January 2022

Richard Lapp, owner of Bicycle Adventure, took a vacation to start off the new year. His trip was to go down south and ride and make his way to Virginia to see his youngest son. Before leaving there was a tornado in Kentucky needing volunteers to help clean up. With changes being made to his trip from the very beginning he set out for his month long adventure.

Stop #1 . . .

A change in plans was made to Richard's trip over the first week due to the disaster a tornado left in Kentucky. The first week of January Richard spent in Kentucky cleaning up the damage and debris that was left behind. When sharing pictures he summed it all up, "Damage is unreal and talking to people is rewarding. Seems to have been another tornado on New Years, damage and 2 blocks away all is good. The storm lasted 1.5 minutes. We have built sheds and moved trees." Working hard and talking to people with the encouragement that God will use this all for good is everything Richard was hoping would come out of this experience.

January 3, 2022

Close up of buildings torn apart and only parts still standing

field full of branches and building debris

One building torn to pieces and part of a building still standing behind

Rubble everywhere

Big pile of branches being loaded into a truck

Building a shed

Stop #2

Ark Encounter - Kentucky

This replica of the Ark is built by the dimensions given in the Bible. Some statues of animals are along the way to show a little of what it would have been like to have 2 of every animal coming to get on the Ark.

2 Lion figures outside the ark

2 Giraffe figures headed towards the ark

Ark Replica

2 Kangaroo figures outside the ark

2 Elephant figures outside the ark

Stop #3

Next up on the trip was a stop at Shelby Farms Green Line in Tennessee. Riding from here, the East end of Memphis, 18 miles west he ended in Overton Park.

January 8, 2022

Shelby Farms Park Sign

Richards bike in front of sign

Richard's bike in front of Greenline sign

Stop #4

The Big River Trail has a 1.2 mile long bridge over the Mississippi River, but it was locked up so he was unable to go across. This bridge seems to be the longest bridge that trains, people and bicycle can all go across. While he wasn't able to use this bridge, what a beautiful sight to see.

January 9, 2022

Big River Trail Sign and Map

Railroad bridge and people bridge over Mississippi

Railroad bridge and people bridge over Mississippi a little different angle

Two bridges before enter the Mississippi River

Stop #5

"Sunday I went to church and then road the Vicksburg military battle site 20 miles of bunches of hills. They had a museum ship which sank in battle. They rose it up and made iron clad barge." - Richard Lapp

January 10, 2022

Stop #6 pt 1

New Orleans

While riding along the Mississippi River there was LOTS of water and the wind was blowing in both direction which was pretty awesome. Lots of joggers and bikers were to be seen as well

January 11, 2022

Stop #6 pt 2

New Orleans

"Afternoon spent in French quarters downtown New Orleans. Lots of history, 300 years in existence. First city in 1718! Learned why pirates wear patches. It is so when they get into battle and have to go into other ship and it is dark, they switch the patch to the other eye and that eye is ready for dark fighting."

January 11, 2022

Stop #7

Fort Morgan, Alabama

There are indeed two places named Fort Morgan! On the very southern tip of Alabama a beautiful Fort Morgan can be found.

Stop #8

Davenport, IO: Car Show

Stop #9

Davenport, IO: Locks on Mississippi

Stop #10

Iowa things:
Johnson County - Worlds largest wooden nickel

Audubon, IO - Albert the Bull, now that's a lot of bull.

Wooden nickel with a buffalo in center in Johnson County, Iowa

Albert the Bull statue

Stop #10 cont.

Kinze manufacturing was started with a loan of $3,600.00 from which was able to build a worldwide farm equipment network.

Kinze sign

Tower of grain carts

Stop #11

Up next us John Wayne's birthplace in Winterset, IO.

John Wayne Monument out side museum

Figure of John Wayne inside museum

John Wayne birth place

Stop #12

Bridges of Madison County, Wintetset, IO.

Stop #13

One of the last stops saves on flushes . . . National Homestead National Park. This was the first homestead given out.

Inside look of homestead: Bed with thin mattress, small wood burning stove with a small shelf with some dishes and a clock

Inside look of homestead: Bed with thin mattress, small wood burning stove with a small shelf with some dishes and a clock with a view of the table with tin dishes

Stall door with a fact "Did you know ...although now outhouses might seem nostalgic, they can be filled with flies and spread disease. Aren't you glad restrooms today are cleaner and more sanitary? They smell better too! Homestead National Historic Park uses only non toxic cleaners to keep these restrooms clean. What are you doing to promote "green" cleaning?"

House on homestead

Wooden box seat used as a toilet in the outhouse

Outhouse

Stop #14

The Pony Express Station in Gothenburg, Ne

From 1860-1861 this building was used in the pony express, prior to this it was used as a fur trading post. Leaving April 3, 1860, John Fry was the first pony rider. The pony Express only lasted a year and a half, April 3, 1860 - October 24th, 1861.

Metal cutout of a pony with a rider for the express

Building for pony express

Stop #14 cont.

School in Beatrice, Ne in homestead area

little brick school house