Kid’s Zone
Ride Journal: By Jason Parker and Paddy Herberg
Cycle Across Missouri’s Parks 98 (CAMP 98) was a good adventure. It was Jason’s fourth time on CAMP, but it was the first time everybody from Bicycle Works rode the whole way. We would like to introduce our group: Jason, Paddy, Devin Stone, Jamelle Stone, Sam Sherraden, Trey Willis, Derrick Hagens, Sean Wilson, Kevin Eichhorn, Dick Willis, Ginny McDonald, and Charles Hammond.
The ride started in Lee’s Summit and ended in St. Charles. It was a great ride, even though the first three nights we got rained on and most of our things got wet. We rode 50 to 65 miles each hot and sunny day and saw our share of cows, pigs, horses, and corn, By the end of the trip we had gone 399 miles, camping each night in parks along the way.
At the beginning of the ride, David Kelly (one of the head guys) challenged his staff at the Department of Natural Resources to raise money for kids to go on CAMP 99 by donating to a scholarship fund begun in memory of Nonie McClammer’s niece. If his staff took the challenge, Dave would agree to a challenge by a DNR staffer to wear a dress while riding the last 10 miles into Jefferson City. DNR employees generously donated $775.
If we raised $2,000 for CAMP Kids from all CAMP participants, Dick Willis and his group of kids and mentors also agreed to wear dresses as we rode into Jefferson City. To our surprise, the campers donated more than $2015 in pledges, We did as we promised, and rode the last 10 miles in dresses.
As we rode into St. Charles at the end of the ride, we all gave each other high fives and congratulations for our accomplishment.
Note: Jason Parker and Paddy Herberg, both 15, of St. Louis, are avid cyclists and graduates of Bicycle Works program.
