An American journey: Cross-country scooter trip makes stop in DeKalb

This trip is not about the distance. Bernie “Buddy” Rosenbaum, 71, of New York and Bob Chase, 72, of Fremont, Calif., have ridden motorcycles across the United States before. They've traveled through Europe. But the trip they're on now - a cross-country journey along Lincoln Highway that started June 13 in San Francisco and is expected to wrap up July 14 in New York City - is about finding the roots of America, the men said. The two men - who are riding Piaggio MP3 500 scooters for the trip and plan to blog online daily - stopped Thursday afternoon in DeKalb. After learning that the 71- and 72-year-old bikers would be cruising down Lincoln Highway on Thursday, DeKalb Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Coordinator Debbie Armstrong said she knew she had to get them to stop. “It's very exciting to have somebody who's out on the free and open road,” Armstrong said. “There's nothing better than a pair of older men riding through the country and having the time of their lives.” Local politicians greeted the two at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Best Western DeKalb Inn & Suites. The men received gifts of DeKalb Agriculture flying ear T-shirts, hats as well as Illinois road maps and copies of the Illinois Constitution. State Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Clare, state Rep. Robert Pritchard, R-Hinckley, and DeKalb Mayor Frank Van Buer met the two men and explained the history of the flying ear of corn logo and the local history behind barbed wire. The two men said they aren't rushing as they travel the roadway. The two instead have spent their time looking for the elusive parts of Lincoln Highway, and the “roots of America,” Rosenbaum said. Some days, they've done just 80 miles. Traveling hundreds of miles a day would be missing the experience, he added. The duo, who have traveled across different parts of Europe, are now looking for authentic American culture, that have not been “sidetracked by Starbucks and Wal-Marts,” Rosenbaum said. “There's too many things to see. We stop a lot and turn around,” Chase said. The two men said they have not had one drop of rain, and their biggest weather-related problem was 104 degree temperatures through the Nevada deserts. The pair had block clouds behind them at one point in the trip, and were afraid of golf-ball sized hail damaging the bikes, Chase said. While on opposite ends of the country, Lincoln Highway connects near both of their homes, so the two decided the highway would be a good path to ride, Rosenbaum said. The two described the welcome in DeKalb as one of the warmest greetings they received on the trip, and that the Best Western would feel like luxury to them after places they had stayed in Europe where they had to carry their motorcycles into their rooms, Rosenbaum said. Following an informal news conference Thursday, the men were happy to show off their bikes - which they affectionately named Marchello and Sophia - to interested participants and passers-by. “It's our passion,” Rosenbaum said.