Bicycle tourists may think of themselves as an independent lot, but they often must rely on the kindness of strangers.
The Adventure Cycling Association realizes this, and annually awards people or groups that enrich the trips made by cyclo-tourists.
This year's winners include a couple in Kentucky church, a GPS expert in Vermont, a bicycle shop in Michigan and a tourism group in Ohio. They were chosen from among nominations made during the past few months by members. And the envelope please:
Bob and Violet Hardison and the First Baptist Church of Sebree, Kentucky — June Curry Trail Angel Award;
Lorain County Heritage in Lorain County, Ohio — Pacesetter Award;
Continental Bike Shop in Hazel Park, Michigan — Sam Braxton Bike Shop Award; and,
Fred Hiltz of Shelburne, Vermont — Volunteer of the Year Award.
The Hardisons provide a welcome respite along the TransAmerica Trail at the First Baptist Church where Bob is the pastor. Bicyclists are invited to use the spacious youth center, where showers, washer/dryer, fridge, mattresses and cooking facilities are available. It sounds like the kitchen is little-used by travelers, however, as the Violet always prepares a sumptuous feast for lunch or dinner.
Bicycle travelers who have bicycled through Sebree know that the First Baptist Church easily trumps the alternative, the Sebree City Park. I have vivid memories camping there in 1984, remembering the stopped-up commode and the outdoor water spigot that doubled as shower. Also, good memories of the guys cooking the church barbecue.
You won't escape the regular freight trains, however, as the line that runs through the City Park also passed the church, according to reports.
You can read more about visits to the First Baptist Church by Brian and Jeanne Hanson and Julie Ryan at Crazy Guy on a Bike. The accommodations also are described in Training Wheels Not Included, where I found the above photo of the facilities.
If you're not directed to the church by someone in town, the address is 12100 State Route 132 E, Sebree.
Lorain County Heritage works with the local visitors bureau to provide “sustainable and responsible” tourism in that Ohio county. Adventure Cycling says the group has mapped more than 100 miles of scenic, low-traffic bicycle routes that incorporate the Underground Railroad for all levels of bicycling.
You can find the fruits of their labors at Visit Lorain County.
Continental Bike Shop was honored for the level of service they provide cyclo-tourists in the Detroit area. Not only do they help customers build the perfect touring bike, but they can make road or house calls in their van.
Since 2002, Fred Hiltz has spent an estimated 800 hours helping Adventure Cycling Association add GPS waypoints to it maps. He created a way to organize the distribute the data, and wrote up a manual to provide continuity. ACA cartographer Jenny Milyko says she relies on him for an “outside opinion from a tech savvy, experienced cyclist….”
Congratulations to all the winners and nominees. See Adventure Cycling Association for details on its 2008 Bicycle Travel Award winners.
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