About
I live in southwest Michigan and go on bicycling expeditions to places where I can say, “Black Hawk Slept Here.” But that phrase gets interpreted very broadly. Almost any excuse to ride to a place of settlement-era history will do.
I call myself The Spokesrider, but my real name is John Gorentz. (I also call myself The Reticulator in my other blogs.)
I enjoy it when people post comments or questions on the articles, but if you would like to get touch by e-mail, I’d be glad to hear from you at johng@spokesrider.com. To elude spammers that email address will probably change from time to time, so I’ll reply to your mail from a more permanent address.
Hey John!
I’ve visited your blog a few times and I thought you might want to know about something that’s happening this week.
I run the website at http://www.bicycletouringpro.com... and this week I am doing an interview with a German cookbook author about cooking while traveling by bike. We’re going to be talking about the different types of stoves and fuels… and a bunch of other cooking related issues.
I thought that you might be interested in hearing the interview… and maybe your site’s readers would be interested in hearing the interview as well? It’s free… and it should be good!
So if this sounds like something your readers might be interested in, please direct them to this page:
http://www.bicycletouringpro.com/audio/cookingwithberndandbarbie/call.htm All the details can be found there.
It’s going to be a good interview, so I hope you’ll check it out!
Thanks for your time… and keep up the good work! Please email me if you have any questions.
Darren Alff
contact@bicycletouringpro.com
http://www.bicycletouringpro.com
What an interesting blog! We were hoping that you could blog a story about an upcoming event which actually has American Indian involvement as well…we noticed your knowledge in this area is tremendous. Please consider blogging the 758 mile 2008 Equal Parenting Bike Trek. All information about the event can be found here: http://cycling4children.typepad.com/cycling4childrencom/2008biketrek.html
Thank you for your consideration.
RE: Pierre Moran post you wrote….
“I’m pretty sure now that these are all the same person — and the same as the Perish Moran who was involved in the siege of Fort Wayne during the War of 1812.”
Wasn’t the siege of Fort Wayne really at Fort Wayne in Detroit? It was called Fort Shelby at that time but later referred to as Fort Wayne as it still remains to this day.
Perhaps I’m wrong about that but do check the Wiki for Fort Wayne-Detroit. Thks.
I think you have an excellent blog and love reading your style and content. Good work!
Mr. Slade, thanks for the kind words. I did forget that there was (is) a Fort Wayne in Detroit and appreciate the reminder. But this siege was really at Fort Wayne, Indiana. There is a wikipedia article about it titled “Siege of Fort Wayne.” The article doesn’t mention Pierre Moran’s involvement in it, nor does it mention Aubenaubee’s. And about those two wooden cannon — I read somewhere but don’t remember where — that they blew up when Aubenaubee et al attempted to use them. Ah here it is, in James Clifton’s book, “The Prairie People”, page 208. “While the Potawatomi were waiting for British reinforcements and artillery, Awbenabi fashioned two home-made cannons out of hewn oaken logs, loaded them with powder and iron weights, and fired them off. Both cannons burst on the first shot.”
I need to visit that Fort Wayne in Detroit sometime, though. Whether I’ll do it by bicycle, I don’t know. I’ve long thought of riding my bike on U.S. 12 (Black Hawk’s old road) all the way to downtown Detroit, but have always found something else to do instead.
Your blog mentions Amishville. You are aware it is not in Wells County In., but in Adams County?
Hi, Bill. I try to get those things right, but that doesn’t mean I don’t make mistakes. The one blog entry about Amishville is categorized under Adams County. Is that not right? Back in 2007 I had those two counties pretty straight in my head, but now I have to look things up. Sure would like to get back there again soon. Are you from that area?
Hi John.
I just discovered your blog, and it’s great. I hope you don’t mind if I add it to the trailsnet blogroll. If you get a chance to visit the trailsnet blog or the website, http://www.trailsnet.com I would would appreciate any comments/feedback.
In the meantime I enjoyed reading your blog entitled “Impassible.” What the heck, I enjoy all blogs about bikes and trails.
Keep on riding and writing.
Happy trails.
I’m always glad to have links. Thanks for letting me know about your blog, too. I don’t ride much on trails, but it’s nice to have the kind of information you’re posting about them.