Arlington and The Wall

The last day is here.  That is both a good thing and a sad thing.  We are all tired yet anxious to complete our mission.  We stage in a hotel parking lot and set off for the final 258 miles.  We pick up a bike on the first leg and also have another on board that has an electrical problem, Eamon Tansey an Australian Vietnam Veteran.  Eamon and his wife have been caring for my stuffed animal a Tasmanian Devil and giving him some air on the ride to DC.  Steven is also following as we start the last day.  Eamon and Steven are featured in one side of the road picture.

We unload a bike in Staunton and just catch the pack in Front Royal and grab snacks for the last leg.

We made it, Arlington Virginia.  The crowd is at the curb as we arrive at the hotel and most importantly my son is there.  How could this get any better?  Being in DC with both of my children is the perfect ending to this wonderful trip.  I know it will get even better in the morning when the rest of my sons family will join us on the mall.

Lewisburg, VA to Arlington, VA

We stage at the water park in Hurricane and Steve shows up as a new person.  He will follow all day and he is eager to help when we stop for other riders.  What a change.

Off to Charleston, the state capitol and doughnuts and coffee with the governor.  Tisha gets back on a bike for the ride into Rainelle which I know she will enjoy.  There are way too many pictures of her and her white scarf leaving the capitol but she is my daughter so deal with it.

We follow a river out of Charleston through several small towns along the way.  There is one town where the river is dammed and there are a couple of falls that is just beautiful and I would like to spend some time there just to take pictures.

Through the hills and into Rainelle where the kids ask us to sign their books, shirts and hats along with white dogs with red and blue eyes.

There are other biker groups in town and I found a table to sit for a while when someone walks up and asked a rider to look up the name of his brother when he gets to the wall.  The rider said he wasn't going to the wall.  I spoke up and said I would find his brothers name and say hello for him.

I gathered up Tisha and took Tim into Lewisburg where we unloaded his trike.  He was going to ride the last day into Washington no matter what.  Tisha and I got into our motel just before the hail storm hit.  It caught a few of the riders on the road and they hid under the nearest overpass until it was over.

Hurricane, WV to Lewisburg, WV

Our first stop today is the VA Medical Center near Louisville.  After running the chase trucks down the wrong street we turned around and they really did have a place for us to park!  The patients and staff came out in force and all seemed to be in great spirits.  This is one of the happy/sad stops.  It is great to see the staff and know that the patients are being taken care of but wish that the care wasn't needed.

The other day I met a young may who is a counselor for the VA.  He treats PTSD patients and had planed on stopping in Kansas but ended up calling his wife and telling her that there were people here who needed him.  She told him to go on and he gave me his card.

I was approached by Grumpy again as there was a rider, Steven, with his wife on a trike towing a trailer that was having trouble keeping up.  They had moved him to the back of the platoon but he still had trouble keeping up on the hills and was getting distraught thinking that we were going to leave him.  He was worried about the tires on his trailer as they were wearing to fast.  He was then asked to follow the "Last Man" vehicle and was sure that we were trying to get rid of him.  I agreed to drop back and follow him if he needed any help.  I stayed back with him and we lost touch with the pack but I continued to follow.  As we approached the Kentucky State Vietnam Memorial (which my brother had a small part in designing) it became apparent that he didn't know where to go so I had him follow me.  I kept watching the mirror to make sure I didn't leave him and we continued to Hurricane.  At Hurricane there was a Vet Center Bus and Steve went in to talk to them but it didn't seem to help his attitude.

I had also given Steve the card of the counselor that I had met earlier.

Donna has volunteered to help with the driving of the Last Man Vehicle.

I also met Pat today.  She is bringing the ashes of her husband to be interned at Arlington National Cemetery on Friday.  A tough trip to have to make.

Corydon, IN to Hurricane, WV

This morning as I was getting the truck loaded I saw a leg standing next to a bike (see pictures below).  The biker had lost a leg when he "rolled" a locomotive while working for the railroad.  He had a great outlook on life and as we talked he showed me the bottom of his leg.  It has a "happy face" carved into the rubber foot.  He likes to walk on the beach and leave prints in the sand, "happy face", footprint, "happy face", footprint.  Then he sits on the porch and watches the kids try to track him.  I love these people.

Picked up another bike and missed the stop at Jefferson Barracks, a VA Hospital, then another on the way to Evansville.  Caught the pack at Corydon and was able to enjoy the "fish fry" at the fairgrounds.  Tisha spent the day with her biker buddies and is having a ball.  Tim was a big help loading and unloading bikes.  Hope he doesn't overdue.

Junction City KS to Wentzville MO

Another 6:00 o'clock wakeup and breakfast at Church of the Nazarene.  While waiting for the briefing one of the Platoon Leaders, Grumpy, came up to me and said one of her riders was feeling ill.  It was Tim and USMC veteran and citizen of Canada who had a bad cough and had a fever overnight.  We loaded his trike onto the trailer and he rode with us as we set off for the first fuel stop outside of Topeka.  Tim also loaned his "leathers" to Tisha and she managed to talk her way onto the back of a bike for the day.  Notice that she waited until we were well clear of the snow!

Have you ever been following 390 motorcycles through a strange town and found that the leader had taken the wrong off ramp?  It gets real interesting.  You can't just pull over to the side of the road and check a map, you have to keep moving.  What I saw was the front of the pack coming down the other side of the highway, first time I saw the front of the pack.  I managed to lose sight of the  car ahead of me after a slow truck got between us and went to my backup plan, the GPS.  I knew we  were supposed to be on a toll road and take it to a service area for fuel.  I got to the toll both and they asked "where are the bikes?"  I said "I don't know" and went to the gas station where I was the first to arrive.  If you didn't know, I am supposed to be one of the last to arrive.  The rest found their way and showed up about 15 minutes later.  The leader had a very red face!  This maneuver is now known as "The Topeka Turn Around!"

The next leg takes us to Concordia for lunch in the city park.  As we left the Interstate for the trip through town a group on a corner waved us around a corner where a disabled bike was.  I went down the street but all I saw was were police escort bikes.  I parked near them and sure enough it was a police bike that wouldn't start.  Would I get to put a police bike on the trailer?  Wow!  It turned out that they had another plan.  The got out a heavy nylon strap and used one bike to tow the other up to speed and get it started!  Look at the pictures and you can see the strap.  Maybe I should have bought a strap instead of the battery pack that I carry.  I could get them going good with the truck!

I love the setting of the lunch at Concordia the city park and the people that come out to meet us.  I even found Tisha in her leathers.  How will I ever explain this to my grand-daughters?

After lunch we head for Columbia for a parade and fuel then on to Wentzville for dinner at the VFW.  It was Donna and Tim and I in the truck as we approached Wentzville and Tim wanted to go right to his hotel and skip the dinner.  Donna asked if he wanted to go to the hospital and he said if he did he could take a cab, "you have better things to do"!  As one we said, "No We Don't"!  We got him registered and took him to the hospital.  Donna went inside while I tried to contact one of our Chaplains who are trained to handle these things.  I couldn't get anyone on the phone and left for the VFW.  I got stuck in the traffic jam approaching the VFW and was able to contact  Chaplain Dave and met him at the driveway to the VFW and gave him the information.  Dave left for the hospital and I parked the truck on the wet grass knowing it would likely get stuck.  It did!  A couple of "farm boys" came over and said, "hold my beer, we'll get er out".  After three tries, a broken rope and bending the hook straight on a tow strap, they "got er out".

After dinner I got a call that Tim would be released from the hospital that night, he had bronchitis and wanted to know if I could pick him up.  Duh.  I picked him up and took him to the drug store for prescriptions.  He will be riding in the truck for a few days.

Wentzville MO to Corydon IN

The alarm goes off and we spring into action.  OK, we stumble out of bed and try to remember where we are and where breakfast and coffee are.  Back to the armory for breakfast and a Non-Denominational Church Service before we parade back through town and a short 285 mile day.  Our first leg is only 57 miles to Oakley where we fuel and have lunch.  Lunch we just had breakfast but with the time change we lost an hour so it is almost 11:00 when we get to the park for lunch.  Hamburgers, hot dogs and lots of people.  It is amazing that a bunch of old vets can get together and ride across country with their supporters and people stand on bridges to see us go by, they wave and feed us.  This is a great country.

It's all Interstate to Bunker Hill for fuel and on to Junction City.  The first time I was a chase truck I arrived at Bunker Hill ahead of the pack as I had been dropping off a bike and missed lunch.  There were people on the overpass with flags 45 minutes before the pack arrived.  I grabbed something to eat and met the woman who ran the station as she was handing out flags to the local customers and telling them what was about to happen.  It was my first chance to see the arrival of the advance teams and watch them prepare for the pack.  By now our fueling operation is a well oiled machine but the yelling and pointing are just as evident.

The last leg to Junction City goes well and we parade through town to Heritage Park and the Veterans Memorial.  The streets are lined with flags and people.  There is an impressive memorial at the park then dinner at the American Legion Hall.

Goodland, KS to Junction City KS

Tisha and I have slipped into a routine.  The alarm goes off at 6:00, out the door by 6:30, breakfast and stage by 7:30 ready for the days first leg.  We drove from Angel Fire to Eagles Nest for breakfast at the Senior Center provided by the 279 residents and the morning meeting.  There was a brief ceremony before departing down the mountain.  The drive down the canyon to Cimarron is one of the most scenic on the trip.  A brief ceremony in Cimarron and on to Raton, NM.  Fuel, snacks and say hi to the many folks who turn out to meet us.  The school kids usually turn out to sing patriotic songs but couldn't be there this year.  Their songs are a highlight of this stop and hope to see them next year.  We parade through Raton with our police escort and continue north to Colorado after seeing our escort standing at attention and saluting us at the border.

It's Interstate from Raton to Trinidad then back to Highway 350 and a parade through town.  It is amazing to see all of the people come out, wave flags, shout hello and thank you.  The woman with both hands over her hart, the veterans saluting, the seniors, some standing with help and the children.  It is a moving experience for all of us.

La Junta is the next stop for fuel and lunch.  We took time to move the Road Guard Bike to the sound trailer and headed to the lunch wagon.  I heard someone yell my name from across the street and there was Ken Rhoades.  Ken rode shotgun with me last year and was staying in Colorado.  He brought his mother 100 miles to say hello.  We were able to spend a little time together while I gobbled down lunch.  Someone told me that a station around the corner was providing fuel to the chase trucks so I went over and topped off.  Two more legs and 209 miles left to go.

Fuel at Limon and on to Goodland Kansas for fuel and dinner at the armory.  After fueling we parade through town and every house seems to have a flag out front.  This is one of the longer days 390 miles and four days into the trip we are all beginning to feel it.  Some are already asking "what day is it?"  "Where are we?"  The motels are beginning to merge together and it is easy to forget your room number.

Angel Fire, NM to Goodland, Ks

Breakfast at Denney's again then off to staging at the Red Rock Cinema.  Attitude wished me a happy birthday and Tisha made her "pants" announcement.  It was good for a laugh from everyone.  New Mexico again provided a fantastic escort by holding all traffic behind us and blocking every on ramp.  The police would stop traffic on an on ramp then sometimes let our Road Guard take over while the officer raced up to the next ramp.  I heard later that as the officer left one on ramp he told the Road Guard to come with him.  When they hit 110 mph with the officer still pulling away the Road Guard motioned for him to go ahead, "I'll catch up later".  The officers volunteer for this escort and there is a two year wait.  We came across a bike on the side of the road and stopped to assist.  He didn't have to go on the trailer and we caught up at the Casino fuel stop.

I managed to score some Slim Jims from the showgirls at the Casino fuel stop then off to lunch at the Camel Rock Casino in Santa Fe.  The Casino set aside the big dinning room for our lunch and did it up right.  Next stop Angel Fire.

We followed the pack up the mountain to Angel Fire but turned off for the Resort and unhooked the trailer as there is little room to park or turn around at the memorial.  The Angel Fire Memorial is one of the highlights of the trip.  Please check out the web page for information  It is a moving experience for all involved.

The 279 residents of the Village of Eagle Nest prepared a pot luck dinner for our 350 riders.  It was all home cooked and there was a large variety to choose from.  This was one of the best dinners on the entire trip.

Tisha had arranged to have a massage therapist show up with her chair and give massages to all who wanted.  I got an extra minute as it was my birthday.

RFTW 2011 Day 3

We woke up this morning to a parking lot full of snow covered bikes and an iced over parking lot.  I had to get out the battery pack to jump start a couple of bikes and watched as snow was brushed off of seats and windshields.  It was great fun knowing that the defroster and heater in my truck worked so well.  We went back to Rosas for breakfast and delayed our departure to let the ice melt on the road.  We put our first bike on the trailer with a tire problem and took him into Flagstaff for repairs.

We caught the pack in Winslow and as I left the freeway there was a Road Guard at the side of the road.  He had hit a large rock going around the corner and broken the trunk bag off of his bike.  I stood by as he re-packed his stuff and put the broken trunk in the truck.  He got all set and found that the bike wouldn't start so we put his bike on the trailer as the pack left and then went to the gas station for fuel and breaks.

We caught the pack at Holbrook, our lunch stop.  As lunch ended it seemed that every school kid in town showed up to see the bikes and wish us well.  It is really great to see the kids taking an interest in what we are doing.

Time to head off to Gallup and the Indian Gourd Dance sponsored by the Black Creek Gourd Society.  I was anxious for Tisha to see this and connect with her Indian Heritage.  We stopped to drop the bike in Gallup and hid in the truck while a brief hail storm passed!  We arrived at the plaza for the Gourd Dance and again my phone rang!  One of our Road Guards, Warlock, had been in an accident and was in the hospital, his bike was "un-rideable".  Ron Covey was standing nearby and asked "what can I do?"  I sent him to find a couple of Road Guards to help load the bike and told Tisha to stay and watch the dance and take pictures.  I got directions from a police officer and found three Road Guards standing at my truck saying "let's go".  I had to back the truck/trailer around a corner with a fire truck in the way but the Road Guards moved cones and barricades and gave good directions.  They jumped onto the trailer and we took off for the hospital.  There was some damage to the front of the bike but we got it on the trailer and found that Warlock would be released with a broken bone in his wrist.  I took the Road Guards back to the plaza and picked up Tisha and Donna before returning to the hospital for Warlock.  Tisha and Donna had dinner at the plaza so we took them to the hotel and I had dinner with Warlock and took him to his hotel for the night.  During dinner Attitude was at the next table and I mentioned that one of the riders we had picked up had left the pants to his rain suit in the truck.  We thought it would be good for Tisha to announce that she would like to find the rider who had left his pants with her at the mornings briefing.

RFTW May 19 Day 2

The alarm went off at 5:30, and in spite of Tishas slow start we left the hotel in light rain with a trailer full of water for the traditional breakfast at Denneys (at least it is my tradition).  I was told later that water spilled off of the trailer at each corner!

We arrived at staging and put some of the water on the hydration truck, the rest went in the bed of my truck.  Fire, police, highway patrol and the police helicopter all added to the ceremony of our departure.  The platoons were formed as the riders arrived.  There was coffee, doughnuts and breakfast burritos for all.  Speeches were given and it was time to set off on our mission to cross the country in 10 days.

At 7:45 the Central Route of Run For The Wall departed with about 350 bikes plus support vehicles in light rain with traffic stopped on the streets leading to the freeway and the freeway itself.  Our trek has started.  Donna Steele also found a seat in the truck and would ride with Tisha and I.

We left the rain as we left the Cajon Pass and clouds gave way to sunshine,  In Barstow, the first fuel stop, the FNGs were exposed to the way we refuel.  For the individual rider it is chaos.  Road Guards have stopped the local traffic and are yelling and pointing telling each rider where to go next.  Highway pegs up, half walk your bike to the pump and stop next to another bike which is already fueling.  A member of the fuel team then hands you the hose and you gas up then he hands the hose to another bike.  Another member of the fuel team tells you how much you owe and you give him a hand full of dollars, no change, get out of the way there are more to fuel behind you.  More yelling and pointing as you are directed on where to park with your platoon so you will be ready to depart.  Now you have about 20 minutes to take a walk, get a drink and take care of your personnel needs.  "FIVE MINUTES" is the call and it is time to check your bike, Helmut on, bike started and go!

Fuel at Ludlow goes much the same and so does Needles then into town for lunch.  It was in the low 70's in Needles, a welcome change from the 100's we usually encounter here.  The Mayor declared it "Run For The Wall Day" in Needles and the community made us all feel welcome once again.  We ended up putting one riders "large" bag in the truck as it was causing him some problems and we would carry it to Williams for him.  I also noticed a Vespa Scooter was part of RFTW this year!

After fueling in Kingman, Arizona we held back to assist a bike that had trouble starting and so were well behind as we started the last leg of our 395 mile day.  As we got close to Williams the ground and road turned white!  Snow in May!  There was 2-3 inches on the ground and slush and snow on the roads.  Glad I was in a truck.

We made it to the American Legion Post for dinner and parked the truck.  As we went to get in line my phone rang, one of our trikes was broken down 15 miles out of Williams.  We had passed him on the side of the road but he had indicated that he was alright and then broke down after we had passed.  Bounce offered to go along and help so we set off on our first rescue.  We had made it all day without a single bike going on a trailer and would now miss dinner.  We located the bike and it was a VW powered trike and we couldn't get it up the ramp as it didn't have enough ground clearance.  Bounce called AAA and they sent out a tow truck to transport the trike to town.  We waited in the blizzard for the tow truck and then drove back to town and dropped Bounce at the campground (indoor) and delivered the "Big Bag" to its owner then found dinner at Rosas.  Checked into our motel and went to bed about 11:00, a long day.

May 18 Day 1

We are getting ready.  The day started with getting my daughter, Tisha, registered and saying hello to friends old and new.  Somehow we again ended up filling my trailer up with water which was in loose cases and could not be tied down.  The extra lights were mounted on the trailer and it is ready to go.  The sound system was delivered to Stoney and preparations for dinner were made.  Dinner was under grey skies.  We were ready.

May 17 Departure Prep

5th Annual “Run For The Wall” Fundraiser and Veterans BBQ

Entry fee $10 includes lunch and raffle e ticket.Scheduled Events: Food, Vendors, Music, Raffle e/50-50 Drawing

Menu: BBQ Lunch, Soda and Water

Old friends, new friends, lots of smiles and hugs.

Raytheon BBQ