That is a wild day! Trials and tribulations make for great reading, but not so great to experience them.

I wonder if the White Bird Motel has a new owner? Although I presumed Barb had owned it a long time. She walks with a walker and had her daughter and another woman cleaning the rooms. They are now totally updated with brand new bathrooms, and laminate flooring. WiFi reaches the rooms now. Hurray! It’s still cash only $85. I think this is our cheapest room of the trip. It’s a good value.

The grocery is now closed. No hardware store. The bar is just a bar, and the restaurant across the street is now named Red’s. We ate there twice and was happy to see it.

The years can be tough on small towns.

I had three dogs come out there! I bet they are different dogs than lived there when you did this ride nine years ago. One was a Great Dane that was taller than me on my recumbent! Happily for me, they did follow directions when I yelled “go home”. Except the Great Dane, he came
On over and ducked under my arm to be petted. Jacinto saw only the boxer, but it didn’t come out of the yard.

Wow - it was 9 years ago, but that's not so long - I wonder what's happened to the deer? Too many people? Warming climate? Something must be changing so that they don't like the habitat as much now - or maybe they have been thinned out by over-hunting?

I think you're right!

Those look like elk. See their rear ends?

I haven't seen a single deer or antelope. Jacinto hasn't either. Much less so many deer as to bore people.

I think that sign was missing yesterday - like the pass sign! I definitely remember the intersection.

Thanks Jeff. Mystery solved! I noticed the Amish community between Marion and the Ohio River on my 2022 Great Rivers South tour, so that seems logical. I had no idea they hired people to drive them places -seems weird that the "rules" allow that. I read that your bike was headed to CA, looking forward to following your next adventure.

I believe this is the place, between Sebree and Dixon, that I ride past frequently. I think it's an Amish church and schoolhouse.

I took a photo of it yesterday (Sunday, June 2):

https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/2024tbd/first-time-on-the-singlespeed-in-several-months/#53616_xo0mrkytoa873s313jysdgak0du

Note all of the nearly-identical black vehicles in the parking lot. I believe these are driven by non-Amish locals that the Amish hire to drive them everywhere.

I used Soma C-line 38mm tires on the first half - they are a supple tire that Randonneur types might use, lightweight and at 38mm they were very comfortable - but you get uncomfortable pretty quickly once you start having flats and changing tires!

What tire did you use for the first part of the ride? What are you using now? I've been a long time Marathon Racer fan, but my new bike has 700 wheels, and came with Continental Duraskin tires (Gatorskins with sidewall protection). I had heard of these previously as a tandem couple I know who rode Paris-Brest-Paris said that is the tire of favor for the randoneering crowd. I do feel they have a harsh ride in comparison with the Racers, but do like the idea of better puncture resistance. IDK, it's possible to debate tires forever!

Hello old friend. Enjoyed reading about your adventure and learning a little about what you have done for the last 50 years since I last saw you

The Jenkins Bicycle Rest Stop is still there - I rode past it three weeks ago: https://www.strava.com/activities/8468199767

It's easy to imagine that the occupants would be snowed in pretty frequently, and for considerable stretches of time. Self-sufficiency and self-reliance are the watchwords of the rural West, along with "help thy neighbor".

Forgot to mention earlier - I did a forum post that is a summary of the Transam, lots of stats and other info that may be useful to you; https://www.cycleblaze.com/forum/255/