office for a cup of coffee. Drank my coffee and headed out from Effingham Illinois.  Rode thru a little town called St Elmo. They had a nice monument set up honoring all service men and women. They had from the Civil War thru Iraq Afghanistan War. This was very impressive to me that this small town had such a monument for all who had served from this small town

Storm moves in and get marble size hail! Hope my tent is ok?

Day 10 of my journey!  Today started a little cool and with light rain. As the morning went on the rain stopped and stayed over cast. I stopped to take off my rain gear and put it away when a young lady stopped and offered me a bottle of water which i accepted and thanked her. That was a first that a young lady stopped. Riding was a bit slow do to the wind was in my face.  This is the 2nd covered bridge that I have ridden across.  The first one was at a bottom of a hill as soon as I crossed it there was a big bump and both my back panniers bags flew off! Thankfully there was no one behind me to hit them! Here is also a picture of a cool barn that I passed shortly after going thru the bridge. Staying at a camp ground outside Effingham Illinois called Camp Lakewood. Nice little camp ground to stay at also have a bar here! Guess where I will be later. Tent set up shower done and now doing laundry. 41 miles completed today! Now over 500 miles in!!!! Calling for rain tonight.  O

Today I took the day off! Resign myself to continue on tomorrow! Got up around 6:30 got out my stove and made coffee! Walked around the camp for some excerise today. I unpacked all my belongings today to see what I can eliminate before I head to the West Coast. When I get to St Louis I will be bringing a few things back to leave to lighten my load. I got all my laundry done today also.Everything repackaged and ready for tomorrow. Depending on the weather but hoping to get in around 40 miles tomorrow. I feel rejuvenated having a whole day off! Good day All God Bless

Day 9 of my journey, Day started out cool and stayed cool thru most of the day. Low 70s and over cast. Perfect day to ride. Rode out about 15 miles out decide to stop for a coffee at a Marathon Station. The lady behind the counter asked wher I was coming from and going to. We talked a bit and she gave me a breakfast sandwich and a cup of coffee on the house. People are generally interested in my journey to the West Coast! I tell them I am retiring and this is the start of it. Have been blessed meeting new people everyday of my journey and a few of them are now following my blog. I have been riding everyday since I left Galion Oh. So I am taking a extra day off tomorrow! I think I over extended my right leg today. Dogs just love me. I will not try to out run them in the future it will be mace for them. I don't want to spray them but not looking to get injured either. This is a beautiful KOA that I'm staying at so an extra day will be well deserved. Laundry in the morning and m

Crossed into Illinois about 10:30am today!! About 20 miles from Casey Illinois where I will stay at a KOA. More later

Day 8 of my journey, Left out of Plainfield In around 7:30 am. Was nice to sleep in a regular bed and take a very hot bath and shower! Day started off very well cool in the morning then warmed up as the day went on. Map quest is sure taking me down some very back roads. A couple of the roadside went down turned out to be freshly graveled. Was not able to ride so I had to push my bike for a mile or more! Today I also have been chased by a few dogs. None got with in mace range but sure did pedal faster! The winds this morning was out of the East and shifted to South/ South West. Got in a little over 60 miles today. Should be in Illinois tomorrow. Very happy with my journey so far have ridden over 400 miles!!!! Staying Brazil In tonight at a Bestwestern have a free night stay with my rewards points. Another hot shower tonight and a hot bath soak some of this soreness out of me. Good day to All God Bless

Day 7 of riding on my journey. Left Andy and Mary's place after a good night's rest. Said goodbyes and on the road around 8am. Rode about 10 miles and stopped for coffee  and sandwich at Hardee's.  Weather is beautiful only riding 30 miles today to give me some recoup time. Meet up with a gentleman and we rode together for 4 or so miles into downtown Indianapolis. It was nice riding with someone and talking along the way. Riding by a Army National Guard post a car cut in front of me and just missed me! I had to slam on my brakes the bike started to slide sideways and I was able to get my feet out before the bike went down. The scrapes on my leg is from my pedal coming back and hit it. There was another vehicle there and the driver got out to see if I was alright ! I said I was and he was saying that the driver was definitely at fault and he apologizedid for the other driver. All is well just a couple scrapes and sometime to calm my nerves and finished my ride of 30 mile

Official day 6 of riding on my journey. I had missed 2 days early on. Think I am back on track. Started the day off going to breakfast with Nancy. She brought out her bike to ride to the restaurant with me the tires were low so I pumped them up and we rode around town to the diner. Cambridge City Indiania is a nice small town. Nancy has this big house which she opened up for me. Had my own room with a inflatable air mattress that I slept well on! Only thing watch out for her dog it takes awhile for it to warm up to you! I have the teeth marks to prove it. Haha. After breakfast she rode with me to the edge of town said good by. Got out around 9 am by 10 the weather had warmed up and the sun was out so I stopped to look for my sun block and could not find it. Called Nancy and asked her if I left it there and I did.. Rode for a couple hours before I could find some place to buy some. I was riding just outside of Indianapolis and a gentleman was driving the other way stopped and asked

Well day 6 of my journey, Started out with breakfast at local dinner with my warm shower host Ben and Alice. After breakfast the drive me to route 40 to start my ride. The weather was a little chilly at the start but warmed up quickly. Rode for about 15 miles before I took my first break. A little coffee and bakery. Bought an ice coffee and sat and charged my phone. The sales women and I started talking about my trip. After a bit she brought me over a chocolate cupcake on the house. This looked like a cupcake they make on the show cupcake wars and it was delicious! As I was getting ready to leave she also brought out a cookie for me to eat along my journey. I thanked her again for her generosity. The rest of the day was dedicated to just riding. Had to stop to apply a lot of sunscreen. Made it to Cambridge City Indiana after a 62 mile ride for the day! Staying with one of our drivers for the night then heading out in the morning to Indianapolis Indiana. Still feel pretty good while

My host from last night! Ben and Alice Pace. A sign they had hanging in there house. My new motto! I am in Cambridge City Indiana! Spending the night here then off to indianoplis Indiana. Looking to ride 50 miles tomorrow. Rode 62 miles to day. Off to dinner

Day 5 of my journey, Got out of my tent around 8 am. Started taking down the tent and storing all my belongings in my bag. The owner of the campground brought me a cup of coffee. Just what I needed on this cool morning . Finished packing and left  Rie lake about 10:30 this morning., 30 mile ride today wanted to slow the pace for a day. Rode to Huber Heights. Staying with my first warm shower host Ben and Alice Pace. I have been talking with Ben since I got here! He and his wife do tandem rides cross country. Has given me ideas for my front lights and rear lights. Alice just got home and asking me about my work that I used to do. Explained about the milk testing. We are going to breakfast in the morning and they will get me to Rt 40 where my journey will continue. Another great day of meeting new people that also are inspiring ! I have to call it a day for I am very tired. Looking to do maybe 60 miles tomorrow . Good night God Bless

Me holding Josephine Mae Alyssa and Drews new 2 week old ! The other 2 pic are from my campground last night.

Day 4 of my journey, I wish every day would start with coffee with family. Coffee with Tony and Krista! Thank you for a wonderful dinner a hot shower that Tony could not get at my place. Haha. Rode over to my nieces and had coffee and a blueberry bagel for breakfast. I got to hold Alyssa 2 week old baby girl Josephine Mae. What a precious little girl! I will post pictures of her soon.Alyssa and Drew will be great parents! Love you guys. Headed out from Columbus Oh about 9:00am. What a great morning to start a ride. A little cool but refreshing.Columbus have such great bicycle trails how fun to ride them away from traffic. Meet a couple of bikers. The one older gentle was telling me about his cross country travels. Ha also rides to bring awareness to Huntingtons Disease. Very interesting man with a great heart. Rode into London Oh and stopped where they sold ice cream and got a big scoop of chocolate. After a 30 mile ride I think I can splurge a little. The owners told me about a be

Well the rain stopped so started my 3rd day of my journey. The temp was 31 degrees when I left around 7:30am. The wind was from the NW. This made for a better ride with the wind at my back. Got about 10 miles in on the ride and a little pizza place was open for coffee. Philomenas Pizzeria 2 gentleman were there. We started talking about fishing and biking. Showed me a couple of some big bass the caught on Christmas this year. Would of loved to been there myself! Getting ready to leave and to pay for the coffee said it was on the house. I thanked him and went on my way. Rode for about 2 1/2 hrs came across this little gas and deli sign saying Castles. The weather had warmed up so I was soaked. Ordered a cup of coffee and a sandwich. Sat at a little table in the back and drying out my coats. She brought back my sandwich and had put everything on it. We talked a bit and she was telling me how she used to bike ride till she got chased by a dog and fell. She has not rode since. I felt sorry

Well a rainy day in Galion Oh. Will stay here another night and head out in the morning to Delaware Oh. Stopped at a bike shop this morning to have them look at my shifter. Had the shifter adjusted before I left and started acting up again and shifting a couple gears at a time. Great bike shop here in town and very accommodating. Took in my bike they took it right in and adjusted the shifter and told me the chain is stretched a bit to keep an eye on it. After the repair they told me I could leave my bike there and walk around town. Stopped in at a local coffee shop and had a White Chocolate Banana latte which was very good! Stopped at the Chamber of Commerce to see what maps they had of the area. They told me camp grounds in the area are still closed. Will see what I can find in my travels. I have sent an email to a warm shower host there  and waiting for a response.

Just finished my 2nd day of riding! Started out at 21 degrees wind chill of 13. Soon as I get started it starts to snow on top of that the winds are15-20 mph with gust to 25! This made for a tough riding day. This was a very slow 22 mile ride but I kept on going till I reached destination today which is Galion Oh. Not sure if it will be one night or two. Calling for rain all day tomorrow. As they say slow and steady wins the race. Overall I feel pretty good. Definitely need more road training before I hit the western states. Weather starts to look good after tomorrow. Have to sit and plan my next destination! Good day and Good night

Looks to be a cold day of riding!  Looking to ride 20 some miles today. Wind is supposed to pick up and a chance of snow. I forgot to mention when I was riding on Friday that a gentleman stopped and was talking to me about my bike and where I was going. He said he and his wife were just getting in to riding and looking to do a few short rides soon. After talking with him he gave me his name and number and said if I needed anything to give him a call. I hope I run into more people like him along the way. I was surprised that it happened on my first day of riding. Will post later. Happy Sunday God Bless

Day 2 of my adventure will not be riding my bike but with my niece to the airport to pick up her brother. Have not been able to upload photos to the blog. We have a few inches of snow here. 1 more day with family and we will see what tomorrow will bring! Ohio weather you got to love it! Will try to get the picture situation figured out today.

End of day one. Got in around 35 miles today. The weather remained cold and windy. Had to make changes to route. Was going to ride to Marion Oh but with the wind and the cold front moving in decided to ride to my niece Jackies in Plymoth Oh! Will have to see how much snow we get tonight if I leave tomorrow. Never realized how much you sweat when riding even if  it's cold. Tried to dress light but still was over dressed. This is definitely going to be a learning process. Did not get any pictures today. Hope to post some in the near future.

Loaded and ready to start the journey!

Last night I get to sleep in my bed for 3 weeks! Looking forward to begin my Adventure in the morning. Trying to sleep is not easy with your mind set on your travels. Tomorrow comes soon enough! Good night