When Ty Robinson paused in Hannibal, MO, to visit the hometown of Mark Twain on his cross-country bicycle tour, little did he realize how closely his visit would resemble an episode in “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.”
While Robinson, a 29-year-old resident of North Bend, WA, took a nap in a Hannibal park last Tuesday morning, someone stole his Fuji touring bicycle and all his gear. A newspaper article on Thursday drew attention to his plight and the community came to his support.
Now Robinson has been reunited with his treasured bicycle. Local resident Billy Kemph found the bicycle stowed away in the caves just outside of town.
Injun Joe's hideout
It's eerily similar to the closing chapters of Tom Sawyer, in which Tom and Huck Finn find Injun Joe's treasure hidden away in McDougal's Cave. You'll remember that's after Tom and Becky Thatcher become lost in the cave during a school picnic.
Apparently, Hannibal's criminals have been using caves in the region to hide their stolen booty since Samuel Clemens grew up there more than 150 years ago.
This cave, described in the Hannibal Courier-Post as being near the Humane Center, probably isn't the one featured in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, however. That Mark Twain Cave Complex is now a tourist attraction with admissions charged.
[Read more about McDougal's Cave.]
Community support
Among those coming to Robinson's aid has been the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation. Executive director Brent Hugh has launched a fund-raising site, which will remain open through Tuesday. He said:
“The bike may need some work but it looks like it's basically ridable. Not sure yet exactly what gear may still be missing, but regardless Ty will have some gear replacement expense and some bike repair expense.”
If you care to make a donation, visit MoBikeFed's Help Ty Robinson donation page. Also, a fund-raiser bike ride for Robinson was scheduled today in Hannibal, and many local residents and businesses have offered there assistance.
Let's hope all goes well and Ty can safely continue on his bicycle travels to Virginia Beach, VA.
Read more at:
“Things improving for bike traveler marooned in Missouri by bike theft,” Sept. 4
“Bike traveler from Washington state loses bicycle, gear on cross-country trek,” Sept. 3
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