By Brandon Brady

My grandfather has a lot of explaining to do. I used to think he spoiled me rotten. When I was a young 'un, Papa, as I affectionately call him, would take me to baseball games and fill me up with hot dogs, peanuts and ice cream. And he would take me to movies and shopping and dinner ... and on and on. Now that I've become familiar with author ALLEN JOHNSON, I realize that Papa was slacking on the job.

You see, a couple of years ago, Johnson biked from Dayton, Ohio, to the Arctic Circle, and I'm not talking on a Harley. I'm talking true leg power on a transcontinental bicycle trip. And his grandson, Paul, was along for part of the ride. That would be his 10-year-old grandson.

The 4,000-mile bike trip is impressive for someone of any age, but it becomes all the more impressive considering that Johnson is 65. He has also completed a 500-mile canoe trip down the Wabash River, a 600-mile bicycle trip across the Midwest, a 140-mile camel caravan across the Australian desert, kayaked 40-foot tides at the Bay of Fundy and in-line skated 400 miles around Holland -- each adventure with one of his various grandchildren. Apparently, he's not the stay-at-home type.

Naturally, Johnson has written about his numerous excursions: Why else would I mention him in this column? His latest book, his fifth about his adventures with his grandchildren, is called Biking to the Arctic Circle. He will present an illustrated talk as well as sign books at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble in Kenwood.

Though he's taking a break to promote his book, Johnson has no plans to slow down and take things easy. He's more worried that his grandchildren will bail out on him as they get older and busier with their lives. So when that time comes, Johnson will just take his great-grandchildren on adventures instead. Doesn't it make you feel like your childhood was deprived?

E-mail Brandon Brady

Silver Lining (April 12, 2001)
Into the Woods (March 15, 2001)
Good Behavior (March 8, 2001)
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