Four veterans on a cross-country bike ride are expected to arrive in Starke County today. The 3,700-mile trip on the Great American Rail-Trail is being organized by Warrior Expeditions, a nonprofit group that helps veterans transition away from their wartime experiences through an outdoor therapy program.
Steve Lucas with the Prairie Trails Club expects them to arrive this afternoon. Club members will provide meals and lodging.
They also plan to take them to the Veterans Memorial Plaza in Knox tomorrow morning, before the trekkers continue their westbound journey, passing through North Judson around midday.
Friday morning update from Prairie Trails Club Member Steve Lucas:
“Two of the veterans have arrived. Two more are expected to arrive today. We have a welcome sign on the trail a short distance east of the CR 100 W crossing.
The travel schedule is somewhat fluid. My understanding of what’s currently planned is for them to have dinner in a private home this evening and ride through North Judson tomorrow (Saturday) morning. A primary reason for the fluidity of timing is the desire to have the veterans travel through Hebron tomorrow afternoon using their Whizzer van from Shoppok with coverage by the NW Indiana Times, advance through three or four Lake County cities and meet briefly with dignitaries , then have coverage by the Chicago Tribune at Munster on Sunday morning. That’s a 60-mile bike trip roughly and a lot to sandwich into a short time span.”
