RFTW - Routes and Overnight Stops

(Click on map to enlarge)

The Run operates over two routes - the Southern and the Central. 

Both routes are different in their scenery, challenges, weather, traffic and stops. The stops are what make the Run what it is. Visits to Veteran's Administration hospitals, VFW's, American Legion's, and just having lunch on the town square at the town park provide a chance to visit with and thank fellow veterans for their service...more on that later.

Here's a breakout of the two routes and their evening stops. We’ll cover highlights of the stops along the route each day in another post. More information on each route can be found at:

Southern Route:

·        Itinerary

·        Hotels

Central Route:

·        Itinerary

·        Hotels

RFTW Southern Route

Wednesday, MAY 15, 2013

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA to TOLLESON, AZ

Thursday, MAY 16, 2013

Morning Rider's Briefing

TOLLESON, AZ to LAS CRUCES, NM

Note: As of this posting, the Las Cruces stop wasn’t posted but I suspect it will be shortly.  I’ll update when it is.

Friday, MAY 17, 2013

LAS CRUCES, NM to ODESSA, TX

Saturday, MAY 18, 2013

ODESSA, TX to GRAND PRAIRIE, TX

Sunday, MAY 19, 2013

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX to MONROE, LA

Monday, MAY 20, 2013

MONROE, LA to MERIDIAN, MS

Tuesday, MAY 21, 2013

MERIDIAN, MS to CHATTANOOGA, TN

Wednesday, MAY 22, 2013

CHATTANOOGA, TN to WYTHEVILLE, VA

Thursday, MAY 23, 2013

WYTHEVILLE, VA to SALEM, VA

Friday, MAY 24, 2013

SALEM, VA to WASHINGTON, DC (ARLINGTON, VA)

RFTW Central Route
Wednesday, MAY 15, 2013

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA to WILLIAMS, AZ

Thursday, MAY 16, 2013

WILLIAMS, AZ to GALLUP, NM

Friday, MAY 17, 2013

GALLUP, NM to EAGLE NEST, NM

Saturday, MAY 18, 2013

Fuel Stop - Controlled Chaos

EAGLE NEST, NM to GOODLAND, KS

Sunday, MAY 19, 2013

GOODLAND, KS to JUNCTION CITY, KS

Monday, MAY 20, 2013

JUNCTION CITY, KS to WENTZVILLE, MO

Tuesday, MAY 21, 2013

WENTZVILLE, MO to CORYDON, IN

Wednesday, MAY 22, 2013

CORYDON, IN to HURRICANE, WV

Thursday, MAY 23, 2013

HURRICANE, WV to LEWISBURG, WV

Friday, MAY 24, 2013

LEWISBURG, WV to WASHINGTON, DC (ARLINGTON, VA)

What about you?

I got an email today asking when I first rode in the Run, I'm basically a rookie, but here's my story.

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.

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".

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.

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.

Preparing for photos, Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC

Welcome home!

What is RFTW?

Why we do what we do...

RFTW is the Run For the Wall.

Run For The Wall:Recognizes the sacrifices and contributions made by all veterans who have served our nation. Veterans of recent conflicts and those currently on active duty are especially welcome to join us as we ride for those who cannot.

Mission Statement: To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.

Philosophy: We strive to maintain a safe, supportive and private atmosphere in which all participants can reflect and heal on their journey to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. in the hope that they can return home to a new beginning.

Goals: 

1. To guide the participants across America.
2. To educate future generations as to the importance of accountability in wartime actions emphasizing that no one should be left behind.

Additional information can be found at www.rftw.org

Welcome home!

The Beginning 2013

We'll it's January 2013. I tried blogging my attempt to return to the Run For the Wall two years ago but didn't make the run and the blog fizzled.

My brother and I join the Run in Goodland, KS in 2010 and rode back to Washington, DC. He had made the run in years before that but 2010 was my FNG year.

The good news about the spring of 2011 was that my lovely daughter got married on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and we were able to celebrate that occasion with lots of family and friends. I wouldn't have missed it for anything!!

During the fall of 2010 and spring of 2011 I started having problems with my right leg - pain that would travel across my lower back and butt and then run all the way down my right leg. I trudged into the fall riding when I could but it became increasingly more difficult to move my right leg from the brake pedal to the highway pegs and back. At some points, I had to put my left arm across the tank, grab my right leg behind the knee and support my leg so I could make the journey from highway peg to brake. Not a safe technique for motorcycle riding, so I took a time out from riding until I could get it fixed.

In October of 2011 when I finally had enough I went to the doctor about the leg and began a physical therapy regimen to get some mobility and strength back. When PT (physical therapy) didn't make things better I had an x-ray taken of the hip which showed that I had bone-on-bone contact within the joint (osteoarthritis) and it was a matter of when, not if, I was going to have my hip replaced. On April 12, 2012 I had total hip replacement surgery and started started a year long journey that took me away from the RFTW of 2012.

So now I'm back. I'm joining forces with my brother again to head west to make all or part of the Run For The Wall.