The Bike: 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 -- The Saddle: Russell Day Long Saddle
FROM: Homestead, FL
TO: Key West, FL
Miles traveled: 129 – MISSION COMPLETE
Weather: Sunny and Hot
Woke up this morning realizing that this was the last day of this great journey for charity. I was both excited and saddend. During this journey we have met many good people, a few angels, seen some breathtaking sites, and I’ve stretched myself mentally, physically, and spiritually.
I got underway from Homestead at 11:30 enroute to United States Southern Command’s Headquarters in Doral, FL for an interview with the public affairs officer. When I arrived I was surprised to find many of the SOUTHCOM family cheering when I arrived (see picture). This was one of the high points of the trip and I am most appreciative for this heartwarming reception by my co-workers and friends.
After leaving Southern Command I headed south to Key West arriving just before sunset. Optimist Prime and I took our last picture at the SOUTHERNMOST Point marker with the sun setting behind us. What a fitting scene to end the journey.
I would like to thank all of you who took this journey with me and for giving to the worthy charities I rode for.
I would also like to thank the people at what I call my mission control. Without their efforts this charity event could not have taken place. They are:
• Peter Barcelo Jr. who is the Event Director and my mission control chief.
• Mr. Peter Raposo -- WEB Page design.
• Mr. Brent Harris -- BLOG engineer.
I would also like to thank my sponsors:
• Tracking Solutions Corp.
• DadeGraphics
• Spot Satellite Messenger
• @ustin IT Consulting
• MI Installations Inc.
WHAT’S NEXT: The HopeRider or Riders will ride for charity next year. The event destination, and start date will be announced on this WEB site on 01 Nov 08. If you are interested in being mission control team or being a HopeRider for next year’s ride for charity information will be provided on this site on 01 Nov 08.
Ride Safe – Ride Strong
HopeRider
U.S._Southern_Command_Family
Alabama_Jacks
Cards_Sound_Bridge
Keys_I
Keys_II
Key_West_Arrival
Key_West__Mission_complete
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( 2.9 / 44 )DAY 21
The Bike: 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 -- The Saddle: Russell Day Long Saddle
FROM: Kuttawa, KY
TO: Homestead, FL
Miles traveled: 1044 (SADDLE SORE 1000 ACHIEVED!!!)
Weather: Sunny and Very Hot
Left the beautiful town of Kuttawa, Kentucky at 5 a.m. with the goal of reaching Orlando, Florida. Exited Kentucky before sunrise and entered Tennessee whose beautiful hills and mountains are rich in color, wild life and the roads are a dream to ride.
About sixty miles north of Atlanta there was a terrible auto accident. A police K-9 SUV unit had flipped over on I-75 (see picture). I was told that the police officer and his dog sustained minor injuries.
When I entered my home state of Florida I experienced a new surge of energy and Optimist Prime was running strong so I decided to knock out the 1000 miles which was denied to me a couple of days ago. Just after midnight after riding for 1044 miles I rolled into Homestead on Optimist Prime. It was a very good day.
At noon today I will travel to United States Southern Command and then ride south to Key West to complete this journey for Charity.
If you have not had to chance to give to one or more of the charities listed at the bottom of this home page please give what you can.
Ride Safe – Ride Strong
HopeRider
Had_breakfast_with_Dilon_in_KY
Me_at_the_Tennessee_River_Reservoir
Overturned_K-9_Unit_Near_Atlanta
Overturned_K-9_Unit_II
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( 3.1 / 43 )DAY 20
The bike: 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 -- The saddle: Russell Day Long Saddle
FROM: Kansas City, MO
TO: Kuttawa, KY
Miles traveled: 454
Weather: Sunny and Hot
During the morning hours I conducted preventive maintenance on the motorcycle (see pix). This is the first motorcycle I have owned which has a chain drive and I oil it daily, cleaned it every 3 to 5 days and I’ve taken the slack out of the chain on 3 occasions during this trip. I also check all fluid levels, tires and tire pressure daily. The Iron Horse is my first priority and so far, Optimist Prime, only lost one bolt and a tail light throughout this ordeal. The electrical problem I experienced was due to operator error.
I got underway at about noon riding through Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, and ended the day at Kuttawa, Kentucky.
Tomorrow I will be in north Florida and on Friday at noon I plan on riding to U.S. Southern Command in Doral, Florida for an interview with their Public Affairs Officer before completing my mission at Key West.
Ride Safe – Ride Strong
HopeRider
Illinois_farm_land
Ohio_River
Taking_of_Optimist_Prime
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( 3 / 43 )DAY 19
The bike: 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 -- The saddle: Russell Day Long Saddle
FROM: Bismarck, ND
TO: Kansas City, MO
Miles traveled: 787
Weather: Sunny and Hot
The weather was great, the Iron Horse felt strong, the road was perfect (I-94 and I-29) and I had gotten my second wind. So I decided to try riding 1000 miles today. The International Iron Butt Association (IBA) calls it there SaddleSore 1000. I had completed this event before and it took me 18 hours of hard riding.
At around 8:30 a.m. I headed east on I-94 to Fargo, ND where I made a right on I-29. Everything was going just right as I rode through South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and around 10:00 I had reached Kansas City, MO. I was right on schedule as I rode through Kansas City heading east toward my goal -- St Louis. A few miles outside of Kansas City a motorist driving next to me on I-35 pointed at the rear of the motorcycle. I slowed to a stop and discovered my tail light was not working. Was this guy an angel or someone preventing me from reaching my goal.
As I was trying to repair the tail light on the side of the road in the darkness a thunder storm started with a loud booming roar and I decided to call it a day. Sorry only two pictures today.
It will have to be another day and time for my second Saddle Sore 1000.
Ride Safe – Ride Strong
HopeRider
Nebraska
Nebraska_I
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( 3.1 / 46 )DAY 18
The bike: 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 -- The saddle: Russell Day Long Saddle
FROM: Lloydminster, AB
TO: Bismarck, ND
Miles traveled: 685
Weather: Sunny and warm
Another great day for riding. Got underway from Lloydminster at 6:30 a.m. Headed east on the Yellowhead Hwy and made at right turn at Saskatoon crossing the border at North Portal, ND
I had planned to end my day a Minot, ND but their County Fair was still running and that wasn’t a motel room to be had. After riding over 100 miles south to Bismarck I finally found lodging.
Tomorrow I plan to head east on I-94 to Minnesota and head south traveling through Wisconsin and Illinois.
Ride Safe – Ride Strong
HopeRider
Fishing_hole_in_Alberta
Train_being_filled_with_grain_in_Alberta
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( 2.7 / 34 )
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