The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

Most people in Peru have probably seen Don Evans either bicycling through town or driving through town with his kayak atop his Subaru Forester and a bicycle resting on the tailgate carrier. Few people know about the recent accomplishment of the retired Peru Central Spanish teacher. On July 22^nd Don accomplished a personal goal to ride his bike the length of every Clinton County highway and to paddle his kayak on all the County’s navigable waterways.

Evans has been riding a bike since moving to Peru forty years ago. He said, “I started riding my bike to my kids’ soccer games. I have ridden to every place where they had a soccer game.” Evans said he never really thought about riding all the county’s highways until two years ago when he asked himself, “What can I do that  no one’s ever done before?” Last summer when it appeared that he might require knee replacement surgery at some future date he decided to complete his goal by the end of this summer. At that point he had biked about 50% of the county’s highways. Over the past several months Evans often launched his kayak at a boat launch, paddled fourteen or fifteen miles and then rode his bike on a couple of nearby roads.

Evans speaks enthusiastically about bicycling in Clinton County. He says emphatically, “Clinton County needs to promote itself as a biking area. I think there are more beautiful rides in Clinton County than in all of Vermont. Many Vermont roads are either busy or dirt!” He has four criteria for a beautiful ride: good pavement, good shoulders, little traffic and good scenery. Don loves riding up hills so his hometown of Peru with its hills and beautiful vistas is one of his favorite places to ride. His two most difficult but still enjoyable rides were ascending the hills to Mother Cabrini Shrine on the Patent Road and biking on Arnold Hill Road. The True Brook Road in the Town of Saranac was his most desolate ride. The two most hazardous were the Devil’s Den Road in Altona and the Miner Farm Road in Chazy. He said, “They were busy and they have questionable shoulders.”

The Northern Tier’s less-traveled roads were some of Evan’s favorites. Riding on Route 190 between Ellenburg Depot and Brainardsville provided a close-up look at the numerous windmills along the route. The Hayford Road near Cooperville passes cornfields that extend as far as the eye can see while the Bull Run Road in Ellenburg offers a panoramic view of Ellenburg and Chateaugay.

Occasionally Don stopped to sample delicacies at local restaurants. He fondly recalls the kraut dog and fries an Ellenburg restaurant offers. Oftentimes, after returning home he went online to study the history of a town where he had just ridden.

Evans carries everything he needs for a safe and memorable ride – water, Gatorade, a nutritional bar, bike parts, suntan lotion and a camera. His wife Shirley has never had to come rescue him. He said North Country drivers are generally very courteous to bike riders and he’s never had an accident or close call. One time he did get a snake entangled in his spokes and he said chipmunks seem to enjoy harassing bike riders.

Don Evans set a goal and accomplished it. His appreciation for Clinton County’s beautiful streams and highways helped him accomplish that goal. He’s kept in great physical shape and learned county history along the way. He’s set a good example for us all!

The Press Republican reported this story at a later date.