Believe it or not I have not had much to say lately

I will start this off with an apology to the folks that follow this blog.  I have not written much because I have not had much to say lately.
Today I visited my Dad, aka The Old Marine, at the Milwaukee, WI, VA hospital.  I will be going back tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday then I have to head home and get ready for work.

Some who follow this know my Dad, he participated in three consecutive Runs for the Wall.  2005, 2006 and 2007.  In 2006 he planned to go all the way, but he got a little ill in New Mexico and had to bail in Illinois.  But he has made all the stops at least once.  He grades the stops by the meals.  Williams Arizona, and Wentzville, MO are both awesome.  At least in his book.  I and Clyde think all the stops are great, but those two above do sort of stand out for a lot of different reasons.

Tonight when I got to the hospital I really did not know what to expect.  The old man is pretty tough, but he is a lot weaker than the last time he was in the hospital, and of course the dialysis is taking it's toll on him.  He fully intends to leave the hospital next week, and he may get that done, provided he gets a little stronger.  He is doing rehab physical therapy three times a week, and dialysis three times a week.  Tomorrow he gets Belgian Waffles, with strawberries, and syrup and a dollop of whipped cream.  (These are home made and will be duly smuggled past the "pogey bait" police  aka hospital staff, and consumed tomorrow before lunch.)

For my friends that are praying for his recovery, I read some of your posts, he smiled and said to make sure and thank you all.  He did get tickled about the Air Force Colonel that sent him the Semper Fi wish, but I thought he would.

In closing I am not sure when I will post again, but I will post again.  Take that as a warning, or a promise.  I talk way too much to stay silent for long.  

Final thought, I am planning on doing this years Run.  I have no idea how, but as I will be camping all the way, no reservations are needed, just time and gas money, and I have the gas money, so forcing the time will be the hardest thing.  This year I will be riding for a whole generation of very tough VETS.  They are from the forgotten war.  The so called Police action known as the Korean War.  My Dad is a Vet from this war, and if I am half as strong at 60 as he is at 78 I will be a happy man.

Bounce.


P.S.
Note to Clyde you will be in the motorcycle shop all winter long, and you will get the royal treatment from Troy, the Royal Venture Mechanic.

This Blog is not dedicated to Run For The Wall, but the author is.

Strange title?  No not really.  Right now there is a debate raging on the Run for the Wall riders forum.  I wonder what we did before we had this forum?  Probably complain to our friends on the phone.  Or worse try to change things without authority to do so next time we were there?  Or even worse than that not participate in the mission.  
My second year on the Run I almost got my butt kicked in at the Topeka KS fuel stop.  I had been riding about three bikes back from a New Guy on a Red Gold Wing.  He was running his own little missing man formation in the middle of the pack.  He was staying 3 to four seconds away from the bike in front of him, and every time he adjusted speed he hit his brakes.  Not his rear brake but his front brake, and not to slow but to get the bike in front of him to back off.  Well this was in 2006 and believe it or not the rules were the same as they are today, but they were not enforced as well as they are today.   When we started the leg he was three or maybe four bikes in front of me.  When we got to the fuel stop he was right in front of me.  This is because after a while the guys behind him got tired of his riding style in the pack and went around him.  I too would have done this but I had been and probably still am a pretty crappy rider.  Sure I can do the Run, but that is pretty much all the riding I do.  Anyway I stayed behind him, I slowed a little the first nine or ten times he hit his brakes, I passed back his slow down hand signal the first three times he passed it back (when he realized I was ignoring his brake light he started giving me the slow down hand signal cause he thought I was too close to him, and when he backed off increasing his gap I didn't he would wave the slow down signal.  I stopped passing these back too as they were not coming from the platoon leader, they were coming from this guy (all things that I could not see from three or four bikes back but could once everyone did what they were not supposed to and what I should have done, just gone around this guy.)  Everyone else pretty much did go around the two of us except for a friend that was behind me, Dave Cal Kid ended up beside me at the end of the line of bikes in about third platoon.  The two of us sort of pushed this guy up, there were no tail gunners that year, all you had was road guards and they couldn't do much but pace and gesture, and if the rider did what they wanted (this guy did several times by the way when the road guards tried to move him up) they went on.  I followed this guy from Salinas to Topeka.  By the time I got to the fuel stop I was pissed off to the point that I wanted to just leave.  But I did not.  I confronted him after we were staged.  In those days there were not assigned platoons so you could stage pretty much any where you wanted to. There were no staging crews on Central Route, the only way to get in the front was show up early, some folks actually parked their bikes at the staging area then walked to the hotels so they would be up front (silly as after the first fuel stop you ended up mixed in anyway)  so today the assigned platoons is a much better deal.   After I got staged, again about four bikes behind this guy, I walked up to him and introduced myself.  I did not have a road name, just a name, so I doubt he remembers me, but he might.  I do not know if he is still on the Run, heck I could not even tell you his name.  He did have a California plate on his bike and the last number was a 7.  Well I was behind him for two legs on the run so that is all I saw.  When I introduced myself I saw his FNG pin.   So I decided to temper my remarks.  I do not have the exact words I said written down but it went something like this, "Hi my Name is Dave, this is my second year on the run, last year I was a FNG too, and I only went part way, Colorado to DC."  He acknowledged this and shook my hand.  "I just wanted to thank you for making this leg the absolute worse leg I have ever done on the Run.  You are running your own personal missing man formation, you are a one man rubber band factory, and every time you back off or adjust speed you have to hit your brakes.  You do not pay attention to anything but the bike behind you, you allowed several cages to break through the pack, and caused not just the last couple of bikes to have to go around, since we are in the second platoon you caused over three hundred riders to have to make unneeded lane changes.  I see that I am behind you again, and I want you to know that I won't pass you although I should because that is not allowed in the rules, I won't hit you because I am paying attention but I will not pass back your slow down signal unless it comes from the bike in front of you, and I have already learned to ignore your break lights.  If you do not like this I suggest you ride ahead of the pack because you are endangering me and all of the riders behind you."  I said this all with a smile on my face and as sarcastically as I could.  Then I walked away from him to my bike.  He went off like a Roman Candle and if not for his friends, and the Cal Kid, who by the way is a Marine like this guy was, I probably would have been either in jail, or the hospital.   Cal Kid told the man to stand down, and that I was right and if I hadn't said anything he would have, and at that point he had been on 10 or more runs.   Well after things cooled off one of his friends walked up to me, and asked if he could ask some questions.  I said sure.  He only asked three questions
1) if he backs off will you hit him with your bike?   my answer was very loud  No but since he is watching me in the mirror I know he will pull back up before he hits me but his rubberband will stop with me.
2) Why no break lights?   my answer not as loud this time, but there were at least 5 FNG's standing around in ear shot  Break lights cause panic, both in the riders behind you that think something bad is going on and in the cars and trucks around us.  They see a guy tap his breaks to adjust speed and think we are all stopping so they slow down and that causes bad things to happen behind us.
3) Are you mad at him or any of us new guys?  my answer to this surprised all of them.... No I am not mad or angry, in fact I understand why no one wanted to ride behind me my first year.   I am going to suggest that they have a few additional meetings for FNG's just to let them know that all they have to do is ask and they will get answers.

Well after that came Kansas City, and the year before that was a nightmare, so I was hyper aware, had all my gadgets turned off, and I noticed that the Red Wing was gone.  He had dropped out of line.  When we got to Wentzville I looked him up, and apologized for my sarcasm, he told me that he was sorry for wanting to kill me.  He also said that he would be in the pack in the morning and he was going to work on not using his break, but his bike didn't have the back pressure of a Harley so down shifting did not slow him down.  I shared a trick my Brother had told me about that works well on Metric bikes, don't down shift, double clutch.  I then explained that when I needed to slow a little I would grab the clutch for a second or to then let it out slowly, the engine will slow down, and that slows the transmission.  I do not recommend this for normal riding, but for pack riding it works well.  Then he asked me "do you really think break lights cause panic?" I asked him if he had been with us since CA, and he said yes, I asked him if he remembered the car that had spun out on I-15 as we were going by, he said yes he had ridden past that, I told him that car was next to me and two bikes 5 or 6 slots ahead of me had hit their breaks to adjust speed and that car thought the line was stopping cause of police lights in front ( we were under escort and the cops were trying to clear the left lane so we could get around the truck scales) The car overreacted swerved and hit his breaks and ended up in the median. The guy thanked me and I never saw him again.  I hope he completed the Run and hope that he came back, but I do not know.  I do know I have never said anything to anyone about their riding again mostly because I am such a poor rider.   No for the debate on the forum, we are not going to change the way we ride, we ride in formation.  Staggered or Side by Side it does not matter.  I suspect that Central Route will go most of the way staggered next year, but that will be because of leadership below the BOD, and that is a shame, but it won't stop me from supporting and hopefully doing the mission.  I probably won't be talking to trucks next year, I mean they made it fine this year without me, but I will be riding.

Bounce

Re Post of How Bounce Got his Road Name. Or Miracles Do Happen Cause without them I would not be here.

 As promised I am posting this again just in case anyone from the Forum is interested in how I got my road name. Something that I never mentioned before, my highway peg was supposed to be up, but the bolt holding it was loos and it had flopped down, or I would never have had this story, in addition I lost sight of Bones (He had slowed way down when he saw Tanker put his brake lights on wish I would have known that I would have moved another two feet to the right, but not knowing where Bones was I did what I had to do to protect him from me hitting him)  I know know that the platoon leader behind me thought I was dead and was amazed when he saw my right blinker go on, found this out the following year when I stopped to pick his bike up off of him in the Same corner after he made an error and went down, never knew that at the time.

This is a story that really happened to me in 2007. It was my third consecutive Run For the Wall, and the second time that I had gone all the way from LA to DC. By then I had rubbed most of the new guy stuff off me. My Bike (affectionately know as Clyde, and occasionally he will channel through me to put thoughts here) is a white Royal Star Venture with the vanity plate number of FNG05. That year I actually had two jobs on the Run, I was working registration with my Wife, and while riding I was talking to Truckers on the radio.
When we were in Gallup New Mexico one of the members of the Board of Directors told me that he needed me to take his slot behind the assistant route coordinator. I initially declined his offer, but he persisted and talked me into taking this position. We were going into Angel Fire New Mexico from Gallup, and I thought it would be fun, plus through Albuquerque we were to be under State Police escort, and I knew from the year before there would only be questions to answer on the radio, and no truckers really any where near the formation, so I did it. My wife was going to ride down into Angel Fire with me, and had arranged for someone else to drive our truck and my Dad down the mountain. Just as we were getting ready to leave Hammer announced that there was snow in Angel Fire. My wife of course decided to ride in the comfort of the pick up instead of on Clyde.
So after lunch I lined up behind Shooter and next to Bones. Tanker was on Shooters Wing, and Fallow Me, and another veteran rider of the run were behind Bones and me. I sort of felt left out because I really did not have a road name. My CB handle was and is Grabagear, when I am in my truck, but I was not using that on the run.
As we descended into the valley the road was great, a little chilly but no snow, and the sun was out. Bones later said he saw that something was going to happen for miles, he just did not know what it would be. I was keeping pace with Shooter and Tanker, we were in a staggered formation and riding a little fast for what we were doing. The Missing man formation, and Road Guards were already at the Monument, and as we came around the last turn in the road, at the front of a pack of about 500 bikes, I realized something bad was happening. Shooter and Tanker were on their brakes, and neither of them do that unless it is an emergency, tends to cause problems, shooter indicated with a hand signal that he was slowing and pointed to his left. Then my world sort of slowed way down.
There was a big truck coming up the hill at us from Angel Fire. It's trailer was off tracking around the corner and was about 4 or 5 feet into my lane. Clyde's Highway peg caught the front trailer tire and I was being pulled under the truck. I really do not know how I did it but I pushed away from the trailer with my right hand (still have that glove and use it when I ride, even though there is a hole in it from slapping the side of the trailer) and Clyde righted himself, I put on my blinker and moved to the shoulder. My left foot hurt a little, and I could no longer shift, and there was plastic every where but Clyde was still running. When I hit the shoulder my tires sunk in the soft dirt right up to the brake discs. Clyde was standing up all by himself in the dirt, no need for a kickstand there. Bones stopped and made sure I was OK, and later rode down to the Hotel with me. I made sure my wife knew I was OK, and made sure that Shooter and Tanker and Hammer knew I was OK, cause there were those inevitable Rider Down calls on the radio. I never went down though.
Later while fixing my crash bars and shifter, Two Lane came up to me and told me he had the perfect road name for me. I carefully asked him what that was, mostly because most road names after something bad tend to leave you feeling ribbed. He said "Dances with Semi's". I loved it, and still use it, but Bones said it was too long for the radio, he wanted to call me "Semi Slayer" because after I had Bounced off the truck the driver had pulled over up the hill and got stuck so bad they had to call a wrecker to get Her back on the road. I said I could hear it now:
"OK big truck thanks for your patience and professionalism today, you have one more pack of bikes and then our missing man formation to get by and then you are done with Run For the Wall for today." The reply would be "Thanks driver, who am I talking too?" Then I respond, "uh they call me Semi Slayer?" Both Bones and Two Lane agreed that probably would not work well, and then Two Lane said "on the radio we will just call you Bounce!" It worked and it stuck. After minor repairs I rode Clyde all the way to DC and then back home. The Cruise Control did not work, but everything else did. $3200.00 in damage, but my insurance covered that, and I got my name all at the same time. Now think about this how many riders do you know that can get hit at speed by a tractor trailer and not only walk away from it, but finish a very long ride to boot?

Thanks Two Lane and Bones for the handle, I like it, or I would not use it, and it fits me well.

Bounce

For The Saluting Marine aka SSGT TIM CHAMBERS USMC Retired

I am proud to say that this outstanding young man, this brave Marine is a friend of mine.

Candy Man also known as SSgt Walrus

This is a great video of Central Route Road Guards this year hustling to Williams Arizona to set up the parade route (I am guessing on this but from the Mile Markers and terrain I am probably right.) what a difference a year makes, last year it was cold and snowy on this stretch of road.   These guys are all volunteers, and they work their butts off to keep the riders of Run For The Wall safe.   The last two minutes of this video is awesome, there is a quick pass of tootsie pops.  Those little candies are ideal for motorcycle riding, and Clyde always has at least two boxes somewhere on him when we do the run.....is it next year yet.  I cannot wait. Please note that this was done by guys that ride in formation together for over 7000 miles a year.  That is just an estimate but Road Guards put on twice the mileage of the folks in the run.   I do not recommend that this be done, nor do I think that I could do it, but it is sure cool to watch.  In other words Do not try this at home kids, it was done by professionals on a pretty much closed course.  The previous announcement was to make Gallupe happy, he is right this is not an example of what riding on the run is like.  Riding on the run takes 100% concentration and awareness at all times. 

Billy Ray Cyrus - Some Gave All

Thank you all who have served, and all who have supported those that served.  Freedom is not free.  Once again this blog is not dedicated to Run For The Wall, but the writer is.  This song is important in so many ways I just do not have the words to describe all of them. 

Run For The Wall, Welcome To Wytheville Virginia 2012

This is a great video of RFTW Southern Route staging and departing Wytheville, VA.  Things I noticed, seems like there is a lot of campers, and the number of trikes and bikes with trailers is getting larger....are we all getting older?   I cannot wait for next year.  Not going this year hurt badly, but nothing will stop me from being there in LA next May, except maybe health.

Another mission complete.

Now the mission is complete, and those that have gone all the way simply have to return home.  Be safe and remember you are headed home alone and unprotected.... Be Careful as you do it.  I do not want to lose anyone on the way home.   Take care and plan for next year, I am.

Bounce

Note To Clyde, The Creative one

Note to Clyde,
Quit playing with the format already, it looks cool right now, but maybe folks won't like it.   Comments please.

For those that do not know Clyde is the name given to one tough Yamaha motorcycle, I mean he took a hit from a big truck in 2007 and kept on running (note I never went down, just got stuck in the dirt alongside the road we were on when I tried to get out of the way of over 500 other bikes.) all the way to DC from New Mexico where the hit happened.  He is also part of the creative side of me I guess, so he is the changer of formats here.  Let him know if you like it or not.  I myself am not sure.

Bounce

Well RFTW 24 is over, and even as this being written plans for 25 are being made.

There are so many things I could write here, and most of them would not be understood.  I could not do any part of the Run this year, but in a way I did my part.  My job had me driving the route of both Runs days before the bikes did it.  Southern Route was not under much construction (at least the parts I drove on weren't), but the Central Route had a lot.  I let  folks know what they were riding into.  I tried to get home to ride to Goodland KS and do two days, but it did not happen.  I tried to get at least to Mt Vernon, IL and salute the pack in, but I got there a day late.  I met a few folks that were headed the same way, and stated that they were going to go next year.  I made sure they had the web page information and told them that if they had any questions they could post them on the forum. 

For me not doing the Run actually hurts.  I do not know why but it does.  Then today I got (well it could have been here a while because I have intentionally not been here to write cause it really does hurt) a comment from the very nice lady that rides a Vespa Scooter, she made me realize why it hurts so not to do the Run.  The people that do it, and support it, and the real reason it is done is why it hurts not to do it.

In the Past I have ridden for Matt Maupen, Wizard's Brother, Chuck Huskey a friend of mine from Basic Training who died during the cold war while supporting a weapons movement in South Dakota, and many many others.  I wrote a little while ago about driving from Ludlow, CA to Needles, CA and how special that route is to me.  But in truth the Run has changed my outlook on life, caused me to write here (some say that is not good because I tend to rant and ramble) and I have one of the largest extended families ever.  That family is sometimes dysfunctional, but it is still family, and I would pity anyone who decided to pick on any member of that family. 
I have ridden all the way or participated in 6 runs, and supported the last 8.  I once told Bones that I would do this until I could not climb onto a bike anymore, and if at that point there were still folks that had not been brought home I would ride in a cage, or a bus or whatever it took to get there and remind the people in power that at least I still care.
Some times I wonder if they even notice us, but then again I remember that even 15 years ago   POW MIA flags were not up on state capitals, or rest areas, or any where else, they are now.  So people notice.
I want to thank each and every rider this year and tell them they did a good job. I pray that the few that got hurt in KS heal fast.  I also want to thank every trucker that encountered the Run on either route this year, and thank them for allowing us to use roads that they pay for, and for having the patience to let them do what has to be done.  This mission will end someday, but it might take a line of bikes that starts in LA and ends in DC to do it. But then that would really be cool, 3200 miles of bikes,  that would mean that every bike that ends up in DC would have to get to LA and that it would take a lot more than ten days to get it done, but it would be noticed.
To those that complain about the traffic tie ups, and slow downs that the Run causes, keep complaining, but when you do tell your politician that if he or she did their job those bikes would not have to do what they do.
OK that is enough for one post.  Thanks all, especially Karen the scooter lady.  Clyde still thinks that little red Vespa is cute, and he has not gotten over being passed uphill in Arizona by it either.

Bounce