Red Bank Antique Center The Bistro at Red Bank
Dublin House Red Bank

BACK IN JERSEY, HOMING IN ON RED BANK

Img_0571Elmer and Jeff Jackson at the fog-wrapped Golden Gate Bridge as they prepared to start their ride June 3. (Photos by Tim Hathaway.)

Two months and countless pedal strokes later, the No Regrets cross-country bike tour arrives in New Jersey this morning.

Father-and-son sojourners Elmer and Jeff Jackson are expected to reach Red Bank between 2 and 4p on Thursday, when they’ll be met by representatives of the Red Bank police and fire departments for an escort to the West Side Christian Academy, the private school they run with other family members on Bridge Avenue.

The ride, which we’ve chronicled on redbankgreen, was a fundraiser for the school.

We reached Jeff, who traded his bike for the steering wheel of their sag wagon about a third of the way, this morning just as he and his father were about to cross the Delaware River into New Jersey on the Commodore John Barry Bridge.

“He can’t cross the bridge on bike — it’s against the law,” Jeff said of Elmer. “So I’m looking for a place where I can pick him up and drive him across.”

“We’re very excited,” Jeff said. “We’re glad to be close to home. It’s been a long trip.”

He didn’t have a mileage total; the new Honda they bought in San Francisco for the journey showed 6,571 miles on he odometer, but that involved a lot of backing-and-forthing as the vehicle was used to support Elmer’s ride.

“I’m most looking forward to seeing my wife, Charlene,” he said. “For me and my dad, to have all this time together has been special. But we miss all the family events. It’s time to be home.”

The pair will travel diagonally across the state, first following a path of many turns before settling on Route 537 for the long final approach.

The idea of riding all the way to Sandy Hook has been scrapped. Now, the plan is for the escort to meet the two-man caravan at Newman Springs Road and Shrewsbury Avenue and lead them to the school. A reception that’s open to the public will follow at the school.

Email this story

Posted on August 12, 2008 at 11:13 am, filed under Charity, Children, Fundraisers, Mind & Body, No Regrets bike tour, People. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed. Email this story.
redbankgreen ad sales

  • Please come one and all to welcome Jeff & Elmer back to town. What an incredible feat!! A police and fire escort into their home town is the least we can do.

    Make your homemade posters, bring your bike and ride in from the corner of 520 & Shrewsbury with them, cheer them on and/or join us at the School (located within Calvary Baptist Church on the corner of Bridge Ave. & River St.) for some refreshments and remarks.

    Red Bankers supporting Red Bankers.
    david prown

    Posted by: David Prown on August 12, 2008 at 9:41 pm | Permalink

    • Click teeth to read "comments on comments" file. Click GIF file to enlarge.

  • recent comments:

    • 03.15 - Two River Tour de Yoga concert On March 18, The band Wah! presents a concert at Rumson Presbyterian Church as part of the Two River Tour de Yoga (a promotion that includes Blue Moon Yoga of Shrewsbury, Brahma Yoga Spa of Sea Bright, Dancing Foot Yoga of Red Bank, Fair Haven Yoga and Synergy Yoga of Fair Haven). Promotion runs four days between March 17 and 20; tix and details available at any of the participating studios or at blueyoga.net.
    • 03.16 - Train/ Butch Walker The Grammy winning, megaplatinum minted Bay Area trio is back touring on the heels of a new album, and with a newfound sense of urgency that harkens back to their earliest triumphs. They're coming to Red Bank for the first time, with Butch Walker and the Black Widows offering solid support. A 175 dollar VIP ticket includes preferred seating, autographed poster and meet 'n greet with the band.
    • 03.17 - Gala Fundraiser at MCM On March 27, Red Bank's Monmouth Conservatory of Music hosts a benefit event featuring DUO PETROF, with Zatin Anatoly and Vassilieva Vlada performing on dual grand pianos; a silent auction and wine/ hors d'oeuvre reception are also included.
    • 03.17 - St. Patrick's Day at The Dockside Primitive Soul provides the tunes, with grub/grog specials and more green themed sounds starting at 4pm.
    • 03.17 - Open Auditions for Red Bank Street Life Red Bank River Center is inviting talented adults and teenagers (16 years and older) to audition for this summer’s sidewalk performance series on Wednesday, March 31 at the Count Basie Theatre Rehearsal Studio, 99 Monmouth Street (2nd Floor) from 6—8pm. RiverCenter is seeking musicians and entertainers, such as mimes, clowns, magicians, jugglers, etc. to participate in the program. Each performer is asked to bring 3—to—4 minutes of prepared material highlighting his or her skills, a biography and references, if available.
    • 03.17 - HEAD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION at RB Library On April 7, The Red Bank Public Library hosts a presentation on living successfully with diabetes for the Spanish speaking community, presented by Merck & Co. Inc. Registration suggested; call 1.877.532.4545.
    • 03.17 - Alpha Omega Wine Dinner Branches in West Long Branch hosts internationally recognized Jean Hoefliger in an Alpha Omega wine tasting event. $$89 includes five course seated dinner with selected top rated Napa wines at 7:30pm. Call for reservations.
    • 03.17 - Movie at the Guild: GOYA'S GHOSTS The Guild of Creative Art hosts a screening of Milos Forman's 2006 film, with Javier Bardem as painter Francisco Goya, and Natalie Portman his muse.
    • 03.17 - UNDERSTANDING MEMORY LOSS at RB Library On April 21, The Red Bank Public Library hosts a presentation by the Greater New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Registration suggested; call 973.586.4300.
    • 03.17 - Monmouth County Teen Arts Festival Opening Reception All members of the public are invited to this kickoff reception for the annual celebration of young local artists, co—presented by the Monmouth County Arts Council and Brookdale Community College. More than 500 works of art will be on display at the school's Center for Visual Arts; refreshments will be served, and entertainment includes music, film and spoken word performance by participating artists. RSVP to lm@monmoutharts.org.
    • 03.18 - HAMMETT The 1983 mystery film — a fanciful detective story with Fredric Forrest as the real life author Dashiell Hammett —screens for free at the Monmouth County Library's Eastern Branch, with showings at 2 and 7pm.
    • 03.18 - Red Bank Documentary Film Series Film critic Joan Ellis is your host as The Atrium at Navesink Harbor (that's the elegant hi—rise senior residence on Riverside Avenue) continues a free monthly series of doc screenings and discussions, with popcorn and candy on the house. Tonight it's the 1984 film THE GOOD FIGHT, a portrait of The Abraham Lincoln Brigade and the American volunteer force's struggle against the Fascists during the Spanish Civil War. Reserve by phone for all events.
    • 03.18 - The authors of THREE BROWN EYED GIRLS As part of Women's History Month, The Red Bank Library hosts an appearance by authors Rosemary Calabretta, Rosaleen Rooney Myers and V.G. Wells, with a presentation on 'how three women from different backgrounds met, bonded, told their stories to one another, and decided to take the leap and publish their book.' Also featured will be a book signing, and a panel discussion on 'work. family, the writing process, self publishing and more.'
    • 03.18 - CINDERELLA The students of Red Bank Regional High School (including Governors Award winning vocalist Michael Anderson as Prince Charming) present the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical of the classic fairy tale, with a cast of child performers as Cinderella's animal friends, and the tile role shared by Marie Ferguson and Patricia Blair.
    • 03.18 - Two River Tour de Yoga concert The band Wah! presents a concert at Rumson Presbyterian Church as part of the Two River Tour de Yoga (a promotion that includes Blue Moon Yoga of Shrewsbury, Brahma Yoga Spa of Sea Bright, Dancing Foot Yoga of Red Bank, Fair Haven Yoga and Synergy Yoga of Fair Haven). Promotion runs four days between March 17 and 20; tix and details available at any of the participating studios or at blueyoga.net.
    • 03.18 - Rock N Roll Karaoke (upstairs) The band from NYC's Arlene's Grocery hosts this popular weekly feature, in which civilian hopefuls can front a hard—rocking combo on any of a couple hundred classic rock favorites.
    • 03.18 - Monmouth County Teen Arts Festival More than 500 works of art by area teens will be on display at the Brookdale Community College Center for Visual Arts during the annual celebration of young local artists, co—presented by the Monmouth County Arts Council and BCC.
    • 03.19 - Girls' Night Out at Sickles Market The Little Silver landmark presents a 'Step Into Spring' event with fashion and beauty tips, healthy/delicious food tastings, gardening hints, champagne, live jazz and more. A portion of proceeds benefit the Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center. 21 and over; ID required.
    • 03.19 - Family Wii Games at MTPL Middletown Township Public Library hosts an encore session of Wii games for the whole family, in the Community Room of the main branch. Registration required; adults must be accompanied by children ages six and up.
    • 03.19 - CINDERELLA The students of Red Bank Regional High School (including Governors Award winning vocalist Michael Anderson as Prince Charming) present the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical of the classic fairy tale, with a cast of child performers as Cinderella's animal friends, and the tile role shared by Marie Ferguson and Patricia Blair.
    • 03.19 - Monmouth County Teen Arts Festival More than 500 works of art by area teens will be on display at the Brookdale Community College Center for Visual Arts during the annual celebration of young local artists, co—presented by the Monmouth County Arts Council and BCC.
    • 03.20 - Gala Fundraiser at MCM On March 27, Red Bank's Monmouth Conservatory of Music hosts a benefit event featuring DUO PETROF, with Zatin Anatoly and Vassilieva Vlada performing on dual grand pianos; a silent auction and wine/ hors d'oeuvre reception are also included.
    • 03.20 - Breakfast with the Easter Bunny On March 27, Branches Catering presents a very special breakfast with the Big Bunny featuring a sumptuous morning repast as only John Lombardo and crew could conjure it. There's a candy table and complimentary photo for kids, plus a pancake station, omelet bar and more. Reservations are a must, with kids 2 and under admitted free.
    • 03.20 - Districts 1 & 9 Get Together Red Bank Council leaders Juanita Lewis and Ed Zipprich visit Frank Talk Art Bistro for a lively roundtable discussion with continental breakfast — and you're invited to join in for this informal forum about your community.
    • 03.20 - Choo—Choo Soul with Genevieve Straight outta Playhouse Disney, the Parents Choice Award winning duo of Genevieve Goings (as the Train Conductor) and DC Abramson (as 'her beatboxing and breakdancing engineer') put a soulful, animated spin on the ABCs and 123s of music.