Ruth Young
The Speckled Hen Inn embraces high standards of sustainability, and hospitality.
Ara Lucia Ashburne rolled into Madison on her Piaggio after a long day's ride through the Midwest. With 26 days and well over 1,500 miles behind her, the bed and breakfast on the fringe of Madison's north-east side was a welcome sight. She was nearly halfway through a 3,400 mile solo scooter trip around the Midwest, a training run for her Off The Map tour to raise awareness for hidden disabilities.
A hidden disability is any disability not evident by simply looking at a person, and can include cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder or an injury covered by clothing. Ashburn's story begins roughly ten years ago, when she fought a traumatic battle with a severe infection in her abdomen that ultimately resulted almost all of her abdominal muscles being removed. Despite her big personality and healthy appearance, she still lives with consequences of the infection and the steps that were taken to save her life that make executing many daily tasks difficult.
But for Ashburne, this isn't a story about her. It's a story about the thousands of people who live with hidden disabilities and don't feel comfortable talking about them. "Not many people know what hidden disabilities are," she explains. "I want to raise awareness of what they are, and empower those who live with them to feel more comfortable talking about them."
With this vision in mind, Ashburne began planning a trip through the Midwest that will ultimately serve as a trial run for a longer solo ride through Europe in 2011. After many months of planning, Ashburne set off on July 9 for a 50-day ride through seven states. Her route includes stops at points of interest like the EAA AirVenture convention in Oshkosh and the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum in Mansfield, Mo. She is giving several speeches about hidden disabilities along the way. The trip is a big feat for Ashburne, but breaking her trip into segments makes it possible.
Her August 4 stop in Madison at the Speckled Hen Inn was an adventure with a purpose. Because Ashburne lives in southwestern Michigan with her husband in a house they built largely from recycled materials, she was intrigued by the sustainable aspects of this particular bed and breakfast.
Owners Pat and Bob Fishbeck built the Speckled Hen Inn, a 50-acre estate just minutes from the Dane Country Regional Airport, from the ground up. "It's always been our dream to have property on which we could support ourselves by living off the land," explains Pat. The property has a grazing pasture with sheep and llamas, a vegetable garden with crops ranging from asparagus to potatoes and tomatoes, and dozens of fruit-bearing shrubs. Guests enjoy breakfasts made from these products, as well as fresh eggs from the Inn's sixteen speckled hens and syrup made from sap harvested on-site. It is also a member of Travel Green Wisconsin, an organization that certifies businesses that meet, maintain, and build on an extensive list of sustainability standards.
Sustainability has become a lifestyle for the Fischbecks, and they like to pass it along to their guests any way they can. "Anyone can start by making a small change," says Pat. "Once that task becomes second nature, move on."
After taking a tour of the Speckled Hen's grounds, Ashburne explained why this stop was meaningful to her and her journey. "It's important that people realize there are many ways of sending a message. It might be taking a 50-day solo scooter trip, or it might be building a sustainable inn. There's adventure wherever you go." Ashburne's journey will continue through Illinois, Missouri, Indiana and Ohio before she arrives back home in Michigan on August 26; her route and stops can be followed via a real-time tracking system. She is also publishing a blog and posting video updates during the tour, sharing a detailed account of her journey and experiences along the way.
