It's interesting the comments I received since coming home. The folks at Channel 12 just "couldn't believe somebody could bicycle from South Carolina to Wisconsin. I stopped at the headquarters of OnMilwaukee.com to introduce myself and company owner Andy Tarnoff came charging out of his office. "OHMYGOSH it's Judy Steffes," he said excitedly during our first in-person meeting. "That must have been quite an adventure."
Another welcome back that set me on my heels happened while on the job at Channel 12, working to confirm a news story for the 10 o'clock show. I called Washington County Judge Andy Gonring at home. "Andy - Judy," I said considering the judge a friend having worked with him the last 10 years and thinking he was familiar with my voice. There was a silent pause and I continued "Judy Steffes." "I know, I know," said Gonring impatiently. "Hate to bother you at home but I'm just looking to confirm the Catalano story out of Germantown." To which Gonring replied, "When are you going on another bike trip?"
I laugh when I hear how people follow the tour, my writing, the big adventure. "We were talking about your tour the other day," said Gonring. "And I just couldn't do it," he said admitting he'd have reservations about "going into churches asking for a place to stay" or going from town to town with no real plan.
I'm currently touring schools and nursing homes talking about the two-week bicycle tour. On Monday I was at Greendale Elementary and I also spoke to Mrs. Stitt's K-5 class at St. Alphonsus School. Each experience makes me appreciate teachers, and their patience. "I normally would stop for breakfast at the small, hometown diners ... like George Webbs," I told the five year olds, trying to bring the conversation to their level. A hand went up, "I love George Webbs." I wasn't sure how to handle the outburst so I simply smiled and acknowledged the statement and moved on.
"Another time I was biking down the road and one, two, three deer jumped across the road. And then four, five, six other deer followed." And a hand went up, "I was coming to school today and a deer jumped over the front of my car.”
I smiled and nodded again, continuing with other stories about how I would sleep in a sleeping bag and wear sunglasses to protect my eyes, and how I biked through Virginia, North Carolina, and Indiana. "I've been in Indiana," was the latest shoutout. Finally I said, "Mrs. Stitt, could I please finish and take comments later?"
It's been difficult to write this final column. The creative juices just don't flow as well as when I'm on the road. But OnMilwaukee.com is asking me to continue with tour stories so I'll keep you posted with some trips from the past and weekend tour updates. Next up is the latest on my tandem tour.
Judy is a Milwaukee native who is ever exploring the country. Her favorite mode of travel is her 21-speed, blue Centurion bicycle, which she bought after high school. Judy has worked in the local media for the past 20 years. "I need to do something to support my biking habit."
Judy has an extensive history in radio news, having worked at WISN, WUWM, WTMJ, WKTY in La Crosse and WBKV in West Bend. A strong interest in sports also had Judy reporting for ESPN Radio covering the Packers, Buck, Brewers and Badgers. "One of my first Brewer games at County Stadium the security guy yelled as I walked into the locker room LADY IN THE LOCKER ROOM. Now its so commonplace. But that story makes me sound really old."
Judy is currently working at WISN-TV in Milwaukee. She is a freelance writer and her pieces have been seen in The Small Business Times and The Business Journal. Her travel journal has appeared in Minnesota Trails Magazine, The Statesman and the West Bend Daily News, to name a few.
Aside from biking, running and being active in her community, Judy is known as someone who is "very, very thrifty." "I get candles for Christmas. My friends call them my space heaters because I normally keep the heat in my house at 40 degrees during the winter. Its not that I cant afford to turn up the thermostat, I just hate paying for heat."
Judy said her "conservative attitude" plays a part in her bike tours ... not needing to pay for gas and frequently spending nights camping inside churches. "First of all, it makes me feel safe since Im traveling alone and second all youre doing is sleeping, so why pay for that. Its no wonder I cant ever get someone to travel with me."
Judy grew up in Whitefish Bay and graduated from Dominican High School and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Judy is the second oldest among seven siblings and spends a lot of her time working as a "park tester" along with her eight nieces and nephews.
