I picked up Two Wheels North by Evelyn McDaniel Gibb on whim and now I seem to be telling everyone I know about it! It's the true story of two young men who biked from Santa Rosa, California to Seattle, Washington to see the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. Vic and Ray are fresh out of high school, and barely have five dollars between the two of them, when they set out to see the great fair. They are sponsored by their local newspaper, The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, and the Seattle P-I agreed to pay them 25 dollars if they make it there on bikes.
These guys don't have the high-tech bikes or light-weight gear that we have today, and in some places they don't even have passable roads. They run into all kinds of trouble too, including wild animals, oncoming trains, a couple of fist fights, plenty of flat tires, and even a little romance.
Book-It Repertory Theatre in partnership with 4Culture will present a dramatization of this exciting story at two King County Libraries:
Auburn LIbrary, Sunday, September 27, 1pm
Covington Library, Thursday, October 15, 7pm
This is a short and fun read about an exciting period in northwest history told through the eyes of two eager young men, and it should make a great play.
The Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition is celebrating its centennial anniversary throughout 2009. For more information about events and activities go to http://www.ayp100.org/.
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