Eleven of the original 16 Cyclemates III who cycled across Canada in 1972 with their steadfast leader, Fran Call, gathered for an evening of friendship and stories in mid-July at the Bellevue home of Laurie (Sutter) Lyford.

Cyclemates III was composed of a group of North Mercer Junior High students in Fran Call’s Outdoor Fitness class. They embarked on the third of four coast-to-coast bicycle trips completed by Island students. Departing in June, the group cycled nearly 4,600 miles, primarily on the trans-Canada highway to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

All who began the trip successfully completed it. The motto was: “Cyclemates III From Sea to Sea.”

Each week, the Mercer Island Reporter carried a story of the group’s progress.

“I find that old-time Mercer Island residents still ask about those intrepid 12- to 14-year-olds,” Call said.

Missing from the festivities were: Kathy Rousso, Paul Wilhelm, Margaret Tivnan Keck, Drew Hendel and Dr. Patti (Daly) Head.