The following is written without permission of the participants, but I got impatient, so I wrote it anyway
A few years ago I met a good friend and a great guy. Karl Hartz, aka Krazy Karl. He had been talking to me and with me on the CB radio during one of my first runs. I cannot remember if it was 2006 or 2007, but I do remember he had a fantastic radio, and I on the other hand had two tin cans and a frayed string to talk with.
In 2005 I decided to talk to the trucks, and let them know who we were and what we were doing. This was as a result of all the questions on the CB about what are those crazy bikers doing. In 2005 I joined the
Run at Limon Colorado, and they had been building hate and discontent from the truckers since they left Ontario, CA five days before. Only no one knew it because they were not talking to the trucks. I am a truck driver, and I just naturally listen to channel 19 when I am on the road. That morning when we took off the first thing I heard was an exchange between some one in the pack (it may have been the leader, JR Franklin) and a truck. {"Holy cow that is a lot of motor cycles. Where is the Rally Boys?" "Sir it is not a rally, it is not a party, it is a mission, and like any mission you do not have to like it you just have to do it. We had 250 riders at the riders meeting this morning sir, and we left Ontario CA 5 days ago, we are headed for Washington D.C. to participate in Rolling Thunder, and to honor our fallen heroes" "Well that is a good thing" "Yes sir, we do not mean to be disruptive, and most of these guys would do this if they had to walk. This is a POW/MIA awareness mission, and to promote healing for Veterans of all wars" About that time someone came up on the air and said some pretty nasty things about how we shouldn't be allowed on the highway like that. Before I could get on the radio and defend what we were doing, a big truck with a really big radio shouted "leave them riders alone, they are doing good, and besides there must be at least a thousand folks between here and Salinas KS on the overpasses, waiting for them, these guys are popular"}
Well I spent the next several days repeating the mission thing, and by about three days I had a lot more positive responses than negative. I also got Claire B. Lang, from XM radio to interview me about the Run, and she replayed that all weekend. This helped a lot. But all in all in 2005 I couldn't talk over a 1000 feet, so I had to rely on big trucks with bigger radios to relay the information for me.
Then in 2006 I rode all the way, and started talking to trucks from day one, and by day two I didn't have to say much, they already knew who we were and that we were on a mission. I want to take the time to thank Both Claire B, and Glen Jones from Sirius/XM radio for that. They let me talk about the Run on their air, and that really helped to get the word out. I have always done our Central Route, but I try to get the word out about our Southern Route too. In addition to talking on the radio, I send, or I sent, an email to The director of Training at Stevens Transport everyday with numbers, and highways that we were going to be on. He was relaying this information to his counterparts at several large companies, and it helped a lot. So thanks Mr. Cheney.
Anyway the year I met Karl, he was relaying for me. By the fifth day my voice was about gone, because my radio was so bad, I was always yelling into my microphone. So I just let Karl follow the script. He actually did a better job than I did. Karl did not get angry or excited when one of the 1% chuckleheads would say something derogatory about us, he just thanked them, and asked them politely to stay in the center of their lane.
In 2007, the year I got the road name Bounce, Krazy and I had planned and coordinated the whole truck talker thing, we were even official. We made a believer out of Russ Sheepdog Cochran, the future pack leader, when we informed him that there was a large deer laying in the left lane about two miles ahead of the pack. A trucker had radioed back to us that the darn thing had run right into the side of his trailer. Russ heard my plea to get the pack into the right lane just in time. When the platoon I was in went by the deer it was still kicking its legs. I told Karl to watch it, that he might just be taking a nap on the road. Well I was right, when Karl went by the deer jumped to its feet and took off across the median. Just imagine if there had been bikes between him and his escape. Russ, like Tanker and Hammer before him, came to me later that day and thanked me and told me too keep it up. Well 2007 was really a good trip. My radio actually worked, for some reason it carries well over 5 miles, even on channel 19, and down on the pack business channel I can relay to both ends of the pack, there are times when the pack is well over 10 miles long, so at least I had a voice when I got to DC. Krazy and I bantered with each other, and kept the trucks informed on what was going on, It was fun. We did this in 2007, 8 and 9 together, Karl did it alone in 2010 because I couldn't be there, and in 2011, I was without Karl, except we emailed and talked on the phone everyday. I really enjoyed 07. 08 and 09. We were a team, and the folks on the Run complimented us on the work we were doing. I felt bad about not being able to go in 2010, and felt pretty lonely in 2011. But then Rocket flat out floored me in 2011. When we got to the last fuel stop before DC he got some one, I believe it was SSgt Walrus (these folks have real names too, but I am using their road names here) to get me to come see him. He presented me with on of my most prized possessions a road guard patch. I won't put it on my vest, but that is another story for another day. I worked pretty hard to keep everyone safe that trip, and the truckers did not exactly love us but they knew why we were there, they knew it was not a rally, or a party but a mission. Most of them get it, and support us. The ones that do not, well they are stupid.
In the words of Krazy Karl "God bless our troops, and the Great American Trucker, if this country loses either we are lost." God Bless Krazy Karl, he taught me a lot, and he worked his tail off keeping me out of trouble, and safely getting 300 to 500 bikes a day across America.
Thanks to everyone that reads this, and if you see a soldier, sailor airman or marine, take a moment and thank them for their service, and welcome them home, because in this day and age if they are wearing a uniform they are either headed overseas, or have just returned. Those are the folks the we riders are riding for, to make things better for them. We ride for the folks that have never come back too, but never again can this country treat people the way my generation treated the returning Vietnam Veterans, the Vietnam Veterans, and people like me will not allow it.
Bounce
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Well Things sure have changed in the last month. I am really up Now
My last post was all about how I could not do Run for the Wall this year. I was really down. This mission that I do is pretty important to me. This blog is not dedicated to the Run, but I am. This week I finally got some things to come together, and in May, Clyde and I will be making our annual trek to Rancho Cucamunga, and we will be participating (and with a lot of luck going all the way to DC) in the 25th annual Run For The Wall. This will be our seventh Run. I am excited, and Clyde is in the Yamaha shop in Wisconsin Rapids, being tended to lovingly by none other than Troy Donahue. Yep that is actually my Mechanics name. This time of year he is usually working on snow mobiles, getting them ready for the summer storage season, but he is pretty good. I told him Clyde was in need of a lot of care, and he told me not to worry, the old scoot will be ready for the 7000 miles that we have to travel.
Clyde is going to be really happy this trip, cause he will be traveling with a free and clear title. Or to quote the Beach Boys "I got the pink slip Daddy". Still have a few more things that have to come together perfectly, but I am going. Might have to drop out early due to lack of funds, but I am going. I hope the weather is good. No more snow in Williams please. So tomorrow of the next day I am going to write a new story. It is about old times. I had a short chat with a friend who is German, and I started to remember some things about my race days. So I thought why not write the story of Shade Tree Racing, how and why it got started. We were a great team. My son Luke, and three friends of mine, we built race cars, and we actually won some races too. Anyway that is coming in the next week or so.
I will be posting pictures, and videos both here and on Face Book, during the Run. I guess the question is answered. I am really glad things have come together. Really glad.
Bounce
Clyde is going to be really happy this trip, cause he will be traveling with a free and clear title. Or to quote the Beach Boys "I got the pink slip Daddy". Still have a few more things that have to come together perfectly, but I am going. Might have to drop out early due to lack of funds, but I am going. I hope the weather is good. No more snow in Williams please. So tomorrow of the next day I am going to write a new story. It is about old times. I had a short chat with a friend who is German, and I started to remember some things about my race days. So I thought why not write the story of Shade Tree Racing, how and why it got started. We were a great team. My son Luke, and three friends of mine, we built race cars, and we actually won some races too. Anyway that is coming in the next week or so.
I will be posting pictures, and videos both here and on Face Book, during the Run. I guess the question is answered. I am really glad things have come together. Really glad.
Bounce
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Although I am Dedicated to Run For The Wall, I cannot do it this year
I have been planning on doing the 25th annual Run For The Wall for almost two years. Unfortunately I cannot do it this year. There are plenty of folks that will, and many many new riders. I truly want to be there. It will physically and mentally hurt not to go. I pray that all riders are safe going to and from and during the Run.
In 2004 when I first heard of the Run, from my younger Brother, aka Shore Party, I told him that it sounded like it was for Viet Nam Vets. He convinced me to come along with him in 2005 and I discovered that it was not just for Viet Nam Vets, in fact it is not even just for Vets. I tell folks all the time that anyone can ride with us. This is very true. The people that do this ride are a family. Sometimes a dysfunctional family but a family none the less.
When I made my first Run in 2005 I saw a need for communicating with trucks, and I just did it. I did this in 2005, 2006 and 2007 without really getting BOD, or route coordinator permission. It was just something that had to be done. In 2006 I had help from a wonderful friend, and he helped me in 2007, 2008, 2009, and he did it alone in 2010 because I could not get there. Then I did it alone again in 2011. I could not go in 2012, and Krazy didn't go either, and I have no idea if anyone talked to the trucks. But everyone made it through OK. There were incidents, but not because of trucks, more because new riders made errors.
Riding in a formation at anytime takes 100% of your concentration, and riding in a pack of well over 500 motorcycles takes 500% of your concentration.
If I could be there this year I would be. Would I talk to the trucks, probably not, the new leadership sees no need for it, and given the choice I would rather just ride anyway.
Will I be back? Absolutely! Am I quitting the Run, NO!!!!! I just cannot at this time afford to do it. It costs me a great deal to do the Run. I have to accrue two months of truck payments, and other bills. This year there is just no way to do it. The Company I work for would let me have the time off, but I could never recover from the time I would have to take. Not this year, maybe not next year, but I will be back. I believe in and love the mission. Bringing healing to Vets, all Vets, and their families, and to those who were never allowed to join, and have survivors remorse, or those Vets that have PTSD, and other unseen wounds, it is very important that they be allowed to heal.
So there it is I am not announcing this either on the forum, or facebook pages. I am simply writing it here.
This Blog is not dedicated to Run for The Wall, but I am. Thanks to all who have allowed me to ride with them. Clyde has done 4 all the way runs, and simply participated (part way runs) twice. That Motorcycle, and God protected me when I was hit by a truck in 2007 on my second ride down the mountain into Angel Fire New Mexico. He has 37000 miles on him, most folks from the Run can easily do the math on this, but those that do not know it here is a little fact. With the exception of one ride from Wisconsin to South Dakota, almost every mile on Clyde is from going to and from and participating in Run For The Wall. I am not really a good rider, I have been lucky to be accepted by these folks. I will miss riding with them, and I hope that I am no where near them in May. Not because I do not want to see them, but because it will hurt a lot to see either route, and not be participating. The whole thing should come with the warning "any participation in this event will be addicting. Joining this family means you have the urge, desire, need, or want to ride for those who cannot. If you participate in even one leg, you will at sometime find yourself doing the entire thing."
To my friends on the Run, thanks for letting me participate, and thanks for riding for me as I cannot do it this year. Be safe, stay upright and visible.
Bounce
In 2004 when I first heard of the Run, from my younger Brother, aka Shore Party, I told him that it sounded like it was for Viet Nam Vets. He convinced me to come along with him in 2005 and I discovered that it was not just for Viet Nam Vets, in fact it is not even just for Vets. I tell folks all the time that anyone can ride with us. This is very true. The people that do this ride are a family. Sometimes a dysfunctional family but a family none the less.
When I made my first Run in 2005 I saw a need for communicating with trucks, and I just did it. I did this in 2005, 2006 and 2007 without really getting BOD, or route coordinator permission. It was just something that had to be done. In 2006 I had help from a wonderful friend, and he helped me in 2007, 2008, 2009, and he did it alone in 2010 because I could not get there. Then I did it alone again in 2011. I could not go in 2012, and Krazy didn't go either, and I have no idea if anyone talked to the trucks. But everyone made it through OK. There were incidents, but not because of trucks, more because new riders made errors.
Riding in a formation at anytime takes 100% of your concentration, and riding in a pack of well over 500 motorcycles takes 500% of your concentration.
If I could be there this year I would be. Would I talk to the trucks, probably not, the new leadership sees no need for it, and given the choice I would rather just ride anyway.
Will I be back? Absolutely! Am I quitting the Run, NO!!!!! I just cannot at this time afford to do it. It costs me a great deal to do the Run. I have to accrue two months of truck payments, and other bills. This year there is just no way to do it. The Company I work for would let me have the time off, but I could never recover from the time I would have to take. Not this year, maybe not next year, but I will be back. I believe in and love the mission. Bringing healing to Vets, all Vets, and their families, and to those who were never allowed to join, and have survivors remorse, or those Vets that have PTSD, and other unseen wounds, it is very important that they be allowed to heal.
So there it is I am not announcing this either on the forum, or facebook pages. I am simply writing it here.
This Blog is not dedicated to Run for The Wall, but I am. Thanks to all who have allowed me to ride with them. Clyde has done 4 all the way runs, and simply participated (part way runs) twice. That Motorcycle, and God protected me when I was hit by a truck in 2007 on my second ride down the mountain into Angel Fire New Mexico. He has 37000 miles on him, most folks from the Run can easily do the math on this, but those that do not know it here is a little fact. With the exception of one ride from Wisconsin to South Dakota, almost every mile on Clyde is from going to and from and participating in Run For The Wall. I am not really a good rider, I have been lucky to be accepted by these folks. I will miss riding with them, and I hope that I am no where near them in May. Not because I do not want to see them, but because it will hurt a lot to see either route, and not be participating. The whole thing should come with the warning "any participation in this event will be addicting. Joining this family means you have the urge, desire, need, or want to ride for those who cannot. If you participate in even one leg, you will at sometime find yourself doing the entire thing."
To my friends on the Run, thanks for letting me participate, and thanks for riding for me as I cannot do it this year. Be safe, stay upright and visible.
Bounce
Monday, January 14, 2013
Waiting for permission to write
There is a great story that I want to tell, and as soon as Krazy Karl says I can I will. It is about the "Truck Talkers" what we did and what I will do again should I ever make another Run For The Wall. I hope Karl lets me tell it, it is a fun story. This is just a tease;
Karl and I just talk to trucks on the radio, and to each other. Typical conversation : Trucker "Holy Cow that is a lot of Bikes! Wonder what they are doing?" Bounce "Krazy your phone is ringing" Krazy (He has a distinct New Hampshire accent and a deep voice that people tend to listen too) "Driver this is Run For The Wall, it is not a Rally, it is not a Party, it is a POW/MIA awareness Mission. We started out in LA three days ago, and we will be in Washington D.C. to support Rolling Thunder in 10 days. May God Bless the great American Truck Driver, and our Troops, if we lose either the country is lost" Driver "Thanks for the info, God Bless you, wish I could do that" Krazy "You can Driver, I drive 48 weeks out of the year so I can come do this for 4 weeks. Anyone can ride with us, all it takes is a little planning" Bounce "Thanks for your patience driver, thanks for staying in the middle of your lane, the bikes know you are there and they will give you all the room you need. You have two more platoons, and then our Missing Man Formation and you will have passed Run For The Wall. Thanks again and God Bless you" Driver "Thanks, keep doing it and Krazy I will see about trying to get that done next year. If not I will think about you guys. God Bless you for what you are doing."
That is just a minute of what it is like, and the story of how it got started has two sides, waiting on Krazy's side so I can write the full story.
Bounce
Karl and I just talk to trucks on the radio, and to each other. Typical conversation : Trucker "Holy Cow that is a lot of Bikes! Wonder what they are doing?" Bounce "Krazy your phone is ringing" Krazy (He has a distinct New Hampshire accent and a deep voice that people tend to listen too) "Driver this is Run For The Wall, it is not a Rally, it is not a Party, it is a POW/MIA awareness Mission. We started out in LA three days ago, and we will be in Washington D.C. to support Rolling Thunder in 10 days. May God Bless the great American Truck Driver, and our Troops, if we lose either the country is lost" Driver "Thanks for the info, God Bless you, wish I could do that" Krazy "You can Driver, I drive 48 weeks out of the year so I can come do this for 4 weeks. Anyone can ride with us, all it takes is a little planning" Bounce "Thanks for your patience driver, thanks for staying in the middle of your lane, the bikes know you are there and they will give you all the room you need. You have two more platoons, and then our Missing Man Formation and you will have passed Run For The Wall. Thanks again and God Bless you" Driver "Thanks, keep doing it and Krazy I will see about trying to get that done next year. If not I will think about you guys. God Bless you for what you are doing."
That is just a minute of what it is like, and the story of how it got started has two sides, waiting on Krazy's side so I can write the full story.
Bounce
Change is good?
Well the visit is over, I will be going back to work tomorrow. The Company I work for has some great management. I asked if I could get home more often, and the overall manger for the group I work for told me I could. It involves getting a passport and having to go into and out of Canada. Going in is pretty easy, coming back to my own Country is the tough part. Our Government cannot do anything simply. My youngest Brother is an electrician, and he said that working in Government buildings is just crazy. They have parts of the building that are restricted (some of these restrictions are from decades ago, but have never been changed, even though the reason for the restriction are no longer present). If he has to go into the ceiling areas of the restricted areas he has to make a not of the label and location, then he goes for a walk over about three blocks, and if they are in the office he fills out paperwork for a permit to work on that area. A week and a half later when the permit is returned he goes back to the job site, opens the ceiling (now he has to take and submit pictures before and after, and since there is no wi fi in most of the Milwaukee VA he has to take pictures, go back to the office show them, then go back to the work site, open the ceiling panel and look for the wiring he needs to work on. If he guessed wrong, or he has to open a panel three feet over, he has to stop work and close the ceiling up, then head back over and fill out more paperwork. This all takes time, he has to charge this time, and so what should take about 30 minutes takes over 16 hours. The Government requires this, and has to pay for the time. So almost every project costs 30 times what it should. He is there, willing to do the work, but cannot because of the way he is required to work.
This Blog is not POLITICAL, so I will not rant about how stupid the above is, make your own conclusions.
So I will get a passport and go to Canada, and will waste a lot of time coming back into the Country of my birth. Funny thing, I do not need the passport to get into Canada, I need it to get back into the United States.
My income will decrease, have to adjust a lot of bills for that, but at least I will still have a job, and I will be able to see my Dad a little more often. Some folks do not understand this, and in truth neither do I. I owe him nothing, I want nothing from him, but I feel that I should be there because he asked me to be there more often.
I will still be able to train, just not the same as I used to. Hopefully students they send will have passports, or I will have to leave them in motels on the state side and pick them up on the way back in.
As for this years Run For The Wall, I won't say I am not going to do it. I want to but everything will have to fall exactly right. It is not looking good right now.
Thanks for reading.
Bounce
This Blog is not POLITICAL, so I will not rant about how stupid the above is, make your own conclusions.
So I will get a passport and go to Canada, and will waste a lot of time coming back into the Country of my birth. Funny thing, I do not need the passport to get into Canada, I need it to get back into the United States.
My income will decrease, have to adjust a lot of bills for that, but at least I will still have a job, and I will be able to see my Dad a little more often. Some folks do not understand this, and in truth neither do I. I owe him nothing, I want nothing from him, but I feel that I should be there because he asked me to be there more often.
I will still be able to train, just not the same as I used to. Hopefully students they send will have passports, or I will have to leave them in motels on the state side and pick them up on the way back in.
As for this years Run For The Wall, I won't say I am not going to do it. I want to but everything will have to fall exactly right. It is not looking good right now.
Thanks for reading.
Bounce
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
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.
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.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
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
Friday, June 8, 2012
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
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
Sunday, June 3, 2012
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.
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