Comments on: Round and Round We Go (updated)

By: Dan Updegrove

Dan Updegrove — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 02:57:19 +0000

I met this remarkable fellow near the Stanford University campus in 1983, when my eyes were drawn to a bike overloaded with bright nylon bags. I asked the tall fellow in bright nylon clothes, “How much does that bike weigh?” and he responded, “a couple hundred pounds” … “How long you been riding?” …. “4 weeks” … “Where’d you start?” … “Philadelphia” … “Amazing!” … “So guess how I ride it.” I looked at the bike long and hard: A TV was mounted where the seat should be; two mirrors hung on long brackets, facing front; the bars were padded in a peculiar way — and the toe clips were mounted backwards! “No” I said, “Can’t be.” So he showed me clippings from his numerous ocean-to-ocean and Canada-to-Mexico charity rides, and then jumped on the bike and pedaled around. I’m dumbfounded to this day. RIP, Mr. Wooten

By: Ray Moore

Ray Moore — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:47:26 +0000

I ran into Wrong Way while swimming at a swim meet (high school) between events in Phoenix sometime in 1982-84. (It was BCP vs I think Apollo for those of you in Phoenix.) He stopped and talked to a group of us. He gave us advice on girls. I won’t repeat it here, but everything he said was good advice–I wish I’d taken it!. He seemed like a gentle, honest decent man.

By: Huck Cronin

Huck Cronin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:17:18 +0000

I met Wrong Way back in the 80′s at Arizona State University. He stayed with us in the SAE fraternity house for nearly two weeks. We rode together, did nunchucks, were on the news, were cited by the poice (for haveing nunchucks on campus – I considered them an art form, rather than a wepon) and partied together. He …read poetry, philosphised and told us about his son and family. He was a very interesting guy, to say the least. I am sorry to hear that he as passed.

By: Craig Wooten

Craig Wooten — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:18:48 +0000

Hey Maryellen, I talked to my Uncle Nathan and he would like to hear from you. Hit me with your e-mail and I’ll give it to him. My e-mail is VicGrimes210@gmail.com.

By: Maryellen Toland

Maryellen Toland — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:43:08 +0000

I was looking for a fellow named Nathan Van Wooten from Bryn Mawr
I believe he was “wrongway’s” brother. I knew him from a dental practice I worked in around 1979-1980+.

By: Kevin G Wooten

Kevin G Wooten — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:21:12 +0000

Very nice to hear stories from some of the people my brother knew, and met along his travels. He did more in 47 years than most people do in a lifetime.

By: Craig Wooten

Craig Wooten — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:06:36 +0000

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/VicG/Wrong%20Way%20Wooten/WrongWayWooten2.jpg?t=1250291149

By: Craig Wooten

Craig Wooten — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:05:41 +0000

Here’s a pic of Tommy (Wrong Way) with his bike.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v502/VicG/Wrong%20Way%20Wooten/?action=view¤t=WrongWayWooten2.jpg

By: Craig Wooten

Craig Wooten — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:59:21 +0000

Tommy was my Uncle. He passed away in January of 2004 from heart attack. I am glad to read some of these stories. It makes me tear up a little. I’m gonna make sure his son Paco and his grandkids read this post. I have so many fond memories of him. I don’t know which ones to share but I would love going towing with him late night and when we were done around 4 in the morning, he’d say “Let’s go to Waffle House.” And we’d drive from Bryn Mawr, PA to Elkhart, DE about 45 minutes just to eat. So much fun. I miss him.

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:34:20 +0000

Wrong Way visited our T-shirt shop in San Clemente in the mid-80′s. He created some very unusual multi- colored designs and we had a good time printing them in our little back-room print shop. He struck me as remarkably ego-less, given his flamboyant style. We had some great conversations! He may be gone, but he’s still out there…..
Maybe someone will make a movie.