The Southeast Forum article of August 2 ("Tour d'Amerique") detailed the transcontinental bike trip of Life College student Rod Jones and Life West student Curtis Hall.
One month and 3,000 miles later (averaging 125 miles per day), our student bikers arrived in Atlanta, having survived the mechanical breakdowns, the torrid heat of Death Valley, food poisoning in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and the true hazard of the trip -- the thousands of drivers that wizzed by them along their route.
The physical aspect of the trip was challenging, but there was also an emotional component for Rod Jones. His 22-year-old sister Jill succumbed to her battle against leukemia on June 14, the first day of the trip. Rod dedicated the trip to her. During the difficult moments of the trip, Rod said he drew strength from the courage Jill had demonstrated in her struggle with the disease.
Rod and Curtis were ready to spread the word of chiropractic wherever their tires took them, broadening peoples' understanding of chiropractic and visiting local chiropractors.
"We would ride into a small town to just get a drink of water and would see a chiropractor's office across the street," Rod said. "We'd wonder what a doctor was doing out here in the middle of nowhere. We'd meet him and find out he has this incredibly busy practice."
Rod and Curtis said they were warmly greeted wherever they went by the resident chiropractors. Rod noted, "It was really great to see the union, the real brotherhood within the profession."
Editor's note:
Thanks to Randy Southerland from Life College for providing details of the student's bike trip.
