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Be sure to read Joe's narratives at "Stories from
the Road"
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TENNESSEE
March 12
Back on the road again! Joe finished his
winter work with the students in Kentucky and today pedaled out of
Cleveland, TN, to begin the final 4,000 miles of his 14,000 mile
adventure. Barbara and Steven and Stephanie Bowen were there to wish him
well. He rode 57 miles to Murphy, NC. He said it was good to be back in
the saddle again.
NORTH CAROLINA
March 13
Rained out. Second day. How about that? At
least he got to meet his friend Mel, who he met on his '67 trip. Those two
guys, their buddy, Dwight, from Florida, and Kentuckians Don and Guy, are working on a very
interesting Kentucky history project.
March 14
This morning Joe met over forty bicyclers
from Wisconsin. He said they were an impressive group of riders. After a
nice conversation, the riders decided to come to Kentucky for the
Celebration on June 17th. Wonderful! Later, as Joe was eating lunch in
Andrews, a guy came over and asked, "Are you Joe Bowen?" After
Joe allowed that he was, the guy said, "You spoke to my High School
in the 60's after a long bicycle trip." As it turns out, James Powell
was a student at Powell County High School in Stanton, Kentucky, when Joe
talked to the students there about his first trip. James and his wife,
Hope, now live in Murphy, NC. The ride today was up and down in the
Appalachian Mountains. One climb was over five miles.
TENNESSEE (again)
March 15
Today involved a 50 mile ride through
Gatlinburg and on to Cosby. Joe climbed one particularly large Great
Smokey Mountain. He gained 3,000 feet of elevation in 15 miles. The
temperature in the top 2,000 feet was below freezing and Joe had on every
piece of clothing that he carries. The temperature rose as he coasted down
the other side. By the time he reached the valley floor, the temperature
was in the mid 50's.
March16
Joe went to the Presidential Library of
Andrew Johnson, our 17th president, to do research on the history project
he, Don, Guy, Mel, and Dwight are working on. He found three important letters. The
project concerns a Kentuckian named Felix Grundy Stidger and the time
period is during the Civil War. Espionage, plots, conspiracy, high crimes
and treason; it's got it all. Can't wait for the movie! Joe pedaled 45
miles to Greenville. It was a pleasant ride and a nice day to be on a
bicycle.
VIRGINIA
March 17
Joe operates on the "Safety
First" principle of bicycle riding and wants everyone, especially our
young people, to do the same. Today presented a choice between his
itinerary and the "Safety First" principle and of course, safety
won. Joe quickly realized that the road in his new state was extremely
bicycle unfriendly. There was no shoulder for him to ride on and there was
a six inch drop from the edge of the road to where the shoulder should be.
So, he turned around and is exploring a new route. He wants to point out
that although the road was unfriendly to a bicycler, the drivers of
passing cars and trucks were very courteous, careful, and mindful of his
presence. He rode 60 miles today and is in Duffield on Rt. 23. There is a
wide shoulder to ride on but it's gravel. Those skinny little tires on
Rocinante prefer a harder surface.
KENTUCKY
March 18
OK, OK. I know you are wondering,
"What's Joe doing back in Kentucky so soon?" Well, Joe addresses
the Kentucky Junior Historical Society in Frankfort this weekend and needs
to be close enough for Barbara to come pick him up and drive him there -
and back. The itinerary planned for a ride through West Virginia to
Huntington but shoulder problems (the road's, not Joe's) prevented that.
Today, Joe stopped at the home of native Kentucky author John Fox, Jr., in
Big Stone Gap, VA. Fox's novel, "The Little Shepherd of Kingdom
Come" was an unprecedented national literary sensation when it was
published in the early 20th Century. Every Kentuckian, and especially
every Kentucky student, should read this book.
Home of John Fox, Jr. in Big Stone Gap, VA
March 19
In over ten thousand miles of bicycle
riding across our great country Joe has felt the road condition too
dangerous for safe riding only twice. The first was in Atlanta. If you
recall, traffic was so congested that a passing car clipped off his rear
view mirror. Fortunately, he was near enough a train station to get
himself out of the danger zone. The second time was yesterday. The
traffic, the coal trucks, and the road conditions were not conducive for
safe bicycle riding. Most of us would add to the list the cold temperature
and "snow event" but that doesn't seem to concern him too much.
Anyway, he had Barbara drive down and pick him up. Since rain is forecast
for the next couple of days, he will stay home and prepare for his talk to
the Kentucky Junior Historical Society in Frankfort on the 24th. On
Monday, Barbara will drop him off somewhere in far eastern Kentucky so he
can get back on schedule.
March 20 - 26
Joe's at home waiting out the rain and
preparing for his speech.
March 27
Joe enjoyed his speech to the Kentucky
Junior Historical Society in Frankfort. There were about 500 students in
attendance ranging from grades 4 to 12. Afterwards, a young man came up to
Joe and said, "Mr. Bowen, I've slept through these speeches for the
last three years but I listened to every word you said. That was great.
Thanks." Barbara drove Joe to Catlettsburg. From there, he pedaled 82
miles to Ripley. It was a very pleasant ride through beautiful
countryside. The first 50 miles were along the Ohio river and the last 30
across rolling hills. He had a nice chat with Judy Watson and her
daughter, Clarisa, who raise money for cancer research.
WEST VIRGINIA
March 28
Rained out. Joe spent the day reading and
working on the Felix Grundy Stidger project.
March 29
Joe says that West Virginia is the friendliest state he
has ridden through. People stop their cars and give him water, flag him
down to chat, and just treat him well. Yesterday, Jim Mahan, Principal of
Ripley Middle School, heard Joe was spending a rainy day in his town.
Since Jim is not one to miss an opportunity to do something good and
educational for his students, he picked up Joe and had him talk to his
school. Everyone had a great time. Brian and Christina from the
Parkersburg News stopped by for an interview. Today, Joe pedaled 60 miles
to Glenville, a beautiful little town on the Little Kanawha River. David
Corcoran, from the local paper, showed Joe around the town and bought him
a big steak dinner. The countryside is absolutely beautiful and spring is
in the air. The mountains in this area run generally north / south. Joe is
traveling east. "Up and down, up and down, up and down..." were
his exact words.
March 30
Joe had a great day. He rode 70 up and down
mountain miles through beautiful countryside to Elkins. The local
industries are oil, gas, and timber. There are two kinds of bark along the
roadside; tree bark and dog bark. Faithful readers will notice that Joe
has never commented on dogs chasing him. In fact, in the first 10,000
miles, twenty-eight states, and two Canadian Provinces he has been chased
by dogs only seven times. In 200 miles in West Virginia he has been chased
five times. Joe says that if he can reach a speed of 22 miles per hour, a
dog will quit chasing him.
March 31
On this trip, Joe crossed most mountain
ranges in the United States: Coastal Range, Sierras, Cascades, Rockies,
Big Horn, Black Hills, San Juan, Ozarks and many other smaller ranges. Joe
says that from the seat of a bicycle, there are "no meaner
mountains" than the Appalachians across this part of WV. "Other
mountains may be bigger, but not a bit badder." And from Joe, of
course, this is a compliment. Allegheny Mountain had a sign that read
"10% grade." Going down the hill, Joe passed all the eighteen
wheelers. He pedaled 57 mountain miles from Elkins to Petersburg.
WV countryside
April 1
Joe rode 43 miles to Romney through
"breathtakingly beautiful farm country." He is now on the
southern branch of the Potomac River and the riding is much easier. The
local folks enjoy visiting with him.
Joe and the "Bicycling Judge from WV"
April 2
On the road, Joe met a fellow bicyclist
named David H. Sanders, known as "The Bicycling Circuit Court
Judge." Judge Sanders took Joe on some great back roads through the
Shenandoah Valley to Harpers Ferry. Our Bicycling Judge presides over the
same court that tried, and hanged, the abolitionist John Brown for treason
in 1859. Joe says West Virginia "has been a real plus" on this
nationwide bicycle trip. Joe rode 79 miles today.
VIRGINIA
April 3
Canals played a very important role in the
development our country. From the late 1700's to the mid 1800's canals
were the most efficient way to transport goods and raw materials over long
distances. The hand-dug Chesapeake and Ohio Canal System runs parallel to
the Potomac River and stretches from Washington, DC, to Cumberland, MD. It
is now a hiking, horse, and bicycle trail through some very isolated
countryside. Along this trail, sixty miles from Harpers Ferry, Joe got
caught in a fierce late afternoon thunderstorm. He pitched his tent on the
small porch of an old abandoned "lock house" and camped for the
night. He will be in our nation's capital tomorrow.
A Lock House on the Canal
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Jefferson Memorial and cherry blossoms
April 4
Joe broke camp and pedaled ten, wet, chilly
miles into our nation's capital. After eating breakfast, finding a hotel,
and taking a warm shower, he rode Rocinante into the heart of the city.
Joe will be the first to tell you that the most important part of this
trip is sharing America with the students. And Washington, DC, offers
many, many lessons. Now, we in Southern and Eastern Kentucky know that our
congressman, Hal Rogers, is very interested in the young people of our
region. So Joe figured that was the place to start. And besides,
since Congressman Rogers is the only person, other than Joe, to have
ridden Rocinante on this trip, he figured a courtesy call was in order.
Joe rode to the Rayburn Building, into the Rayburn Building, and up to the
congressman's office where he was graciously welcomed. They had a great
conversation and Joe got plenty of pictures to share. Thank you,
Congressman Rogers!
Congressman Hal Rogers meets with Joe
Joe had another important mission to
accomplish this day. Recently, a Powell County man, a good man, John David
Morton, was killed in action in Afghanistan. His memorial service was held
at the Bowen Church of God in Kentucky and he was buried in Arlington Cemetery.
On the night before Joe began the final 4000-miles of this trip, John
David Morton's parents came to Joe and said, "Joe, when you are in
Washington, please go see our son." Joe rode to Arlington Cemetery
where he received a special permit to ride to the gravesite. John David
Morton- we salute you, honor you, and thank you. You will not be
forgotten.
April 5
Busy day in Washington, DC! Joe first met
with the League of American Bicyclists, a major organization in the
bicycling world. He told them that any person who could ride a bicycle from
Ashland, KY, to Harpers Ferry, WV, could ride any mountains in the US. Joe
next met with Congressman Ben Chandler. They discussed the Bert T. Combs
Statue project. Joe was also hoping Congressman Chandler could help
persuade Chicago's Mayor Daley, a bicycle rider himself, to ride with Joe
when he rode through that great city. Joe next met with Congressman Ron
Lewis. Congressman Lewis, in addition to his public duties, is also an
historian. He and Joe had a long conversation discussing a little-know
event in Kentucky's past that had an impact on the history of our
nation.
 
Congressman Chandler, Joe, Joe, Congressman Lewis
April 6
There are a lot of people helping Joe on
this trip. There are two committees you may or may not know. The first is
the "Worry Committee." They were particularly concerned about
Joe riding his bicycle into and out of the traffic of Washington, DC. And
if you have ever driven there yourself, you know they had a good point.
The "Worry Committee" reached such a point of crisis that a
special meeting was called with the other before mentioned committee,
"The Prayer Committee," who told them, "Don't worry. Things
will work out." This, of course, did not sit well with the
"Worry Committee" because, after all, to worry is their job. But
the "Prayer Committee" was right and the answer came in the form
of a 150 year-old canal that was turned into a modern bike and hike path.
Joe pedaled over one hundred miles into and out of one of the biggest
traffic nightmares on the planet and never passed a car. Today, he pedaled
the canal 45 miles back out of Washington and then rode a regular road 16
miles to Fredrick, MD.
Traffic on the way to and from downtown Washington, DC
MARYLAND
April 7
Rained out.
April 8
A year ago today, Joe began this
Bicycle/Education Adventure by pedaling out of southern California. And
what a ride it's been! What a magnificent country Joe has shared with us.
From sea to shining sea. For Joe, the students, and those of us riding
along with him on the web page, it has been an incredible adventure.
11,000-miles, so far. Thanks, Joe. And thanks to all the folks who have
helped along the way. Today, Joe was rained out, again.
next stage: Pennsylvania,
New York, Ohio, Michigan
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