Chester C. Wells Memorial Labor Day Bike Ride 2015
Chester C. Wells Memorial Labor Day Bike Ride

Chester C. Wells Memorial Labor Day Bike Ride

It was Labor Day, 1913, when a rising star in the journalism world hopped a train in his hometown of Freeport IL, arriving a short time later in Madison at this depot. He was going to have a routine medical procedure, a tonsillectomy, before leaving for his first job after graduation from the University of Wisconsin. Tragically, the operation went bad and he died on the operating table. He was the second national president of Sigma Delta Chi, now known as the Society of Professional Journalists. Ever since, SDX/SPJ has awarded the highest annual honor bestowed on members in the name of their second president, the Wells Memorial Key.

Plans for a memorial centennial ride fell through, but last year I was able to complete the Madison to Freeport ride with my good friend Cameron Mooney.

This year I felt another ride coming on, and with a pre-ride  yesterday, from Deerfield to Aztalan, was actually able to cover the same distance (about 64 miles) over two days. (more…)

Moon in the western sky

Trains, Trucks, Planes & Automobiles 2015D

Last winter I began thinking about a road trip to Idaho to visit our son Drew and his family. Then when he told us they had decided to move back to Georgia, I knew time was running out to visit Idaho. So I volunteered to help with the move. That resulted in an epic road trip involving 1700 train miles, about 2600 truck miles, 1150 air miles, and 300 car miles for a grand total of about 5750 miles, through 14 states in 12 days.  (For comparison purposes, NY to LA and back is 5600 miles.)

In the first post of this series, I detailed my cross country train ride. If you’re just coming in, that’s probably where you should start. The latest post covered the first half of the truck trip, from Idaho to Wisconsin, where we caught our breath for a few days. And then it was time to complete the journey. (more…)

Still lots of highway to cover

Trains, Trucks, Planes & Automobiles 2015C

Last winter I began thinking about a road trip to Idaho to visit our son Drew and his family. Then when he told us they had decided to move back to Georgia, I knew time was running out to visit Idaho. So I volunteered to help with the move. That resulted in an epic road trip involving 1700 train miles, about 2600 truck miles, 1150 air miles, and 300 car miles for a grand total of about 5750 miles, through 14 states in 12 days.  (For comparison purposes, NY to LA and back is 5600 miles.)

In the first post of this series, I detailed my cross country train ride. Then a few photos from my time in Idaho. But then it was time to hit the road. (more…)

Dry field, wet field

Trains, Trucks, Planes & Automobiles 2015B

Last winter I began thinking about a road trip to Idaho to visit our son Drew and his family. Then when he told us they had decided to move back to Georgia, I knew time was running out to visit Idaho. So I volunteered to help with the move. That resulted in an epic road trip involving 1700 train miles, about 2600 truck miles, 1150 air miles, and 300 car miles for a grand total of about 5750 miles, through 14 states in 12 days.  (For comparison purposes, NY to LA and back is 5600 miles.)

In the first post of this series, I detailed my cross country train ride. This is the Idaho portion of the trip. (more…)

The purple mountains majesty.

Trains, Trucks, Planes & Automobiles 2015A

Last winter I began thinking about a road trip to Idaho to visit our son Drew and his family. Then when he told us they had decided to move back to Georgia, I knew time was running out to visit Idaho. So I volunteered to help with the move. That resulted in an epic road trip involving 1700 train miles, about 2600 truck miles, 1150 air miles, and 300 car miles for a grand total of about 5750 miles, through 14 states in 12 days.  (For comparison purposes, NY to LA and back is 5600 miles.) (more…)

Jerusalem & Bethlehem, TB&TS Tour Report #7

The Old Cityscape

The Old Cityscape
Our first stop on our first morning in Jerusalem was, where else, the Mount of Olives and the world-famous vista: the Old City walls, dating to the 16th century, with the Dome of the Rock (7th century) and Al Aksa mosque (8th century) in the foreground. (more…)