May 17, 2023 (take 2) - Day 1 To DC - Ontario, CA to Williams, AZ

 May 17, 2023 (take 2) - Day 1 To DC - Ontario, CA to Williams, AZ

Hi All

     OK take 2.  Sorry for the delay.  The storms were pretty bad last night and so glad we did not have to ride in them.  Thanks to all those prayers warriers!!!

Reminder:

The road guards were out there at o'dark thirty to guide us to Lot D for staging out of Ontario. The people of Ontario are also there fixing us breakfast.  

Courtney has a tradition and you have to keep them, right?  Pic with Gunny and Patio.

Ken and Jenny Ward are the great couple who introduced us to this mission.  Thanks guys!!!

 Morning meeting starts with Color Guard.  

The Pledge of Allegiance is said, and we have an opening prayer.

The bikes waiting for the riders!  WOW!!!

James "Gunny" Gregory was one of several to make that first trip and start RFTW.

The gentlemen here are also some that completed that first trip!!!  Thanks guys

This is the board of directors.  It takes lots of teams to get 1200+ bikes cross country.

Look at all the hands up in the air.  These are FNGs.  So good to see so many new riders.

Next, we go thru asking for Blue Star and Gold Star families, Active military and POWs. 

As we close to go to platoon meetings, there are a few words before closing prayer.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

"Keep the rubber down and the shiny side up."

HOW FAR WE GOING??

ALL THE WAY???

We will break into platoon meetings every day.  Since we get new riders every day, we need to go over everything.  Also, if there is anything to be aware of on the road, and just general information on the day, it is also review are this time.

 Here is Curt going over hand signals.

Kirk is the head road guard this year, and ready to roll.  Along with his team.

  

Now the riders are on the bikes ready to GO!

Heading out... what a great send off.

 

Police escort out of Ontario.  Loving it.  All lanes closed while we get on.

Beautiful blue skies.  You all will just have to put up with me on my landscape pics.  LOL

We love seeing the support.

Wild Bill making sure we go the right way.

As we get off one of the exits, we see these signs.  I bet you can get it pretty cheap.

First gas stop....not to bad guys.  

John is in our platoon for just the first leg. 

 I did not get a chance to talk to him but check out his bike.

USN Seabees.

We will normally see Walrus at our exit.  You just never know what he will have on.

It was pretty hot going as we are heading to Needles, CA...102

Some of our vets welcome us to a gas stop.

Staging crew at work.  Look for your number so you end up in the right platoon.  Think about this.  They have to get to every stop in front of us.  They have to know how many are in each platoon (this number changes every day), how much room between platoons. Sometimes they have narrow lots, so they are set up behind each other.  Also, every day the order of the platoons change.

Hydration team at their best.  All the fluid and snacks are donated. We have 2 trucks and trailers that are with us.  They set up at every gas stop.  Just more logistics at work.

Daniel is here with Courtney and Ron.  He is out Sit Rep.  He does a great job.  His reports are on the RFTW.US web site.  Take a look at them is you get a chance.

We will see lots of people like this out in the middle of nowhere showing support.

Ken looks like he is dancing, but just the job of a road guard.

Heading into Needles there are a lot of people BUT this little girl ....What a cutie!!

We love seeing the younger generation show support....our future.

They were ready for us.  Check out the lunches.  This year we get to sit in the air conditioning. 

I am going to have to buy bigger clothes because of gaining so much weight.

Star Spangle Banner and Taps.  I forgot my tissues.  Taps gets me every time.

They have a band, and they are very smart.  It is 102 in the shade.

Best part ever is the ice cream... better eat it fast.

Love the table clothes.  All from the kids.

This one says 

"America is amazing because it is my state and is just so good who wouldn't like the state America."

"I like to be American because I like America."

Heading out but first Ron took his cold water from his water bottle to try and cool off the grips.  Still hot.

Crossing the Colorado River in the middle of a desert.

Check this out.  Golf course.  Better not go out of the fairway.  

Would not be a good course for me.  I find the rough a lot.

This leg had some beautiful scenery.... I just kept taking pics.  Here are a few. 

Stop in Kingman for gas and all try to cool off.  

Rain expected in Williams, AZ our destination for the night.  Courtney and I have a huge advantage.  We tie rain jackets around our waist.  If is rains we can just put them on.  Sorry guys. I got a thumbs up from Courtney.

Here is what we get as we head out.

Our run from Kingman to Williams was a wild one.  We were not only trying to dodge rain, we were also trying to dodge potholes.  I thought some of them were going to swallow us up. One of the guys said it was like we were off roading. 

Made it to Williams with clouds but no rain.

Here is our staging crew.

Dinner: pulled pork, pulled brisket, ham, potatoes, cole slaw, and ....

dessert.  Ok now I have gained 5 pounds.

It was so nice to sit outside and yes... still no rain.

The young Marines out of Ashland, 20 miles down the road, can down to help with handing out drinks and cleaning up tables.  What another example of getting out young kids involved.

Example of parking on a narrow street.  

I mentioned that the roads were bad...well Curt sort of lost his tour pack.  I have a pic but hard to see.  It is held on with a bracket and that bracket broke the bottom of the tour pack.  He will be heading to the dealership in the morning to get a new one.

We all dodge the rain to Williams but not sure how many made it to their hotels.  Thunderstorms were pretty bad last night.

Destination: Williams AZ

Temps:  58-102(in the desert)-74

Route: I-15N, I-40E

Miles: 402

Quote for the day:

Freedom is not free