Day 6 in the books and I am behind

 Well I have not been writing much. Mostly because sleep is pretty important.  Right now I am multi tasking.  It is time to do Laundry.  So here is what has happened this week so far.

Tuesday we departed Williams Arizona for Gallup New Mexico.  A very uneventful Day.  No escorts, but a great stop in Holbrook.  The high school band performed, and I had to go to Gallup alone because my clutch was acting up.  Got it fixed quick, and it was not really expensive.

While waiting for the repairs I walked to a great Italian resturauant called Fratellis.  I had Pasta and Meat Balls and Tiramasu.  My Waitress was Awesome, her Name was Elenia.  I hope I spelled that right.  The food was great and the service was outstanding. I highly recomend this resturauant when visiting Gallup and I will be back there.

Wednesday was a great day. good Weather and a Presidential style escort from Gallup to Angel fire.  That memorial is very special.  I Met two workers from the Memorial. Monty and Dorry.  I left Clyde's Old license plate with them and will be mailing them a donation form with the information about how that came about.  The plate reads FNG05.  I got it in 2006. I was an FNG in 2005.   Okay now for the story of how I named Clyde the motorcycle.   I bought this bike in March of 2005.  I had not ridden or owned a motorcycle since 1997.  Then I had a Yamaha TDM 850.   Clyde is a 2004 Royal Star Venture.  Probably 400 pounds heavier than a TDM 850.  The first few tmes I rode him I dropped him a lot.   Picking him up was not an easy feat.   But this is how the name came about.  I was listenng to a local radio station in Wisconsin Rapids, the DJ was doing a battle of songs with two Ray Stevens songs.  The first was "The Shriners Convention"  the second was "Ahab the Arab".  The Arab song was playing and the line  about Ahab jumping on his camel Clyde was playing and the bike started to go over.  I said "Come on Clyde don't do this".  And the bike stayed up. So he instantly became Clyde the motorcycle.

Back to the trip to Angel Fire.  Our surprise guest speaker was a true friend of mine.  He went all the way in 2017.  Leroy Petrie is an amazing man. He recieved the medal of honor in 2011 for actions beyond the call of duty in Afghanistan.   His story is on You Tube, and it is amazing.  I sat down to listen to him speak, and his assistant said to me "You are here.  He's been looking for you and asking where you are".  Wow that almost floored me.  I gave him a big hug, and we talked while he handed out pins and patches.

Leroy wants to do the Run again.  He will be welcomed.  I personally think he would be perfect for our outreach team, and he could if allowed do that in a car, and be a back up last mn vehicle for that team.

We talked for a while and he promised me one of his Challenge coins that is a big deal.

Top picture is Leroy and bottom one is the desert I had at Fratellis.  Sorry about the placement.  I am still figuring out how this tablet works.  Any way I will be staying in touch with my friend.

Now for Angel Fire to Limon.  That was actually a good ride except for stopping the entire pack on the side of the road.  Loads of folks though it ws done so they could put raingear on.  It Wasn't.   The advance teams rode through a hail storm, Leadership decided to not ride through that.  People were told we were going to be sitting for about 30 minutes to let the weather clear, and if they wanted to they could put on raingear.  But the stop happened because golf ball size hail hurts.  There are pictures in the Central Route SitRep.

So then was Ratone, and finally Limon.   At Limon I decided that I am going to write a book on the history of RFTW.  I feel that things are being forgotten.  I already have several stories from some 89ers (that is the name given to the original RFTW riders).  I also have Mike Many Bikes sending me things from one of the original 89ers.  That will go in the book in it's entirety.  

I also plan to include the "Bounce" Chronicles.  Stories that  are already written here.  Wish me luck.  That will be a lot of work.  But I'm betting it will sell well.

So yesterday we rode to Junction City Kansas from Limon Colorado.   Limon was not a big stop at night. But the breakfast provided by Olivers was fantastic.  The only problem we had on the way to Junction City was the wind.  gusts over 30 knots was not fun.  But Junction City welcomes us very well.  We had a Patriot Guard style flag line to ride past, that is always wow for me, and the FNG riders really enjoyed it.

Dinner was meatloaf and it was great.

Today was one of my busiest days on the Run.  I went to OOIDA from the Topeka fuel stop and did an interview with Land Line now magazine.  Also gave the folks there 50 2026 Run pins.  GO GO Gomeez and two friends came along, and we saluted the pack as they went by.  Then we got to Wenzville.  Had some rain at the end of the day but it was not too bad.  Tomorrow is St Louis MO.  The police shut down 270 and 255 for us.  They ran a rolling road block today, and routed us around a major accident.  While at the Topeka fuel stop I answered questions for a local TV reporter.  He wanted to know why I do this.  I told him the truth, I really have no answer.  I ride for those who can't just like everyone else, but when I think about it the Run is good for me.  The Road Guards say they mis the days of me telling trucks how great a front door that they make.

Thats it for tonight. 

photos from weekend and day 1

 

Chloe and her mother are visiting needles from Wisconsin. The lady standing is the person they were visiting. My memory is getting bad. Going to have to get a book to write names down.

This is Amber and Patricia, they came to see us roll out.  I told them that we might get a fly by. We usually do, but weather prevented it.

Chloe sent a comment, it was very nice, but it has been a while since Ive added comments. Will have to figure out how to do that.  Thank you Chloe.    

Tonight I will rewrite the story of how good old Clyde got his name.  Wish I could find someone in Texas to fix and tune his carbs.  Big Red is in the shop here in Gallup getting Clutch fluid changed, it boiled in a parade today.

UPDATES ON MONDAY TUESDAY AND TODAY

        First I want to to say that there are 2 stories I thought were here and I can't find.  They are how I got my Road Name of Bounce and how I named my 2004 Royal Star Venture Clyde.   I will rewrite them tomorrow.

Today was great.  I am in Platoon 1. It has awesome Leadership and some very expierenced riders.  I am probably the least experienced  one in the Platoon.  This morning I did my first ever U Turn without stopping of or putting my foot down. It was great.  Then at the first fuel stop I pulled an Arty Johnson manuever. In other words I dropped my bike.  No damage to bike or rider,  except for pride.

Before the Ceremonies I met two Ladies, possibly a mother and daughter there to see us off.  Amber and Patricia.....Then at Ludlow I met a group of folks that came out to watch us.  Then at Lunch in Needles I met nother Mother and daughter,  who were there visiting a relative, They were from Wisconsin.  I am sorry I didnt get these folks names, but They might comment.'

I will update this with picture from today later

Safely in Williams.

Bike ready to go and I got a shower.  Now Im going to sleep. Early morning.  First 50/50 raffle.  should be a great crowd.  I am helping sell tickets. I wil buy one and hope I win

Bounce is on the side                                                                       

Monday, Registration meetings andtraining on the Bike

 Today is a busy day. Some folks have to be in 3 places at once.  I wonder who had the brilliant Idea to put registration 4 miles from the hotels.  It's okay but it sure was a lot easier when things were consolidated.  OK last complaint.

I have met tons of very nice people, some are old friends and others are new friends.  this will be short, update tonight with pictures.

Bounce on the side

 Just a quick update, I met up with Cheetohs in Santa Rosa NM and today we rode to Kingman AZ. 590 miles at a bit over the speed limit.   We had lunch at an Arby's and dinner at In and out Burger.  

Tomorrow we stop at Laughlin for fuel and head to Ontario to sign in.

So far Big Red has run fine....I did the first 25 miles in 4th gear. But my MPG picked up quite a bit after that.

First leg of my Run to the Run is complete....kinda

These pictures were yesterday around noon.  I was packed and ready to roll.  I made it to Fort Sumner in about 7 hours.  but had to wait for a large accident to clear so I could not get to the camp ground I wanted to go to.  

On the way I saw a lot of cool things, including a 1974 Maverick that had been kitted with a really nice spoiler and front end.

It was labled Drgon Fly....just thought that was cool since my wife's business of working with folks suffering from PTS is called Reluctant dragonfly LLC.   

So I am now sitting in Santa Rosa waiting for Ken Nuefeld aka Cheetohs.   He is and has always been like an older brother to me.  This is his last RFTW so he says, and I am honored to ride with him.  He really wanted his road name to be Sparky, cause he worked with radios in the Navy, but in 2005 he smashed a large bag of Cheetohs in front of a lot of friends and the name Cheetohs stuck.  If I can get him to tell me the whole story agian I will put it in my next entry.   He should be here soon.  I will get pics of him for my next entry. 

Tomorrow we are going to overnight at Kingman AZ and head into California on Sunday early and try to beat the traffic from Vegas.

Thanks for reading.

All comments are welcome, they are all moderated but all will be posted even if certain words are redacted. PG folks kids do occasionaly read this stuff.

Bounce standing by

 I made a decision in January, today I am packing and Loading Big Red.  Clyde is out of service for now.  I have to get the carbs on my old friend rebuilt.  He has 65000 miles on him, and except for a round trip to Sturgis in 2005 all those miles are RFTW miles, or miles in preperation for Run For the Wall.   Big Red is newer, and has a lot more bells and whistles, but Clyde will be back.  

I am meeting Ken Nuefeld, aka Cheetohs in New Mexico and traveling the rest of the way with him.  Cheetohs is a great friend and he is more like an older brother than a freind.  This is the first post for this year.  I am not communicationg with trucks to protect the pack this year.  I may be volunteering to work for the staging crew, but that remains to be seen.  The last time I did that was the first year that we did it on Central Route.  I helped figure that out and they have it down to a pretty good science.  What I may do is help cover for latrine breaks and other stuff, or go get coffee and water for them.  I sometimes on the Run do not play well with others.

I am looking forward to this trip.  I have lost about 45 pounds and am working on losing 20 to 30 more.    I will try to enter something everyday, and I will have pictures too.  Comments as always are moderated, but all comments positive or negative are welcome and will be posted.  May have to redact some words, totally PG audience here.

No matter what I will apply rule #1 which is no matter what have fun.

Thanks,

Bounce

RUN FOR THE WALL 35 IS NOW COMPLETE....I DIDN'T GO

 I will never say I should have done or could have done. I will say I regret not doing something.  I regret not planning and not going to RFTW 35.   There is good news I now have a year to plan, and I am getting healthier every day, I am losing weight and I can save the money to go.  In January I will be able to say whether I can go or not.   

The days of the communications team are gone.  The Run has found a better way to communicate with each other.   The trucks for the most part no longer use the CB radio.  This makes me sad, but truck drivers did this to themselves.   The run itself has evolved.  There are so many heroes from our South West Asia conflicts that need this, the Vietnam Vets and those like me from the Cold War are getting older.   A lot of the Vietnam Vets are in their 80s.   The idea of never allowing this country to treat our troops the way the troops coming home from Vietnam were treated is alive and well.   When I see a proud Veteran from any war, or an active duty troop I always make it a point to thank them and welcome them home.   Last month my wife and I were in a steak house, two Vietnam Vets walked into the resturant and ordered.   I waited until they had been served then I told the waitress that I was buying their meal.  I told her if they asked to tell them that a cold war Veteran appreciated their sacrafice.   As I left I stopped at their table and thanked them and said "Welcome Home".   They initially were taken aback, then they smiled and thanked me.    I left happy knowing that I had done something good.   The last time I did this I was still driving.  That time there were 30 or so guard folks eating at a truck stop and they had when I thanked them for their service relayed that they were headed to Iraq.  I told the waitress to bring their bill to me, it was a bit, but not that much.  I paid it and told her to tell them a cold war vet apprecitated their service.  I didn't do this to feel good,  I did, but I did it because they deserved it.

If I plan to do the run again.  There will be pictures and videos.  My wife wants to go, but her health may not allow for that.   I think I can get a leave of absence from my bill paying job. If not I will find a way.  It will be nice to just ride and not worry about anything but the bike next to me and the bikw in front of me.  I might go to Angel Fire for Labor Day.  Depending on weather I might take Big Red, or Clyde if I can find a tuner for him.

Bounce is not back yet, but he has a plan

It is Memorial Day.  I miss the Old Marine, and I am sure he would be encouraging me to ride.  He loved the Run and the people that do it.   So I may do it again.   I will get back on the forum for the Run.  There is no other group of folks that do anything like this.  Gunny Gregory has stated that it was supposed to be a one time trip, but it just can't be.  The mission is just too important.  It means too much to too many.  The riders, the supporters, the folks that can't ride, like my friend Chuck Gyureck.  AKA The Shadow.  He uses a walker, but he stood and held a flag this year at Rainelle WV.   He sent me that story, I will request his permission to share it here.

Until the next time

Bounce is probably back

What is Reluctant Dragonfly, and why is it important

First a quick update on me.  I have retired from truck driving and training drivers.  I loved this job and enjoyed the folks I worked with.   But it was literally killing me.   In 2021 I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.   Initially I was taking direct insulin injections and 4 thousand milligrams a day of  Metphormine.   After about 3 months I got my sugar under control.  My A1C was a half a point over 14 and that was bad. My Daily sugar was above 500.   I changed my diet and lost weight.  Currently my A1C is about 5.2 and I take one 50 milligram pill a day for that.   I went from 325 lbs. to 260 lbs. and dropped 3 pant sizes.  This happened because I got out of the truck.   I worked very hard to get back into the truck and hated it.  So, I quit driving.  I still have my CDL and at the end of November I am going to have an actual sleep study done.  (Not the BS put this on your wrist and try to sleep in the truck kind, but a real sleep study) I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, but since I lost weight and started eating properly and getting real exercise the weight is staying off and the sugar has normalized.   I sleep well and the machine they forced me to buy is not working, hence the real sleep study.   I am feeling better, and I have a great puppy.  I also have a new wife.   The length of time that it took to get the sleep study was too long.  I have lost my CDL.  May be able to get it back but not any time soon.

Study results are in.  In January I was given a new mask and my machine was adjusted so that it will work to treat my apnea.  Been using it every day and it seems to be working.  I am sleeping better and actually getting real rest.  Unfortunately the state has pulled my CDL because it took too long.  Could not pass a physical without the machine.  So now I will try to get it back, probably in March or April.

Now for the story of the Reluctant Dragonfly:

Dragonflies can stay in their Nymph stage for years.  It is like they do not want to grow up.  Then when they do, they sometimes seem to be hovering in one spot.  This is caused by their reluctance to progress.  

My wife has published a book that deals with healing and overcoming Post Traumatic Stress.   Her idea is to help veterans, and first responders deal with these problems.  The book is titles "The Word and the Master Healer".   I helped her review and edit this.  She wrote it years ago, but we updated it and added a chapter for veterans and first responders.  LeeAnn is pretty special. She is a certified "Body Code", "Emotion Code" and "Belief Code " Healer.   She is also Reiki Master healer.   Her book attempts to encourage folks to heal themselves.   She has worked very hard to help me and has done some good there.  I am not hurting as much as I used to.  

So Reluctant Dragonfly is the LLC LeeAnn and I formed for truck driving, but it has changed to a publishing company.  You might be able to find us/it on You Tube as soon as we figure out how to utilize that platform.   Our videos will be about healing and coping with PTS.  Some call this a disorder, but I refuse to accept that. Post Traumatic Stress is just something that comes with the job of being in the military or responding to bad things.  It is not a disorder, it is a problem that can be solved.  The book is available in its updated form from Amazon and Kindle.   Try looking at it, cause it may help.

In addition to all of that please look up Neptune Warrior.  This 501C3 is helping veterans and first responders cope with Post Traumatic Stress in a unique way and they need help to help.

 Wow it seems like forever since I was in here to type out a post.  Sorry but 2024 just seemed to fly by.   I got married for the third time last January.  I am working at least till the end of this month as a cook in the Goldthwaite TX senior center.   Lots of great folks there, but I have to leave.  Billie is back and I am not needed any longer.   This will be hard to do, but in the end it is best for all concerned.   The job was fun, and cooking for the seniors there was both interesting and challenging.   I made a lot of friends, and had a good time.  But working seven and eight hours a day without a break, and walking almost 10k steps everyday has taken its toll on me.

I have a good friend who thinks that I will have to work until I am 90 just because if I do not I will waste away.  He is probably right.  I am looking for a new job and may get one in March.

Now for an update on Clyde.  He is out of service even though he has new tires and new brakes, and was ready to ride, sitting for a year and a half has caused him some problems.  I plan to take him to a bike shop and have his carbs cleaned and tuned next month.  That may take a while as it is a very busy shop.  But the folks there seem honest.  As for Big Red, there are warranty issues and oil leaks to fix there.  Same shop probably at the same time.

Now for a few words on life in general.  I am going to be 70 this year, and I wish that I could retire, ride the bike and go fishing.  There is fishing near me, but it requires a boat, and I do not have one.  I will go pier fishing when it gets a little warmer, because I cannot afford a boat.  I will be vlogging on you tube soon.  Who knows it may take off and then I can retire except for videos.  I have a dog.  I have mentioned her here before.  Jessica is a Boston Terrier Border Collie mix (he mom looked more like a bull dog than a Boston)  But she has Boston Terrier hair, Border Collie markings and is super smart and very well behaved.  She Chases a Frisby and will catch in the air.   She will bring it back but wants to play keep away when she does.  We are working on that.   There are videos on my You Tube channel.  @bouncefng05.  There is one of her getting ice cream after a visit to the vet and one of her playing with a Frisby.  All in all she is a smart little dog and very loving.  She is also very sensitive and knows when I am down and will try to make me smile.  she also smiles herself.  Well at least I think it is a smile.  Might just be her lip raising up.

So any way I will be posting much more often.  If you find the you tube page, watch and if you enjoy it like subscribe comment and share.  Thanks

Bounce signing off