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The Final Day.....making memories...making Ride For Semper Fi History

2009-10-27T13:01:00Z

     Well, writing the final blog is always difficult! There is a good feeling that comes along with the final words. A feeling of satisfaction, peace, and a sense that you know you have done something good with some of the best people you have ever met. The other side however is a feeling of sadness that this all has to end each year. After literally months of training rides,thousands of emails, hundreds of phone calls we were about to end the event with a check ceremony in Balboa Park. I felt happy and blessed about what we had accomplished, yet saddened that the people and the event would no longer be a part of my daily life (at least until next year ).

     We started the day just as we did every other ride day. Everyone woke up....stretched some tired legs and began preparing the bikes and gear before breakfast. Now.....breakfast is always different when you stay at Angels Landing!!!!! This is no Hilton Cont. breakfast where you wonder which is older...the breakfast foods or the building!!!! The Angels Landing breakfast is home made pancakes...waffles...potatoes....biscuits...eggs.....and about anything else you can think of!!!!!!!! We have been so fortunate to have the folks at Angels Landing as part of our team. They go out of their way to make sure we are ready to go on our last day!!!! As we ate breakfast everyone was moving rather slowly until our favorite Sgt. entered the room....Hummel!!!! Hummel ran all of our support team functions this year. When Hummel noticed everyone not moving as they should he walked in and said " LETS GO.........EVERYBODY OUT"....or something close to that!!!! Let me tell you...when Hummel speaks...you better damn well listen!!!!!! He is one of the most generous people I have ever know but when he says move....he aint kiddin!!!!! So we moved!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Hummel......our favorite Marine)

     After breakfast we took some time to thank our hosts Sally,Natasha,Theresa, and the rest of the Angels landing crew. I also had decided that today would be a great opportunity to introduce a new member of the team and great friend Carla Jurczynski. Carla is a Marine officer who has served two tours in Iraq. She and I had been trading emails
for several months about how she could join us on our ride. Because of scheduling issues we decided the last day would be our day!!!!!! I had waited to introduce Carla to the team because she had another very special reason for being with us. Carla had discovered through a video that we published that her friend Major Megan mcClung was being honored on our ride. She told me she could not beleive it and knew at that point she had to with us for at least part of the ride. I introduced Carla to the group and told everyone that I had asked her to speak for a few minutes about her relationship with Megan. They had become friends when serving together in Iraq. The next few mintues was filled with memories about not just a fine Marine but memories about a great person that brought passion and energy to enerything she did.   Carla described Megan as a person that everyone loved and respected. I looked at our group and watched as everyone literally hung in each of Carlas words and memories. The stage had been set for our final day.....everyone on that team that morning fully understood why we were riding.  Carla's presentation was from the heart and we were all fortunate to have had the opportunity to listen to her.
     We began the day by moving all the trucks and bikes to the road! As usual, we were running late on the last day! We just can't quite seem to get things going on the last day...Im not sure why. Anyway we began the ride with about a mile or so climb. Now, if you have ever ridden 300+ miles, gone to bed, and then got up and immediately gone uphill you wil understand this!!!! Our legs were screaming and we had not even completed a mile yet!!!!!! However, the show must go on!!! We continued through the hills of California and were shocked at how difficult the last days route actually was. LtCol Thompson kept telling me "this is easier than last year." Now Im not one to argue with an officer, but................Im going to respectfully dissagree with his assessment!!!!!!!!!!!! It was hard!!!!! We had huge hills combined with downhills where we were approaching 50 miles per hour (the downs....awesome...the ups...not so awesome!).
     After the first rest stop we had riders that were clearly beginning to struggle. Everyone had hundreds of miles in their legs and it was really starting to show. it was not that they could not compete the ride, it was just the pace that was beginning to take its tole on some of our team-mates. By the time we arrived at the second stop we were about an hour or so behind schedule.

     With us being an hour + behind it was time to make a decision. We were either going to arrive at least 2 hours late or we were going to need to ask some people to sacrifice by getting in the vans. the last leg of the ride would have to be reserved for those who could ride a "race pace" to the end. This was probably the most difficult decision I have been forced to make with regards to this event. Every person standing around me at the rest stop had sacrificed to be there....everyone had worked hard and given a 100% effort. However, we were in a real bind so I asked for volunteers to ride in the van. I told them that if they were having trouble with the pace it was going to "get worse.....get faster." We had about 15 riders decide to take the last leg in the van. I know that decsion was hard....I know it really hurt some folks...and I was very sorry for that. The important thing is that EVERY person could have made it if we would have had more time! Next year...we will allow for more time!!!!!!!!!!!

     We covered the next 26 miles in about an hour and 15 minutes...hills included!!!! It was a race to the finish for sure led by some of stronger riders. I remembered thinking I was not going to be able to stand when we delivered the check!!!

     We finally arrived at the police escort near Chula Vista about 12:30pm. We were late, but we were much closer than we were!!! After unloading everyone and waiting a while for additional police escorts, we lined up!!!! We had the Colored jerseys up front...followed by our Marines (Team Semper Fi, Major Connor,Carla, and Capt. Merkle). Paul Thompson and I made the choice to ride in the back. As we moved through the streets of San Diego I could not beleive what I was seeing.....it was an awesome site to see these incredible lines of people wind thorugh the streets. They were being cheered by people along the streets and they deserved all of it and more!!!!!!!!!! Half way through our trip through downtown we had two flats!!!!! I could not beleive it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brian Marcucci, one of our ride Captains, went to the back and fixed both!!!! Im still not sure if he made it to the park for the final entry in time. What I do know is he is without a doubt the best team-mate and friend to the RFSF that we could ever ask for. His giving spirit and committment is incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!

    As we moved up the final hill we could see the crowds along the street and final corner moving into position. We knew we had arrived!!!!!! After months of training rides and hundreds...maybe even thousands of miles...we were here!!!

     As I rode into the parking lot I watched as all the riders were greeted by friends and families. It was an awesome site!!! Hugs, handshakes, and more hugs were enjoyed by all. I found myself standing by myself for a few minutes just soaking in what I was seeing. The team had made it all this way and now they were about to see what they ahd accomplished. As i was standing there I saw my Dad and my daughter McKenzie coming over to greet me......I got the same treatment...lots of hugs!!!!!!!!!

     I began working my way into the crowd and could not beleive all the people I saw. I was greeted and congratulated by more people than I could possibly remember. I met children...wives...parents....and everyone in between over the next few minutes. Then....I spotted Wendy and Karen!!!!! Over the last two years Wendy and Karen (IMSFF Founders) have become such great friends. They have been a great inspiration to me and I am sure to hundreds of others. They met me with huge hugs and told me how happy they were to see us. The first thing I said was...." hey Wendy...the Marines you gave me to take care of....they are ok!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" You see, Wendy and Karen are like Moms to these guys and Wendy would not have reacted well if I would have hurt these folks!!!!! I made them all swear to me the night before that they would keep the man code and not tell Wendy how they had been tortured on the bikes for four days .

     We finally worked our way into the ceremony after everyone seetled in to lunch. LtCol. Thomspn did the honors by opening the ceremony and talking about how hard eveyone had worked. I dont remember all of his words, but I know that as i stood there I was extremely proud of him. Very few people know the sacrifice he makes to do this ride.....we could not do it without him. Finally the check was presented to Wendy and Karen for $147,500 dollars!!!!!!!! It was an awesome feeling to finally be able to show them what this team had accomplished!!!


Everyone was thrilled about what they saw....pictures were taken, hugs were given, and tears flowed by all I think. I closed the ceremony by making a feable attempt at recognizing all those who had helped to make the ride possible. Unfortunately, I was just too tired to do a very good job. Usually...talking...no problem for me....its about all I really know how to do!!!! I think the emotion of everything combined with the physical part had finally taken its toll.

     We finshed the day by taking pictures and just enjoying the moment.....As LtCol Thompson said...we were making memories.

     Unfortunately I cannot possibly remember all of the things that happened on our last day. The truth is I would give anything to re-live the experience when I wasn't tired. What I do know is I remember happiness,friendship, my family, and a team filled with the best people I have ever known. I also remember looking out into the crowd and seeing my family (minus 1...Jack..next year buddy..). I saw my father, my wife Kelly, my daughter McKenzie, and my son Austin. I realized as I looked at them that if there is any good in me it is because of them. My father gave me the best present he could have ever given me when I was growing up.  I watched him my entire life give to others without ever asking anything in return...whether it was bicycles for children or scout camp for handicapped children my Dad always gave until it hurt. He didn't talk about it or tell others, he just did it. He was a great mentor and my hope is that as I move through this life that I can live up to his example ( it will be very difficult). My family as usual hung with me and supported me through this entire process. My wife is steady as a rock...no matter how difficult or time-consuming things became, she knew how important this was to me and she stood by me and never wavered....she is the best there is!!!!!!

     So that is it!!!!!!!! I will finish by pasting the comments from my last email to the team......I hope you enjoyed this years blog. Dont forget to visit the website for updates and picture links!!!

     Until next year....God Bless and Semper Fi

                John

Good morning everyone!!!!

Well, after finally getting a couple of good nights sleep I have began thinking about what we experienced over the few months with the Ride for Semper Fi.

My good friend Paul could not have been more correct when he said these events are not just about raising money...they are also for making memories. While I tried in an absolute state of exhaustion to communicate that in my closing comments of the ride, nothing I could have ever said would adequately describe the memories that I will enjoy from this experience.

Here are some things I will remember.....I hope you have your list as well;

I will remember the training rides and some of the heroic rides I saw from folks who were clearly reaching beyond their levels just so they could make this ride
I will remember meeting Ronny,his Mom, and Wendy the evening before the ride and being amazed at his positive outlook on life and his ability to make everyone around him feel good.
I will remember the morning we left...the chaos...the excitement....the hugs from Wendy and all the hand shakes from those who had given so much to be there.
I will remember the first day and the dinner as I watched 41 individual riders begin to form into a team. I remember looking at our Marines who had barely spoken all day begin to interact with our team.....they were now RFSF team members.
Major Connor in boots an Uts: Even though the Major knew it would be hot and difficult, he saddled up in boots and uts and brought an incredible energy to our ride. The sacrifice he made to be with us and the effort he gave to this entire ride will never be forgotten. He is a true friend and without a doubt a great American, a hero, and a great Marine.
Brawley: One of my greatest honors in the two years we have done this ride was to have the opportunity not to introduce Paul Thompson, but to introduce LtCol Paul Thompson of the United States Air Force. PT is an officer and a gentleman in every sense of the word. His quiet sense of confidence and commitment to honor and duty still amazes me every day. Throughout this entire process, his friendship and skills as an officer made this entire event possible. He is without a doubt a hero. I will never forget Major Connors presentation about the four heroes for whom we dedicated our ride. I believe they were with us that night and I am sure they were very proud.
The Climb to Julian: This memory will stand out for me forever. I saw team members struggle terribly to make that climb. I watched as Josh,George,and David powered up those climbs....they were incredible!!!!!!!!! Nobody gave up...nobody complained....everyone made it!!!!! The climb finished with tears by some and hugs by all. I believe those experiences can bond people for a lifetime.
I will remember the last day not for the finality of the event, but for the camaraderie and the sense of accomplishment. I remember getting off the bike and seeing Wendy who immediately gave me a big hug. Next was Karen...then Laura...then many people from the team and the audience....it was incredible. The truth is each hug made every mile every effort,every late night worth it. I remember talking to the group and looking over at our Team Semper Fi members. In the middle of my comments I was thinking in the back of my head what incredible people each one of them are. I was proud and honored to share just a small part of their life....I thought, I hope they know how much everyone really cares about them. They are great team-mates.
Finally, I remember getting ready to leave the park and when I looked around what I saw was the support staff......still working...still going about the business of taking care of me and the riders. I was bothered all weekend by the question "how can I possibly ever thank them enough." Jannine, Tami, Hummel,Shirley, Brett I., Brett B. Traci, my wife Kelly, my son Austin, and Garrett all put in heroic efforts that just cant really be described. If I had my way they would get the police escort....they deserved it.

Well, I could go on forever and some of you may think I already have!!! I will finish by saying this. I believe what we accomplished together as a team was incredible. Each and every one of you has a light and passion in your life that makes those around you better. I was blessed, honored, and humbled by your efforts and your commitment to the team and the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. I will never forget the 2009 Ride for Semper Fi and my prayer is that each of you left on Saturday with a sense of accomplishment and a few memories that will follow you for the rest of your life.

Until next year

God Bless and Semper Fi

John

The Big Climb....oh...and some other climbing as well!

2009-10-21T23:48:00Z

     Day 3 started just as any other day would normally start on a long ride....stiff legs...excitement...and extreme hunger!!! You see, by this time we had ridden well over 200 miles and we were reaching the point where no amount of food seems to quite satisfy. Eat a huge dinner...you are hungry by bed time...big breakfast...you cant wait for the first stop.

     After our usual coffee and breakfast chat where someone usually becomes the victim of extreme joking we decided to get our gear together and begin the long journey to Julian. Todays ride to Julian is only about 70 + miles but 34 of those miles are uphill!!!!!! As we began our way toward julian you could literally feel the anticipation in the air for the big climb. The day starts fairly innocently with just some moderate rollers...nothing big...just a few ups and downs that get the attention of your legs. We stopped for the first water stop and everyone began to talk about the upcoming climb. Our Marines as well as others were clearly nervous about what waited for us at the end of the day.

The lunch rest stop brings us a nice visit to the Leapin Lizard RV resort!!!! Now, before you jump to conclusions, dont judge the book by its name. This is a really nice RV resort that is incredibly clean, has great facilities, and is run by some of the nicest people we have met along our way. Two years in a row they have gone out of their way to help us....they are definately RFSF team-mates!!!

We enjoyed a great lunch from the support staff and began our journey again toward Julian. We first noticed that the rollers were getting larger...then we noticed the heat was incresing as well!!! By the time we reached the rock canyons temperatures were well above the 100 degree mark and their was absolutely no wind....no where!!!!!! The heat was intense as we climbed what seemed like unending rollers and hills. Every downhill seemed to be met with an even larger uphill. There was no doubt that we were headed for the big climb. You could feel the earth gradually tilting up.

The last rest stop came at a T in the road that is at the bottom of a large hill. You go downhill into a valley and make a right. This was the scene of the famous California HP incedent of 08!!!! No cops this time though...just jackasses with trailers and four wheelers...no teeth....and no personal hygene habits!!!!

After the rest stop you immediately are faced with about a 1/2 mile climb at about an 8% grade. We decided to split into groups of four or five based on ability. In true "ride captain" fashion our Captains volunteered to stick with our more vertically challenged climbers for the duration of the climb. We had discussed one rule with everyone sice the ride began....EVERYONE DOES THE CLIMB!!!!!!!!...NO VANS....NO SAG....NO BULL!!!! Each of the captains began their climb with their respective riders. I had the good fortune of being with Josh the Marine.......While all of our Marines put out huge efforts I was only witness to the efforts by Josh. As he climbed this mountain, he did not complain once.....never tried to quit, and even suffered from cramps that would have stopped any other athlete in their tracks.  He is an amazing young guy. I watched him struggle of 15+ miles of climbing all the way to the end!!!! Josh, like our other Marines and our other team-mates puched through the pain and finished the climb.

(The Climb before the big climb...a nice warmup!!)

At the top their were tears by some...hugs for everyone. This is the kind of experience that truly binds a team together. Suffering as a group and helping each other to the summit is what makes a great team. We had become a great team!

(The Scene at the top of the climb)

That night after everyone got settled in came one of the best dinners i have had since the last time i came to Julian. Natasha (the cook at Angels landing) fixed the best Lasagna I have ever had!!!! Every rider in the place filled themselves with Lasgana, bread,salad, and finished with home made Dutch Apple Pie!!! As usual...the folks at Angels Landing were incredible!!!!!!!!

Joining us that evening were Cody, Kathryn, and Tannis...each of these folks are members of Team Semper Fi and team-mates of our other Marines Josh, George, and Dave. Also joining us was Captain Tim Merkle, and Carla J (not even going to try her last name). We were honored to have each of them and we were excited about what the next day was going to bring.

We finished the evening with a talk from team-mate Jay Kennedy and then a DVD. Jay told us about "why he rode." Jay was wearing the dog tags of a young man who had been killed in action. His father learned of our ride and Jays participation and asked Jay to wear the dog tags. Jays talk was without a doubt one of the most touching moments of our ride. Jay is a great friend and I could not be more proud to have him as a team-mate. We finished with a DVD recapping our trip thus far....the DVD showed pictures of the heroes we were honoring and showed pictures of where we had been and what we had accomplished so far...all set to very inspiring music.

It was a great evening.............

Waking up is hard to do...The Marines think we are crazy...dinner with heroes

2009-10-16T12:10:00Z

Well, we will take a shot at comments on day two. Hopefully, todays comments will be somewhat more understandable than yesterdays!!!!!!

We began the day by dragging ourselves out of the racks for a somewhat weird breakfast in Quartzite. The hotel people who are very nice supplied us with froot loops, honey buns, and powdered sugar donuts....not exactly the breakfast of champions!!!!! We probably need to do a little work with the hotel next year on the food scene for sure. The amazing thing....when cyclists are really hungry......all that "Im training and can't eat that" crapp goes right out the window. At least 20 of the 30 riders began the ride by pounding mini donuts!!!!!!!

In the rush to get things done on morning two I began to see a stir in the riders and the staff. This usually means either someone has done something dumb which everyone will use for ammo on the days ride or something is broken....which is usually from someone doing something dumb...everything comes full circle!!! Not this time however!!!! When I got closer to the group what I saw was Major Conner in full boots and uts. This is what he looks like!!

Now, if you can imagine someone riding 108 miles in 90 plus degree heat across the sand dunes for 6 hours!!!! Major Conner is no doubt a hard core Marine!!!!!! As he posed for pictures with all of the riders, it was amazing to me how our ladies on the support staff all of a sudden had a need to hep Major Conner in any way. I beleive that I was run over twice by a support person because I got between them and the 6 foot 5 Marine in underarmor!!!!!!

Once the ride began clearly everyone was in warm up mode. If you have ever ridden 118 miles like we did the day before you will know that the legs get a little stiff overnight and take a while to get the cob webs out. I looked at our Marines (Dave,Josh, George) and they had a look in their eye like..."are you guys really serioous?". We we were... and we set off once again toward our final destination of Brawley.

The ride was mostly uneventful...we had the usual...Cars honk in support...others use their hands to tell us we were number #1!!!!! As we moved through the agricultural lands the coarse began to move into large sets of rolling hills with a heat index that was beginning to climb with the terrain. The hills got bigger the legs were beginning to object for many of our folks. As usual no what the pain level the team carried on. As we appoached the dunes and worked our way through we knew we were getting close. The day had gone fast but our riders were actually beginning to go faster!!!!!! Sometimes when the riders can smell the barn they will run just like horses.....lets get this over wiith is the feeling among the group. The problem of coarse being that some fo the folks were getting destroyed in the process. Our ride Captain Chris Fusselman promptly put an end to the racing by telling anyone that wanted to go fast to "get to back of the line and push tired people if you have so much #%@!%@@^@ing energy!!!!!!

Once into Brawley we prepared for our dinner with heroes. We opened the evening with a few comments from me about why we are here and what it means to have all the riders participate in this event. I explained that everyone in the rooms efforts will combine to make a miracle in the life of a young hero. I then introduced Lt Col Paul Thompson.

LtCol Thompson then gave everyone in the room the opportunity to witness the "Honor Table." The Honor Table is an empty table set for those fallen heroes who are no longer with us. Their is a full place setting...a rose...a bible....a lemon slice and an upside down wine glass. Each of these items has a very special meaning. LtCol T. explained each of the items, their meaning and then played Taps over the sound system. It was without a doubt one of the most touching things I have had the good fortune to witness. He did an incredible job as ususal.

LtCol T. then introduced Major William Conner who was in full Marine dress blues. major Conner took his time to describe the lives and sacrifices of the heroes names who are on our wrist bands....Major Megan McClung,Major Ray Mendoza, LCDR Erik Kristensen, and Major Doug Zembiec. He told us of the heroism of each of these great Americans. He described their lives in terms that were more than just military. He told us of the human side and why
they were such special people. All four of these people left behind a legacy that will go on forever. Major Conner finished his talk by reading a letter written to the children of Major Mendoza from after is death. The letter was incredible and nothing I could ever write could do the letter justice. Major Zembiec was killed in battle not long after writing the letter. These four heroes will not be forgotten.

The evening ended with LtCol Thompson taking us through a history of his career. I had asked him many months ago to do this. You see, PT as most of our riders call him, never tells anyone about what he does. Like other officers, he serves with a quiet dignity and honor that is befitting of any great officer. I felt it was important that the riders know the sacrifice he has made for our country and our freedom. His list of accomplishments is far too long for me to write, but suffice it say....LtCol Thompson is without a doubt a hero.

It was a wonderful evening with great friends, great food, and great stories. We were all blessed to be a part.

(please excuse the bad spelling...I lost my galsses and Im in a hurry to EAT!!!!!)

Now......we move to day three....the big climb into Julian

Angels, Heroes...and the start of something special!

2009-10-15T04:32:00Z

Well, it has been some time since I added anything to the blog!!! Today, however was an incredibly special day!!!!

We began the day at my house by waking three sleeping heroes....these were three injured Marines ( Dave, Josh, George, Major Coner) from Team Semper Fi who graciously agreed to share the experience of the Ride for Semper Fi. Now I will tell you that these guys are no doubt heroes...but they wake up like anyone else....sloooooooowllyyyy and in need of caffeine!!!! The wake up call for our new found friends came at 4:30 am!!! We had a big day ahead of us and the need to pack the RV and get moving was mission number 1!

We arrived in Scottsdale at DNA cycles about 6:15 am.....to say it was hectic would be putting it mildly. We had forty riders, families, caterers, and TV crews all converging on us at once. Like last year we learned that flexibility would be the key to success. After discussing the situation we just decided to adapt and overcome!

We began the opening ceremonies with the awarding of the colored jerseys. The colored jerseys were given to our riders who had shown an incredible commitment by raising more funds for the IMSFF than any of the other riders. This year we chose the colors Red. Blue, and Yellow. The Blue jersey which was the 3rd highest money raiser stood for being cool under pressure. David Kistner, our number 3 money raiser definitely fit that bill!!! the red jersey which stands for confidence and passion went perfectly with rider Bill Berg who is without a doubt one of the most compassionate and committed people I have ever known. The yellow went to my friend Cyndi Thomas. Cyndi has only been riding a bike less than 9 months and signed on to this event with a confidence that was inspiring. She jumped in with both feet and not only raised the most money, but helped raise corporate sponsorships as well....she is without a doubt, deserving of the Yellow jersey.

Next up for the morning was Lt Col Paul Thompson. LtCol Thompson had the great opportunity of introducing one of the founders of the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, Wendy Lethin. Wendy is not just one of the founders, she is in my opinion a surrogate mother for many Marines who pass through the doors of the Injured Marine Fund. For Wendy, her job is not just to raise money for a charity. When you watch Wendy with these young heroes her passion and love for these young people literally shines through every time she greets them with a hug. We ndy told the audience of the importance of our mission at the fund. She spoke about the need for support as many more young heroes are returning today from battle with injuries that will impact them the rest of there lives. We had an opportunity because of Wendy to meet one young hero who has been dramatically impacted. This young mans names is Ronny Porta. Ronny was invited with his mother to attend our opening ceremonies. Ronny and his family immigrated from Lima, Peru in 2000. He explained to us how they had seen the American dream and how they cherished the good fortune of being able to come here. At 17, Ronny decided to give back by joining the Marine Corps. In 2003 Ronny was severely injured and literally clung to life for months. He explained to us how much the fund and this ride meant to him. He told us that everything we were doing and everything the fund is doing made all that he has been through worth it. He is without a doubt one of the most incredible people I have ever met in my life. After 91 different surgeries, he told me not to worry...he "heals well." What you find out with Ronny is that no matter the situation, he always has something positive to say.....he is an inspiration to all who meet him.

Next up came a police escort and the start of a 112 mile bike ride to Quartzite, Arizona!!! The day was beautiful and we had the great fortune of leaving under police escort...courtesy of the Scottsdale PD. The Scottsdale PD are incredible!!!!! We continued our journey onward toward Wickenburg under blue skies and light winds! The day continued on nicely with good fun...jokes in the peloton and 40 people just enjoying the opportunity to be outside and on a bicycle.

It was amazing how fast 112 miles came and went. We finished the day by packing all the bicycles and riders up into Vans for our final transition leg in to quartzite. The riders were tired but you could feel the energy in the peloton. We finally found our way to the Super 8 in Quartzite!!!! Small hotel...you bet...but with great people who were anxious to see us again this year.

Finally, we made our way to Silly Als pizza...where the beer is cold, the owners are great, and the Pizza is great!!!!! The team had an opportunity to give out our first award of the trip. I spoke to the group about Don Eldridge, the owner of DNA cycles. If you don't know Don but get a chance to meet him you will find out that he is one of the most generous people you will ever meet. He never meets a stranger and is always willing to help when someone is in need. We presented Don with a poster thanking him and DNA for all there support for the RFSF.

We finished th evening with a talk from LtCol Thompson about the young Marines who were joining us on our trip. Josh, Dave, and George are all young men who have given selflessly to this country. They all have suffered injuries that will impact their lives forever. The amazing thing is their attitudes. Even after coming through the difficult challenges they have faced they are still positive and they are adapting to our team very quickly. Each of us are honored to ride with them. Josh, George, and Dave all took a few minutes to tell the group about their story and what the IMSFF meant to them. The stories of each of these young heroes were touching. They each expressed gratitude for being on the ride.....it is us who should be thanking them.....and we will!!

Yesterday we started a bike ride with forty riders........what I saw as we finished the day is 40 riders becoming a team!!! Well, this is it for now. If you are reading this I will apologize for how choppy this is!!!!!!!!! Entries after 112 miles and at 4:15am don't always make a lot of sense!!!!!

Today....we go to Brawley....it will be a great day!!

60 Days to go with a great team and new records to set!!!

2009-08-23T02:11:00Z

Donations to date: $76,443.00

Well, it has been some time since my last post....July the 14th I believe!!! Since that time as a team we have not only grown in numbers, but we have grown in donations as well!

The Ride for Semper Fi team now consists of 40 riders that come from all walks of life and backgrounds. The athletic abilities and strength of the riders varies somewhat but it is becoming less noticeable as we continue to train every weekend. Soon we will have video available on the website of our training rides so stay tuned!!!! The commitment and spirit of these riders is one of the most inspirational things I have ever witnessed. Week in and week out the riders come to Mesa and begin long rides at 5:30 in the morning. The rides vary from 60 miles with over 3 thousand feet of climbing to 94 miles of long flat road. While the abilities may vary from rider to rider, what does not vary is the common bond that has formed among the team which stems from an incredible passion for taking care of our injured heroes. The people who have joined this team are incredible and I am truly humbled by the opportunity to be part of this team with them. They are all great Americans.

The donations to date have been unbelievable!!!!!!! We have currently raised more than 76 thousand dollars!!!!!! I am truly amazed at the generosity and patriotism of the people in this country. Americans give until it hurts...then they give more! I believe that is what makes us different from other countries. Recently,I had the opportunity to speak in front of three church services about our event. In all three services I was approached and given money by people who clearly did not really have the money to spare. Their faith and their loyalty to our country and our heroes was shown with a hug and a few dollars pressed into my palm as they left the church. I was incredibly touched by their generosity and their love of country.

So now, we have about 60 days left until we depart for Balboa Park in San Diego. This trip, like last years, promises to one filled with great fun, great people, and a great result for our campaign!!!!! We will continue to work our way towards our goal of 100k!!!!!!!!! Believe me, if anyone can do it, these folks can....they are amazing!!!!!!

Until next time, God Bless and Semper Fi

John

The Campaign begins...and the honoring of four heroes

2009-07-14T23:02:00Z

Well, its July the 14th and we are well into our campaign that started on the 4th! So far...so good!!!! We are off to a great start with more than 26 thousand dollars being raised in the first 10 days! I think that is a great start and I am continually amazed at the generosity of Americans!

One of the traditions that has come with our ride is that each year we pick the names of several individuals who we would like to honor as we move through the campaign and into the ride. This year is no different. a few months back I had the great honor of speaking with a Marine Corps. Major who told me about four heroes that this country has lost to the war. He gave me the opportunity to go through not only military sites that described the individuals, but also through newspaper clippings and stories as well. These four individuals touched the lives of so many in so many different positive ways. We have decided that we will highlight each of these heroes individually over the next few weeks. Below I have pasted a copy of the email that was sent to our team, friends, and sponsors. Unfortunately, no email, no matter how well written will ever do justice to these great Americans and what they accomplished. We will however do the best we can and more importantly, we will never forget the sacrifice made by them or their families.

The first email is below;

Dear friends, Sponsors, and Team-mates,

As many of you know each year on the Ride for Semper Fi it has been our tradition to place the names of heroes on a wrist band that we wear during the duration of our campaign and even long after. These names consist of those individuals who have served with honor, dignity, and represent acts that have been truly selfless for the benefit of preserving the liberties and freedoms we all enjoy in this country. The purpose of the wrist bands is to give us all a daily reminder of the sacrifices that have been made and to remind us that our efforts will go towards honoring and helping those who have been injured or have given their life in the name of freedom.

This year we will be honoring four individuals who all have lost their lives on the field of battle. Their names are;

Major Ray Mendoza, Major Megan McClung , Major Douglas Zembiec, and Lieutenant Commander Erik Kristensen.

Under normal circumstances I would have sent this email out to everyone as one of the first events of our campaign. However, I must admit that I have struggled greatly with trying to find the appropriate words to use when talking about these great American heroes. The incredible accomplishments of each , the lives they touched, the leadership they provided, and the selfless sacrifice they each made could never be appropriately described in a simple email. Because of the great accomplishments of each of our honorees, we will be highlighting each of them in an individual email over the next several weeks.

When I read their inspiring stories I believe I have come to at least a couple of conclusions without having known them. All four were were incredibly inspirational people who had a deep belief in sacrificing for the good of others. They were all team players who were far more interested in serving the common good rather than just personal achievement. I think when I read about their lives and their beliefs that they would be proud of what we are doing as a team. I think each of them if they were with us today would probably meet us, shake our hands, and then ask what they could do for us.

In the Ride for Semper Fi campaign we will have the opportunity to honor their names, their lives, and the sacrifices made by them and their families. While our tribute may be small in scope I would ask that each of you wear the wrist band proudly. Tell donors and friends about the lives of these great Americans and most importantly, never forget!

I will close with this quote from Major Zembiec which was read during his eulogy;

Be a man of principle. Fight for what you believe in. Keep your word. Live with integrity. Be brave. Believe in something bigger than yourself. Serve your country.

My friends….this is our opportunity!

God Bless and Semper Fi

John C. Greenway

Chairman, The Ride for Semper Fi

www.therideforsemperfi.com

And so it begins!

2009-06-12T02:21:00Z

Well, as promised the Ride for Semper Fi is back again for the 2009 ride to California!!!! This years trip will take us basically on  the same route as last year with a slight twist at the end. The slight twist at the end will be instead of going downhill for 15 miles towards Oceanside we will be climbing out of Julian, California (ughhhh) to begin our trek toward Balboa Park for a picnic with our injured heroes, the IMSFF, our families, friends, and supporters.

We are so excited to ride again in support of our friends at the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. Angie and the others at the IMSFF continue to provide miracles for our young heroes everyday!  If you have not been to their website lately I would urge you to go to their site and look at all the great work they are doing (www.semperfifund.org). I think you will be amazed at what they have accomplished and even more proud to be an American. The Injured Marine Fund is proof that when ordinary citizens in this country dare to have a vision and a dream they can accomplish anything. To date, the IMSFF has given more than 29 million dollars in grants to injured Marines, Sailors, and their families!!! We are honored to be part of what they are accomplishing!

As for our campaign this year, we will begin our training and fund raising on July the 4th. Thomas Paine once wrote "
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." I don't know if this quote applies to a bicycle ride, but what I do know is that we have assembled a team of more than 32 riders for this year who share a common passion and belief that the sacrifices made by our injured soldiers warrant our support.  We will train and raise funds and awareness over the next five months with the hope that our efforts and fatigue will result in our young heroes receiving the gift of a miracle through the Injured Marine Fund.

In closing I want to thank everyone for their support! This has been and will be a great experience because of all the people who have given so much to make this ride possible!!!!!! See on you the road July 4th!!!!

God Bless and Semper Fi
John G

We Made IT...................

2008-10-27T15:40:00Z

Well, as you know from our last blog we made it!!!!! After months of planning, training, and working on details, and four days of incredible rides finished with a donation to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. We raised over $72,000 dollars to aid our heroes who preserve our freedom.

I want to take this opporunity to thank everyone who was involved with this great adventure. From my team-mates, to Dirk Cowley at Sportsbaseonline, to the folks at the IMSFF,to our incredible support staff..Janine, Tami,my wife Kelly, Leslie, Larry and the two Austins, to our sponsors.....GODADDY, Specialized, DNA CYCLES,INKling, KFYI ( Mike and Bruce!!),our friends in the press....Jennifer, Richard Douglas, Cher and Kim,AZ Republic ,and Leapin Lizard RV Resort . None of this would have been possible without you. Each of these sponsors stepped in and gave and gave and gave more without ever asking for anything in return. They are all great Americans. To our donors......you gave even in the face of difficult times. We are thankful for friends such as you and we made this ride with you in our thoughts every day.

I also want to thank my family who have supported me through all of this. From 5am training rides, to missed soccer games, and to the trip itself my family gave thier unwavering loyalty and support. Whenever I needed help my wife and children have always been there to back me up......they are without a doubt the best family a man could ever be blessed with.

So, until next year....God Bless and Semper Fi

Day four...tired legs...a great downhill...some uphills and a trip into a place of heroes

2008-10-27T15:08:00Z

Day four was a day that brought an absolute buzz to the group. during breakfast you could almost feel the energy coming from the riders as we faced our final leg into Camp Pendleton. Everyone was laughing, talking about the days rides and having a great time reliving some of the great jokes and strories that had developed over the coarse of the previous three days.

(Some of our support staff...there is none better)

( Larry H. a true member of the team and a great new friend......and one heck of an RV driver!)

(Steve K. our GoDaddy driver and personal Marine...he protected us every mile of every day.......he is a great addition to our cycling family)

(Major Andy Christian joins us for the last leg)

We started with a briefing from Paul T. who explained where we would be going and the importance of the group staying together. Todays ride would be somewhat technical and full of turns!!!!! We were also fortunate enought to have with us Major Andy Christian who had been a supporter of the ride from day one. He is a Marine Major who has given three tours in Iraq and is headed for his fourth deployment in November. Major Christian like many other Marine Officers is a man who is an inspiration to those who are fortnuate enough to spend time with him.

As we began the ride for the the day we were met with some incredible downhill roads...the day before had brought a massive climb...today...we go down the other side. Speeds of 40 mph plus for the peleton combined with sweeping turns and beautiful scenery. The downhill experience was definately worth the climb!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We continued on through some small rollers and some climbs that were definately testing some tired legs. At this point however, we were a group running on pure adrenaline!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As we worked our way into the city, we said goodbye to our friends in the support vehicles and started to our rendevous point via a bicycle trail. The trail seemed to wind on forever!!!!!!!!!!!!! When will we get there was the prevailing thought of the group.

Well, as you can imagine, we got there!!!!!!!!!!!! As we came into the park we were met by reporters, cameras, loved ones and friends. It was incredible!!!!!!!!!!!

(DNA Don and others finish the final leg)

(Paul T. with MstSgt. David Lind)

(Steve K.;our great driver and a great Marine visits with Dave K.)

(DNA Don with MstSgt Lind of the USMC)

(John G. and Paul T. with Col Seaton (Camp Pendleton Base Commander)

(Britt L. joined us with enthusiasm and a great sense of humor!)

(Brad J. with Davey Lind)

(Joe Liner..handled all of our money.....always there to help!)

(Mark B.-also rode in honor of his father...Mark is a good man who made tremendous gains in fitness as we trained...it was exciting to watch him.)

(Presenting the check to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund)

(The Ride for Semper Fi Team)

(One more of the team...including Larry and Steve)

I will finish this days blog with a copy of the email I sent to Angie at the Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund.
It is most unfortunate that I am forced to try to put all of this experience into words......my abilities to write simply do not do justice to the experience. Here is my letter.

Angela and Jeremiah,

Im sorry I did not touch base earlier. It was so crazy the last day and then getting ready to leave for AZ was a new challenge all in itself!!!! The last days ride into Camp pendleton was one of the greatest days I have ever had. We were met by Col. Jamison who shook my hand and siad " I can't believe you guys did this." He was incredible to us and I hope you will please pass along to him my sincere thanks for everything he did. As we passed through the gates the first thing I saw was two young Marines giving the Col a salute and I thought....those two young kids at the gate are just one of the many reasons why we rode. We continued on to the beach house where we were met by the cheers of volunteers and other folks who just began watching the parade of vehicles and bikes that were coming through.

After arriving, some of the volunteers showed us toward the food which as a team we promptly devoured (we had done a SHORT ride that day of 79 miles). As we moved into lunch I was amazed when I saw Col. Seaton come thorugh the door. Angie, it was almost a surreal experience to have him and Dave in the same event. Myself and everyone on the team were tremendously honored and humbled by the precense of both these men. We were fortunate enough to listen to both men speak about the value of the fund and what our event meant to all those brave Marines who need help as they come home.

We finished the day with a few words from myself...some thankyous....and a few jerseys passed out to those who had helped us so much. As crazy as this sounds, it was probably one of the most emotional days I have ever had since the birth of my children. It was at times very difficult to find the words to talk along with the waves of emotions that were hitting me.

In the end Davie was kind enough to hand each rider a medal, take pictures and shake the hands of everyone involved. He is without a doubt a great American and a true hero.

Angie and Jeremiah, I want you both to know how honored I am to have been a part of this great organization. The help from you two, Major Christian, Dave, Col. Seaton, and all the other volunteers has been incredibly inspiring. This was an experience I will remember the rest of my life.

Please pass along my thanks to all the volunteers that were there with us. In the heat of the event I failed to get all of their names. If you have email addresses for them I would very much like to send them a note.

Thank you again...and as I finished each day of our rides I will say to you both....God Bless...and Semper Fi.

John Greenway

Ride for Semper Fi

Day 3....CHPs finest......hills..more hills....and apple pie!!!

2008-10-27T13:59:00Z

Day 3 brought many uniques and interesting challenges!!!!!! We started the morning by leaving from the Brawley best Western Inn. The Best Western Inn in Brawley was actually a great hotel!!!!!! We had been worried the day before about what we could expect when we got there. The Hotel was actually brand new with a great pool, a jacuzzi, and a great breakfast bar......which we completely consumed!!! (Note to Hotel owners...if 21 cyclists come through your hotel, they will eat anything and everything in sight).

The ride started with 20 of us heading towards what would be our most challenging day. Again we were informed that the first 30 miles or so of the ride would be flat and fairly simple. If you read our last blog, you will know that we almost had to sacrifice Greg S. because of his false "lack of hill reports." We gain considered sacrificing him but decided not to because we still needed someone to pull into the wind!!! So we had a few hills here and there but also enjoyed some flats and rolling terrain. The scenery was great and the landscape seemed to be changing with almost every mile.

At about hour 3ish we had been doing some climbs into and area that was incredibly rocky. The landscape for as far as you could see seemed to be nothing but hills, boulders, and scrub bush. As we began a small downhill we were alerted to the sound of a horn behind us. Fortunately, we were just about 200 yards from our next rest stop. When we pulled in we were followed in by one of California's finest highway patrolmen. He was shall we say slightly agitated at the fact that we were "impeding traffic." The truth is he was absolutely correct....we had made a mistake with the van who was following us. If I had not mentioned it before, we had a driver in the GoDaddy Van behind us named Steve. Steve is a former Marine who has done two tours in Iraq. he is a great person who has not only served his country, but was absolutely going to defend us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had asked him to stay behind us and in normal Marine fashion, he charged the hill!!!! The only problem...the CHP did not approve and was all too pleased to tell Steve he could be going to jail and was absolutely going to get a ticket. We spent about 30 minutes with the officer and his partner and were told how things were going to be in the great state of California for our event!!!!!! The truth is, after we explained what we were doing and how we had chosen the route the officers actually became very nice and explained they were really just concerned for our safety. So, no ticket.....no jail time for Steve (good luck keeping that guy in a jail cell)

(What do we do with 21 guys in spandex)

(Getting pulled over by the CHP....alot of CRAPP)

(Darin F........always smiling!)

(The Iron Men..Chris F and Brian M. move more people uphills than a ski lift!)
After letting us go, we came out of the rest stop and looked directly into the eyes of a climb that was at least 12% grade and about a mile or so long. What is so incredible about this group is that the strongest riders came to the back and helped push some of the weaker riders up the climb. Now if you have ever tried this before, you need to understand what incredible strength this takes. I watched hill after hill as Chris F. and Brian M., Darin F. and others placed their hand on the backside of another rider and pushed them up long climbs. If you want to know how it feels go out today.....get on your bike and climb the biggest hill you can find while pushing a full shopping cart with one of your hands while pedaling......that might be close to the feeling. As I watched all of this I realized we had become a team. Two days earlier we were a group of 21 cyclists from all walks of life....today, we were a team working together for a common goal.....getting up the damn climbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Brian and Brent make the climb together....we had become a team)

After making it over the 12% grade, we had a nice downhill rest. The problem with downhills...............they are always met with uphills!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In the distance, we could see the mountain we were preparing to climb. The next 12 miles were going to be difficult and straight up to Julian!!! The mountain was beautiful!!!!!! We had trees, shade, gentle sweeping curves and views of the valley that were incredible. We asked Steve to drive the van up and down the line because we knew that different riders would make it up the climb at very different speeds. As usual....he did a great job and took great care of everyone. I had stayed at the back of the group to ride with some of the guys who I knew would take a little more time getting up the climb. Once again, what I witnessed was incredible. The stronger riders once again had come to the back and used pure athletic ability and strength to help some of the guys who were just plain tired!!!!!!!! One thing needs to be mentioned about this climb. This climb was an effort that would be challenging for any level of rider. Even though some of the guys were slower up the climb, they DID IT!!!!!!!!!! They never complained......they never quit......and they pedaled through what was arguably their greatest athletic challenge. It was unbelievable to watch as these guys stepped up and suffered all the way up that climb...........they are troopers!!!!!!!!

( Dave K. makes the climb....12 miles with cramps...the man is a trooper)

(The top of the Julian climb...it was a tough day)
Well as you can guess, we made it!!!!!!!!!!!! All 20 of us who made the trip together that morning worked together as a group to get everyone up that hill. Everyone in that group gave words of encouragement as they rode along side other team-mates.........it was a great sight!!!!

Julian brought us a beautiful town and a beautiful small hotel called Angels Landing. The folks at Angels Landing are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! The small resort sits on a hill and is covered with trees, wildlife, and stars so bright at night that you can't believe it. They also make the best apple pie you will ever taste!!! If you are going to Cali....you should stay at this place and tell Theresa....we want the pie...and the lasagna...and the bread......and anything else she comes up with!!!!!

Dinner concluded with some stories from David K. about his son who had done three tours in Iraq. Dave has been a friend of mine for a long time and it was incredibly moving to hear how his son had sacrificed for his country and was now dealing with the pain of what he had been through. Dave did this ride in honor of his son and I guarantee his son would have been proud to see what his Dad was accomplishing in his name. We also heard some additional comments from Lt. Col paul Thompson and his friend "Captain Jack" who again reminded us of the realities of war. It was a sobering experience.

(Dave K. tells the story of his son in Iraq....Ryan...your Dad did great)

We completed dinner with a gift from my friends on the ride. Lt Col Thompson had flown a flag in the C-17 Globemaster over the skies of Iraq and Afgan. He awarded me with the flag, framed with pictures and a certificate from the US Air Force. I was speechless and overcome with emotion to say the least. Paul is a great friend, a true Hero, and a great American. I will say the same for his wife who had spent hours of her time (between prepping for this ride, taking care of 3 children, and everything else she does) putting this gift together.

(The gift from my friend Paul and Tammi.....simply incredible)

It was a great day for everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We finished the day with great laughs courtesy of DNA Don, Jason, and some of the other characters on the trip....there were many!!!!!!

Day 2....a ride through the desert!!!

2008-10-24T13:21:00Z

Day 2 was filled with excitement as we departed from Quartzite. Each of the riders were a littled dazed from the previous day on the bike but they were all excited to go forward towards California. We began the day with a nice 10-12 mile downhill ride toward our first rest stop. As we rode on the main highway we spent a great deal of time dodging treads, trucks, and every agricultural vehicle that has ever been manufactured!!

After exiting the highway we started with two good climbs for the day.....just one issue.....we went the wrong way. So we added a few extra miles....whos counting anyway (it was 8 extra...my butt is actually counting for me now).

(Brett B......a man with incredible determination!!!)

So now we headed south into agricutlural lands..........where men are men and the sheep were nervous. I haven't seen that many dogs in a long time. Evidently Dogs have a retirement community near Palo Verde California!! Anyway, we continued on toward the first rest stop!!

Now its on to the Sand Dunes....Our logistics person Greg announced to us all that "once we make it through the sand dunes it will be all down hill to Brawley." Greg is a fat liar and we have now strapped him to the front of our lead RV!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was not downhill.....as Greg would now tell you if he was here and not attached outside to my RV!!!! We continued on through rollers and made some good climbs. As we approached the 100 mile mark everyone was beginning to really feel the days ride.....15 miles to go to brawley.

(Greg S....our logistics guy.....put together a flawless route!)

(Wayne C.-rode in honor of his father who was awarded four Purple Hearts...another hero)

The evening ended with a great dinner and some great talks from some of our riders about why they are riding. Lt. Col Thompson talked about doing MedEvac flights out of Iraq which I think really brought home why we are riding.

This has been a great adventyre so far. the group has really come together and is becoming a stronger team with every mile. it has been facinating to watch a group of people from all walks of life come together for a common cause.....very inspiring!!!!

Thats it for now....sorry about the choppy writing.......Im doing this on the fly!!!!!!!!!!

JG

P.S. Jason is making me uncomfortable....Im going to move from this table

Day 1 Ride for Semper Fi!!!!!

2008-10-23T04:31:00Z

total funds raised as of today: $72,240.00!!!!

Day one of the Ride for Semper Fi actually started at about 3am this morning when I awoke thinking...hmmmmm did I pack my shorts.....how about my jerseys..... As I found out later, I was not the only person feeling somewhat apprehensive!!!!!! Just about everyone on the ride described their night before the ride as extremely restless!!!!!

So after deciding that sleep was no longer an option we beagn the day by piling into the motor home to head for DNA Cyles in Scottsdale. We arrived at approx 6:30 and began our setup. As people started to arrive, we were amazed at the number of folks who deided to come see our departure. We had family, friends, donors, and other people who were just plain curious!!!

(The Group as we began our send-off with the GODADDY Van)

Our departure schedule included an introduction of our sponsors as well as a DVD presentation given to me by the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. The DVD we played really set the stage for why we are riding. This event is about giving back to those who have sacraficed so much to preserve our freedom and everyone was touched deeply be the soldiers who were interviewed during the presentation. Afther the presentation it was on to TV interviews, newspaper interviews...last minute instructions for the riders and good-byes to our families and friends.

(The Team takes a picture with Nima K from GoDaddy)

We began our ride today at 9:30am escorted by the Scottsdale PD. Honestly, it was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had. To be escorted thorugh the streets of Sottsdale and Phoenix escorted by our finest PD was an experience I wont ever forget. We were honored by thier willingness to help us make our way thorugh the city. After the escort cam 118 miles of pedaling!!!!!!!!

Now for those of you who have not pedaled 118 miles let me tell you that as I type this I am somewhat fixated on the fact that it now hurts to sit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We visited places today such as Sun City, Salome, Quartzite, and even watched Meth Addicts on the train tracks as we waited for one of the RVs to get a new tire..........now thats what its all about!!!!!!!

So we continured on our way finally making it to Quartzite after 6 hours and 15 minutes in the saddle!!! What a day!!!!!!

(Our second stop was near a Sep 11 monument)

One of the things that made today somewhat different was that we would need to do a tranistion from our final stop by car into Quartzite. Now we knew we would be somewhat strapped for space so we had four people volunteer to ride the final 25 miles or so into Quartzite which would make thier day about 140 miles. So..TReveor, Brian M., Fuss, and I for got the other guy (sorry dude) set out toward Quartzite. Hmmmmm how do I put this....a few miles later they got in the RV.....NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE TIRED.....the wind was blowing about 20 mph and it was getting dark (I swear). On a dark highway in Quartzite...in spandex....not a good idea trust me!!!

We continuted on to the Super * motel which was actually very nice and the folks there were very accomodating!!!! Now....onto dinner!! As you can imagine we were all starving and we were headed to Silly Als Pizza. Now believe it or not, Silly Als was actually really good!!!!!!!!! We enjoyed Pizzza, and everything else we could get our hands on.

(Dinner in Quartzite)

Before the end of the evening, we had a great opportunity to make a presentation to our good friend Paul T. Paul is a man who has always been very quiet about his accomplishments. He was one of the founders of this ride and the first person to jump in and support this entire idea of a crazy bike ride to California. Paul was commissioned into the Air Force in May of 1988. He graduated first in his class and has served our country with quiet dignity and honor for 20 years. He has flown countless missions into war zones and brought many injured men from the field of battle. Paul was recently promoted to the rank of Lt. Col. in the United States Air Force. Our presentation was in honor of our friend Paul who has served his country with such honor. Tammi, his wife spent hours putting together a shadow box that displayed many of the medals Lt. Col PT has been awarded over the years. It was a great site and a great opportunity to recognize someone who we all believe to be a hero and a great American.

The first night ended with full stomachs, tired legs, and an anticipation of what day 2 would bring.

Semper Fi

John G