SpotWalla Map
As with previous waypoint surveys, a major goal of this year's survey is to coordinate with local hosting authorities to get more Wyman waypoint sign and memorial plaques mounted in their communities.
Waypoint Pictures
Scouting Reports, by Tim Masterson, Project Manager
Saturday, 5/20: Getting the Wyman Memorial plaque placed in Perrysburg is a complicated process. We have won approval to ground mount a plaque into the sidewalk in front of the historic building that was the circa 1903 Post Office, where Wyman stored his motorcycle the night of Thursday, June 25,1903.
After a couple stops along the way, I will end this year's Wyman trail survey at Albany. I want to work out the placement of the plaque and sign at the circa 1903 "Indian Motorcycle" shop Wyman used to work on his crippled motorcycle. I've decided to skip the three NYC waypoints this trip. Nothing has changed and I have no one to see when I get there. Weather looks good all the way to Albany once I get into New York.
Friday, 5/19: Today, I am visiting the Dixon Lincoln Highway exhibit to speak to the director about getting a Wyman Memorial plaque and Waypoint sign posted at the Interpretative Center. Then it's off to Goshen, Ligonier and stopping for the night in Perrysburg, OH. Each of these waypoints have Wyman Memorial plaque sponsors, so I'm keen to coordinate the details a their placement. More bad weather is forecast for today's riding.
Dixon Gelena Bridge |
Goshen test fit |
"Motorcycle Only" parking area.
Ligonier test fit |
Thursday, 5/18: The focus this day will be to secure hosting authority as several of the locations between Omaha and Chicago. Many of them have accepted Waypoint signs but haven't posted them yet. It's a common issue amoug community agencies. It's like dealing with "City Hall", it just takes time and effort. But with each visit we make progress here and some there. It's like chiseling away at a large stone to make it a monument. OK, enough of the metaphors.
Boone RR Museum |
I stopped for the night in Dixon, IL. I want to be at the Dixon Welcome Center to see the director of the Lincoln Highway Interpretative Center. The history of Wyman's journey through Iowa is one of him following the circa 1903 roads that became the Lincoln Highway.
Wednesday, 5/17: The goal today is to secure location hosting at the 602.5 Lovejoy Garage waypoint located in downtown Laramie and to talk with the person who controls the Visitor's Center at the top of Sherman Summit Rest Area. But first, I will stop by Fort Steele and Medicine Bow to survey the Waypoint signs and displays at those locations. As I am typing this report, sipping on a cup of hotel room coffee, the Weather Channel blares out "Winter storm warning for all of Wyoming. Current temperature in your area is 32f degrees with thunderstorms turning to snow in the afternoon." Hopefully, I will be well into Nebraska before any of the severe weather hits Wyoming. The weather radar looks clear all the way to Cheyenne and onto western Nebraska.
The weather gods smiled on my riding today. Seems I was in a good weather trough between two severe weather systems; one behind me in Wyoming and one in eastern Nebraska. At any rate I really enjoyed the great riding today. One of my most successful of this years scouting survey.
Major Success! The Laramie Area Visitor Center has accepted our offer to be the
Sherman Summit Visitor's Center |
Wyman rode these tracks |
Success! The City of Ogallala has joined the Project as the hosting authority for 607.4 Ogallala RON. The City Manager committed to mounting a Wyman Memorial plaque, with Ogallala specific narrative and Wyman poster inside the visitor's center with a Wyman Waypoint sign in front of the building.
I ended this day's waypoint scouting and decided to RON (remin over night) in Lexington, NE...just as Wyman did on Tuesday, June 9, 1903. My choices of food and lodging must be far better than what George had, back in the day!
Tusday, 5/16: There are three significant Wyman waypoints in Ogden UT. I'm working to get the Wyman memorial plaque and waypoint sign mounted at the location in downtown Ogden where he worked on his motorcycle at the L.H. Becraft bicycle shop. Today, the location is a vacant parking lot for a nice restaurant. Even with the delay to get a new tire in SLC I expect to get well into Wyoming before finishing for the day.
Success! The Depot Grill has joined the Project as the hosting authority for the
Ogden test fit |
The weather worsened as I headed east through Weber Canyon. Showers, gusty winds and temperatures in low 40s. Between Devil's Slide and well beyond Evanston I encounter bouts of sleet and pea sized hail. My riding gear was performing well battling the elements.
There are many Wyman waypoints along this stretch of I-80. I did not stop at most of
Point of Rocks Store |
Monday, 5/15: Today's goal is to meet with the Navada director of the Lincoln Highway Assocation to discuss enhancing the Wyman waypoints along the Lincoln Highway locations. Then more site visits along the Wyman trail. Most of the current and potential hosting authorities will b open for business today. I would like to get all the way to Ogden UT by day's end. I want to start fresh on Tuesday morning to secure the hosting location for 528,2 L.H. Becraft Bicycle Shop waypoint memorial sign and memorial plaque sponsored by the Motor-Assisted Bicycle organization.
Lovelock NV Depot |
I am making a side trip to Salt Lake City to get a new rear tire on Tuesday morning before heading to Ogden.
Success! The City of Carlin has joined the Project as the hosting authority for 524.6 Carlin RON and will post a Wyman Waypoint sign at a historically significant location along the RR tracks in Carlin. Location to be determined by the Carlin historian.
Sunday, 5/14: I am meeting Marti Wyman Schein, Project Research Director and her husband Jimmie at Schein & Schein, their historic map and document shop in San Francisco. We are meeting KNTV NBC News reporter Joe Rosato, who will be interviewing those gathered about the Wyman saga for a piece to be air locally. Schein & Schein was recently featured in a news piece done by Joe. He learned of Marti's great-grandfather George and was intrigued by the Wyman story.
After the interviews and video shooting I departed San Francisco for Reno, stopping as several of the Wyman waypoints along the way. I was able to meet with the owners of the Rocklin building which displays a waypoint sign. They were pleased to post the sign on the outside of their historic building. I left them with a Wyman Waypoint poster for display inside their business.
Since it was Mother's Day most of the hosting locations were closed. While stopping
Donner Pass snow shower |