May 23, 2022 – Day 6 to DC – Junction City, KS to Wentzville, MO
Today was another great day. Cool temps, no rain and NO snow.
As we pull into the staging area I see a street sweeper…no wait it is our staging team. There is a big area with gravel and sand. Not too good for those bikes.. Everyone is looking out for each other. Family!!!
Breakfast….not that is a lot of people to server breakfast to at 5:30 AM
We started our morning meeting and Lance had a great speech. He had all the non-military go to the front of the stage. He comments on all the military behind them as those protecting our freedom. The non-military clapped. Then he told the military to look forward to the non-military, and give them a hand. They keep everything going at home, send cookies and care packages, …. etc.. We all work together as a family. And families protect each other.
Nice way to start the day.
We headed down the road and yesterday just continued with the coverage on the bridge.
Since we have moved back in the pack, we have a good view of how we look.
We all went thru a toll booth…. Careful all. We had to go from side by side formation to staggered to get thru. Yeah all made it.
Here are some of the interstate exchanges. I love watching all the bikes. Pretty cool.
Road guards are still holding all the entrance ramps.
We are getting really good at the gas pumps.
This is Boots. He gets a little animated. Keeps us all on our toes.
This lady has been coming every year for several years. She and many friends pray for safe travels to DC.
Hmmmm… I guess you do not have to worry about him (or her) talking your ear off while riding.
Remember I talked about the parking and how it needs to be mapped out. This is the best!!
Each platoon is in a semi-truck parking spot, in order and teams just need to pull out after the one next to you. I bet Steve and Chuck love this kind of lot.
Well wisher as we leave the gas stop. WOW…. such an honor. I never get tired of seeing this.
These next 2 pics look like a truck heading down the ramp. Not quite. Going thru Kansas City, KS, they used them to block the entrance ramps. Different… but effective.
Tollbooth #2… made it thru this one too.
Winding thru town heading to Missouri. We had an escort to get us thru downtown. So nice not having to worry about any other cars while we make the exchanges.
Missouri LEOs escorted us the rest of the day. There was no one on the road but us. We had the back door closed. Meaning LEO would not allow cars/trucks to come up alongside us. YEAH!!! Also our road guards had the day off. The LEOs also covered the entrance ramps. (Not sure if the road guards really liked just riding in their own platoon. - hahaha)
If you look at the front of the pack you will see red lights.
Courtney was able to get a great pic since she was riding up front. Both a little fuzzy but you get the idea. Pretty cool to see in person!!!
I finally got a pic of one of the cops going past us. BUT they are only doing 5 MPH over LOL
Look at all the people from this office building… LOVE IT
Love the hat Walrus. Keep us awake.
Riding into Concordia MO
This is a WWII vet. He is 102. I have seen him every year we have been on the RUN.
Here is Steve that does all the figuring out for the staging crew. The book is impressive. This book is worth its weight in gold. They can use the same book year after year and only add and delete from it.
Here is the chow line. SOOO good. I need to buy bigger pants.
The grade school kids walk around and have given us goody bags. There is a pin they have made in it, and an envelope. There is a card in it. The kids ask us to write on the paper who we are, where we are from and if we want to send them a note. They did this 3 years ago ( the last time we did the Run), and got about 50 back. They are hoping for more this year. I for sure will be sending one back.
Lori Wilson has been doing this for 14 years. She is amazing at how she has organized the community.
Here are a few of our escorts.
These kids have learned lots of lessons as they helped prepare for us. They are good role models for the younger kids and fellow classmates. They helped organize the care packages, cleaned all the tables and moved them around, cleaned up the pavilion,....
After all the presentations were complete, she asked that we ALL sing the National Anthem. We actually were not too bad.
Let's roll..
All are still there as we head out of town. Loving this.
The cars you see on the highway are stopped as we head up the ramp.
Now this is something you do not see every day.
I hope you do not get tired of seeing these, because I sure do not. Looks like Missouri is right behind Kansas for the overpasses.
Another pic of the LEOs leading the way.
Have to get a few of our beautiful country pics in here too.
I am not sure what happened here. Looks like the fell staging crews left him holding all the platoons number (actually all 3 of these went to another parking lot). Just looks pretty funny.
Word had it that Gomez’s clutch went out yesterday…. well it did and he was back on the road. Then at our last gas stop I see Gomez in the Harley dealer next door. There is a service guy working on it again.
Hey Gomez, you think it is time for a new bike???
Pretty impressive. We just got on the highway and were really running a tight format.
Heading into Concordia, MO. WOW what a reception.
What a beautiful Memorial !!!
Pledge of Allegiance said by all. We say it multiple times a day. It is amazing . I wonder how many say it and really remember all the words. Here let me remind you:
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
21 gun salute and Taps to end the event.
As we leave and head for dinner, I hear this song. I hope you take a few minutes to read it all.
Ragged Old Flag
by Johnny Cash
I walked through a county courthouse square
On a park bench, an old man was sittin' there.
I said, "Your old court house is kinda run down,
He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town".
I said, "Your old flag pole is leaned a little bit,
And that's a ragged old flag you got hangin' on it".
He said, "Have a seat", and I sat down,
"Is this the first time you've been to our little town"
I said, "I think it is"
He said "I don't like to brag, but we're kinda proud of that ragged old flag"
You see, we got a little hole in that flag there
When Washington took it across the Delaware.
And It got powder burned the night Francis Scott Key sat watching it
Writing "Say Can You See"
It got a bad rip in New Orleans, with Packingham & Jackson
Tugging at it's seams.
And it almost fell at the Alamo
Beside the Texas flag,
But she waved on though.
She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville,
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
There was Robert E. Lee and Beauregard and Bragg,
And the south wind blew hard on that ragged old flag
On Flanders Field in World War I
She got a big hole from a Bertha Gun
She turned blood red in World War II
She hung limp, and low, a time or two
She was in Korea, Vietnam, she went where she was sent
By her Uncle Sam
She waved from our ships upon the briny foam
And now they've about quit wavin' back here at home
In her own good land here She's been abused
She's been burned, dishonored, denied an' refused
And the government for which she stands
Has scandalized throughout out the land
And she's getting thread bare, and she's wearin' thin
But she's in good shape, for the shape she's in
Cause she's been through the fire before
And I believe she can take a whole lot more
So we raise her up every morning
And we take her down every night,
We don't let her touch the ground,
And we fold her up right.
On a second thought
I do like to brag
'Cause I'm mighty proud of that ragged old flag
Steak dinners for all !!!! WOW….
Thanks Courtney for a beautiful pic of the sunset to end our day.
Temps: 55-70
Route: I-70E
Miles: 350
Quote for the day:
Honoring the past, inspiring the future
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