Cross country trips hit Tyler

By Robert Wolfington
tributeeditor@gmail.com

The first group came through Thursday and a smaller group came through Monday.

Two unrelated cross country bike tours made pit stops in Tyler over the last two weeks, missing each other by only a few days.

Izzy Cohan, 17, of Brooklyn, N.Y. was one of 25 riders making their way across the United States on bikes that stopped in Tyler Thursday, July 15.

Cohan and his fellow riders were part of an annual bike ride that leaves from the State of Washington and ends up at the U.S. Capitol, crossing the country over 48 days.

Cohan, an avid bicyclist, said he was making plans to take a trip across country when he found the American Lung Association ride online.

“My mom suggested I find a group I would ride with, I wanted to find a group of people kind of like me that were comfortable on their road bikes and have been riding for a while,” said Cohan. “I also wanted it to be a ride for charity.

“I found this one online which was great for me. Breathing clean air is important to me,” he added.

Pam Turner and her husband Frank Turner pulled into Tyler Monday, July 19 unaware that another group was only a few days ahead.

“I’m riding to promote donations and awareness for Courageous Kids of Lane County (Oregon),” said Pam Turner. “It is a grief organization for kids who have lost (family members or friends).”

Frank Turner was riding for a different charity, Lane County Volunteers in Medicine Clinic.

This marks the second cross country bike ride for Frank and Pam Turner who said they made a similar trip for charity six years ago.

Andrew Fersch, a member of the American Lung Association ride is documenting his trip for his students back home.

“I’m interviewing people in each community we stop in,” said Fersch who had a pocket video camera to document his trip.

Seeing the country side on the back of a bicycle was a new experience for Fersch and he said he needed his students permission before heading out.

“I actually missed the last few days of school to be on this trip,” said Fersch. “The kids are following me along through the Internet as part of their summer learning.”

Pam Turner said they weren’t aware of the American Lung Association ride going on just a few days ahead.

Both groups started from different locations and will finish at different end points but both made sure to travel through the Black Hills of South Dakota and found their way to Tyler.

“It’s such a  beautiful area,” said Pam Turner. “It was great to see all the wind farmers out here.”

The Turners are expected to end their journey on Aug. 31 at a lighthouse in Maine.

The American Lung Association expects to be in Washington by Aug. 7.

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