Walt Ebbert's first bicycle touring adventure

Back when I was a kid I can recall many times when I would expand my personal horizon by going just a bit further and checking that unknown street just beyond my current boundary. As time passed I gradually came to know all the streets within five miles of home.

I met Walt Ebbert recently during a business trip to Florida. We shared some riding time and over dinner one day Walt told me about his first bicycle touring adventure.

Walt as a modern day cyclist.
Click to enlarge.

Walt was also a kid who enjoyed seeing what waited for him just around the bend. One day he noticed an interesting commercial on tv and decided that he wanted to go and see the place in person. Being a responsible kid he of course asked his father. His father laughingly gave him permission most likely believing that it would never happen.

Later that same day an eleven year old Walt and his trusty bicycle headed out on a 115+ mile journey to find the company that was advertised on tv. When darkness appeared he curled up in a roadside playground and slept through the night. Walt lived among many relatives so his parents were not initially too concerned about his whereabouts until a phone call to all of the nearby family members failed to locate him.

Meanwhile Walt kept touring. The next day he reached his destination and once again being a responsible kid he called home collect to ask his dad to come and pick him up.

When his relieved parents arrived his father immediately promised to give him a "whuppin" unless he had a good explanation for his journey (Editor - as an adult it isn't hard to imagine that the poor father had been listening to an irate mother throughout the long ride to pick Walt up which likely only added to his own fears).

Walt of course pointed out that his dad had given him permission to take the trip (Editor - This is the part that makes me laugh. I can only imagine the glare that the father received from the mother - Hee Hee Hee).

Walt reports that no "whuppin" was administered and that following this adventure his father was much more cautious about what he gave permission for Walt to do!

From a discussion with Walt Ebbert.

Walt continues to bicycle tour today. He enjoys all kinds of touring including fully supported/self-contained, credit card/light and fully supported/SAG wagon touring. His bicycling and equipment is much better then the stuff he used during his first tour but his love of exploring new territory continues!

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