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Show '., t . : s ' . U If ' .- "4 i ,' i , : , . ' : - .. ' ' 3 rz ; . , . ' ' -V- : . X j : - i' " s I , w . , ...... . J Joseph Patrick (J.P.) Grim, right, and Scott Perry discuss their adventures after bike riding from California to Pleasant Grove to visit Grim's grandkids. Grandpa peddles 800 miles to see grandkids By KALYN SECRETAN The 10-day bicycle journey came to an end June 24 for Joseph Patrick (J.P.) Grim and Scott Perry. It was a great reunion as they arrived in Pleasant Grove with about a dozen or so relatives greeting them down by the fire station. Grandchildren Sy bi 11a , 7, Vanessa, 6, and Aaron, 3, made a gWifi to welcome Grandpa Grim and his companion as they arrived in - town. j Grim admitted the final day was terrible. They had to fight a wind 60 percent of the day. Otherwise, it was a marvelous ride. It touches on what pioneers experienced, doing something a little unknown. Checking the mileage, Perry said they traveled 780 miles from Davis, California. J.P., a chemist at Sacramento City College, will be 50 in Novem ber. Asked why he made the trip, he stated it was something he did for the grandkids and maybe it was a mid-life crisis decision. He has been cycling for five years and really preparing the past 10 months. J.P. bought a new bike, but had problems he did not anticipate, and it took longer to make the trip than they thought it would. He taped his front tire to finish the last 160 miles ' of the journey.' '': Perry, a physicist at American River College, pedaled 800 miles in Europe working on a Master's Thesis where he took water samples along the Rhine River. Perry also participated in a teaching exchange program and he spent a year in Montreal, Canada. Asked if they would do it again, they admitted they are considering cycling to Vancouver, Canada in two years. The travelers left Sacramento with a man and his son who were cycling to Virginia. They missed them for three days but came in contact again and parted in Delta. Grim stated that bicycle travel is not something the faint of heart should try, it took five or six days to get bicycle legs. Family members checked the cyclists' gear and noticed they traveled with two water bottles and 7-Up. A granddaughter wanted to know if Grandpa was going to take her for a ride around the block. J.P.'s wife, Connie Grim, was born and raised in Pleasant Grove. Her sisters, with family members, joined daughter Michelle and the grandchildren's parents, Randy and Dominique House. The cycling pair said they met many folks along the way and people were so good to them. They caught a bus for their return back to California. |