May 18, 2023 - Day 2 To DC - Williams, AZ to Gallup, NM

  May 18, 2023 - Day 2 To DC - Williams, AZ to Gallup, NM

Rain last night, blue skies this morning. FYI. I did get May 17 loaded if you want to go back and see the start of the Run.

Every morning we will start with our fundraiser: 50/50, auction items, Silent auction items....anything to get money for the kids at Rainelle. It is kind of hard to see but this quilt is beautiful. This was made by one of the wives of one of the riders. All items are donated. Lance and Sarah have done a great joy collecting items for us. This is an all-year process.

 Next is the Pledge and prayer.

We are from Cincinnati OH and there is an organization from Kentucky that does something pretty neat. They have asked us to carry a POW/MIA flag for a veteran from the Vietnam War that was either MIA/KIA/POW. Along with this is a binder with several pages for people to sign along the way. Then in the fall, the book and flag are presented to family members. We need to show them their loved ones are not forgotten. Jimmy has volunteered to do it this year. Saray did it last year and said it was one of the most rewarding experiences she has ever had.

Here is who we are carrying for this year.

The platoon meeting is next and the words of the day are:

Throttle Control

Throttle Control

Throttle Control

The town of Williams is so small there is not even a traffic light.  Population about 3200.

The main street is split, and we take up pretty much of the full street when we stage.

We are waiting our turn to head up the hill.  Check out all the helmets.  Yesterday we were in the front of the pack, today we are in the back.  

Yesterday platoon order: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9....then the 3-wheels bikes.

Today's order: 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,1.....then the 3-wheel bikes.

So today will be a few pics where you can see lots of the pack.

As we pass what looks like a lake, we believe it is supposed to be a field.  Check out the fences.  Lots of rain last night. Nice reflection in the water too.  Here I go again with the beauty of this country.

Coming thru here the smell of the pine trees is pretty strong.  Smell great. I guess the rain helped with that.

 Pretty cool... right

As we head towards Winslow, AZ we are back to the flat land.  But check out the colors.

We head to a gas stop just before Winslow.  Here is a 9-11 Memorial.  It has 2 pieces from the Twin Towers.  It reminds us of all those lost.  

Since we are at the back of the pack, you can now see what a gas stop looks like...organized chaos. Most times you can fill 300+ bikes in 20 minutes.  We usually take over the whole station.

In this station, the staging crew really has to work hard.  Lots of cars and trucks, so many bikes in lots of small spaces.  They were up to the task and we all fit.

Right before we get into town, check out this bridge.  Look at ALL the people. And how big that flag is. I often wonder how long it took to get set up.  Remember we go under this bridge in probably 5 minutes or less.  So many people and all this support.

Winslow is one of my favorite cities because every school has the kids on the sidewalks waving flag and their hands.  Way to go Winslow in showing the kids to support all our veterans.

Staging is a piece of cake here.  Just 2 lines and take up the whole street.

Lunch is awesome and lots of it.  This buffet is all homemade and soooo good.  The Navajo perform for us.  The outfits they wear are amazing and the colors are so bright. They welcome us and pray for our safe travels.

I caught up with Lance our tail gunner after lunch.  He is also one of our veterans. 

Here is a little about him.  

Enlisted in the US Army 1985. Infantry, US Army Rangers

1989 Panama Invasion

1993 Battle of Mogadishu

Units: 

59th Ordnance Brigade

2nd Ranger Battalion

3rd Ranger Battalion

4th Infantry Division

10th Mountain Division

Thanks, Lance, for your service!!!

Here is a pic of the saddle bag of his bike. The paint is amazing.

Saddle up all.

The day is not over yet.  Head now to Gallup, the most patriotic small town in America.

There is 8 miles from the exit ramp to the destination for the Navajo ceremonies.  In that 8 miles there are people all the way.  Crazy!!!  I get how they got their name.

Here are just a few pics.

Crammed in like sardines.  HAHAHA

They have been chanting and praying for our safety a good part of the day.  Now they have asked us to join their circle and the chant.

The leaders. Beautiful.  

The "Code Talkers" came from here.

Code talkers are people in the 20th century who used obscure languages as a means of secret communication during wartime. The term is now usually associated with the United States soldiers during the world wars who used their knowledge of native American languages as a basis to transmit coded messages. In particular, there were approximately 400–500 Native Americans in the US Marine Corps whose primary job was the transmission of secret tactical messages. Code talkers transmitted these messages over military telephone or radio communications nets using formal or informally developed codes built upon their native languages.

This gentleman was carrying the code talker flag.  

The day is just about over, and Gomez comes in with his new bike.  I said "Hey let me get a pic".  Here is what I got.....  This guy has energy to burn.  When I first met him in 2015, he was riding a sportster and parts were falling off it.  

Curt sent this to Courtney.  What a beautiful sunset in a great town.

We are supposed to get rain most of the day tomorrow.  We head up the mountain to the Angel Fire Memorial.  We need you all to pray to keep all riders safe.  Thanks.

Temps: 56-84

Route: I-40E

Miles: 224

Quote of the Day:

Home of the free, because of the brave