Father and son enjoy seeing historical sights throughout Kansas

News

Written by Kristen Waggener

Wednesday, 17 June 2009 08:00

$Kristen Waggener / <script language='JavaScript' type='text/javascript'>  </script> <script language='JavaScript' type='text/javascript'>  </script>This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it <script language='JavaScript' type='text/javascript'>  </script> Louisburg resident Greg Goode and his son Greg Goode Jr. completed the week-long Biking Across Kansas bicycle ride Saturday morning by riding from the Kansas-Colorado state line near Syracuse to the Kansas-Missouri state line east of Louisburg with about 800 others participating in the event. (Photo by Kristen Waggener)$ Two green shirts led one group of bicyclers up the final hill on Metcalf Road before the 800 bicyclers participating in Biking Across Kansas completed their journey at Broadmoor Elementary School in Louisburg.

“Good job, you can do it Greg,” Louisburg resident Greg Goode said to his son, Greg Goode Jr.

This year marked the third year the duo spent a week during the summer to participate in BAK, taking advantage of the time to appreciate what Kansas has to offer and spend time with each other.

“For me, as a parent, the biggest thing is exposing the youngsters to rural America, and these small towns always are putting their best foot forward,” Goode said after he and his son completed the ride.

Goode, who retired from the Army last July and now works in Leavenworth, regularly rides with the Leavenworth Bicycle Club, and he and Greg Jr. train throughout the year for BAK.

“This was our best year for training,” Goode said. “On weekends, we always did 60- to 80-mile rides, and we would ride 30 minutes two nights as week.”

Their training included riding flat terrain as well as hills — including 311th Street and Metcalf Road, which were the banes of many of this year’s riders.

“We knew exactly what we were going to see,” Goode said.

The duo spends each night camping outside, enjoying the scenery each town has to offer — they even spent an evening on the deck of a World War II veteran’s home in Eureka this year, listening to the man’s stories of the war.

“I enjoy every day because every day is a new day,” Goode said.
Goode said he enjoys meeting the same people every year who participate in BAK and visiting small towns with great history he would’ve never otherwise seen.

“Like Fort Larned — that’s just an awesome site. For me, that was a highlight,” he said.

Fifteen-year-old Greg Jr., who will be a junior at St. James Academy next year, keeps focused through the ride.

“I just ride, eat and sleep,” he said. “It gives me something to do.”

BAK traveled from the Kansas-Colorado border west of Syracuse throughout the state and ended at the Kansas-Missouri state line east of Louisburg before the bicyclers pedaled backed to Louisburg to end their journey at Broadmoor Elementary School.

Riders come from throughout the state — and even the country — to participate in the yearly event, but the Goodes were the only riders from Louisburg this year.

“You get stronger every day,” Goode said. “It’s just amazing to see how much strength you gather through the week.”

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