President Eisenhower’s resting place

This is where President Eisenhower grew up

President Eisenhower

Lunch at the Hitching Post in Abilene

Hi everyone,

Today is our long- awaited rest day in the small town of Abilene Kansas. A number of our group have commented that the folks here is Abilene are really nice, many offer to help, take time out of their day to chat, or offer to drive us anywhere in town. I think this is really small town America and there is a different pace and a different value system that places focus on others above self. Larry called a wrong number twice and a farmer called him back and asked “How can I help you?”. He had had a very bad dy in the fields with mechanical issues but took time to call Larry back (wrong number) and ask him about our cross country ride. I think this is present across a lit of our country but we often don’t take tim ego notice.

As usual on rest days, we all spent an hour or so cleaning our bikes. Most of us wound up taking the shuttle to see the Eisenhower Presidential Home and library. Being that Ike was a war hero and president, I thought it fitting in riding fro the Wounded Warrior Project that his is the first Presidential Library that I have seen. I cam away very impressed with his unassuming leadership style and his sense of duty. Ike represented the values of small town America and was doer and not self-promoting. He gave all credit to those in his command and took responsibility for the problems that resulted. A rising tide lifts all ships and President Eisenhower was a rising tide. He probably was the man for his times as he presided over a great peace time expansion.

Part of the library was dedicated to events of the time and a large part of the exhibit was about Elvis Presley in 1956 at the beginning of meteoric rise. A lot of photos and nostalgia are in the exhibit. The Presidential library is well worth seeing as well as Ike’s childhood home. Abilene would be a cool place to spend a few days . The citizens are proud of their heritage and Abilene played an important role in our country’s development particularly in the opening of the West. A lot of mansions in town, a Greyhound (dog) museum, a telephony museum and an old west feel.

I would be remiss if I did not comment on the WW II part of the Eisenhower Presidential Library. Much of the dedication goes to the enlisted men and women of that war. There was a little video of Ike and he was addressing a crowd in Europe and I don’t remember the exact words, but he thanked each nd every one of them who feed or housed the troops during the war. The mre I see of this country, the more I learn of men like Hitler and Stalin, the more that I know I owe to those who preserved our way of life and our future prosperity. Thank You for what you have done – a debt that I can never repay.

Tonight, we will dine at the Kirby House and it was an old mansion in town.

Tomorrow, we are back on the road with our 4th century (100 plus miles) ride. Our last-to-go group has been dwindling and it seems that it may only be Mike F, Rich and I plus possibly one or two of the crew (who ride part of the course). Mike F had a very sever shoulder injury years back and it has flared up recently. He is the best rider on the tour and has consistently pulled a few of us along. I certainly hope that he feels ok. John F seems to be healing and said that he is a bt better every day.

Tailwinds

Chuck