Saturday, July 10 Monroeville, Indiana is the kind of place where a local businessman walks over while gassing up his car and thanks you for visiting. The postmaster comes into the cafe looking for a person who had a General Delivery package. Suspecting it was a biker, she walks around town looking because the post office is closed for the weekend. The town has a biker shelter, and after calling one of the contact numbers to get the key, Julie comes over to the cafe with keys.
Two community pavilions, with air conditioning and commercial kitchen, double as the biker shelter. Renting the pavilions costs $150 per day. A prominent sign proclaims: "Cross Country Bicyclists are Free". The biker's cart has a TV, VCR and tapes, board games, state maps, books and a biker log book. There is nothing like this on the Northern Tier bike route.
I arrive at the pavilions, keys in hand. Two parties are in full swing, the Nuerge family renion, and a high school graduation. Because it was early in the day, I plan on getting the free shower, use thefree washer and dryer, hang out the tent to dry in the sun, and then head for Ohio.
Clean, dry and ready to go, the Nuerge's adopt me. I fill my paper plate with homemade bratwurst and chili, chicken casserole, vegetable casserole, sweet pickles, salad, cakes, cookies, pudding, and since I forget to pick up a coke, one of the ladies comes out to the picnic table to deliver. Joanne and Jerry from Houston roll up in their experienced bikes and are adopted, too. Then Jasper, who just graduated from U. Maine. Then his pals who also just graduated, Matt, Jake, Chris and John. Guess what? Honorary Nuerge's. How could I leave? It's a real biker party, sleeping in an air conditioned pavilion and out of the hot, humid night. Monroeville, Indiana has to rate as the biker-friendliest town. Thanks to the folks who run the park, and thanks to the Nuerge's.
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