TEXAS LIONS WILD WEST BIKE RIDE
May 23 to June 28, 1999
A 1,600 mile journey from College Station, Texas to San Diego, California
 

The Texas Lions Wild West Bicycle Ride is designed to promote awareness about Lions Clubs International and to raise funds for the Texas Lions Camp in celebration of its 50th anniversary of service to the physically challenged and diabetic children of Texas. 

Riders are now traveling through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. They will conclude their ride as part of the parade at the 82nd annual Lions Clubs International Convention in San Diego, California.

The group is led by PID Ray Hughston, PDG Ed "Skinny Bones" Stebbins and PCC Lin Rose and includes a dedicated group of bike riders and their support teams!
 

Texas Lions Wild West Bicycle Ride Progress Report
Updated By PDG Carmon McCain
 
SUNDAY, MAY 23 – A large group of Texas Lions and convention guests PID Al Brandel and wife, Maureen, of New York gathered in front of the George Bush Presidential Library in College Station, TX for the start of the Texas Lions Wild West Bike Ride. After a brief ceremony and prayer, Wagonmaster Past Council Chairman Lin Rose cracked his whip to start the 1,600 mile bicycle ride. The College Station Bicycle Club escorted the riders through College Station. Lunch was provided by the Caldwell Lions Club and the group’s first overnight stop was at PDG Michael Morgan’s home in Giddings, Texas.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 60

MONDAY, MAY 24 – The riders left at 6:45 a.m. and made their way from Giddings to Austin.  The North Austin Lions Club and the Capitol City Lions provided meals for the riders.  The group made their way to the State Capitol, where they were greeted by Texas Governor George W. Bush.  After brief ceremonies there, the group left Austin for New Braunfels.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 120

TUESDAY, MAY 25 – The riders left New Braunfels en route to Boerne. Wagonmaster Lin Rose reports all is going well, the riders are having a great time, and they are spreading the word about the Texas Lions Camp and Lions Clubs
International.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 170

WEDNESDAY, MAY 26 – After staying in Boerne and being hosted by the Boerne Lions Club, the group departed River Oaks Mall en route to the Texas Lions Camp at Kerrville, TX.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 230

THURSDAY, MAY 27 – A police escort greeted the riders at the Kerrville city limits. The group made its way to the Texas Lions Camp where lunch and dinner were served by the Kerrville Lions Clubs. After a special sendoff at the Camp, the riders will leave tomorrow for Junction.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 275

Friday, May 28--The six Texas Lions Wild West Bike Riders have made their way to Junction, Texas.

Miles Ridden To Date: 325

Saturday, May 29--The riders have made their way along Interstate 10 from Junction to Sonora, Texas.

Miles Ridden To Date: 383

Sunday, May 30--There's no time to tour the Caverns of Sonora as the riders make their way from Sonora to Ozona, Texas.

Miles Ridden To Date: 421

Monday, May 31--The riders began their second week on the road by riding from Ozona to Iraan, Texas. (Did you know that comic strip caveman Alley Oop was created by V.T. Hamlin while he lived in Iraan?)

Miles ridden to date: 477

Tuesday, June 1--The riders left Iraan, Texas today en route to Fort Stockton, Texas. (Fort Stockton is the home of Paisano Pete--the world's largest roadrunner.)

Miles ridden to date: 537

Wednesday, June 2--The riders left Fort Stockton for Balmorhea, Texas.

Miles ridden to date: 593

Thursday, June 3--No better way to spend a rest day than stopping at San Solomon Springs at Balmorhea. (Balmorhea State Park features a huge walled swimming pool which is fed by the springs at a rate of 22-26 million gallons of water per day.)

Miles ridden to date: 593

Friday, June 4--After resting at Balmorhea, the Texas Lions Wild West Bike Riders left early today for the Plateau Truck Stop in far West Texas.

Miles Ridden To Date: 640

Saturday, June 5--The riders left Plateau for Sierra Blanca, Texas. The town of Sierra Blanca grew at the juncture of the nation's second transcontinental rail route in 1881 (Southern Pacific and Texas & Pacific). The town once again is an important stop as our riders race towards San Diego.

Miles ridden to date: 693

Sunday, June 6--Wagonmaster Lion PCC Lin Rose reports that all is well as the riders prepare to mark their third week on the road.  Another rider is expected to join the group early tomorrow as they enter El Paso.  The Lions of El Paso will meet the riders for a media event at the train station.  After a day in El Paso, the riders will leave Texas for Las Cruces, New Mexico on Tuesday, June 8.

Miles ridden to date: 755

MONDAY, JUNE 7--The riders enjoyed their day in El Paso and will be leaving the Lone Star State tomorrow for Las Cruces, New Mexico.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 781

TUESDAY, JUNE 8--The Texas Lions Wild West Bike Riders are in the Land of Enchantment as they reach Las Cruces, New Mexico.  All is going well as the riders near the half-way point of the bike ride.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 821

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9--Our bicyclists won’t have time to stop and brush up on their geology skills at Rock Hound State Park today. They are scheduled to be in Deming, New Mexico this evening.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 873

THURSDAY, JUNE 10--The Texas Lions Wild West Bike Riders left Deming, New Mexico today en route to Lordsburg, NM.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 931

FRIDAY, JUNE 11--No cowardly Lions here as the bike riders leave Lordsburg, New Mexico and pass near the Shakespeare and Steins Railroad Ghost Towns while en route to Bowie, Arizona.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 981

SATURDAY, JUNE 12--PDG Leroy "Atta-Boy" Cornelius of District 2-A3 says he visited with PID Ray Hughston today.  They are in Bowie, Arizona and will be in Willcox on June 13.  Everything is going fine.  The weather has been fine...not too hot, in fact, it has been a little cool. No problems except that (Lin) Rose's computer went on the blink.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 1,013

SUNDAY, JUNE 13--DG Carmon McCain of District 2-T2 visited with PID Ray Hughston today. The riders are in Benson, Arizona and are right on schedule. They will go to Tucson Monday.  PID Ray says they are riding from sun-up to about 10 to 11 a.m.  He says it really starts to get warm about 1 to 2 p.m.  Everything is going well except that the cell phones haven't worked well since the group left College Station on May 23.  The group is having fun and are continuing to raise awareness about Lions Clubs International and the Texas Lions Camp. This starts the group's 4th week on the road.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 1,053

MONDAY, JUNE 14--The Texas Lions Wild West Bike Riders spend Flag Day on the road to Tucson, Arizona.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 1,103

TUESDAY, JUNE 15--After leaving Tucson today, the riders will travel through southern Arizona.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 1,153

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16--Wagonmaster Lin Rose checked in with PDG Carmon McCain tonight. The riders have taken a slight detour due to the roadway and are in Saguaro, Arizona this evening. They will be heading for Gila Bend, Arizona tomorrow.  Lion PCC Lin says all riders are well, the weather has been fine, and that many Lions Clubs have welcomed the riders along the way and have showed them some great hospitality.  Everything is going well and he will check in with PDG Carmon in a couple of days.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 1,186

THURSDAY, JUNE 17--The last of the contiguous states to be admitted to the union, Arizona is renowned for its natural wonders, such as its deserts, mountains, and plateaus. These natural wonders may pose a challenge for our Texas Lions Wild West Bike Riders as they travel southern Arizona from Gila Bend to Yuma.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 1,238

FRIDAY, JUNE 18--As many as 60,000 people passed through Arizona en route to California during the 1849 Gold Rush. Our riders continue that historical tradition as they make their way across the Grand Canyon State traveling from Gila Bend to Yuma.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 1,288

SATURDAY, JUNE 19--Today's report is forwarded to me by PDG Leroy "Attaboy" Cornelius.  "I talked with PID Ray Hughston today at 9:00 p.m. They are sitting around a swimming pool where it is 110 degrees in the shade. They are 20 miles away from Yuma, Arizona. Everything is fine--with the exception that the cook's motor home broke down. There are six riders at present. The temperature gets to 115 or 120 degrees during the day. They do have a lot of mountains to cross in the next few days; however, they will be arriving in San Diego on Friday or Saturday night--right on schedule!"  The Yuma newspaper contacted PDG Carmon McCain Friday for information about the bike ride. The Yuma Lions Club knew where the riders were staying and will assist the reporter in setting up an interview.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE:  1,333

SUNDAY, JUNE 20--HAPPY FATHERS DAY to all those dads participating in the Texas Lions Wild West Bike Ride. The riders are making their way across Yuma, Arizona today. In the next few days, they will ride from Yuma, Arizona to Calexico, California. This marks the group's 5th week on the road. One more week and they will be in San Diego for the Lions Clubs International Convention!  Our Texas Lions Pride Is Showing!!  PDG Carmon should hear from Wagonmaster Lin Rose on Wednesday and get the latest update.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 1,378 

MONDAY, JUNE 21--"California, here we come!" The Texas Lions Wild West Bicycle Ride enters the Golden State today as our group travels from the western portion of Yuma, Arizona to Calexico, California. (Did you know that in the Mexican War, the "Paul Revere of the West," John Brown rode horseback from Los Angeles to San Francisco to warn of approaching troops, making the 500 mile trip in only five days...?  Our riders are doing well--but are not keeping such a blistering pace as Mr. Brown did.)

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 1,418

TUESDAY, JUNE 22--Today, our riders are traveling from Calexico to Ocotillo.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: 1,448

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23--Today's update comes from PDG Leroy "Atta-Boy" Cornelius.  "It is 9:30 p.m. and I just spoke with PID Hughston.  They are 45 miles from San Diego! They have had two very hard days riding over mountainous terrain.  They will rest Thursday and Friday and ride in on Saturday when traffic is not so bad. They will ride on to Bay on Sunday and then make the final lap on Monday.

"Everything is fine!  One rider was stopped by the U.S. Border Patrol and asked what he was doing. The rider replied that the Border Patrol agents would have to make a donation in order to get the answer.  It looks as though they will get $$$ for the Texas Lions Camp any way that they can!"

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE: Anywhere from 1,485 to 1,555 (They are a little ahead of schedule.)

THURSDAY, JUNE 24--The riders are taking a well-deserved rest today as they prepare for the final portion of the Texas Lions Wild West Bicycle Ride.

SPECIAL UPDATE FROM LION GEORGE CONNER

Ray Hughston called this evening from Portrero, CA, less than 50 miles from San Diego. Still going great. Six bikers have gone all the way: Ray Hughston, Ed Stebbins, Ellouise Morse, Dennis Sedlack, Sherri Sedlack and Elroy Wilson. Support crew that has gone all the way includes Wagon Master Lyn Rose, Charlie Cook, Norma Hughston, Tom Lokey, Jerry Wilson (wife of rider Elroy Wilson), Gene Wilson, Camp cooks Ben & Linda Champion. Beverly Stebbins left the riders yesterday to go ahead to San Diego for her District Governor training. They are still picking up money along the way, $100 here and $100 there. Ray said the desert had not been bad at all. They started riding very early in the morning and quit before it got really hot.  Yesterday, they rode 12 miles up a 3,000 foot mountain. We will see them in San Diego.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE:  1,555

FRIDAY, JUNE 25--The riders are taking a well-deserved rest today as they prepare for the final portion of the Texas Lions Wild West Bicycle Ride.

MILES RIDDEN TO DATE:  1,555

 
If you have information to add to these updates, have regular contact with the riders or those accompanying them or would just like to keep Lion Carmon informed then please contact him.

Many thanks to PCC Lin Rose and PDG Leroy "Attaboy" Cornelius who are providing periodic updates to Lion Carmon.