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Thanks for your service gentlemen! October 14, 2008Leave a comment ;)
Everyday I continue to be amazed at the people I meet. Today it was Eddie and Buck! Two war veterans (Korea and Vietnam) that were sitting on a bench in front of a roadside store, just shooting the breeze. I walked up and Buck asks, "Are you a spaceman?" I guess my Endeavour t-shirt gave me away. I answered in the affirmative and the conversation just took off. Talk about two fun guys to talk to. They had some great stories and smiles from ear to ear. You guys were a pleasure to talk with and I thank you both for your service to our country. Buck was a para-trooper in the Airborne and I asked him why he would jump out of a perfectly good airplane. I told him a friend once told me that if they made perfectly good airplanes, they wouldn't have invented parachutes. He agreed! Joe and I left Hot Springs under a cool drizzle with a total overcast. This was the earliest start I have had the entire trip. We jumped out of the hotel and hit the road around 7:30 am. We followed US 270 east out of Hot Springs and encountered a series of hills pretty much out past Malverne, AR. From there the road settled out with a great shoulder and the traffic was not too bad. Some logging trucks to contend with, but nothing as bad as I experienced in the northwest. Joe was great fun to have along. We were hootin' and hollerin' most of the way. I was having to contend with his impression of Willy Nelson and "On the Road Again" as well as many other dated songs from a bygone era. The total mileage came out to just over 80 miles and he did a great job. Ask him about the dogs that were chasing us this afternoon. I'll let him tell the story on the blog. It will be much funnier than I can tell it. Joe, the floor (or ditch) is all yours... Lots of interesting stuff on the road today. A large spider web next to a street sign, Department of the Army flag, multi-colored squash and tiny scarecrow (At the Sonic Drive In), and an "Anythang Wanted" sign at a local store. Its funny how this stuff just leaps out and gets my attention. We rolled into Pine Bluff and wandered around the west side of the city trying to make sense of my GPS directions (still need to talk to those Garmin folks). After weaving through a somewhat questionable neighborhood we popped back out on the main highway and found our way toward the home of Larry and Betty Greene, parents of my neighbor Patty Woodbridge. After a fabulous dinner, Joe headed back to Little Rock with his brother Bart and I settled in for the evening. I will head to Colorado tomorrow and then on to Phoenix to attend the National Congress of American Indians. I will plan on returning to the bike by next Wednesday. From here I will pedal to Philadelphia, MS and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Their middle school is a NASA Explorer School. From there I will head directly east across Alabama to speak at a school in Tuskegee, AL before pointing myself across the southwest corner of Georgia and in to Florida and the last leg of my journey. Since I am still having some issues with my GPS and it's inability to give adequate directions (not the fault of the GPS, just the software that provides navigation), here are some questions about GPS technical stuff (that's a technical term ;o). How many GPS satellites are in the current GPS constellation? Are there any spares floating around up there? At what altitude are the satellites orbiting the earth? How many GPS satellites do you need to determine a GPS position (not to include elevation). Can you use GPS to determine the attitude of an aircraft or the International Space Station? More Images: ;)
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16 Comments
Oct 22, 2008 1:24 pm - Bill K. wrote : Glad all continues to go well John - turned cold here today, lots of wind, ect... Look forward to seeing you someday soon - live the dream my friend!! Bill K
Oct 22, 2008 10:12 am - Vickie Broach wrote : Thank you for taking the time to have pictures made with my K-3 class. It was very exciting. Thank You Ms. Vickie Ridgway Christian School Pine Bluff, AR.
Oct 22, 2008 9:43 am - Chulita Hughes wrote : Hey John, Remember me? Probably not. But I am one of Joe's aunts from Marianna. I met you in Florida at Joe retirement ceremony. I don't know why or how I happened upon your web page this morning. I immediately called Joe and he said you were on your way to Dumas and were going to have lunch with him!! I will keep track of your journey and I would love to do what you are doing. But I'm afrain my mind is willing but my body is not. Sounds like a great adventure!! GOOD LUCK!
Oct 20, 2008 9:15 am - Don Goodin wrote : Hi John, I just found out about your ride from Gebby. You must be having a great time. I wish I could be there riding with you. I guess you did not want to make a pass by Anchorage on the way to Florida. I wish you the best of luck. I am sitting here in a hotel room in China on a layover right now and am very envious. I hope all is well and enjoy the ride. Take Care and I hope to hear from you soon. Don
Oct 18, 2008 5:10 pm - Lucy wrote : Never known anyone like you John.. you're not afraid to try anything. What an adventure you're on! Keep a goin'..!! Lucy
Oct 18, 2008 11:34 am - Betty & Kip Smith wrote : Chukma John, As you enter our homelands, watch for mounds. Make time to walk a bit on the Natchez Trace, an ancient trail used by the Chickasaw, Choctaw and Natchez people as a trade route. Sit beneath the canopy of trees and imagine having a conversation with our ancestors about your accomplishments! It is so peaceful, you may feel our ancestors pulling at you to stay. You will not want to leave! May the wind be at your back and the sunshine on your shoulders for the rest of your journey! Betty and Kip
Oct 18, 2008 8:07 am - Mike Lamberth wrote : Hey, I finally got around to checking out your web site, look's like you've covered some ground since I talked to you a couple of weeks back. Give us a call next time you come out this way to visit your folks.
Oct 17, 2008 8:24 pm - Seth Krieger wrote : John - On a recent tour from Little Rock to Gainesville, FL, my Garmin was coming up with the weirdest routes imaginable until I turned off the "avoid highways" option. As soon as I did that, it started routing correctly. On my unit Legend HCx this option is under Setup Routing Follow Road Options. If you have "Highways" checked there, uncheck it and see if that fixes the problem. I've enjoyed reading your blog. Shortly you'll be going through many of the places we visited on our trip. I look forward to seeing them again through your eyes!
Oct 17, 2008 4:24 pm - Bill Ward wrote : John, reading about your adventures has been delightful. Youve got a lot of proud family cheering you on and enjoying the vicarious ride. Charlotte and I keep you in our prayers daily. Onward.
Oct 17, 2008 12:23 pm - Gary Kilgo wrote : John seems you are always keeping busy. Good luck on the rest of your ride. Gary Kilgo
Oct 17, 2008 7:59 am - sarah wrote : oh, i almost fogot i go to fox meadow middle school
Oct 17, 2008 7:54 am - sarah wrote : X3 hi mr.Herrington. i am sarah, won of Mr. Allners students. I would love it if you came back some time.I think it was really cool how we had an astronaut at our school. like i said earlier, i had a lot of fun and i would apreciate if you would come back some time, or just to mr.allners 6th period class i am sorry i havent posted before, it is just that i kept forgetting X3 so, i would love it you came back. TTFN ta ta for now
Oct 15, 2008 3:57 pm - Dave Atala wrote : John, Dump the GPS, take Patty. Say hi to Joe for me...
Oct 15, 2008 9:49 am - Joe Oswald wrote : John...truly, the ride yesterday was fantastic and the weather could not have been better. Yes, I did wind up upside down in the ditch with my feet still firmly attached to my pedals. I only remember hearing a screech...thought it was your tires locked up...only to figure out it was a noise you make when you are startled. I never saw the three dogs you claimed you were stopping for. My sincere apologies for plowing into the back of you and your bike and breaking your flag. My reflexes were probably partially to blame as we were near the end of our 80 miles and I was a bit on the fatigued side. No one was hurt and both our bikes were fine. Another story to talk about over the years!!! Take care John. I enjoyed your company and I am proud to call you my friend. Joe
Oct 14, 2008 8:52 pm - Patty W. wrote : Questionable neighborhood? Not in Pine Bluff! I gave you specific directions that would keep you out of trouble! Glad you made it to my folks ok! Be sure to tell them HI for me! Add a comment: |
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Hi John, Just want let you know your really doing a stellar job out there. My name is Rick Sibbitts and I worked on alot of the Shuttle windows at the Corning, Canton NY plant. I am also a good friend of Joe Lee. Did you visit the Canton Plant moons ago? The name sounds familiar. Keep up the good work !!