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I will be paying tribute to George by riding the Grand Tour - "Points Along the Way" starting in San Francisco on Memorial Day, May 25th. I want to be among the first in the Iron Butt Association to gain certification of the George A. Wyman Memorial Challenge - Grand Tour Gold inaugural event. By starting on May 25, the Grand Tour also qualifies for the IBA Memorial Day Ride celebration. What fun!
Trip Blog (newest to oldest)
Epilog: Not only did I have a great ride doing The George A. Wyman Memorial Grand Tour - Gold, I managed to speak to or leave a Wyman flyer at over 140 stops along the way. I got many immediate hosting commitments and many invitations to call back to talk more. This was a very productive and fun hard riding adventure.
Thu Jun 4: On to Albany and south to the Big Apple. I stopped at 657 Madison, Albany where Wyman did the repairs to his motorcycle at the Anderson Agency. Agency was the term in circa 1900 for "Dealership". Today the building is still a going concern but no longer a vintage motorcycle repair shop. It's the "Little Moon" gift shop. The owner was delighted to learn his shop had such a distinguished history. He would love to host a Memorial Plaque and Waypoint Sign.
Got to NYC mid day and quickly scored the last four stops of the Grand Tour. Got my finishing dated business receipt to stop the clock and sought out one of New York's Finest to witness my IBA form.
Wed Jun 3: On to New York.... The weather has been great. Bright sunny skies and cool temperatures. Another day of great riding and good progress. Got well into New York before stopping for the night. I'm positioned so that I can arrive in metro New York City by between 12:00 and 1:00 to finish up before the evening rush hour.
Tue Jun2: Riding to Milwaukee to visit the Harley-Davidson Museum before I start Leg 4 of the Grand Tour. I want see what the HD Museum has in the way of a Wyman display. I have called several times to find out but kept getting trapped in a loop of uncertainty. Leaving Milwaukee, I'll head to Chicago then on to New York City. Watch for the stops, and check out the pictures.
The ride to the Harley-Davidson Museum took half the day. I don't think we will continue to have the HD Museum on the Grand Tour. They expressed no interest in anything Wyman. Seems reasonable since they are in the business of promoting Harley-Davidson.
Leaving Chicago around noon I managed to get all the way to 627.1 Freemont OH by dark. Tomorrow I'll finish out Ohio and head to New York. I'm going to stop in Erie PA to identify a great place for a Wyman Waypoint Sign. George didn't mention stopping at any place in particular but did mention riding the Pennsylvania Slot. Erie is smack dab in the middle of the slot.
Mon Jun 1: On to Chicago and hopefully beyond. First stop is 614.1 Ogden and the scouting mission for the "Blacksmith Shop". I have been following the "Lincoln Highway" almost the entire trip. You know you are following George's route when you can see the railroad tracks and the Lincoln Highway signs.
Sun May 31: Have to drop off a Waypoint Sign invitation flier at the Ogallala City Hall before heading east. First stop will be 608.1 Paxton Depot where George took refuge from a thunderstorm around noon. I've already established an email thread with the owner of the build and she is very enthusiastic about putting up a Waypoint sign. Maybe a plaque. The Depot is being renovated to house a coffee shop and antique store.
Making good progress. Met with the Mayor of 610.2 Chapman to discuss a Wyman Waypoint Sign and maybe a plaque. He was very excited to learn of George's adventure though his town. Hopefully, we can learn more of George's lunch stop in Chapman. The Mayor expressed interest in obtaining several Waypoint Signs for his community.
Sat May 30: Back on the Grand Tour bright and early. I'm managed to get through all of Wyoming, Colorado and well into Nebraska. Paid several visits to potential Host organizations. Got a real good reception at the Cheyenne UPRR Depot Museum. George checked his motorcycle at the Express Office before searching for a hotel room. Another near sure Host is at the Lovejoy Garage building in Laramie. I'm getting pretty good at this traveling salesman pitch at the points along the Grand Tour.
Fri May 29: Ogden to Omaha. I'm only going as far as Evanston today. I am participating in the public unveiling of a Wyman Memorial Plaque on the exterior of the newly restored Evanston Depot. Can't say how much of a crowd will be on hand for the ceremony but it's still an honor representing the Project at this most excellent of Wyman points along the way.
The dedication ceremony of the Wyman Memorial Plaque at the Evanston Depot happens at 5:00 PM. Video to follow!
Departed after the Evanston Depot Plaque ceremony to get in some of the points along the way east. Manage to get as far as Rock Springs where I spent the night.
Wed May 27: Into Utah and round the top of the Great Salt Lake to Ogden. Today was very productive. Spent a couple of hours in Wells with the City Manager and President of the Chamber of Commerce. Wells is very enthused about the Project and ready to mount a Wyman Waypoint Sign and Plaque. In this case it will be at the Well Visitor Center just a block form famous Front Street.
It was amazing riding around the top of the Great Salt Lake. Even today, on a modern motorcycle riding over modern roads the sense of isolation is very evident. I can't imagine what George was thinking as he rode his 1903 "California" in this remote part of the country. I rode the dirt road from the highway to the 526.2 Tacoma Station. All that is left are some building foundations and a sign post. But, nonetheless, it was inspiring to cross over the terrain as George.
Even though George did not mention stopping at the Golden Spike site Promontory Point he still followed along the Transcontinental Railroad much of the way from 526.3 Terrace RON to 527.1 Zenda RON. So, I stopped at the National Park Center visitor center gave the Park Rangers and the supervisor my Wyman pitch. They had never heard of Wyman or his epic journey...surprise! They agreed to see about mounting a Waypoint Sign in the visitor center and even some Wyman brochures to be placed in the "Rack Card Flyer" display.
In Ogden I paid a visit to the Barrel House 1cc establishment at the site of 528.2 LH Becraft Bicycle Shop. The spot where the bicycle shop stood is the parking lot of the Barrel House 1cc pub. The manager of the pub is on board with putting up a Plaque and Waypoint Sign. Leaving there I did the last stop of Leg 2 at the newly discovered location of where George spent the night with S.C. Higgins. It's now a city park with no trace of a house. I'm taking Thursday off the Grand Tour trail and staying in Salt Lake City area before starting Leg 3 on Friday morning.
Tue May 26: Start of Leg 2 and on to Ogden. I plan on being in Ogden by late Wednesday or early Thursday. So, I will be taking advantage of to time to see the sights and visit interested host locations for the Project plaques and signs. Watch for the picture imbedded in the SPOT markers on the map above. Click on the camera icon and the picture for that location is at the bottom of the data list.
Another productive day of riding the Grand Tour. I got good follow up contacts at several potential hosting locations. I even got tacit approval to mount a Wyman Waypoint sign at Palisade, after talking with a local there. I'll have to check into that one. Also, as I am riding the Grand Tour I am validating the GPS waypoint locations. Most of them are dead on but I'm going to move the 522.3 Brown's location slightly east. It will still be in the vicinity of the original two structure siding location, just a little more convenient for a rider.
I stopped at 525.1 Wells RON to Remain Over Night, as did George. I want to visit City Hall first thing in the morning to give them a good Wyman Waypoint Sign pitch.
Memorial Day, May25: I'm off on the Grand Tour. Beginning at 516.1 Lotta's Fountain after I get a starting Dated Business Receipt, DBR. Watch for the pictures imbedded in the map above.
Leg 1 complete! 20 Wyman points along a 275 mile route. Not many miles but they interesting navigational challenges. I visited several historical society or local tourist information centers and got some great leads for follow up. It was a great ride today and I found myself going into rally mode hitting one location after another. At the 518.1 American Bridge spot I had to walk a half mile to get the picture and a half mile back. The rest of the seemed to go smoother after I got out of the big cities of San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento.
The Plan
- Leg 1 - San Francisco to Reno
- Leg 2 - Reno to Ogden
- Leg 3 - Ogden to Omaha
- Leg 4 - Omaha to Chicago
- Leg 5 - Chicago to New York City
On Friday, May 29, I will be in Evanston, WY, representing the Project at the public unveiling of a Wyman Memorial Plaque being mounted on the side of the historic and completely restored Evanston UPRR Depot. George stayed at the "Iron Butt Motel" there in the wee hours of May 30th. He couldn't find a room, or even a cozy chair, anywhere in town that night owing to the crowds visiting to see President Theodor Roosevelt and his party who rode through town on horse back. Everyone is cordially invited to attend the ceremonies. If you can't ride to Evanston to join in the fun, follow along via the map above as I will be posting picture at most all the points along the way. Click on the camera icon, on the map, to view the picture where available.
Just a little more convenient for a rider.
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