Interview with Bonita Oliva
Written by Robin Hardman
October 12, 2024 marks the date for the Inaugural Nicodemus Township History Trail Bike Tour and Bonita Oliva who lives in Rural Woodson is looking forward to this debut event. Bonita became aware of the event when her long-time friend, Angela Bates, started picking her brain, trying to learn from a biker's perspective what makes a good bike ride. Bonita has ridden thousands of miles in the United States and other countries so she knows a thing or two about biking.
Bonita became interested in riding while watching participants in the 2000 Bike Across Kansas (BAK). She was immediately hooked and began her riding career at almost 60 years of age. She met a group of ladies who were also riding BAK and they quickly became known as the "60s Chicks”!
Bonita experienced a near fatal bicycle crash that would have deterred most people from getting back on the “saddle". In her first BAK 2001, Bonita "clipped" the rear tire of another rider while “drafting" or following closely. This contact sent her into oncoming vehicle traffic and Bonita was airlifted to Wichita with multiple fractures and internal injuries.Bonita has completed BAK many times. She has also traveled the Eastern United States touring the Florida Keys, Erie Canal and she says the best ride was touring the Finger Lakes. Her longest ride was from Santa Fe, New Mexico to New Franklin Missouri which included 1,050 miles of the Santa Fe Trail.
Along with U. S. tours Bonita has traveled and ridden in Buenos Aires, over some of the Andes, Patagonia, Chili, Chiloe Island which is the second largest island in South America and where she felt her first earthquake. She’s also biked in Cuba.
Located in the Nicodemus Township Sign No. 3 at the Historic Baseball Diamond when asked what attracted Bonita to this ride, she had an endless supply of reasons with her Masters Degree and education in History. In the spirit of many natives, she considers Kansas to be a truly beautiful part of the country. The fact that the majority of the ride will be on dirt roads is appealing because it reduces traffic and allows the rider to enjoy the countryside and our abundant supply of hawks!
This ride in particular; however offers more than just scenery. It was carefully constructed to showcase the many historical markers explaining the history of Nicodemus and its founders. As a historical site, Nicodemus has a very unique history and Bonita knows that many descendants of the original settlers consider this area sacred as evidenced by the number who return for the annual Nicodemus Homecoming Emancipation Celebration (NHEC), which happens to be the last weekend of this month, July 25 - 28, 2024.
While Ms. Oliva says she's slowing down (at a mere 81 years old) she could have fooled me.