May 2006

Hi, my name is Lowell VanDerlip and I am retiring as principal of Berlin Elementary School in Vermont where I have served for the past 12 years. I intend to bike across the country, from Montpelier, Vermont to the Oregon coast this summer. This trip will take me through Vermont, New York, Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and Oregon.
So why am I attempting (doing?) such a dang fool thing? This is a question I get asked a lot. I know it may sound weird to some, but it's a dream I've had for a long time now, but one which I've never had the time to pursue. I love biking. I have ever since I was a kid and received my first one speed, balloon tired, full fendered, chrome whelled, Columbia cruiser for Christmas in 1954. Unfortunately, I was too small to ride this beautiful riding machine so my parents let my older brother have it for a year until I grew into it. In the meantime I got to ride his J.C. Higgins clunker! We've gotten over it, finally! For fun we used to attach baseball cards to the spokes so they'd roar like a motor as they whirled around and rapped the fender struts. Such was the squandered fate of what could have been my retirement nest egg if I'd only appreciated it at the time: baseball cards of such luminaries as Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Pee Wee Reese, Enos Slaughter, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, and Roger Maris. They'd be worth a fortune by now.

To make this journey has always intrigued me. I love seeing places and meeting people in the way you only can when you're on a bike. And I think it's wired into the American subconscious to want to head west, to explore the big back yard we call America. To get ready for this trip I've been doing as much biking as I can this spring. I work my way up Berlin Street for strength training. "Can the Rockies be much harder than this?" I ask. I've read lots of books on the subject (I'm something of a book junky for the man vs. nature genre) and talked with others who have undertaken this cross country bicycle odyssey.

Part of the trip is to fulfill a personal dream. But I would also like to use it as a way to give back to Berlin Elementary School. Some of you know that the principal has a "discretionary" account used to help out Berlin families in times of need. It's used to buy clothing, presents, school supplies, food--whatever a family might need in tough times or an emergency. I'm asking students, colleagues, friends, and the Berlin Elementary parents to make a pledge of whatever amount of money they choose to go into this account for every state or province I succeed in biking through. My route would take me through Vermont, New York, Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and Oregon, a total of 10 states and provinces. So if a student puts up a dollar for each and I made it to the Pacific, the contribution would be $10. If the person put up $5 for each state and I only made it through Vermont, New York, and Ontario, the contribution would be $15. You get the idea. I'd love to raise a thousand dollars for Berlin families and I ask you to help me. To me personally, it would be the best gift I could ask of any of you. All funds would be exchanged between you and the school at the completion of my journey. The funds would then be used to help Berlin families by the new principal, Charlie Watson. Any funds beyond one thousand dollars would be contributed to Berlin Town's Bike Path account. Having biked on paths in such diverse communities as Montpelier, Stowe, Wasington D.C., NYC, and Philadelphia, I know what a safe and valuable asset a bike path can be to communities. Bike paths contribute to a community's economy as well as the fitness, recreation, and safe transportation options of those who live there.


For a pledge form, contact Berlin Elementary School at (802)223-2796 Thanks!