May 11, 2011

It was 48 degrees when we packed up the bikes this morning in Las Cruces, NM.  During breakfast we met a retired Marine who’d been to Quantico, VA while in service and had served 2 tours in Afghanistan. He is in Las Cruces as an instructor to police and Homeland Security officers in tactical training and survival skills. He was most interesting to talk with and whole heartedly supports our journey and cause. We gave him RFTW and Wytheville pins before we left.

                We rode in sunshine all day. We stopped for lunch in Tucson, AZ and made it on to Gila Bend, AZ where we stopped for tonight. We’ve now ridden about 2500 miles and thru a total of 10 states – VA, NC, SC, GA, AL, MS. LA, TX, NM, & AZ.  My bike showed 100 degrees when we stopped today after 410 miles. Tomorrow we plan to make San Diego.

                We checked into an old style motor court motel and walked down the street to an Italian restaurant for dinner. We spent some time by the pool before retiring early for tomorrow’s ride. Kick stands are set to go up @ 7:30 AM.

                We talked tonight about the 140 posters being carried to The Wall this year on The Run. Each one is the life story of someone missing in Viet Nam. The families have come forward to ask us to make sure they are not forgotten. Each rider who mounts one of the laminated weather proof posters on his/her bike has to be going all the way, has to keep it displayed the entire ride, and collectively leave the poster at the base of the panel on The Wall containing that name in a  special ceremony on Saturday, May 28. This is almost single handedly the result of the efforts of Karoni Forrester, whose own Father is still missing. Karoni has been in Wytheville on The Run, and will be again this year.