Cyclist pedals through Marion halfway through dream adventure
Sports reporter
Fifteen years ago Bernard Menou had a dream.
Not the kind of dream where he ends up in school in his underwear. This dream was real, and it came true for him last month.
The start
The cargo ship left Jurancon, France, April 20 and set sail for New York City.
Bernard Menou had no idea what he was getting into, but the 57-year-old knew he wanted to get into it.
After arriving in New York he spent three days with people he called "friends of friends" before they took him to the George Washington Bridge in the northern part of the city: the only bridge which allowed cyclists.
As he waved goodbye, he pedaled toward his dream of touring the United States on a bicycle. It was just Bernard, his bike, and 4,000 miles of freedom.
The trip
Since leaving NYC Bernard had traveled nearly 1,700 miles when he arrived June 6 in Marion.
He cycled down Main Street and found himself at Stone City Cafe and then Central National Bank.
He then pedaled to Marion City Library to see if he could use the Internet to post on his blog. He takes photographs and writes information wherever he goes, and Marion was no different. Bernard then sent the information to his son in France who posted them for him on the blog.
After leaving the library he went to Country Inn Motel to find a place to stay. Menou thought the motel was a great buy.
On his June 6 blog he called it a "motel of countryside which beats all the records in quality and ratio/price with a room that smells fresh cloth good for
Not only did he like the motel, but Kansas in general has been good to him.
"Kansas is beautiful," he said.
It may have something to do with not having any hills.
Preparation
Biking across the United States isn't something one plans overnight. It took many more nights for Menou, in fact 5,475 of them.
Fifteen years ago Menou, a shopkeeper, decided he wanted to make the trip. An avid walker and biker already, Menou knew he could perform the task. The problem: money.
"It's a bit expensive staying in motels and eating every night," he said.
So, at age 42 Menou began saving money for the trip, and in April he brought his dream to reality.
He also had to buy a bike specially made in 1998 for the trip, one that would last across the country. His bike has held up, and so has his sanity, thanks to friendly Americans.
"I have felt very welcomed everywhere I go," he said.
Sometimes his English is hard to understand, but after 15 years of studying the language in preparation for the trip, he usually gets his point across.
"I understand older people better," he said.
That's because he sometimes has the same trouble with the younger generation "slang" even some American-born citizens have.
Nevertheless he has gone from New York to the Heartland basically without a hitch.
Unless you count the flat tires in Sedalia and Jefferson City, Mo. He went to bike shops and had them fixed.
He keeps a log of his trips and all his stops that is more organized than a library. Menou ended up in Marion however, because of a rare instance of chance.
Fate would have it
Emporia was Menou's destination June 5, and he made it there with no problem. Although he is on a strict diet of no bread or meat, Bernard stopped in at a Chinese restaurant for dinner.
After awaking around 5:30 a.m., he had breakfast, something he said most French do not, and set out on the road by 7 a.m.
He was to finish in McPherson, but not far from Marion, Bernard realized he didn't want to go the full 80 miles, and left his next stop up to fate.
On his June 6 blog he wrote: "I thus have decide yesterday to throw my guides of chains of motels and to give my night fate between the hand of uncertainty and chance. Today for example, I have point the finger on the chart and I said, Marion."
Choosing his destination by throwing caution to the wind summed up his entire trip, namely because it wasn't just his son who he left back home in France.
V2V
A friend told Menou if he were to do this trip he either had to start out or finish in San Francisco. He decided to make the trip worthwhile by ending his long journey July 26 in the city of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Ending in one of the most beautiful cities in the United State also was the inspiration for the name of the trip, V2V (Vineyards to Vineyards).
As Bernard left the vineyards of his home country France, he would travel across the land of freedom to another vineyard, Napa Valley near San Francisco.
But it won't be just the vineyards and curious San Franciscans waiting for Menou to arrive. His wife will be there, and the two plan to spend some time in San Francisco.
Before he arrives Menou will consult his special biking maps that show back roads, fun destinations, climate, and services. He wants to visit several parks and a Navaho Reservation.
The West Coast is the ultimate goal however, and come July 26 his wife will be there when he finishes what he called "a long dream."
For now, he pedals out of Kansas toward the deserts with his bright yellow biking jacket and a mind full of dreams.
He may not be Lance Armstrong, but as he said after arriving in Marion.
"In short, the dream continues."
For more information on Menou's trip log on to www.transam-bernard.blogspot.com.
