Don Feidner

Last Update:  19 August 2015

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The Feightners
It’s not only about the Feightner family, but mostly about part 1 of our trip in which we visited our relatives related to the Feightners. (Yes, I changed my name to Feidner due to circumstances surrounding my move to Germany and marrying a German wife, but the Feightner spelling is still valid in the USA. When we landed in Chicago, we wanted to visit the city for one day before heading south on our long journey on bicycles. Chicago is a fascinating city, one you should visit once in your life.

“The Bean”

We finally arrived in Indiana!

Why are there flags on our bikes? Primarily, they are for safety on the highways. They are flags of the USA, Germany (where we live), Myanmar (where Chris taught children to speak English), Italy, Spain, France (the languages I’ve learned to communicate in), Namibia (where I helped to support a preschool for children and the last country my wife & I visted) and Indiana - the state of our cycling tour. 

Taking a Break on a Hot Day

Keeping Cool

Now and then you need to take a break from riding the bike in the rain. As you can see, we decided to spend the night in a motel -
of course, with a swimming pool.

The kids wanted to play water ball. Of course, I’ll play with you!

The sun was shining the next morning as we crossed the Wabash River.

Mama Bird Baby Bird

The Nickel Plate Bike Trail in Peru

The bike trail was quickly at an end in Kokomo.

On the right: The Little House I Lived in at 10.

Unfortunately, I have a slipped disk that was causing me some problems. Therefore, I was glad to be able to spend a few days in my Uncle Jack and Aunt Betty’s house before continuing on.

Christian Reading a Book on a Lake

House Safe from Tornados

Wow! My favorite fishing hole is still there after 58 years!

He was hungry. But just a little bit of noise,
and he scurried up a tree.

Daring Damon, Ready to Dive into the Water!

It is always fun to swim at Uncle Jack’s lake! Click it!

How embarrassing. I was so busy talking to everyone at the reunion that I barely took any pictures. Here is one from the last family reunion.

First visit to my brother’s grave. Larry was well-loved by everyone who knew him. Yes, I added a new spelling to the Feightner name (Feidner) when I married my wife in Germany - to match the original German spelling.

With all these rivers, you can understand why a lot of people here go fishing. The traditional mailbox in the back is overshadowed by the “Red Snapper” mailbox in this photograph. The owner was quite proud of it.

Grain elevators with enormous storage bins are a common site here in Indiana where corn and soybeans are grown as the primary crop. This grain elevator/distributor was easily 180 feet high.

Saying goodbye to Jan, my sister-in-law, and Susie, my niece. Thanks for allowing us to stay a couple of nights in your home. It was super!!!

The Fund-raising Part
It’s all over the news about more than 2200 people being killed by ISIS terrorists. Americans are a generous people and since during my last trip, people supported my son in Myanmar so well, I decided to attempt to help the families that are homeless after escaping the ravaging of the Isis terrorists in Syria and Iraq. When people see our security flags on our bikes, they often stop and ask what it’s about. why not use it for helping others?

It was very cold when we arrived in Chicago
We tested the bikes with a spin through downtown Chicago.

Under “The Bean”

LED Lighting Behind Glass Bricks

Chris Relaxing at the Pioneer Family Campground

Our Thanks to the Campground Manager for her generous donation!

Looking UP

....and a Sauna

I needed this massage badly.

Look out! Here comes the ball!

Mama Cow Baby Cow

The Eel River flows into the Wabash here.

The Nickel Plate Bike Trail in Bunker Hill

Don - enjoying an American Breakfast

Many tornados come through this area. The house on the left is made of stone and is protected with the bunkered earth.

My son, Chris, is walking over the same bridge where I walked as a small boy.

A Raccoon Coming to Get Food - Click it!

These are tame because my cousin, Damon, found them when they were little babies.

Christian in a Kayak - Click here to see a short video created by Christian Feidner!

Marlis, Damon’s daughter, could be a model.

My Aunt, Lady Betty, the sweetest hostess I know!

My sister-in-law, Jan Feightner, took Chris and me to a very nice restaurant on the Wabash River in Mt. Carmel, Illinois, near their home in Mt. Olympus, Indiana. Frome there, you could see the White River and the Patoka River, where they flow into the Wabash. Great Food Too!!!

Crossing the Wabash

Where are we now?  1 June 2015  
In the far-southwestern corner of Indiana

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