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Like Dad said in his post yesterday, it really makes you think about how folks did this before the highway was there. Which brings me to the topic of today's post: bad-ass oldsters who did this kind of thing in days gone by.
In 1898, The Omaha Daily Bee published a regular column called "In the Wheeling World." It's the original biking blog. An excerpt from one column that year:
Bronzed and weatherbeaten, but vigorous and bright-eyed, there arrived in New York last Saturday two cyclists who, with the possible exception of Thomas Stevens, have toured more of the world awheel than any other riders. These cyclists are Mr. and Mrs. H. Darwin McIlrath of Chicago, who leaving that city on April 10, 1895, have since then been almost continuously in the saddle, except during their voyage across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
The Thomas Stevens mentioned rode his bicycle around the world. It was a penny-farthing, which had to be carried for large chunks of the journey. The reason: no roads. Of course, there were no automobiles to contend with, either.
Dad, here's to inspiration from Thomas Stevens and Mr. and Mrs. Darwin McIlrath of Chicago. You're part of a long and glorious tradition of this kind of adventure, and the world awaits further news of your ride. May today's ride leave you bronzed and weatherbeaten, but vigorous and bright-eyed.
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