‘Charlotte’s Ride’ reveals world of kindness
The transcontinental journey that Jon McKee took as a tribute to his late wife and a fundraiser for Alzheimer’s research turned into so much more for the Ramona cyclist.
As he logged the miles, pedaling his way from state to state, visiting with old friends and former Ramonans along the way, he found himself taking a trip down Memory Lane.
He also found a world of human kindness and unexpected encounters.
During his 9-1/2 weeks on the road, McKee noted there was so much violence happening globally between terrorist attacks and police shootings.
“All I ever encountered in my little world, between the handlebars, was human kindness....it was that human element that made the trip so rich and meaningful. Just wonderful, kind, thoughtful people. Strangers who became friends,” he said.
McKee’s wife, Charlotte, died April 8 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease, just 2-1/2 months before the couple’s 40 wedding anniversary. An avid cyclist, McKee decided to ride cross country in her honor and linked with Alzheimer’s San Diego to promote “Charlotte’s Ride” as a fundraiser for finding a cure for the devastating disease. His goal was to raise $25,000. He exceeded that, raising $28,500.
On May 20, McKee, a Vietnam veteran and retired school teacher, headed out from the Alzheimer’s San Diego headquarters parking lot where the fanfare included a send-off by county Supervisor Dianne Jacob. His destination: Yorktown, Va., where Dr. John Bryant, his best friend from his days in Vietnam, has a medical practice.
The first few days of McKee’s trip through the desert were challenging, producing a lot of flat tires. He attributed the flats to debris along the interstate and the heat. From El Centro to El Paso, Texas, he had nine flat tires.
“No shade, no trees, just cars and trucks whizzing past me and no alternative but to just change the flat tire. Oh, it was awful. I was so discouraged,” he said.
By the time he reached Dateland, Ariz., he had already used four of the five spare inner tubes he had packed. So he contacted his friends, Jose and Sandy Smith of Ramona, who drove out and brought him more inner tubes.
“They came that very evening. They saved the day for me,” said McKee.
Fortunately he and the Smiths had set up a Friend Finder app so they could find each other, for it was dark when they arrived and with no motel around, McKee resorted to pitching his tent by a farm road.
McKee was tired the next day when he reached Gila Bend, Ariz., and sought a room at the Space Age Lodge. The receptionist told him check-in wasn’t for two more hours. Then she looked at his yellow shirt with “Charlotte’s Ride” printed across the front and said she would check. She came back and said a room was ready. McKee looked at her name tag. It read “Charlotte.”
After reaching Texas, McKee was able to get off the interstate and ride highways and local roads. Along the way, he stayed with friends in El Paso and Austin, Texas, and at the Florence, Ala., home of former Ramonans Chuck and Cindy Traisi.
A highlight of his trip was staying at Fort Polk near Leesville, La., where he served as a commanding officer.
“In four years in the Army it was my favorite assignment,” he said.
He wrote ahead of time to see if he could get authorization to enter the post. Not only was that granted, but he was treated to the VIP quarters.
“So many places that I rode through triggered so many memories, especially Fort Polk, but also my old friends,” said McKee.
When he visited Asheville, N.C., staying with Allan and Eleanor Buchanan, formerly of Ramona, McKee rented a car and drove to Fuquay-Varina, N.C., to see one of his best friends from Fort Polk.
“The last time I’d seen him was the day I got out of the Army in ’72. Gosh, our friendship resumed instantly as soon as I drove up.”
Every night he posted his adventures on Facebook.
“It was good for me to put each day’s ride into perspective and inject a little humor.”
His “Charlotte’s Ride” shirt was often a conversation starter with people he encountered. McKee handed out his brochure about the ride. Days later, when checking the donation website he would see contributions and names he did not recognize.
Bryant and his wife arranged for McKee to stay in a bed and breakfast inn in Williamsburg, Va., before he arrived in Yorktown. The next morning, McKee said several cyclists from Yorktown arrived to accompany him to Bryant’s office where a welcoming reception was set up in the parking lot.
Hanging in the lot was a banner sent from Alzheimer’s San Diego, signed by many and printed with some of McKee’s Facebook trip photos.
“It was just a really neat reception,” commented a grateful McKee.
The 9-1/2 weeks was just the right amount of time, he said, and it gave him time to reflect.
“It was the right thing to do. I was able to think over my 40 years with Charlotte.”
Although she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 1-1/2 years before she died, McKee said a doctor told him she likely had it for about 11 years. During the ride, he recalled little oddities or irrationalities that surprised him at the time.
“I was able to put it all into perspective then of the disease, and realize that wasn’t Charlotte, that was the disease.”
McKee said he felt a tailwind through much of his ride and always thought of his beloved wife. He prayed a lot, giving mostly prayers of thanks.
“I never once felt alone,” he said. “I felt lifted up.”
McKee traveled back to San Diego via Amtrak, arriving Aug. 8. He will be one of four honored at Alzheimer’s San Diego’s Celebration of Courage & Hope on Sept. 21 at the U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego.
His donation page can be found at bit.ly/2aJvgQ7.