Here's a very recent, very fun find. It's in Port Byron, Illinois, and is named "Will B. Rolling". "Will" and his Penny-farthing (old-fashioned bicycle) top out at 30 feet (9.14m).
Port Byron is a small town in northern Illinois alongside the mighty Mississippi River.
Fun fact: Port Byron competes with Le Claire, Iowa, each year in a "tug fest". A 2700' (823m) rope is stretched across the Mississippi River for a series of tug-of-war competitions. Tug Fest is the only event in the U.S. that allows the Mississippi River to be shut down.
It dawned on me that I had this postcard in my collection. Soooo, you get a BONUS fun fact: "Will B. Rolling" is a replica of "Big Ben Bikin'" which is billed as the world's largest bicycle, and is located in Sparta, Wisconsin.
That is a lot of fun facts.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy good small town activities and the tug of war sounds fabulous. These are the types of things a river should close down for! Where you, by any chance, there to see this tugging?
I agree with you. If a river is to be closed down, this is the perfect reason for it!
ReplyDeleteI was not there to see the tugging in person. The tugfest is held in August each year. I stopped by in September.