Monte's family helped him into the driver's seat of his car and he set out, determined to satisfy his craving for beignets. It didn't matter that he could no longer talk and barely walk. He was about to drive the 1100 miles to New Orleans from Romeo Michigan to get a treat he loved. And he was going to do it alone. As Monte's family relayed the story to me, none were surprised when he left that night, nor were they surprised when he returned having done exactly what he set out to do.
The fact that he had been diagnosed with ALS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, three years earlier had both everything and nothing to do with it. It was just another example of Monte's drive and courage to accomplish whatever he set out to do.
16 years prior Monte Clute had made another long trip. He and his wife and young sons aged 13 and 9 saddled up and made a bike tour from Ft. Collins Colorado to Michigan to visit the boys grandparents. A pretty courageous act in the age of no cell phones and no internet. It took a month but they made it safe and sound. It made a lasting impression on their family and cemented a sense of adventure in Monte's sons.
This year that ride is being re-created by Monte's oldest son Mitchell and his family as a celebration of Monte's life and to raise money to help defeat ALS. They are on Day 8 of their ride now and are sending daily reports to their blog MONTE's RIDE to Defeat ALS.
If you visit the blog you can see photographs from the original ride and read more about Monte's life and adventures as well as see how the current bike tour is progressing. There is also an opportunity to make a donation to help them achieve their goal of raising $20,000.00 to support the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the ALS foundation, which helps fund research and aids ALS patients and their families.
I could tell you other stories I have heard about Monte but his story shines best in the telling by his family. I wasn't fortunate to know the Clutes when Monte was alive but I expect he had a lot in common in attitude and outlook with this man.