May 9, 2022 - Day 3 to Ontario

 May 9, 2022 – Day 3 to Ontario

It was a beautiful sunny day!   Love to say that!!

It was 49 degrees when we left.  Kay and Kay’s neighbor sent us off.

Dan led us around Denver to get to I-70.  This is much prettier than thru downtown.

 

Headed up the mountain to where there are a lot of ski resorts. We went past Loveland, Breckenridge, and Vail.  We even saw one that was open and people were skiing.  We were at about 7000 in Denver and went to over 11000 feet.   It is May!!

Check out the half pipe in this pic.

There is a golf course at the bottom of the mountain.  Pretty Narrow course.

Look at the number of sand traps on this hole.  I would be in one or more of them for sure.

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Running along I70…..and Colorado River….. enjoy the pics.

Check out the 2 lanes.  In some places one was on top of the other.

We ate lunch at a place called Wingnutz.  This is in Rifle, CO.  We asked the owner how he came up with the name.  He wanted to serve wings and figured he would be serving a lot of nuts.  Great food.

Heading out after lunch to Grand Mesa National Forest.

Elevation goes over 11000 feet.  Enjoy the ride.  It was beautiful and COLD.  It was 71 when we left Rifle and was 41 at the top.  You just never know how to dress.  

Soooo you know what that means , more snow.

Right above the tree line looks like a straight line.  This is the road we end up on.

At the top….. breathtaking.

Heading down for the day.  Wind was very strong again today. It really wears you out.  BUT the sun was shining and there was no rain…. I’ll take it.

Destination: Montrose, CO

Temps: 59-41 (in mountains)-77

Route: I-70, CO-65S, CO-92W, US-50, US-550

Total Miles: 333

May 8, 2022 - Day 2 to Ontario

 May 8, 2022 - Day 2 to Ontario

First of all I would like to say HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all you moms out there.  I hope it was a good day.

Today was pretty good.  Started at 65 degrees.  This is a great temperature.  Did I forget to mention that going thru Kansas is VERY windy?  Yesterday when we crossed the state line into Kansas, the wind was crazy strong.  It was like someone turned on the wind switch.  I am glad we only rode for an hour.  This morning we hit the expressway and it was no different.  Wind was very strong.  Here is a pic of Ron.  Pic does not do it justice but he was leaning pretty good from the wind.

This is how we rode for our first leg, about 2 hours.  Our necks will be pretty sore by the end of the day.  I would even hold my helmet with my hand just to give my neck a rest.  The first hour the wind was coming from the south, so our left.  Then there was a huge black cloud.  Temps dropped 5-7 degrees.  Larry looked at the radar on his bike and I checked it on my phone.  We thought for sure we were going to get soaked.  UGH!!! Good thing no rain BUT then within about 1-2 miles, the wind shifted and was coming from the north, our right.  God has a great sense of humor.  We will be evenly sore on both sides.

During one part of the run, the trees were growing sideways.  (kind of hard to see but is was pretty funny) 

Part of yesterday's route and the full route from today will be the same roads on the Run.  So we get to enjoy the wind again.  I am so looking forward to it.

Huge fields of hay bales, then we see a semi with them on it.  I started to do a little calculation.  What else do I have to do?  So I wondered how much weight is on the truck.  Each bale is 1300-1700 pounds.  There are 63 on the truck.  Average 1500 a bale x 63.  

94,500 pounds, 47 tons    That’s a bunch.  

First gas stop of the day, is a gentleman wearing a Navy hat.  We go over to him and thank him for his service. He was a very interesting person and gave us about 15 minute of his time. His name is Craig Blackburn and is a Vietnam vet.

Prior to the service he raced dragsters.  He was #53 for the draft so decided to enlist in the Navy.

 He served 1970-1977  in San Diego Miramar Naval Air Station where he spent his first 2 years in school training. He was a pilot for the F4 which had J79 engines.

He became an instructor for the Vietnam pilots for flight as well as instrumental.  He told lots of stories of flying planes. He had/has a real “need for speed”.   

He asked us to make sure we said "HI" to all you veterans.

We thanked him again and he wished us a safe journey. 

 Thanks Craig for your service.

We crossed into Colorada and the wind really died down.  We thought this was great!  We may have gone 15-20 miles down the road and the wind was worse than Kansas.  (This was a cool sign.)

Ron made a comment “ the wind must have crossed the border illegally”.  UGH 

Here goes Ron again, leaning hard.

Dust was across most of the dirt fields.  Good thing we had full face helmets or we may have been eating the dust.

We came across an unusual sign “Living Snow Fence”.  I won't see this in Ohio.  It is to help prevent snow drifts on the road.

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Yeah. We see mountains!!! Not flat

We ended the day in Denver and are  staying with friends from the Run, Dan and Kay.  We also have a cousin living in Denver, Brittany.  She joined us for dinner.

Brittany is also a veteran.  She served 2005-2011 for the Airforce National Guard.  Most weekends.  She did a 6 month tour in Kuwait as a Logistic Planner.   She followed in her dad's footsteps. He was a Vietnam vet. THANKS Brittany and Uncle Mike for your service.

 

Brittany, Ron, Dan, Kay, Jean, Larry.

Thanks Dan and Kay for your hospitality.

As I write this, my neck is feeling a little sore.  Tomorrow will be a fun day riding around Colorado so hope to have some beautiful pics for you.

Destination: Denver CO

Temps: 67-75

Route: I-70

Total Miles: 485

May 7, 2022– Day 1 to Ontario

 May 7, 2022– Day 1 to Ontario

Hi All,

      YEAH!!!  HURRAY!!!  YIPPIE !!!!!   We are back after 2 years of being off.

Welcome back to all those that have followed me before.  And "Welcome" to all the newcomers.  I am Jean and I will be submitting an entry every day on our journey from Loveland, OH to Ontario, California.  I am riding west with my husband, Larry, and my brother, Ron.  Then riding from Ontario to Washington DC.

 

May 18-27, 2022

 

 We ride for those who can’t.

 

For those new to following us, and as a reminder for those who watched us the prior years, below is our mission statement and what RFTW is all about. 

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Larry, my husband and my driver,  and I will be joining a group of motorcyclist to ride across our beautiful United States. This will be our 6th year.  The ride is called “Run For The Wall”.  (RFTW.org)  The ride will start in Ontario May 18  and end May 27 in Washington DC.    I thought you may like to follow us and see some of the pictures in honor of those that served.  

 

Mission Statement of RFTW : To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.

 

Philosophy: We strive to maintain a safe, supportive, and private atmosphere in which all participants can reflect and heal on their journey to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC in the hope that they can return home to a new beginning.

 

Goals: 1) To guide the participants across America.  2) To educate future generations as to the importance of accountability in wartime actions emphasizing that no one should be left behind.

 

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History (from the RFTW.org website)

Run For The Wall® (RFTW) was started in 1989 by James Gregory and Bill Evans, two Vietnam Veterans who traveled across the heartland of America on motorcycles. They talked to local radio, TV and newspapers about the thousands of men and women still unaccounted for from all wars. The need for this awareness continues today and we carry on this tradition every May.

We don’t give political speeches or stage demonstrations. RFTW gets its message to the public by riding across the United States: Coast-to-Coast. We obey traffic laws and treat all citizens with dignity and respect. The issue of public awareness is only part of the reason RFTW exists. We also give Vietnam Veterans and all Veterans the opportunity to receive their own “Welcome Home” and start their healing process.

 

Anyone who has fought or has friends or loved ones who have fought in a war, has their own issues from their own experience — the welcome home, the goodbye to buddies lost, the ability to finally help the young men and women we watch every night on TV, or just trying to accept coming home alive. Many who participate in The Run find that whatever they’ve been missing can be found in the RFTW family. They can finally start settling issues that have been “stuffed” away for many years.

There’s a nominal charge for participating in The Run, plus you pay your own expenses such as lodging. We are fortunate to receive support from organizations and people along the way. Most breakfasts, lunches, and evening dinners are provided FREE, or for a small donation by concerned citizens. There are many generous groups and individuals who also pay for our gas, too.

The trip is a 10-day ride from Ontario, California, to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC, where The Run officially ends. We meet on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday before Memorial Day. From there, we walk as a group to The Wall and declare our Mission Complete by placing a plaque at the apex. 

 

During the journey across the US, we make stops at memorials, Veterans’ Hospitals and schools. We enjoy parades, escorts and “Welcome Home” receptions provided by the patriots in our host cities.

Participants range in age from 8 to 80. They include fathers, mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers (some of whom ride their own bikes!); veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan; active duty military; supporters; friends and family. Everyone is welcome, veterans and non-veterans alike. The main rule is NO ATTITUDES.

Some people join RFTW and think it is just a vacation or another motorcycle event. After a day or two, you realize this is something special and unlike anything you’ve experienced. You become part of the RFTW family whose members come from all over the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, The Netherlands, and other countries. What could be more perfect than riding on a mission, making new friends and helping a very good cause (POW/MIA)?                                                                                                                                                         

If you have a few minutes, please go to the web site (RFTW.org). You will be surprised as a few minutes will not be enough.  The FNG (Fine New Guy/Gal) stories of many that have experienced the trip, whether full or partial, are worth reading.  We have a little personal reason for going on this trip.  We have a brother, brother-in-law, and uncle that served in Vietnam. Also Father that served in WWII and the other in Korea. Also a few cousins active today.

 

Not all of those that served were in the front line or even in the country where the war/conflict happened.  This does not minimize the fact that they have given time from their life and families to serve to keep us safe.  This is the same for those that are not actually on the Run with us.  You keep us in your prayers and thoughts.  We have family members keeping things going for the 3 weeks we are gone.  Thanks to those.

 

Any time you see a service man or woman, police or fireman, please take a few minutes to go over to them and thank them for their service.  It only takes a few seconds.  Let them know you appreciate what they are doing. 

 This trip will end at the Vietnam Memorial Wall but the support we need to give to everyone that serves should never end.  Keep us, and the 400+ riders we will be riding with in your prayer for a safe ride (and nice weather, we ride in rain, wind, and hail 😊 )
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Today started out a little wet and was 50 degrees.  

Ron , Jean, Larry

 

The first 2 days of the trip will be all highway.  We will be trying to get to Denver by Sunday night.  Around 1200 miles.  Soooo not many pics.

By the time we reached Bateville, IN the roads were dry.  

Then by the time we got to Indianapolis, IN we were in sunshine !!!

Oops forgot to mention Jerry.  He has traveled with Ron on all his trips out west. Poor Jerry had to have Open Battery Surgery over the winter.  But after a short recovery, he was ready to go for this trip. 

Crossing into Illinoios.

Crossing the Mississippi and into Missouri.

 

  

Gas stop was by a DQ.  Soooo we had to have ice cream.

Crossed into Kansas. As we go thru Kansas City, we see the Royals stadium.  The Chiefs stadium was right behind it.

 

Beautiful blue sky and cloud formations.

     

Ron and Jerry heading down the road.  You can tell I was needing something to do for the ride.  Kind of boring today.  BUT….. no rain and no issues.  Sooooo boring was good.

Pic as we pull into Junction City , KS for the night.

Stopped in Junction City, KS

Summary of the day.

Temps:  50-75

Route: I-74, I465, I-70

Total Miles: 725  (FYI, most miles Ron, Larry and I have ever ridden in one day)

Keep all those riders in your prayers that are coming 

from all over the country as they ride to Ontario.