Hi Classmates: Here are three PWS reports FYI! The first and last relayed through Larry Struble. The second one was written by Larry Palmer and covers the arrival at the Strubles. The two Larry's were room mates in B-2 and Larry Palmer reminds us that Larry Struble suffered a spinal cord injury in a jeep accident on 13 January 1963 near UiJongbu, Korea. I received a call from Bill Rowe tonight inviting me to join him and the PWS Tuesday night at his home in Carlisle, PA. I don't think I can make it, but look forward to the daily report via Larry Struble. JIM Walsh Subj: PWS Date: 5/16/99 6:41:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: LAStruble@webtv.net (Lawrence Struble) To: TheColJim@aol.com Jim, Thursday was Zoar to Warren and a long awaited rest day at the Strubles. Not being able to foresee the future, it is hard to tell if the morning had been an omen of the coming events or not. The weather outside was very dark cloud cover but no precipitation falling. We embarked on a more level route heading for Salem and the weather was ominous. Arriving in Salem, an interesting discovery of a restaurant located on a golf course attracted our attention and we chose that as the place to obtain our lunch. The service was good, the food delicious and a lot of home prepared items on the menu. An enjoyable meal was had by all and we exited to start what proved to be one of the most unexpected series of events of the trip. A heavy rain had begun to fall as we sat unaware. The normal order of riding has the two lead riders free to go at their own pace and not worry about the two followers. Third man in line is responsible for keeping in contact with the fourth in order to offer any assistance should any complications arise. Hence, Dusty and Allan were on their way to Warren and Weber and Palmer were three and four. It was a ten mile stretch from Salem to Lordstown and Weber was able to have three flats which left him and Palmer approximately one hour behind. To change the flats without becoming totally soaked, cover had to be found which added to the length of time required to making the repairs. A phone call to Struble informing him of the location in Lordstown proved to be a very significant act. Allan and Dusty had arrived in Warren and gotten to the Champion Township area just north of town where the Struble residence is located. The two of them had forgotten the exact name of the street on which Struble lives and were looking for Richmond instead of Raymond. They pulled into Stewart to ask for help when a news van from WFMJ TV21 came upon them and asked if they were the bikers from West Point. Upon answering affirmatively, they were informed that they were approximately two miles from the turn into Raymond. The television crew, which had been alerted by Struble, then escorted them to the intersection to turn on to Raymond. They decided to wait at that point for Palmer and Weber as they were not in sight. Now enters the phone call made to inform Struble of the delays caused by the flat tires. Pauline {Struble's wife} had gotten a call from the TV crew informing the Strubles of their location which was about 1/2 mile up the street from their house so she had left to go up and get personal videos of the arrival. Struble was unable to answer the phone but did hear the message left on the answering machine which located Palmer and Weber in Lordstown. Finally, Pauline went back to the house found out about the phone call and went back up the street to inform the group there. At that point the TV crew headed out to look for the two laggards and left the other two standing at the end of the street with a slowly growing group of Struble's neighbors' children. The rain had stopped just prior to this. The TV crew spotted Palmer and Weber and the cameraman had jumped out and was filming them as they approached. Not knowing that they were the point of interest, Palmer and Weber proceeded on their way. Next, the TV crew passes in their van with the rear door open and the cameraman taking more shots from the rear door. Eventually, the four joined at the entrance to Raymond and were surrounded by a crowd consisting of about 24 children who were all interested in hearing about their trip. As PWS headed down a street lined with small American flags and yellow posters with a black Pedlars With Style slogan over the silhouettes of three cyclists, it was apparent their arrival had been greatly anticipated. The occupants of each house were at street side and applauding as they passed. As normal as things occur in Struble's life, PWS arrived safetly and the beginning of a great visit and day of rest began. Friday is a rest day! Larry Subj: PWS Date: 5/16/99 6:53:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: LAStruble@webtv.net (Lawrence Struble) To: TheColJim@aol.com Jim, Murphy's Law caught up with Will and me as Will's first three flat tires occurred in the space of 10 miles, all in the pouring rain en route to Larry and Pauline Struble's in Warren, Ohio. So we were one hour behind Dusty and Allan in rolling into Larry's home town. A glance to the right---- what's that cameraman doing squatting in the middle of that side street peering at us? Oh, God, we're on film! Larry''d called out the local TV station. Five minutes later Channel 21's van rolled past, the rear door absent. That same camera guy shooting us as we rolled along giving us the Warholian 15 minutes of fame again. Ahead at Raymond Avenue where I knew Larry lived, two dozen kids jumped and cheered waving American flags as we approached and raced after us down Raymond. The view was as for returning POW's with American flags lining both sides of the road. Residents were at curbside clapping and cheering. We couldn't believe it all. Everybody converged into the Struble's driveway with their lawn festooned with even more flags. The neighbors were invited and greeted us and interviews given. It'd been 12 years since I'd last seen my bed ridden roommate. Phone calls from time to time promised I'd stop by on a bike journey. Reality was now and we dove right into the past. The house was packed and it continued today. Open house to neighbors and family to a full blown buffet. The tables groaned with food to fatten up four hungry bikers. Will is still down 18 lbs., Dusty 10 lbs., and me 4 lbs. Allan, who joined us in Nashville, is at even keel. We ate and chatted, chatted and ate, gave interviews, cleaned bikes and greased chains. It was as much a mental rest as physical since the last full day off had been at Phoenix with the Jervells, 2,400 miles ago. What a wonderful reception. The real heroes, in my book, are Larry {a quadriplegic since a jeep rolled over on him in Korea in 1963} and to whom I'd dedicated my trek, and his angel of his life and partner, Pauline. I consider us the lucky ones able to live one day to the next. Their destiny far harder, their courage far greater, wonderful human beings. Larry Palmer Subj: PWS Date: 5/16/99 8:53:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: LAStruble@webtv.net (Lawrence Struble) To: TheColJim@aol.com Jim, Saturday was Warren, OH to Emlenton, PA. The weather was great but it was difficult getting Will out of the Struble house for a timely departure. Routing has been changed again to accommodate a revised schedule. It was only 20 miles to the PA state line and it was like crossing into another country. Level road changed to "rolling staircases" and "tuck and rollers." Rolling staircases are hard upgrades where you see the crest in front of you and have to rise out of the saddle to pedal the grade. Then you come to a downhill where you sit and bend over placing your head close to the handle bars in order to reduce wind resistance and gain speed. Papa's and Mama's Restaurant in Mercer, PA proved to be an ideal choice for lunch. Great food and great conversation with the locals. Allan had a broken spoke which made it necessary to stop at a garage and seek assistance as no bicycle shop could be found. Physical assistance could not be provided here but the person in charge took it upon himself to search the yellow pages and locate a bicycle shop in Grove City, PA. Being a Saturday afternoon, he even took the time to call the establishment to see if they would be open. Upon contact, it was found that they were scheduled to close but, after hearing the circumstances, were willing to remain open until PWS arrived. The detour was made to Grove City. Greater service could not have been found anywhere else. Allan had his spoke replaced and was provided with several spares while some adjustments to several of the other bikes was taken care of for a total cost of approximately $15. It was then back on to the original route headed for Emlenton. Wouldn't you know it? Up comes Clintonville! Shortly thereafter is the largest road kill of the entire journey to date in the form of a white tail deer. It took some persuasion but Dusty was prevented from establishing a butchery on the limb of a local tree to stock his food supply. Palmer was in the lead and as he crested a "staircase'" he went into his tuck and roll. Getting up to around 35 MPH, he looked up and sees an Amish horse drawn buggy directly in front of him. The buggy made a left turn and the driver gave him a wave of his hand which Palmer gladly returned. Drivers of automobiles and trucks do not display this courtesy. Over the next crest leaning against a roadside fence are two beautiful Amish girls attired in typical Amish dress with bonnets at the top to black shoes on the bottom and the required apron in the middle. Would you believe they were both wearing a set of sun glasses? Modern influence on religious tradition. Emlenton had the motel with only 4 TV channels so Larry and Allan could not watch the hockey game of the day. They went down the road about 1/2 mile where the truck stop had a tremendous satellite dish outside with expectations of being able to view the game. The TV was tuned to the weather channel and a request to the clerk to change the channel received a response that it would be necessary to call the manager. A call was made and the manager's decision was that the weather channel remained on the TV as that was what the trucker clientele wanted and not some hockey game. Back to the motel and a good nights rest. Tomorrow is on to DuBois.   Larry *** USMA1959 post by: WALSH James E Jr 1959 22524 A1