Brotherhood in Christ and on wheels

LACROSSE - Four men reunited at Selbu Lutheran Church on Sunday, Oct. 13, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of an extraordinary bicycle journey that transformed their lives and solidified their bond of brotherhood.

Embarking on a 10-month trek from Detroit, Mich., to La Paz, Bolivia, in 1974 - a time before cell phones, the internet or GPS, John Cross, of Lacrosse, Peter Crane, of Ojai, Cali., Jim Oines, of Thousand Oakes, Cali., and Jeff Stoops, of Cascade, Mont., bid farewell to friends and loved ones.

Together, they rode 8,334 miles, raising $34,000 for Lutheran world hunger efforts.

The re...