(Click the title to read Wyman's account of this leg of his journey)
The journey was starting to take its toll on both his 1902
California motor bicycle and Wyman himself. He had reason to feel optimistic
having crossed the vast western states.
He felt the roads and services were going to be more readily available
the farther east he travelled. Before
departing Omaha, after putting his motorcycle back into riding shape, he went
to the UPRR Express Office to ship his auxiliary fuel tank, many of his spares
and tools on to Chicago. It was around
three in the afternoon when he crossed the Missouri River into Iowa. It was June 12, 27 days after leaving San
Francisco.
Wyman’s expectations of riding over better roads soon
collided with the reality of circa 1903 Iowa.
The spring rains would make riding difficult. Local flooding would make some roads
impassable forcing Wyman to again take to the tracks. He had learned to select roads that closely
followed the railroad tracks going in his direction. This strategy would prove beneficial time and
time again. But, the constant pounding
the motorcycle was taking while riding the railroad beds would create problems
for Wyman more and more as he went along.
During this leg Wyman would experience many mechanical problems. He was a skilled mechanic and was able to
keep his motorcycle running using the limited parts he carried with him and
items he could obtain along the way. A breakdown
near Chicago would prove catastrophic and send Wyman into despair.
During
the research into the Wyman waypoints many new facts not previously published,
have come to light. Wyman would cite people,
places, and sometimes specific addresses, where he would seek services. Many of these were bicycle repair shops,
machine shops or automobile “agencies” where he would seek a place to repair
his motorcycle. One such place was what
he quoted as “a bicycle store on Second Avenue” in Cedar Rapids. We researched the Cedar Rapids Iowa circa
1900 business directory and discovered the bicycle shop on Second Avenue was
the Hall Bicycle Company, established in 1898 by Edward Hall, at 108 Second Ave,
Cedar Rapids. It is still in business today, moved up the street a couple of
blocks, and remains the Hall Bicycle Company.
The current owner is the grandson of the man who bought out Ed Hall in
the 1920s. The Hall Bicycle Company was
proud to mount a George A. Wyman Memorial plaque on the outside of their
building. Be sure to stop by and tell
owner, Karl Moscrip, you are riding the Wyman Memorial Grand Tour.
LEG 4 -- Through The Valleys Of The Two Great Rivers To Chicago
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|||||
RON POINT
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WAYPOINT
|
MILES
|
MOVING TIME
|
DWELL TIME
|
TOTAL TIME
|
612.3 Council Bluffs RON
|
3
|
6.5
|
0:17
|
0:30
|
0:47
|
613.3 Denison RON
|
3
|
67.2
|
1:17
|
0:30
|
1:47
|
614.1 Ogden RON
|
1
|
72.4
|
1:19
|
0:10
|
1:29
|
615.3 Marshalltown RON
|
3
|
68.2
|
1:24
|
0:30
|
1:54
|
616.3 Hall Bicycle Shop - 1903 RON
|
4
|
75.9
|
1:39
|
0:40
|
2:19
|
617.1 Clinton RON
|
1
|
84.1
|
1:30
|
0:10
|
1:40
|
618.6 Naperville RON
|
7
|
133.7
|
3:25
|
1:10
|
4:35
|
619.2 Chicago RON
|
2
|
35.8
|
1:29
|
0:20
|
1:49
|
LEG 4 TOTALS
|
24
|
543.9
|
12:20
|
4:00
|
16:20
|
