It's been more then a week since I've returned from my recent bicycle tour from South Carolina to Wisconsin. Taking the bus from Indiana to Wisconsin wasn't exactly how I planned on ending my cross country journey, but it sure made the final miles go fast.

It's interesting the comments I received since coming home. The folks at Channel 12 just "couldn't believe somebody could bicycle from South Carolina to Wisconsin. I stopped at the headquarters of OnMilwaukee.com to introduce myself and company owner Andy Tarnoff came charging out of his office. "OHMYGOSH it's Judy Steffes," he said excitedly during our first in-person meeting. "That must have been quite an adventure."

Another welcome back that set me on my heels happened while on the job at Channel 12, working to confirm a news story for the 10 o'clock show. I called Washington County Judge Andy Gonring at home. "Andy - Judy," I said considering the judge a friend having worked with him the last 10 years and thinking he was familiar with my voice. There was a silent pause and I continued "Judy Steffes." "I know, I know," said Gonring impatiently. "Hate to bother you at home but I'm just looking to confirm the Catalano story out of Germantown." To which Gonring replied, "When are you going on another bike trip?"

I laugh when I hear how people follow the tour, my writing, the big adventure. "We were talking about your tour the other day," said Gonring. "And I just couldn't do it," he said admitting he'd have reservations about "going into churches asking for a place to stay" or going from town to town with no real plan.

I'm currently touring schools and nursing homes talking about the two-week bicycle tour. On Monday I was at Greendale Elementary and I also spoke to Mrs. Stitt's K-5 class at St. Alphonsus School. Each experience makes me appreciate teachers, and their patience. "I normally would stop for breakfast at the small, hometown diners ... like George Webbs," I told the five year olds, trying to bring the conversation to their level. A hand went up, "I love George Webbs." I wasn't sure how to handle the outburst so I simply smiled and acknowledged the statement and moved on.

"Another time I was biking down the road and one, two, three deer jumped across the road. And then four, five, six other deer followed." And a hand went up, "I was coming to school today and a deer jumped over the front of my car."

I smiled and nodded again, continuing with other stories about how I would sleep in a sleeping bag and wear sunglasses to protect my eyes, and how I biked through Virginia, North Carolina, and Indiana. "I've been in Indiana," was the latest shoutout. Finally I said, "Mrs. Stitt, could I please finish and take comments later?"

It's been difficult to write this final column. The creative juices just don't flow as well as when I'm on the road. But OnMilwaukee.com is asking me to continue with tour stories so I'll keep you posted with some trips from the past and weekend tour updates. Next up is the latest on my tandem tour.

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