Bicycle Hostel

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Last week when I went to do my weekly cleaning at church, this bicyclist was using the hostel. He was from Sweden and biking across America. I asked if I could take his picture to put on a post online. He gave me permission. Our church has hosted a bicycle hostel since the early 1970's. For years it was the upstairs of the Parish house. When we remodeled and added on to the church, the parish house was torn down and replaced with a parking lot. Since that time, the hostel has been on the stage in the basement of the church. One of our members, Harley Phillips owned the Harley's Bicycle Shop, which was owned by his father before him. Years ago he sold out the business to one of his employees but the name stayed the same. They are a go to spot for a key to be picked up to get in to the church is no one is available at the church. The stage may not be the best place as now we can't do plays and such, but it is what works. The stage is curtained off into 2 rooms. Each room has a full size bed, shelving with bedding and such, and a small TV mounted to the wall. The old handicap ramp is how they get their bicycles and gear into the building. They can spread out their gear and such as they like in the basement. They have access, of course, to full use of the kitchen, although there is a refrigerator on the stage specifically for their foods. We also have a shower room for them. We get lots of compliments and lots of hearty thank yous for a nice place to stop. Harley gave the stats last Sunday at church on how many people we have had from different countries and how many different states, based on comments in the guest book. I knew I should have written the numbers down over trying to remember them.....and I just called to ask him and he doesn't remember either. It was however lots of different countries and almost all of the 50 states. I could write on and on, but won't, just getting the word out through mylot that there is a bike hostel available.