Day 10 of the Run - May 22

What a beautiful day!!!!

Hard to believe this is our last day of the ride. We went 254 miles with only a stop for Lunch and a stop for gas. We arrived in DC at 3:30.  15 minutes ahead of schedule.  Got to love it.!!

Our niece Jamie, lives in DC.  She drove to Lewisburg to ride the last day with us into DC.  She rode with Larry and I rode with Brian on the first 2 legs and Ken on the last one into DC.  She has probably less than 2 hours on a motorcycle much less riding like this. She was pretty excited to get the day started.  In the true fashion of and FNG, there are hugs from everyone.   Her first hug was from one of the staging crew.

 So after 9 days, Leroy finally got a road name : Clutch.  The poor guy had so many issue but thru perseverance, he made it to DC.

 Last day for Ken to go thru his speech of all the rules to keep us safe on the road.  The person on the right is his son.  

I am still amazed and love to see all the bikes traveling like this.  After seeing it for 9 day, hard to believe that going into Arlington will be the last time (for this year).

Our only stop was lunch provided by Shenandoah Harley Davidson.  As we all got off the bikes to have lunch, I looked at Jamie.  She was grinning from ear to ear.  I guess she liked it.

We had the Star Spangle Banner played and a  prayer. The view behind the flags was amazing.

I am riding with Brian in the tail gunner position.  We are behind all the platoons.  As I make my way there, I look over in the sea of bike and big bikers, and see this little 95 pound girl.  She is there in the green if you cannot find her.

Pretty steep hill to get out. That is Larry and Jamie in the red and green. 

Before getting on the road,we ALL were able to line up. I do not think I got them all.

  Check out the order of cars: red, white , blue.

So here are the last set of scenic pics I will send. The hills of WV and VA are beautiful. you did not think I would forget ,did you?

Our last gas stop, we all decide to take a drink of the 5 hour energy drinks.  WOW do  they taste bad!

Melissa, the girl on the right, is a Pittsburg fan.  I think we have her convinced cheer for the Bengals.

 Back on the road again and with a LEO escort.  Highway shut down again. Look on entrance ramp and the highway.

 Here we are on the ramp

Nathan and Mary

As we get closer to our final destination (Arlington), I watch  the road signs.

 46 miles to go

 41 miles to go

 17 miles to go

  I wonder about the hard roads our veterans had to travel, the days and nights in fox holes, the POW camps, the bad weather, the missing of loved ones.  Our journey was only 10 day. Theirs were a lot longer than that and some never made it back. We had a lot of celebrating, hugs and cheering.  Our Vietnam vets got none of that.  We are not quite finished until we visit the Wall tomorrow.  For now there are lots of cheers we made this short journey across the United States of America.  We still need to bring our guys home.

 A familiar site in every city we went thru.  These guys never forgot and love that this mission is still going strong.  RFTW will keep the memories alive of our veteran from all wars.

 This is how we need to bring our troops home.

The #3 platoon as we arrived in DC

 Platoon #3 that went all the way!!!!

 Our platoon leaders and tail gunners

 #3 stage master - Tyron

 Gunny and his wife were there to greet us

 Gunny even had a RFTW pin for Jamie.

 Brian found a friend

Leroy has a new family. All 300+ of us. Thanks Leroy for being with us!!!

Day 9 of the Run - May 21

Well today started out a little rainy.  Everyone geared up.

 Including this guy, Check out his goggles  

 Jenny came to wave good bye, under a tent of course.  She drives the Kia van that carries all the plaques, raffle items, popcorn..... etc.  She is the person behind the route and assistant route coordinators.  She does not have a easy job, so I guess ok to stay dry.  :-)

 We did get a few out to cheers us on, umbrellas in hand

 Today we go to Charleston, capital of WV.

During a few of the speechs, they talked about West "by God" Virginia.  Did they change their name?

                                     

Now we head to Rainelle. All week there have been  raising money for the kids of Ranielle.  There are 50-50 raffles ( all the money went back to the fund),  There were challenges (mentioned it in earlier blog). There were "damn it " dolls:  1 for $5 or 2 for $10.  What a bargain Boiler Maker!! We had engraved knives and quilts that were in the drawings.  I am not sure what the final total was but it was over $10,000.  AMAZING!!!!

As we were walking the hall looking at the picture the kids had done, we  talked to a lady that is currently on the board of directors.  When the first riders came thru,she was a kindergartner teacher.  The principle at the time said let's take the kids out to meet them.  When she looked out her window, she saw guys in black leather, riding motorcycles and they are all strangers.  For one thing, they were trying to teach the kids to not talk got strangers.  She said ok.  The rest is history as they have not missed a year since.

The higher we got in elevation, you could see the clouds were just hung there.

 Very nice road.  

Fairfield Harley: this was a great road.  We all talked about how fun it would be if it was not raining.

Then we got the fog!!!!

 Ok so even though it was a rainy, dreary day, I still managed a few scenery pics.

We arrive in Rainelle.  What a reception from the kids.

 We brought little trinkets for them.  It was like Holloween.  They all had bag to keep them in.  Each kid had a little booklet they made in school of plain paper..    They ask for our autographs. It was so much fun.

 The lady in the picture was a small child when the first RFTW came thru.  This is her son and he is now the second generation for this wonderful event.

This lady has not missed a single year.  She loves it.

This little girl had Aaron wrapped around her little finger!!!

This sign has the kids hand prints on them with their names.

As we walk down the halls, the walls are full of posters like this.  It is pictures from all the years of the RFTW participants and the kids.

As the day was coming to a close, Leroy talked to the kids.  He showed them his medal.  He also told them, you to not have to be wounded to be a hero.  Showing kindness and helping others make you a hero. He is such great speaker and every speech comes from the heart.

The kids all had shirts the same.  I love the saying on the back.

WE ARE THE FUTURE

They are our future. Lets keep this legacy running.