Stranded cross country bicyclist's bike & gear found--in Tom Sawyer cave . . .

A $1000 reward offered by a Hannibal businessman led to the recovery of and stranded cross-country bicyclist's bicycle and gear--and not exactly in Tom Sawyer's cave, but pretty close.

Cyclist Ty Robinson decided to visit Hannibal partly because of his interest in Mark Twain.  Little did he know that he would end up involved in a mystery that was solved in the depths of a mysterious and dangerous cave by the side of the Mississippi River--and not exactly by hordes of townspeople carrying torches, but by one very determined one, carrying a flashlight.

A week ago Monday, Ty was a little more than half way through a cross-country bicycle trip that started in North Bend, Washington. Arriving in Hannibal, he stopped to camp at a city park on the advice of some locals he talked with.  When he woke up the next morning, his bicycle, panniers, and all his gear were gone.

The Hannibal Courier-Post reporter Mary Lou Montgomery took up the story with frequent updates, a businessman offered a $1000 reward for return of the bicycle and gear, local citizens stepped up to help out, area cyclists held a fund raising ride in his support, and MoBikeFed collected donations from bicyclists across the state to help out.

Who would steal an entire touring bicycle and Ty's bags of supplies--equipment that is hard to replace but has very little value on its own?

And where did it all disappear to?

Billy Kemph, a Hannibal resident who regularly explores the area's caves and abandoned mines, had an idea.  Spurred on by the reward money, Kemph started searching the caves and Sunday morning he hit the jackpot--Robinson's bike and most of his belongings stashed in one of the caves.

According to the Courier-Post's account:

[M]ore than likely - judging from the items taken from the bicycle packs and after listening to stories told by South Siders in the know -  . . . Ty Robinson fell victim to folks known to maintain an encampment just south of Bear Creek, accessible via a railroad bridge.

The four bags attached to the bike had been rifled through. Ty’s passport was left alone, but his bike gloves are missing. His specialized biking shoes are good as new, but all “survivor gear,” such as cooking utensils, a knife and flashlight, are gone. Curiously, so are his prescription glasses.

Except for a little rust on the chain and bearings, the bike is OK, just in need of “a little love,” Ty said.

Bicyclist's from around Missouri donated over $125 to help Ty replace his lost gear, and we are planning to present a check to him while he is in St. Louis this week.

With his bicycle and gear restored, Ty is planning to continue his cross country trip--final destination, Virginia City, Virginia.