Lining up the color-coded platoons at Williams, AZ
Lunch and a break from riding at Espanola, NM
Parked for lunch at Espanola, NM
A priority stop in Espanola, NM, for lunch.
Espanola school girls welcoming the Run
School kids at Espanola, NM
School kids welcome the riders to Espanola
Guiding riders into formation in Gallup, NM
6/2 - These photos were sent by Morris Bitsie:
Above, left - "Riders from the Run ForThe Wall with the Colors Element made up of Zuni Pueblo veterans, just prior to the presentation of colors." Above, right - "Local bikers from the Navajo Nation." Below, "Sergeant Evan Larson of the 44th Army Band, New Mexico Army National Guard, begins to play Amazing Grace as local community members of the Navajo Nation and Zuni Pueblo look on."
7/13 - Judy Lacey sent the two photos below. Left, Chase 2 rescued Chase 1 in the Arizona desert.
Right, Lunch in Holbrook.
May 15, 2008
Official Sit Reps - Day Two - Williams to Gallup
This morning we were happy to begin the day with a beautiful, sunny brisk 44 degree morning in Williams. Our riders did a great job staging in the sandy baseball parking lot and our colored platoons seem to be working great. Our platoons rotate position daily with each moving up one position, eventually rotating to the back. The riders meeting began after our nice taco and coffee breakfast at Rosas Cantina. The warm welcome we receive in Williams is always very nice. As we pulled out we had 226 bikes in the pack, plus advance team, road guards, staging and fuel crews totaling another 46 bikes.
As we were pulling into Winslow for our lunch stop, the clouds started rolling in and we were sprinkled on, but overall the weather held out for us. Our lunch provided by the American Legion Post 37 consisting of grilled burgers and dogs followed by delicious homemade desserts. We weren't quite as fortunate with the weather as we left Holbrook, AZ for Gallup. Luckily, we saw the stormy clouds in our path and suited up in our rain gear - we were going to need it. It rained on and off as we made our way down the road sprinkled with one lane construction areas. Our riders are getting used to each other and we made it safely even given all our obstacles.
As is every year, our stop in Gallup is very special. The Native American people are very warm and loving and always provide a deserving "Welcome Home" for our veteran riders. The parade into Gallup is overwhelming as the streets are lined for miles with families waving flags and cheering us on. As we turned the final block, over 1,000 people crowded the Veteran's Memorial square with flags flying high and drums beating (not to mention the tears flowing from behind the glasses of many of our riders). The Black Creek Gourd Society performed honoring our veterans and many of us joined in. There were special delegates on hand as well as two Navajo Code Talkers to share with us in the ceremony. Dinner were served and the riders spent the rest of their evening shopping in the local shops, dancing with the Navajos and visiting with our Run family and friends.
As we go to bed tonight, we are feeling tired in our bodies, but grateful to be part of something so much bigger than ourselves and remembering that "The taste of freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."
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Another report from David Talley; he is working miracles with the truckers!
"Today started in Williams AZ with approximately 320 Bikes and ended without incident in Gallup New Mexico. Very positive response from the truckers today. I also received a report from Butcher Man that on the way in to Rancho Cucamonga he had overheard a trucker complaining about all the bikes. Another trucker asked him if he listened to the radio, cause it has been all over Sirius radio for weeks. The driver in the know reported that we were going from CA to DC to join Rolling Thunder. So Truckers are aware of us, which only helps them support what we are doing. Today only one driver was grousing, and when I told him my handle was Bounce he did a 180 turn around and thanked us for what we were doing. I guess talking to Jonesee on Sirius worked. I am a regular caller on that Road Dog channel.
"Tomorrow we leave Gallup. No idea on counts yet, but we picked up riders, and there were over 320 bikes when we left Williams. I am guessing that we will be at close to 400 in the morning and FNG's are running at 40%. Traffic wise there are three construction zones to move through, and if we stop at Grants there will be some tie ups. Albuquerque is always great for us but If trucks are going through there they need to be through there by 0900 or they should wait till about 1100 local somewhere east west north or south, cause New Mexico State Police shut down the entire I-40 I-25 interchange in all directions for us. It is only shut down for about 15 minutes, but I bet it takes over an hour for traffic to clear up.
That is it for tonight. Check rftw.org for accurate counts, and Southern Route schedule."
