I live in the far western suburbs of Washington, DC in the Virginia Blue Ridge. A great motorcycle riding area. My brother, who lives in West Virginia near Charleston, rode to Rancho Cucamonga, CA in May 2009, joined up and completed the Run, ending up at my house at the end of that journey. While sitting on the patio enjoying our favorite beverages and cigars that Memorial Day weekend to celebrate the endeavor and honor our comrades, we decided to participate together in the Run the next year (2010).
So in May of 2011 I took off from Virginia on a cold, rainy afternoon and headed to West Virginia where I met up with Jeff and we set off to join the run.
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| Somewhere along the way |
Because of our work schedules, we knew we couldn't make it to California to join up at he start so we decided to ride to Goodland, KS and join on the fifth day. One stop we did make along the route west was in Leavenworth, KS to visit our father's grave. He was with both of us on the "Run to the Run" and the "Run For the Wall".
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| Veteran's Cemetery, Leavenworth, KS |
We joined up with the Run as planned, got our registration processed, attended the daily rider's meeting and started the journey back east bound. Riding along the flat lands of Kansas (our home state), across the rolling hills and farmland of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. Into the scenic mountains of Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia. Riding in multiple platoons of motorcycles that grew each day meeting new friends, remembering the friends that weren't with us on this ride and humbling riding for those who can't as only the Run can do.
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| A gas stop in the heartland |
We all rode into DC on the Friday before Memorial Day and met up with our fellow riders the next day on the Mall in Washington, DC.
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| Preparing for photos, Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC |
Welcome home!
great photos!
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