May 19, 2023 - Day 3 To DC - Gallup, NM to Eagle Nest, NM
Sorry for the delay.
What a great day in Gallup this morning. 47 degrees and sunny.
Check out the mountain.
The pledge is said and opening prayer.
Another thing that is done every day is a bio of a MIA/KIA. Then an FNG is asked to carry this to the wall. "This is why we ride."
And the platoon meetings. We have a road guard and chaplain stop every morning. RG gives us an update for the day. This is Tom Miller. He was the RC last and a Marine. He comes over and tells us how it is. Is famous saying his: "We are going east and don't F.... it up?"
Curt tour pack is now fixed. YEAH!! Someone gave him a piece of aluminum. Good to go!!
Every day we go over hand controls. If you have to pull out of the pack, and you need help, go jumping jacks to make sure the chase vehicle sees up. Way to go Courtney.
Today we moved up in the pack. Today's order: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,1,2. Stagers need to know this order so in every lot they stage, it is in order of departure. Check out the sky. Potential rain today.
We are geared up just in case. No fun to ride in the rain. Gets a little chilly especially at 47 degrees.
First overpass of the day
Look at the reception just going into a gas stop. Unbelievable. This is a 45 min stop and they take time out of their day for us.
Since we are at the back of the pack, you get a better idea of the organized chaos at the pumps. Day 3 we are getting pretty good.
You will see several bikes with little mascots, like Ron's Jerry. Here is one of the road guards with a pig. Interesting location.
While we were at the first stop, I was talking to Ed and Lorenzo. They just joined us. They even put me in the pic. LOL Here is a little info about them. Thanks, guys for your service.
Eduardo Santos, USAF, June 1975 to April 1999. Wiesbaden GE Incirlik Turkey, Osan AB Korea. Administration MH53 Crew Chief, Logistics Plans. The AF took him many places: Hawaii, Japan, New Zealand, Antarctica, many places in Europe, Philippines......
Lorenzo, Air Force, MSGT/E7, 24 years from 1987 to 2011. Served in Desert Storm/Desert Shield (DS/DS). A10 Warthog Crew Chief and Telephone Maintenance.
Remember Gomes? How can you forget him. At this stop several of his family members showed up to support him and the Run. This is his mom and stepdad. Gomez is very much a family person. And after seeing all of them with him, you can really tell.
Clouds still there, yikes.
Heads up here they come. Stay in your lane guys.
Downtown Albuquerque and NO other traffic, YEAH!!
Neat bridges.
Very weird cloud formations.
This is a straight line.
One of the overpasses there is a school bus with kids standing and waving. REALLY? out of school for this. Here is the background:
The bus is from the kids of Cochiti. Several years ago, the school was trying to get the kids more energized about learning. So there was an incentive idea. If you have perfect attendance, get good grades and have good behavior, you could ride the bus to stand on the bridge to see RFTW go thru. The first year there were 20 kids. They also have to rent the bus to get there. To do that, the kids would have bake sales and other events to raise the money. Great lessons. Again a very poor part of the country. If you have earned the honor to go on the bus in May, around Labor Day, a few other RFTW members go back to the school and the kids get RFTW pins. They love it. RFTW was able to take money to help the school out. The people there were so grateful.
LEOs ready for the next leg.
Not only do the LEOs block the entrance ramps, but they will also even stop cars on the road. Today they stopped our hydration truck. Pretty funny. I guess they did not get far enough in front of us. LOL
Check out some of the pics of our pack. I sit and see it all day and for several days and never get tired of seeing it. So many people, so much time, so much communication..... to get us across this beautiful country for our mission.
We are now heading up to Angel Fire Vietnam Veteran Memorial. We are going to climb up to over 8200 feet. Mountain roads. Wet, windy road are not fun BUT we lucked up and road for the most part are dry. We have made this trip multiple time and on a sunny day the view are spectacular. They are still that way today but no sun.
Before we left this morning, we were told that there is a section of the road that is under construction and down to one lane. WHAT??? Windy road, wet pavement and some red clay..... Yikes. When we reached the Memorial, we were told that the crew did not work on Friday and cleaned the road as best they could of any mud. All the riders were pleasantly surprised. Not perfect but slow and steady went the pace.
Everyone still came out despite the rain. Thank you for your support.
Victor David was a 1st Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps (B CO, 1st BN, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Div) and was killed in Viet Nam in a battle/ ambush near Con Thien. Fifteen other soldiers lost their lives in this battle.
Following the death of their son, U.S. Marine Corps First Lieutenant Victor David Westphall III, Jeanne and Dr. Victor Westphall began construction of the Vietnam Veterans Peace and Brotherhood Chapel to honor the memory of their son and the sixteen men that died with him near Con Thien, South Vietnam on May 22, 1968.
Bricks are laid every year on Labor Day for all veterans. Larry and I were able to go to Angel Fire this past Labor Day and joined many RFTW family members in helping to lay the bricks. It was an amazing day.
Scooter, one of our road guards, flew in this Huey and his name is on the inside. He was also able to be in it when it was decommissioned. I have asked him to give me a bio of his service. I will report this later.
Example of the bricks:
The memorial maintains a UH-1D model Huey helicopter, known originally as "Viking Surprise," one of the first smokeships used in Vietnam. On March 26, 1967, the helicopter, while rescuing service personnel, was so badly damaged – 135 bullet holes – that it was returned to the United State for repairs. The copter returned to Vietnam and was later sent to the New Mexico National Guard, which donated it to the Angel Fire memorial.
Normally, bricks are only laid on Labor Day. Today was the exception. We were able to lay one for a fellow RFTW family member. His wife and 2 sons were present, and they placed the brick. Ruppard was an amazing man. Y
Here is the bio that Duane read:
Kim played taps. Not a dry eye in the place. Those allergies hit everyone.
We are all done with the rain so head to dinner. OH MY.... the homemade food filled the tables. This town has about 300 residents. It is a snow skiing location. We over double that population when we role in.
Kirk's parents rolled in this evening. Harlan was the RC several years ago and I was able to support him in a leadership role. Mama O was one of the 3 mamas that year. It was great to see them. Family.
One of the things that is very interesting is trying to figure what to wear. It was cold this morning, and rain. You cannot stop and add clothes or rain gear. Well, I guess you can, you just have to get out of the pack. LOL
Some of us look at each other and say, "What are you wearing?" And we try to best guess the day.
Tomorrow will get us one day closer to completing our mission. Prayer warriors, keep going!!
Temps: 50ish
Route: I-40E, I-25N, 599,84/285,68,585,64
Miles:289
Quote of the day:
All gave some, some gave all
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