Seeing America on two wheels

Local cyclist Jim Hammond took the Friends of Black Butte Ranch (BBR) audience on a 90-minute color slide tour of his bike ride from Washington, D.C., to the Oregon coast at their meeting on Thursday, January 12.

His 90-day trek (May-July, 2005) started by dipping a wheel in the Potomac and then rolled through Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Yellowstone, Montana and Idaho.

He crossed Oregon, visiting the John Day Fossil Beds and finally hit the Pacific Ocean at Driftwood Shores — a 4,000-mile trek (with side trips) costing about $4,500.

He toured with Adventure Cycling (www.adventurecycling.com) and averaged about 60-70 miles per day.

“My top speed was 52 miles per hour (downhill),” he told his audience.

Hammond rode a sturdy Schwinn with a trailer. This carried his essential small tent, sleeping bag, other necessities and beer.

The 90-day trip included stays in hostels, campgrounds, motels, lodges, city parks and churches. Wonderful and surprising meals were encountered along the way, some free, some low cost, at private homes and churches.

“Don’t over-plan,” Hammond reminded his audience. “Things may change very quickly on such a trip.”

Hammond met several riders from foreign countries along the way, a wonderful way for foreign visitors to see the United States.

The cyclists kept in touch with family and friends along the way.

“We made Internet connections in libraries along the trek,” said Hammond.

During the meeting, Russ and Sharyn Fetrow (of BBR) described their plans for a cross-country bike ride later this year (May-June, 2006) from Los Angeles to Boston.

“We are making this trip an opportunity to raise money for Sisters Habitat for Humanity,” said Sharyn. “The money will be used for the construction of homes for the Madsen and Gooden families, the 36th and 37th Habitat homes in Sisters.”

Contact the Fetrows at 595-2844.

In other Friends of BBR news, leader Jean Nave announced the new Web site being planned by the Sisters Country Historical Society (SCHS). This group was spun off from the old BBR Historical Society. A grant of $2,500 was made through development funds for historical research by BBR. This money will be used in developing and maintaining the new Web site.