We had a wonderful breakfast supplied at the hotel this morning by McDonald’s Corp. The day was sunny and 30 degrees lower than normal – a comfortable 73 degrees. The Central Route had to delay their departure as they woke up to 2” of snow today.
Morning meeting featured a story about a MIA in ‘Nam from Tolleston, AZ and an Afghanistan casualty this year. There was a rider introduced to the group very reluctantly. I had the good fortune to talk with him yesterday but did not learn enough about him. He is riding cross country “all the way” for the first time. He is 83 years old and a WWII veteran. There was also introduced a rider who was a POW in Japan in WWII. The healing crosses generations! These are truly remarkable men. Their stories would not have been known nor told, but for the conversations of other riders. There also was a local media personality whose brother was killed in Afghanistan who was there to thank the Viet Nam vets because he said they were the first to step up to help his family deal with his brother’s death. So the emotion began early.
We put in long mileage today in harsh winds and blowing sand. We rode 102 miles to the first gas stop, 105 to the next (which was donated), 122 to the next, and then 77 miles into Las Cruces, NM. We had to ride staggered part of the way to stay safe. It was a bit grueling. Unfortunately we suffered our first (and hopefully only) accident. I don’t know what happened, but a rider went down. The report is that he suffered no broken bones, no head injury, and will be fine. His bike however is another story. He is in our prayers.
I learned this morning that last night the hotel had more people than rooms due to a computer problem. They put mattresses in conference rooms and several people slept there. Some riders went down the street to a church where they slept inside the church with a number of homeless folks. And I was told of a security guard who worked the night shift, had no family, and just gave his house keys to a bunch of riders and told them to make themselves at home – and he knew none of them! The Ride touches people in lots of ways!
Tonight dinner was at the Harley Davidson Store. Lunch today was given by the Wilcox, AZ Elks Lodge. We eat pretty well!
I received another treasured and totally unexpected gift tonight. A California rider was touched by Wytheville when he was there on The Run a few years ago. He set out on a mission – which took a couple of years to complete tonight. He presented me with a flag lapel pin that has been in Viet Nam, Iraqi and Afghanistan. What an honor! I am grateful beyond words. I shall always treasure it!
If you’re following my Face Book you saw this earlier today. But in case you’re not I want to share another surprise the AZ Coordinator, Jerry McNeely arranged for us this morning. We were riding along the interstate in a tight formation when 2 fully armed Apache helicopters came screaming up from behind us on opposite sides of the interstate about 200 feet above the ground! They streaked along the entire parade of bikes and when they got to the head of the column they roared straight up at an extreme angle of attack showing the rotor blades to us. For the better part of an hour they criss-crossed our formation following us about 100 miles into the gas stop. It was absolutely awesome! I did not know until today that riders on moving motorcycles could “high five” guys screaming by in helicopters, but I think that’s what I saw today!
We stage tomorrow @ 7:00AM and ride 350 miles to Odessa, TX. Keep us in your prayers.
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