A few minutes later, Ms. Senior Nebraska, Patricia Eliason Starr, stood up to a rousing ovation in the high school auditorium here. Time to go.

At 9:45 a.m., she hopped on her red Felt-brand bicycle to start her 1,400-mile journey to represent Nebraska in next month's Ms. Senior America Pageant. The 71-year-old Wahoo Public High School graduate — class of 1954 — can't wait to see whether she turns heads in New Jersey next month as one of 42 contestants.

"Atlantic City is just going to love this," Starr said. "Here's an old broad showing up on a bicycle for a national beauty contest."

Starr decided to pedal her bicycle from her hometown in Saunders County to Atlantic City, N.J., to raise at least $10,000 in scholarship money for the Wahoo High School music program. Starr plans to ride 70 miles per day and stay at hotels along the way.

From Wahoo, Starr planned to pedal into Lincoln before stopping in Nebraska City to stay overnight. Today, she hoped to reach Falls City, before trekking into Kansas on Sunday.

Her route will take her through Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia and Delaware before reaching New Jersey in time for the Ms. Senior America Pageant, Oct. 19 to 25.

A triathlete from California — in his 40s — agreed to be her riding partner. Her husband follows along in a decorated van that publicizes the bicycle trip.

This marks Starr's second bike ride across the country. In 2004, she pedaled 3,622 miles from Oregon to New Hampshire to establish a perpetual music scholarship at Santa Barbara City College.

"I can't ever call myself a 'bicyclist,'" she said. "I am a bicycle rider. I'm a diesel. I'm very slow. But I don't let any one of my limitations stop me from accomplishing my goals. I plan to live to be 100, unless I get hit by a truck."

Starr returned to her Nebraska roots last year. She and her husband, a native Californian, bought an 1880s house in Wahoo as a second home.

Starr is a lifelong musician, concert pianist, singer and teacher. She also plays trombone in the Prime Time Band, an 80-piece band for musicians over 50 years old. She has recently entertained at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn., and in Branson, Mo.

Her love of music inspired her to raise money for her hometown's music program.

"The exciting thing about everything I learned started here in Wahoo, and I have not forgotten that about my wonderful music career," she said.

This spring, she met all the criteria to qualify as Ms. Senior Nebraska. She was born here, went to school here, worked here and owns property here.

She moved to California in her 20s to pursue her music career. In 2006, she held the title of Ms. Senior California to represent her state in the Ms. Senior Pageant.

"Just because the number on the driver's license says '71' doesn't mean you can't pedal across America," Starr said. "I want to inspire people and inspire the kids of today."

Wahoo High School seniors Alison Thomsen, 17, and Janelle Jansa, 18, clearly got the message of Friday's performance by Starr.

"She's amazing," said Jansa, a drum major in her high school band. "She's proven there are other ways you can be in music after high school."

Thomsen, who plays the piccolo, said, "Being 71 and being able to play the piano like that and biking, it just shows that she's not going to let life pass her by."

• Contact the writer: 444-1056, john.ferak@owh.com