Cross country cyclists travel through Millen

For the third straight year, teen-age bicyclists stopped over in Jenkins County on their way from Tybee to Santa Clara, CA. But for the first time, there were two groups.

Organized by Massachusetts based Overland Adventures, each group was made up of twelve teens and two adults. Riding distances from 50 to 115 miles a day, they are scheduled to arrive at their destination on August 1. One group will travel by way of New Mexico, the other by way of Colorado.

The cyclists arrived from Rincon on June 23 and 24. Following a stop for supplies at the Millen BI-LO and a midafternoon picnic lunch in town, the riders rode to the home of Jim Hite and Joyce Hodges-Hite to set up their tents next to the pond and make use of the showers.

Members of Millen Milers & More, the Millen Baptist Church choir, and Millen Baptist Roundtable made use of their cooking talents to provide a covered dish supper for each evening. Lights went out rather early both nights, as the youngsters were up at 4:30 a.m. and on the road by 6:30 a.m.

Jenkins County Commission Chairman Jerry Henry and Art Johnson, Millen Better Hometown, welcomed the riders to our county on Monday, and Commissioner Tommy Lane did the honors on Tuesday. Joe and Claudette Sasser provided help in serving and cleanup both evenings.