The Way Home

Saturday night I plotted a ride to take me by nine Tour of Honor auxiliary memorials. Auxilary memorials are additional themes to the normal seven memorials in each state. This years themes are Doughboys, War Dogs, and Huey helicopters. Doughboys are the statues that were placed all over the U.S. following World War I and many have become part of larger memorial groupings over time. The War Dogs theme is to visit various memorials dedicated to our canine friends who have supported our war fighters as well as our fist responders.

Leaving New York I left the hotel a few minutes before the Main Ride to Lower Manhattan. The route I chose to take me to the Lincoln Tunnel routed me in a way that I crossed the Main Ride's path and unfortunately got stuck for 15 mins or so as the ride made its way. Once the ride cleared I got out of New York in a light drizzle just to come out on the New Jersey side in a moderate rain on the other side of the Hudson. I was off to stop and see Anthony, the step son of my older "brother" Joey Belotti who had passed while I was still on active duty in the Navy. A cup of coffee and short visit I was on my way.

For music I chose my first Grateful Dead show, August 6, 1974, Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ... it just seemed appropriate.

War Dog Memorial

Ahh, the Huey!

Doughboys!!

You have to look close, but there is a section for Colored specifically called out. I have seen this on several older memorials. A part of history, I hope we don't try to change that that's the way is was, even if today we now realize it isn't the right thing.. it demonstrates how far we are coming as human beings.

Finally, my final memorial for this journey, a Doughboy in Martinsburg, West Virginia

Day 2 of America's 9/11 Ride (UPDATE)

DC -> Maryland House (gas) -> Barb's Harley in Delaware (Lunch)(Pumper team went to Wawa to prep for quick departure) -> Linden NJ (food, gas, awards) -> NYC

Pumper team assignment was to group up at the BB&T parking lot near the Double Tree Hotel. Our scheduled departure time was for 5:45 AM Saturday morning. We were to quietly leave town ahead of the main ride in order to position ourselves at the Maryland House service area north of Baltimore. This was about 70 or so miles from the ride departure.

For Saturday I'm on the BMW with 11.4 gallons of gas, enough to make it to NYC and part of the way home. My freeloader has been transferred from the Street Glide to the BMW. While rain was in the forecast, we were fortunate that we never saw any during the ride.

First stop, Maryland House Service area on Interstate 95. We arrived with plenty of time to organize and man our pumps.

The Pumper Team Escorts

Pumping done, we're off!  Pumper team is picking up the tail from Maryland House to Delaware. While the Main Ride will head into Barb's HD for lunch, the Pumper Team will head over to a nearby WaWa's for a short break before departing for Linden, NJ. 

Dan, my Pump Mate

Wasn't stopped long enough at WaWa's to even finish lunch, let alone grab some pics before we were off on the road to Linden, NJ. Each team was to man a pump with Dr. Don's team being nearby to the Home Depot parking lot where Applebee's would be serving hot dogs, burgers, chips, and drinks with support from Starbucks. Linden is also where the Foundation presents various awards to those who have supported the ride and they raffle off a new Harley to one of the participating police departments.

Waiting for the Main Ride

Pumper Team finishing up and hungry!

My partner and I won the competition for the largest collection of contributions to the Foundation, coming in at just over $200. Our team, Dr. Don's, also beat out the other, larger team by about $30 - just a squeeze, but it counts!

Bikes parked for food and awards

Pumper Team grabbing some well deserved shade.

From Linden, the Pumper Team would be positioned behind the VIPs going into NYC like we had done going into Arlington. The ride to the Holland Tunnel was uneventful and even though we hit Friday traffic in New Jersey, it seemed much easier than it had in years past.

Parked and checked in.. the 17th Anniversary Ride comes to a close. Sunday morning there will be a ride across Manhattan to Ground Zero - actually Tower 7 for a memorial ceremony. 

For this year, I decided in the morning not to attend the ceremony and make my way home directly. I had a planned route that would take me through several Tour of Honor auxiliary sites along the way.