6/2/08 - Ryan Bumann sent this link: "This video was taken Tuesday May 20, 2008, one mile east of the Jefferson Barracks Bridge, near St. Louis." It is 35 MB and requires QuickTime; there is a link to download that program if needed: http://web.mac.com/rbumann/iWeb/RFTW%202008/Video.html
Well-wishers on an overpass near Corydon, IN
The following photos were submitted by Judy Lacey and posted on 7/28/08 -
Above, left, Wentzville schoolkids came to say goodbye to RFTW. Above, right, group photo at Wentzville Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Below, left, heading to Jefferson Barracks.
Above, left, entering Jefferson Barracks. Above, right, the patients greet us.
Below, left, visiting with patients.
Above, left, nothing but bad luck for Chase 1 this year. Above, right, fish fry at Corydon Fairgrounds. Below, this 88-year-old rode all the way with her son!
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Official Sit Reps for Central Route:
May 20th - Day 7
Wentzville - Corydon
Today it was another beautiful morning and the weather seems to be made for us. We had a huge number of new riders register last night and this morning. We will leave with 292 bikes this morning. Wentzville has such a huge number of Veteran supporters! The home cooked breakfast of sausage, bacon, eggs, biscuits gravy and other yummy treats hits the spot as we hit the road for day 7.
Our first stop is the Wentzville Veteran's Memorial for a quick ceremony then on to the Jefferson Barracks. The visit with the patients is always very special. We walked up on the floors and visited the ones that couldn't come downstairs. There were dozens of them that came out to see us ride in their beds and wheelchairs. The irony is the fact that they can't thank us enough for what we are doing and we are there to thank them for their sacrifices and service. That is a recurring theme on this trip!
We got back on the road and stopped for lunch at Mt. Vernon for turkey sandwiches made by the AMVETS Service foundation. Afterwards we rode to Corydon where we were had another police escort out to the fairgrounds with streets lined with thousands of people again out to show their support. There we had bike washes for free, a fish and coleslaw dinner (which is always a favorite) and music to help set a festive atmosphere. We had a long line of people waiting to register - we'll see how many we have tomorrow!!! Only three more days to go!
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More from David Talley -
Great weather, great food and great people to meet. We went through St. Louis this morning without incident.Stopped at Jefferson Barracks to visit vets in that hospital. Southern Route is in Mississippi. We left Wentzville th about 510 bikes under police escort, and they stayed with us until the Illinois state line. No real trouble,except for a dead deer in the middle of the hammer lane. fortunately a trucker called back on his radio to tell us, or it could have been a disastor. We were also warned about a huge pot hole on the center line. So all in all talking to the trucks is working. Tomorrow we go east on I-64 from Corydon, IN to Hurricane, WV. Rainelle donations are keeping pace wuth last year. We registered another 100 folks tonight. There will be more tomorrow morning. We will be on I-64 all day.
