When it comes to high school reunions, Richlander Ken Lettau knows how to make a grand entrance.

Bike across the country.

Thursday, the 67-year old man will travel to his 50-year high school reunion in Kaukauna, Wis., on a recumbent bicycle.

“My friends all think I’m kind of nuts because not all people at my age are as fortunate as I am and can do something like this,” Lettau said. “God has given me a pretty good body for my age.”

The 27-day trip will take Lettau through Eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Kaukauna is 20 miles south of Green Bay.

He is making the trek with his 45-year old son Randy Lettau of North Bend and grandson, Joe, 20, of Richland. Randy and Joe Lettau will be taking a train home from Wisonsin, and Ken Lettau is meeting his wife, Pat, in Kaukauna with their motor home.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for me to get to spend time with my dad and also to spend time with Joseph, my nephew,” Randy Lettau said.

Ken Lettau will ride a 27-speed recumbent bicycle. The other two Lettaus will travel on 1971 Schwinn Super Sport 10-speed bicycles.

The Lettaus are calling their cross-country trek “2001 in 2001.” But the men actually will travel 2,011 miles. This includes 196 miles they traveled three weeks ago from North Bend to Richland.

All three admit they’re in good physical shape, but the long-distance bike trip is new to everyone.

“I’ve never done anything like this before. The most I’ve done in biking is riding back and forth to school,” Joe Lettau said.

Ken Lettau’s goal is to arrive in Kaukauna on June 14. The Kaukauna High School reunion is scheduled for the next day.

The three generations will spend an average of 10 hours a day on the open road, leaving at 7 a.m. and pulling in each town at 5 p.m.

Each of them will keep daily logs, which will be sent via e-mail to Ken Lettau’s son, Matt, in Sacramento, Calif. Matt Lettau will be updating the family’s Web site with pictures and diary entries every day. The address is www.lettau.com.

Ken Lettau, who is also a prostrate cancer survivor, said he hopes to spend time talking with people along the way about his life as a Christian. He also wants an opportunity to speak at the reunion about his faith.

“It’s a witnessing trip for the saving grace and amazing grace of Christ,” Lettau said.