Goodland KS day 4 complete

We rode out of Angel Fire on time.  There was gard Ice on Clyde, but the ground was dry and there was no snow.  Several big trucks helped us out on Interstate 25.  We had a few problems in a construction v zone on Interstate 70, but no paint was traded. There was o b e Atlas Van Libes driver that won't be send Rub F I r The Wall any flowers any time soon.

Eagle  Nest treated us good, breakfast was so good people did not want to come to the riders meeting.  I think Platoon leaders should count heads, and anyone who isn't there should be made to ride ahead to the night stop.   But I am not in charge.

So far there gave been 3 accidents, all minor and all caused because the riders involved forgot what they were doing.  Yes we are o n a mission, yes we follow the bike in front of us, but no we are not in a bybble, we have to ride defensivelg and with common sense. 

Ling day, tired. More tomorrow.

Boynce standing by on the side.

Safely arrived in Angel Fire, then Eagle Nest

Not much to write about on this one.  The day is over, tomorrow is last really easy day, then we go into Indian Country.  So far we have been in friendly territory, because the real Indian Nation loves us.  The people east of Colorado are too busy reading texts on cell phones, and trying to be first in line at the funeral parlor to even start to understand our mission.   The support we get at our stops and on the over passes is great.  The people driving around us would rather run us down than respect the fact that we are on a mission to recognize the fact that there are still men and women missing in action, and that people have died, or given up limbs to protect their right to complain about us clogging their precious freeway.

My answer to those who do not want us out there in large groups on the freeway is simple.  Sit down and call you Congressman, or Senator and complain.  Tell them that we want all 72,000 missing in action and prisoners of war since WWI returned and accounted for.  Then we do not have to do this anymore.


Williams AZ, Holbrook AZ, Winslow, AZ, Gallup NM, Acoma, NM, Casa Blanca, NM, Camel Rock Casion, ^RT 66 Casino, Thunderbird Harley, Gallup, NM, the Cities of Angel Fire, and Eagle Nest NM, and tomorrow Cimmaron NM and Raton NM....are all great places, and wonderful supporters of Veterans and the reason we ride.  Go there, enjoy the businesses and the tourist attractions, and go ahead tell them I sent you.  That will not get you any thing, but if you tell the Mayor of Gallup he might give you a hug to give me. 

Nite all

This year my Run is dedicated to my Dad (Step Father)

In about 1962 when I was not yet 7 years old I met a man, I started calling him Uncle Donald.  He was nice to my Brother Bob and I.  He bought us things, and took care of us.  He introduced us to motorcycles when he bought an old Police Bike to ride to and from work with.  

He later married my Mother and moved us to Wisconsin.  There are a lot of side stories there, but in the end we moved to Wisconsin.

I did not know until almost 40 years later that he was a Marine.  My Brother knew when he was 16, and he became a Marine too.

I am not sure when I started calling this man Dad, and I do not know if it was something he asked of me, or something my Mother asked of me.  It doesn't matter.  Men can very easily become Fathers, but it takes a lot of work to be a Dad.

My Dad was proud of me.  He never actually told me this, I just know it.  More so now that I have received back letters that I wrote him while I was in the military, that he kept.   Photos that he had of me, and my Brother that he kept.

In 2004 when my Brother first told me about Run For The Wall, my Dad encouraged me to do it.  He even helped me shop for a motorcycle several times.  Then in 2005 when I rode out to Colorado to join my first Run with my Brother, my Dad and my Wife showed up in Illinois, and joined the Run too.  He did the entire route, but it took him three trips to do it.  He made it to Washington DC twice, and rode into Arlington on my Brothers bike with him, and did two Rolling Thunder parades.  All of this at the age of 70.  He died just before his 80th Birthday. 
I cannot say that I enjoyed all my time with this man.  In fact when I was a teenager I am not even sure I liked him.  But as I got older he got wiser.   When on the Run he was known as "The Old Marine", and although he was not the oldest to have participated in the Run, he did participate.  He loved his Run Family, and really enjoyed reading the news letters.
My Brother and I are carrying two of his hats to D.C., and a picture of him with another Marine in Corydin, Indiana holding his old unit flag.   The smile on both their faces says more about what they thought of the run than anything I can say here.   I will be putting a copy of this picture in this post.

Rest in Peace Dad, you served your time in hell, while in Korea, I do believe that you are with God.

I miss you a lot, this Run is for you.  I never said this enough when you were alive, Thanks, and I love you.

I did get to say it a few times.  We used to talk on the phone on Sundays, and Sundays are sometimes hard for me.