SEATTLE TO BOSTON.
A Long Bicycle Trip by Two Washington Men.
To Start Tomorrow Morning.
Prof. W.F. Babcock, of this city, and A.L. Turner, of Port Townsend, to ride across the country.
For some weeks W.F. Babcock, of this city, and A.L. Turner of Port Townsend, have been planning for a wheel tour across the country, and having completed their arrangements, will start to-morrow morning.
They will use tourist wheels, capable of carrying them and their necessary luggage over rough country, and expect to spend from two to three months on the road. The wheels are now in the window of N.H. Thedinga & Co.'s hardware store, and have been inspected by many wheelmen, who pronounce them substantial, handsome machines. They have maroon enamel, large tubing, and neat but rather heavy frame trunks.
Mr. Turner is quite successful as an amateur photographer, and will carry a camera on the trip.
The readers of the Post-Intelligencer will be kept informed of the progress of the wheelmen, who will doubtless have many interesting experiences to break the monotony.
"You would be surprised," said Mr. Babcock last evening, "at the variety of questions asked and the amount of advice given to us during the last two or three days. Some say we are foolish to start off on wheels, but most bicycle enthusiasts seem to think we will spend a very pleasant summer, and many have expressed a wish to make such a trip.
"Every man who rides a wheel has a different idea of what is necessary for such a trip, but after giving the matter a great deal of careful thought, we have cut our supply of extras down to the smallest possible amount. We are not trying to break any records, but on the other hand, shall try to get pleasure from the trip, stopping at points of interest and seeing the country in general. We shall spend several days in Yellowstone Park, and probably visit the Custer battle ground.
"Last week I had a letter from the officer in charge of Yellowstone Park, who says that by June 30 the park roads will be in good condition and wheeling excellent.
"Our route from here will be via Franklin, Stampede pass, Ellensburg, Coulee county and Spokane, but beyond there we have not fully decided whether to take the Pend d'Oreille or Coeur d'Alene route.
"We have had many pleasant letters from members of the L. A.W. along the route, who will be on the lookout for us and give us escort much of the way.
"Our roughest riding will be in our own state, or at least so says Tom Winder, who made the circuit of the country last summer. Our wheel trunks are marked Seattle to Boston, and since the trunks are so marked, of course we shall see that they get there, even if we have to express them through, but as for myself, if I find the trip too much I shall discontinue it."
"Mr. Turner is in good physical condition for the trip, but I am seven pounds under my ordinary weight and not feeling my best. However, we shall, as I said, take it easy, and have a good time.
"Transcontinental wheel trips have been taken by several different persons since Thomas Stevens pushed his 52- inch ordinary through from San Francisco to Boston. He was 104 days, I believe, and made several long stops, one of a week at Chicago. Since that time such improvements have been made in bicycles that for ease and comfort there is no comparison.
"We shall start about 8 o'clock to-morrow morning, following the Columbia & Puget Sound railroad to Franklin."