2013 Run for the Wall

2013 Run for the Wall is finished.

We went All the Way!

We survived the frantic pace of the ride intact.  Or at least safe!

We met some awesome fellow riders!  The organizers talk about family - the participants make it a family!

The turnout by the citizens of this country was humbling!  Though it is good to know that people do still care about their veterans!

My trike ended up in the shop in Knoxville, TN with a failed u-joint.  I finished the ride two-up with Larry.

Never again!  Great mission, awful ride.

Can't imagine another occasion where I would choose to ride 2 seconds away from some strange riders across the USA!

Phenomenally well organized motorcycle ride.  With 25 years of experience the organizers are well versed in what works and what does not work.

The mission is an awesome one.  Glad I attended.  Equally glad it is over.

As "FNG" - fun new gal/guy we were privileged to RIDE in Arlington Cemetery yesterday.  No other group is permitted to ride in the cemetery.  We arrived in time to see the laying of the wreath and the changing of the guard.

Today we participated in Rolling Thunder.  Up at 4 a.m. to be ready to ride at 6:30 a.m. over to the Pentagon Parking lot staging area.  Two park areas...MAYBE 10k motorcycles.

Once in the staging area the ride does not begin until 12 p.m. - and it took 45 minutes for our turn to begin the ride.  We rode in a large circle up Independence and then back to Arlington...at the hotel by 2 p.m.! 

Run for the Wall 2013

This year we begin our riding season by participating in the annual Run for the Wall.

For those who may not know about this ride it is a ride from California to Washington, D.C. to the Vietnam Memorial Wall.

Rancho Cucamonga, California is the starting point.  As of today we received information that 400 motorcycles are beginning the ride in CA.  Should be an awesome ride.

I am hoping to post daily as we travel across the U.S.A.

Thanks for looking!

Heading west

Sept. 11th we went to the New Jersey 9/11 Memorial...truly inspiring. The first photo below shows the the memorial 'columns' - the position of the 'columns' is the view that New Jersey had of the World Trade Center prior to 9/11.

Then we got on the Statue Ferry to go to Ellis Island the the Statue of Liberty!

 We then drove to Allentown, PA.  Russell Breuninger led us over scenic backroads to a little pizza parlor.  After dropping off Nicole Leeman we headed to Allentown, PA for the night.

In the morning we joined by some local riders as we headed to the Flight 93 Memorial in Somerset County, PA

 Rides end!
We separated at the Flight 93 memorial - John to relatives, Mike to Washington, D.C., Joel and Nancy home to Alabama, Jim to Colorado, Gary and Marge to Missouri and we back to Nevada.

We were stuck in traffic 5 miles east of Cambridge, OH for more than an hour.  About a mile before the first exit  we used the shoulder to get off the interstate...and Jim rode off with us.  He had made a OOPS on the PA Turnpike and ended up behind and donated $20 to the PA turnpike system in tolls!  At the same time they saw Gary continue on down the road.

We stayed in Cambridge and headed for Missouri before the sun was up the next day.  We were hoping to be far west of St. Louis by the end of the day.  Not so!  Indiana caused us to lose 1 1/2 hours in construction traffic.  (I swear if I ever hear anyone bitch about a 10 minute wait in California I'll smack them!)

We ended up staying in Wentzville, MO - not far from St. Louis, but with the loss of time and the changing weather we needed the rest.

Again we headed out extra early and rode without construction delays to Colby, Kansas.  A blessedly uneventful day!

From Colby we rode through Colorado to Green River, Utah.  We had intended to stay in Fruita again, but any motel we were interested in was booked up.

Home today - a fast ride because Utah has some test sections at 80 mph.  Hope they quit testing and make more of I-70 80 mph.

We met some great people.  We were humbled by the flag lines in OUR honor when what we are doing is a tribute to others.