Philly to FIrefighter Memorial in NYC

"THE RIDE" is now safely parked at the FDNY Training Facility. It's a fitting location. The FDNY stepped up to the plate at the last minute and really helped us out. Thanks Lt Cantwell and FF Kutula! The journey ended yesterday at the Firefighter Memorial in NYC. It was a great ceremony with many families and friends present.


Great memories! "Are you one of the riders?" "No Mam, I'm just the motorhome driver". Rob and I said that so many times. It became humorous. Doak, Natasha, Alex and Rob worked so hard to help make this trip a success and I am thankful to them. There were so many late nights and early mornings prepping and getting things ready. There were uncomfortable, sleepless nights. The food wasn't always there or even good when it was, but I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.


Did everything go good in the motorhome? Not all the time. We got lost frequently, but I learned it's all in the regroup. Rob was an ace at map reading. Did Rob and I bitch at each other? Oh yeah. Try spending 24 hours a day with someone else for an extended period. We still walk away from this as great friends with a once in a lifetime experience in our pocket.

The hospitality that was extended to us from our fellow Firefighters was unbelievable. Firefighters we didn't even know opened their stations to us, fed us and wanted to just sit down and talk with us. Made me proud to be part of this nationwide Fire Department family!

Today is the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. So happy to be in NYC and that Brandi is here to help commemorate this event.

Ampitheater Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Channel 7 News Coverage

Jorge Ostrovsky, Scott Smith, the Bike Team and even THE RIDE got some pretty good news coverage on the East Coast today:

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2011/09/l-a-firefighters-stop-in-d-c-on-bike-trip-to-new-york-66107.html

Thanks Kris and Channel 7.

Arlington, VA

Test

Test

Halfway FD

Hagerstown FD

Flight 93 Crash Site

Back and Pumped!

Ok, I'm backed and pumped! Joined the guys in Pittsburgh today and am ready to go this final leg to NYC! Flew from Dallas to Pittsburgh today. I know, confusing huh? Anyway this lady and her husband sitting next to me on the plane wanna know what my biz is in Pittsburgh. I tell them the whole Ride for 911 story and that's that.

Later at the baggage claim in Pittsburgh I am talking with Marasco and Rob on the phone about how to get to the hotel....."take the 28 express". ......"take a cab"....."take a bus"(I think Rob even said something about horseback) then that same couple shows up from the plane and says, "you're not taking any of those", "we are taking you to your hotel"! One hour later, after the full tour of Pittsburgh narrated by George and Emily, they dropped me off at the hotel. Think this would have happened in LA? I don't think so. George and Emily, if you are reading this......"thank you"! I learned so much Pittsburgh history in that hour, I almost feel like moving there.

Unsung hero......Rob Scott, he looks and sounds like crap. Coughing, hacking and yet all he wants to do is maintain the motorhome, make important phone calls and print out maps. I don't think anyone one of us ha s a full grasp of all that he does for the riders.


Really good to see all the guys......changes?? Yea, Wright, Ostrovsky and Smith look a little bit skinnier. Expected after 2500 miles on a bike though.

On another note, if in Pittsburgh, go to the Hofbrau House. Guys plAying accordions, families taking shots, really good food and large steins of beer make for a good time.

Tomorrow will be an emotional day. Going to Shanksville, which is the crash site of Flight 93. Looking forward to it and will keep you updated tomorrow. Glad to be back on the journey with these amazing guys!!!!!!

My final post - St. Louis wrap up

Can you believe it's been more than a month? And that these crazy guys have two and a half weeks left? It's hard to believe that we're getting into the home stretch. Sadly I won't be able to make it into New York so this made me sad to leave the boys and let them fend for themselves the rest of the ride (they will be just fine without me but I like to think I'm needed). The final day riding into St. Louis, Mike decided to get out and ride which was quite impressive because his two wheeled ride tends to have fatter tires and more substantial shocks, with a higher probability of crashing on your face - just sayin.

Anyway Randy was now my driver and I am still trying to get these guys safely into St. Louis and all the sudden Marv is giving me the thumbs down. What? The hills? I can't hear you! You're sad? What? A turtle? We did what?! We just ran over a turtle? Yes. Randy and I are turtle killers and we didn't even realize. The good news? I saved a turtle from almost certain death earlier that morning so I figure I'm even on my turtle karma. Aside from turtle smashing, Randy and I had a blessedly smooth day. Minus Derek and Matt sending us down a narrow, practically dead end street in a fifty foot motorhome and trailer. Gee thanks guys.

So what am I taking away from this experience? Wow. Where to start? From my limited riding experience I can safely say what these 6 guys are doing is truly a physical feat beyond anything any of us mere mortals can imagine. Sometimes, I just wonder, why? Why punish your body? Why spend all that time away from your loved ones? Why wake up at 0-dark-30 every day to ride hundreds of miles just to do it all again in some sort of weird physically punishing Ground Hog day? I can only surmise to answer for them.

My guess is that on the most basic level, as my mom would say, "they're just good eggs". Second, these men are firefighters who are used to springing into action, who never feel helpless. On September 11, they sat and felt totally and completely helpless. This ride is their answer to those feelings. This is their way to fight that helpless feeling. Let me be the first to tell you, this Ride has been a labor of love (begrudgingly at times). To become a fully qualified charity, to wrangle multiple and often disparate personalities, to actually raise money? I thought at times Jim's head might explode. But they did it, and they will continue to do it all the way into New York City. And I couldn't be prouder to say I've been a part of it.

Rolla to St. Louis

I crossed over to the dark side today.  Given the opportunity to ride a bike after 4 days of driving THE RIDE was an easy choice.  Felt a little guilty, but who would pass up the opportunity to ride with these guys for such a great cause. 

The view from a bicycle seat always brings a new perspective of the world around me.  The bugs were much louder, the speed felt faster and the cars felt closer.  In fact, a two car traffic accident happened right in front of us in the first mile of the bicycle trip(no injuries), and Matt, the driver of the camera truck, pulled off an evasive manuever that Mario Andretti would be proud of and avoided a secondary collision.  Reinforced my liking for mountain biking (No Cars).

So many great things happened during this week, but riding with these guys was one of the highlights of this trip.  The Joplin visit, in my Mom's old stomping grounds, and the generosity of the Joplin Fire Department after the tornado, ranked right up there also. 

I took footage of the riders going thru the devasatation in Joplin and hesitated putting it up here.  To me it is important to see because the people of Joplin are still going through hell, but for all intents and purposes, we and the media have forgotten about them.  It is your choice, here is the footage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMfJQsEfM4g


Driving THE RIDE this week was one of my all time best "working/vacations".  Lots of camaraderie.  My belief in the fire service and the brotherhood was reinforced all week long.  Thanks to all who helped us out thru the states of Oklahoma and Missouri.  Rob Scott takes over on Sunday and I know that the guys are in good hands.  I get to join him in Pittsburgh in a couple of weeks and finish out the trip to NYC!

August 19, Friday: DAY 27 - Rolla MO to St. Louis MO

It was a good day in the motorhome. Natasha and I had our first experience "poo dumping" and let me tell you it's something every girl should know how to do. That and drive a stick shift, but I digress. We had been warned about "big hills" on the way to Rolla, but the guys voted to push through the 118 miles and get into Rolla so they could have an extra rest day in St. Louis.

"Kinda" Map My Ride failed us again, when Co Road 3378 turned to be more like a dirt driveway - not so much. Now, these roads we're driving on aren't like California roads (which present their own challenges); these are narrow 2 lane roads with drainage ditches on either side instead of a shoulder. Not great for turning around a 50 ish foot long motorhome/trailer combo. Why am I telling you this? Because I have to update Mike's status from amateur to BAMF. He executed a 3 point turn in someone's driveway that I didn't think was possible. Ron, you may have just met your motorhome match.

As is the theme these days, it was hot and muggy the second half of the day. Randy was riding like an animal with Scottx2, and then promptly blew up 5 miles out of Rolla. To his credit, I thought he looked like sh*t. But, not to worry, nothing a Coke and a Rice Krispy won't fix. To his credit he rode in the last mile, and we were guided in by Rolla FD. They even had a huge (and amazing) fried chicken dinner delivered to the station. Oh man, was that good! There was fried chicken, roast chicken, chicken fingers... And sweet tea. I think we polished off three gallons.

And then the thunder. And lightning. And train that sounded like it was rolling through the station. I thought that the finger of God came down and blasted the motorhome. The lightning lit up the room Nd then thunder was practically instantaneous. This happened pretty much all night. I was literally waiting for the tornado sirens to go off. I don't even know if they have tornadoes in Missouri. But if they do, I would imagine they are preceeded by storms like that one.

Springfield to Rolla Missouri

Good teamwork makes driving "THE RIDE" successful.  Two members of the team really contributed this week to this success and need to be recognized.  "Alex" is an excellent map reader and navigator and keeps me going in the right direction.  "Natasha" calls ahead and gets things set up for the guys.  This week has been a success largely because of the two of them.  They have also learned several specific tasks concerning THE RIDE.

Today was maintenance day on THE RIDE.  We had to fill the water tank, fill the propane tank, empty the gray water and the black water.  If you ever have had an RV, you know that dumping the black water(contents of the toilet) can be a less than exciting endeavor.  The girls affectionately dubbed it "poo dumping".  We had talked about it for two days and they were obviously excited and motivated as we entered the "Happy Trails" RV Park in Lebannon Missouri.  They jumped right in and made it happen with smiles on their face.

Eating on the road can get expensive and we are always on the lookout for a good eats at a cheap price.  Today we stopped at the Waffle House where they had both.  If you are ever in Lebannon Missouri, you might want to stop here.  Not only was the food good, but our waitress, Amanda was excellent!

One of the riders is an interesting character named Randy.  He has not only provided comedy the entire week, but has also made some pretty profound statements.  He has a gnarly mustache and I have posed the following question to many waitresses this week: "is he better with or without the mustache?"  Today the waitress at the Sunshine Cafe said, "I don't know but he sure looks like that guy from Brokeback Mountain!  First time this week that I heard Randy speechless.  You can see him here:

http://www.ridefor9-11.org/

On to the riders.  They have put in over 400 miles this week in searing heat and humidity.  They don't complain much and are really focused on the goal of making it to NYC.  They are sacrificing their own personal time, family time, vacation time and sometimes their own personal safety on the road.
All of us want to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project and the Dennis Leary Firefighter Foundation and if you have the urge to donate, you can do it at the same website you used to view Randy.

Here is some footage of today'S ride somewhere south of Rolla.  This is Jim, ageless Marv and Jorge rolling down the highway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnH72sIyZlA

I need to say a special thanks to my wife Brandi, who has been so supportive of this trip.  Thanks B, I couldn't have done it without you.

Tomorrow, on to St. Louis!

August 18, Thursday: DAY 26 - Joplin MO to Springfield MO

We left Joplin late so Marv could have his 15 minutes of fame with KABC (on the Ride page), and then we were off. It was warm and a bit muggy but the guys were ready to rock and they did. We found Mike's grandma's house, not 5 blocks from the station - how crazy is that? One thing I think I heard pretty much everyone was say was, I can't believe how inviting and welcoming Joplin FD was to us. Here they are, not even 3 months after a major natural disaster, and all they want to know is how they can help us. It's amazing.

One thing I've seen here in Missouri that I haven't seen anywhere else? Armadillos. Word on the street is they migrated here from Texas about 10 years ago and never looked back. Some interesting 'dillo facts? Yes please.
- they like bugs, small reptiles and the occasional berry. They like to tear up yards.
- our 'dillo friends carry leprosy. Of biblical fame.
- when armadillos get run over they don't really squish. More like they pop.

Derek, our stalwart cameraman, decided to join the riders and traded four wheels for two, horsepower for pedal power. This guy didnt even have clip-in shoes, and he did great. It was hot and very muggy by the middle of the day but we were warmly welcoming (I'm sensing a theme here...) into Springfield FD station 12. They even made us zucchini bread with zucchini from their own garden! Oh my god it was good. Dinner was at a very swanky place called the Metroplitan Cafe, where we definitely looked like what the cat drug in, compared to the rest of the patrons. Jorge got into a fight with our waiter, the portobello mushrooms were very tasty, and Marv got a little saucy on Long Island Iced Teas. It was a good night. More from Rolla MO tomorrow.

Test

August 17, Wednesday: DAY 24 - Tulsa OK to Joplin MO

Surprise! I'm back. Jim was seeming a bit homesick, I had an unexpected break from work (sort of), and I heard they had some amateur driving the motorhome . So I shelled out some serious cash, hopped on a tiny plane and headed to Tulsa OK to catch up with the Ride. I got a resounding "what the f*#$" from Jimmy when I got in the room; not the reaction I was expecting but he came around.

We got up about 2 hours later, 0430 Tulsa time, and miraculously were on the road by about 0530. We had plans to meet up with the fire dept in Joplin around 1200, which actually ended up being about 1300, but as we came over that ridge and I saw the gash the tornado had ripped into this town, and it was really hard to choke back tears. And then you come over another ridge and you see the hospital, with one side completely blown out and all the windows gone, and you think, my god, how did they get all those people out. And you're sharing a fire station with the guys who did it. Amazing.

Not ever having had to survive in a place where tornadoes are common (I'll take earthquakes, thanks. They're much less frequent) I can only try to imagine what it's like. As we sat and talked with Joplin FD at Station 1 where we bedded down for the night, they told us about losing two of their stations when the F5 monster ripped through town, as well as not even recognizing the streets in their own town because all the buildings were gone. One of the guys, Shannon, said you didn't know what you were gonna find on the next corner. A house in the middle of the street? A woman holding her unattached arm? To call it a tragedy and a disaster doesn't evn begin to scratch the surface of what this community experienced and is still going through.

And yet they opened their doors to us. They met us outside of town and wanted their picture taken with us. They wanted to feed us (more on that in a minute). Their city is still more than just partially leveled and they want to know what they can do for us. Unbelievable.

As far as dinner, let me tell you we had a feast. Bonnie, Adam Loeser's amazing mom made us a spread like you wouldn't believe, with plenty of vegetarian options for Hambly. The effort she went through to make all that food for us, and then to drive it out to Joplin from Tulsa, it was fantastic! And we shared with our hosts as well (the cheesecake was a big hit).

I'll try and post the video I took from my bike with Mike's GoPro on the blog. 

see the video here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMfJQsEfM4g

Tulsa to Joplin with a stop in Miami OK

Another hot day with temps in excess of 90 with about 30% humidity.  The riders are all doing well.  'THE RIDE" is also doing well.  We left Tulsa about 5:30 am en route to Joplin Mo. with a quick pit stop in Miami OK.  This was the second of two 120 mile plus days.

The scenery of this countryside is beautiful.  We arrived in Miami about 11:30 and were greeted by the members of the Miami FD.  They treated us like kings with ice, water and anything else we wanted.  After a short rest we departed for Joplin Missouri.

We arrived at the Joplin city limits at about 3 and were escorted by a fire truck to a meeting area near St Johns medical building.  This was the building that took the direct hit of the tornado just a few months ago.  We were greeted by Chief Mitch and the rest of the Joplin Fire Department.  The town of Joplin is recovering, but much of it is still in ruins.  The damage done by the tornado was devastating and can't be explained here or by watching on TV.  Two of Joplin's fire stations were destroyed.  We were soon escorted thru town to Joplin Fire Station #1.  These guys couldn't do enough for us.  Thanks, Shannon, Chief Mitch, Brian, Derek and the rest of the members of Fire Station 1.  You guys treated us like kings, and you didn't have to do that.  Funny, the terminology is different, but listening to these guys, you realize that they experience the same things that we do in Los Angeles.  The brotherhood is alive and well and we appreciated the hospitality.

My Uncle Jim, Aunt Mona, Brother in law Charlie and his friend, Anne were also there(local residents) and I got to spend a little bit of time with them.  My mom grew up a few blocks from this fire station.  Kinda seemed like I could still feel her around that town.

All in all, today was a great day and tomorrow we are off to Springfield.  If you are awake at 5:45 am, Marv Williams will be doing his first skype interview with KABC news in LA.

Oklahoma City to Tulsa

Today started off early with the switch from California time to the Midwest time.  We started off in the dark and arrived in Tulsa about 5:00 PM.  Natasha(Matt's GF) made the ride much easier.  She was able to hand H20 bottles to the riders and help me with the map.  What these guys did today in high 90 temps and 40% humidity was truly amazing.  They rode close to 130 miles in rough conditions.

I learned that:

- Sue Hambly can ring a cow bell(Scott's Mom).  Sherilynn(?), Scott's sister can hang with the guys on a bike.
-Dogs that chase bikes can be repelled with the squirt of a H20 bottle
-Randy Wright has a huge heart.
-Cows sometimes run free in OK and cops chase them with their cars.
-The OK country side is filled with rolling hills and is not flat like some people say.
-People in OK are truly nice people
-bicycle road tires are pressurized to 100 psi and when they blow up, you become temporarily deaf
-Armadillos are to OK, as possums are to California(road kill)
-the Fire Department brotherhood is alive and well in Oklahoma
-it truly is a small world

As we approached the City of Tulsa, Chief Moore of the Tulsa FD started calling us to find our location(Thanks Natasha!)  We were in a small town called "Jenks" at the time.  Next thing we knew, the Jenks FD approached us, "lights and sirens" and escorted us to the Tulsa City Line.  What a convoy going thru that town! The Jenks FD leading the way, the film crew truck, the Ride for 911 bike riders and the Motorhome(THE RIDE).    As soon as we crossed into Tulsa, the Tulsa FD took over the honors and escorted us to Tulsa FS 32.  Blowing thru red lights in a motorhome was a first for me!

We stopped at FS 32 and were warmly greeted by the crew.  They gave us drinks, ice and a cold place to sit for awhile.  The Chief provided the comedy.  

One of the Tulsa FF's, Tim Halowell, grew up in Simi Valley and moved to Tulsa and got on the Tulsa Fire Department. Small world.

The Ride for 911 riders are amazing.  130 miles today.  They are getting about 6 hours of sleep tonight and will be back out on the road to Joplin tomorrow at 5:30 am. 

Another 126 miles. 

I am so proud to be a small part of this and to just help out.

-

Route 66

Following the Hambly Family on Route 66 (bro and Sis)

Ouch

Oklahoma City Bound Sunday

"THE RIDE"

Get to fly out Sunday AM to OKC.  I have the pleasure of driving "THE RIDE" for one week with the final destination being St. Louis.   I am very excited to have the opportunity to support these riders.  I also know that I have big shoes to fill after Alex, Rob and Doak and I am a little apprehensive about that task.

One of the stops that I am very excited about will be on Tuesday in Joplin, Missouri.  My mother's side of the family was from Joplin and I spent many youth vacations there.  Some of my relatives (Uncle Jim and Aunt Mona) are still there and I will be seeing them again after many years.  Even with the recent devastation from the Tornado,  Joplin has reached out to the "Ride for 911" and I am sure that Tuesday is going to be an emotional day. 
Strange how this Ride for 911 has evolved for me.  First of all, I want nothing to do with road bikes.  I don't understand the desjre to sit on a rock hard seat, with no suspension, on skinny little tires for hours on end with cars whizzing by.  And did you notice that most of them have no meat on their bones?  Isn't that Hambly's nickname?

Hambly

Never figured I be following a group of them across the midwest in a motorhome.

During a mountain bike ride in February in Sycamore Canyon, Jorge explained the whole thing to me.  After listening to him speak about it, I couldn't wait to get involved.

Jorge

 Like Rob said in an earlier post, "There is no place that I would rather be".

Thank you guys for giving me this opportunity and I am honored to be a part of this!

Jim(in black) and Jorge(in white) can be seen crossing to the dark side in February:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=114lbcz7V_s&feature=player_embedded

We ride for them on Vimeo

Two film students putting together excellent footage for the "Ride for 911". The guys will arriving in OKC this weekend.

http://vimeo.com/m/#/27554415

Sent from my iPhone

"We Ride for Them"

Another great video for the Ride for 911......We Ride for Them

http://vimeo.com/27554415

Amarillo Texas

The Amarillo News Media picked up the Ride for 911 story and did a great job.  See it here:

http://www.connectamarillo.com/news/story.aspx?id=648997#.Tj_9MWY9W6U

Meet Jim Prabhu

Jim Prabhu, Firefighter Paramedic, Bicycle Rider, Significant Other of Alex, Father, meet him here:

http://vimeo.com/27439884

The Video Guys - AKA Matt the Drafting Truck Driver and Derek the Tailgate Hanger

I think it's safe to say these guys are the crux of the trip (see above title). I mean, of course the Ride for 9-11 would not be happening without those 6 core guys that are in the saddle, practically every day, using nothing but pedal power to propel themselves across the United States of America. But, without our courageous and steadfast video crew, people might not actually believe our story if it wasn't documented on camera. That's where Matt and Derek come in.

If Rob tells you the story, he would probably be telling you about two fellows named Brett and Matt. And this Matt would actually be Derek. Brett would be the other Matt. If you follow. It took us all a while to get to know one another. I don't think I saw Matt for more than 90 seconds total for the first 3 days of the ride; he would immediately retreat to his motel room in whatever small city in whatever part of the California/Arizona desert we happened to be in to start "downloading the footage". Unbeknownst to me, he was making magic. I mean, have you see the videos these two have created? Derek, on the other hand, I saw constantly, legs swinging from the back of a pickup truck, strapped in to some sort of semi official looking harness. I guess they were trying to keep a low profile until we left California, since riding in the back of trucks is totally illegal here. Arizona, New Mexico, basically the rest of the US? They could care less what you chose to do in the back of a moving pickup.

I don't think any of the riders (or their families, for that matter) can or will be able to thank these guys enough for what they're doing. Most of us that are involved in the ride have people as the reasons for their involvement - either they're fellow firefighters, significant others of riders, etc. But these video guys are documenting the ride, sweating it out like everyone else, up at 4 am (when it's really 3 am California time, but they left that behind days ago) to get the good shots. The footage they're collecting will be a record of what these riders (and drivers) are living for 6 weeks. And they are putting it all into darn stylish vignettes for the world to see (if you've been living in a hole and haven't seen the latest tearjerker, check out the Facebook page).

I am constantly in awe of the mental, physical and emotional sacrifice these riders are making, cycling their way across the country. But our video guys are there every step of the way too. Without them, those of us stuck at home wouldn't be able to see the amazing progress this ride makes every day. And for that, I think I speak on behalf of everyone watching this experience unfold for our loved ones and I say thanks for all that you do. It's gonna be one hell of a portfolio when you're through with this one.

August 7, Sunday: DAY 15 - Clovis NM to Amarillo TX

I watched the newest video this morning with my sister; she was crying by the end. Of course that made me cry as well. It's pretty profound stuff that these guys are doing out there. Like she said, "those guys are just really good people". Ditto.

On a lighter note, she also wanted to know why Jim had a goatee. No joke, as tears are streaming down her cheeks, that's the question she asks. A valid inquiry, as I'm not so sure myself. He mentioned something about a mustache growing contest, but since half the guys already have mustaches, I think Jim may be the only one participating in the contest. I'll keep you updated.

Mike did a great job of recapping the day yesterday, Jim said that they were escorted into the city by Clovis FD and then welcomed into FS 1 for dinner. And the fact that Karen would open up her house to these guys without knowing them is a real testament to the the bonds of brother and sisterhood in the fire service. Sounds like they got a good nights rest and are already into the GREAT state of TEXAS this morning, and if I'm able to read Scott's GPS tracking correctly, they're at mile 50 right....now.

I think we owe the video guys (Matt, driver/director/GPS impaired, and Derek, tailgate-hanger/camera wielder/generally sunburned) a substantial shout out, but I'm going to save that for its own post. Don't touch that dial...

Report from the Motorhome

The guys spent the night in Clovis, New Mexico last night and today, they have already crossed into the great state of Texas!  Besides, some minor battery issues, the motorhome (besides being a beast to turn around) is running fine.  Doak has his hands full trying to accomplish what two (Alex and Rob) were doing last week, but is doing a great job!   Last night the guys had dinner at a Clovis Fire Station.  Dinner(enchiladas) was prepared by Probationary FF Robert's Mother(some things don't change).  Sleeping in the FS was not an option because of some logistical issues, so one of the flight Paramedic's (Karen) took the boys to her home, opened up the place, and let them spend the night there.  She took off after getting them settled and went back to work!  The guys took off this AM without even seeing her cause she was still at work.  The FF brotherhood/sisterhood thing is unbelievable!  Thanks Karen.

The film crew guys......Matt and Derek are truly been the unsung heroes on this adventure and both Rob and Alex have promised me stories on these guys......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Their most recent video can be seen below.  You might want to have some kleenex handy when watching.  Thanks for doing such a great job guys! Signing off from the motorhome.

                                                                      http://vimeo.com/27395168

Palisades Patch Article on Ride for 911 Team

http://pacificpalisades.patch.com/articles/palisades-firefighter-pedals-to-albuquerque-in-ride-for-9-11

ABC 7 Interview with Randy Wright 8/5

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=8291558

Doak the Driver

Doak Smith takes over the wheel today. The team is in good hands with him. He brings to the table a wealth of driving experience(25 yr "hook and ladder" driver), fixes anything and never stops working. Over the course of the next 10 days, he will support the Ride for 911 team in their journey to Oklahoma City. Thanks Cindy for letting Doak go!

It is truly amazing to hear how much support and positive feedback the team is getting. Yesterday I received a truly humbling phone call from the Mayor of Joplin Missouri. He extended a gracious hand of support offering an overnight stay and dinner for the 911 team in Joplin Mo. Considering what that town has endured with the recent tornado, his offer of support is amazing and very much appreciated!

Good luck to the team on this next leg!

Meet Ride for 911 Rider Scott Hambly

Meet Scott Hambly here:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=2073301187039&oid=107279816011471&comments

Upcoming Palisades Post Article

Front Page News in the Palisades!

http://www.palisadespost.com/news/content.php?id=6826

Life of a Motorhome Driver/Rider

This photo was submitted by one of the Ride for 911 riders .....Alex says she was trying to locate the leak in the roof of the motorhome during one of the monsoons...her boyfriend (JP), who submitted the pics, says otherwise....probably not a good move Jim.

Jorge Ostrovsky at his best.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2071189174240&oid=107279816011471&comments#!/video/video.php?v=2071189174240&oid=107279816011471&comments

Newspaper Article from Sho Lo AZ

http://www.wmicentral.com/news/latest_news/la-firefighters-ride-to-remember/article_34c2156a-bc90-11e0-9daa-001cc4c03286.html

Link to some photos of Days 1-10

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150323182871639.387480.666991638&l=1ba4161554&type=1

Compilation of Days 1-10

Hello,

Sorry it has been a few days since my last post. Mike has been great about keeping the blog up to date and Alex is a hell of a writer so this surely will pale, by comparison.

My overall experience thus far after 10 days or so in the driver’s seat of the motorhome has been unbelievable and just what I had hoped it would be. I knew that this opportunity to participate in the Ride For 9-11 was the gift of a lifetime. The gift and opportunity met it’s expectations.

Occasionally, I tend to lose faith that we are all are just in the rat race for ourselves. The electronic age has made us all a little less friendly, conversational, or something like that. Then I got to spend 10 days driving some 900 miles or so through areas of the Country I’ve never seen or even heard of, frankly. My faith in humanity has been somewhat restored.

The overwhelming selfless, kind, and generous support that the Ride For 9-11 has received has been amazing:

On Day 1, after being on the road for 13 hours and 142 miles, we were greeted by an LED Marquis in the City of Yucca Valley welcoming the riders. The City of Yucca Valley opened their arms and treated us all like family. The San Bernardino County Fire Station, in town, gave us hot showers, ice, and good advice on how to get medical treatment for any of our riders who might be injured on the highways in the middle of the desert.

On Day 2, after 130 miles across 120 degree freshly paved asphalt and 111 degrees air temps, including one rider needing an IV, we were greeted by the Parker, AZ volunteer Fire Department. They gave us our first inkling of what to expect the rest of our days from firemen. No matter where you go, firefighters are firefighters and they will go above and beyond to assist their brothers. The Parker, AZ fire department allowed us to stay in their fire station, use their showers, take their ice, and turn their AC down really low. It was a much needed rest and shelter from the sweltering heat.

On Day 3, the riders headed for Wickenburg, AZ, stopped at a 9-11 Tribute Monument in Salome, AZ, and finished a 110 mile, mostly uphill, day. We were again greeted by another fire department. Wickenburg Fire gave us water, handshakes, and a smiling welcome before escorting us to the City’s old jail. It had been converted into a Firefighter’s Gym with AC, hot showers, and padded floors. Again, Firefighters are the same no matter where they work.

On Day 4, an early start to a relatively short day, the riders headed downhill into the City of Scottsdale, AZ. We arrived at Fire Station 611 and were greeted by the on duty crew, a few chiefs, the media, and LAFD Retired Captain John Moede, who now is second in command of Scottsdale’s EMD. Again, water, handshakes, and a smiling welcome. It was here, after conferring with the Captain at Station 611, that we learned that the route for the next few days was suspect. The maps were layed out, discussions were had, and eventually a vote took place amongst the full-time riders as to their two options. One option was to eventually end up on Intersate 40 for an unknown amount of miles, which sounded a little dangerous. The second option was to head up into the mountains, climb to between 7500-8100 feet and take that route into New Mexico. After a good discussion, it was decided that the mountain climb was the option chosen. The 2 days of rest in Scottsdale did the riders good and the Fairfield Inn, North was very very accommodating. There were hiccups in Scottsdale. On the way to the hotel, one trailer tire literally shredded apart and tore the fender from the trailer. A trip to the Discount Tire Store on Shea St. proved to be another example of humanity and goodwill in the works. The manager at the store was an avid cyclist and he not only gave us a discount on the tire purchases but also pulled out $50 of his own cash as a donation to the ride and gave us 4 cases of water. A fundraising event was held at the Saddle Ranch Restaurant and the guys from Station 611 came out and visiting with us for a couple hours. Thanks to the generosity of John Moede and his family, the fundraising effort was good.

On Day 6, the mountain climbing began. Our destination was Payson, AZ. I had made contact with Mayor Kenny Evans of Payson on the way up the hill and asked if they had a community center or something like that for us to bed down in. He said he’d have to call me back. Mayor Evans called back and said that they were going to take care of the Ride for 9-11 “royally” and boy did they ever. On the way into town, after riding through a monsoon of rain and wind, the riders were greeted by the Payson Fire Department’s Chief Fife and Assistant City Manager LaRon. What followed was a full bore Fire and Police escort through the streets of Payson in a driving thunderstorm. The destination was a brand new Fire Station, Number 13. This state of the art, 2 million dollar station, had it’s first inhabitants on Day 6 and the inhabitants were the Ride For 9-11 riders and support crew. No one had yet been assigned to the station and they opened it’s door for us, and let us park the motorhome on the Apparatus Floor. It was a truly amazing show of goodwill, support, and kindness. Thank you Mayor Evan, Chief Fife, LaRon, Payson Fire and PD, and Hellsgate Fire for all of your help and support. Again, firefighters are the same whereever you go.

On Day 7, the riders got a taste of the parts of Arizona that don’t involve sand, socorro cactus, rattlesnakes, and heat. The ride across the top of the Mogollon Rim was some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen. Tall pine trees, antelope, elk, and other animals call this area home. The weather was cool, being at an elevation of 7500 feel, and the riders seemed to enjoy the climate change. The elevation was a little challenging but nothing that you’d notice. A few stops were made along the highway to take in the breathtaking beauty and views that abounded on this journey towards Show Low, AZ. Along the route to Show Low, just outside of Heber, AZ we were met by the Heber/Overgaard Fire Department who gave us an emergency escort to their fire station. Upon arrival, water, ice, handshakes and storytelling was provided while the riders ate lunch. Thank you Heber Fire for your warm welcome, brotherhood, and camaraderie. The riders left Heber, after lunch, and rode straight into a monsoonal thunderstorm. They encountered rain, hail, and strong winds. I, on the other hand, stayed dry until it started raining in the motorhome. The caulk that sealed the motorhome roof had dried and cracked and water cascaded down the inside the front windshield. Luckily, a True Value hardware store was right there and I was able to Henry’s the roof. Anyway, another fire department was waiting along the side of the road enroute to Show Low. The Linden Fire Department greeted us on the side of the highway and chatted for a few minutes, bought some Ride For 9-11 shirts and escorted us out of their town with lights and sirens. Finally, we arrived in Show Low, AZ. We arrived at their main fire station and were greeted by the 3 person crew who staffed their station. They offered to put us up for the night, in their station, and allowed us to shower, gave us an air conditioned room, and offered any assistance including all of their ice. A neighborhood woman, who was an avid runner, brought by homemade power bars which were truly amazing. The riders had gotten their fill of other brand name bars at this point, at these bars with a homemade touch really hit the spot. A great team dinner was had by all prior to getting to bed.

On Day 8, the riders departed for Quemado, NM. The highway was two lanes, sparsely traveled and had beautiful countryside to see. Scott Hambly found a coffeeshop called Java Blues in Springerville, AZ and the food was fantastic. This place was the kind you’d find in Westwood, Hollywood, or Newport Beach. While the riders pushed on, a stop at the local pharmacy was necessary because Randy Wright had crashed earlier in the day. Randy and I performed “surgery” on Randy’s ankle to make sure he didn’t need any sutures and then we caught up to the riders. Ominous thunder clouds were seen in the distance but we thought we’d make it into Quemado, NM well before the rain. Nope! As we came down into the valley, you could actually see the road surface changing colors as the rain marched towards us and we marched towards it. 2 miles out from Quemado, the riders were dumped on. They were all a little annoyed, but that annoyance was short lived. The thunderstorm that followed was some of the loudest thunder and hardest rain I’ve seen. The riders were stoked that they at least missed that part of it on their bikes. Quemado, NM is a very small town and had 2 or 3 motels, a volunteer FD, and one small cafe at the Largo Motel. We ate dinner at the cafe. As we sat down to eat, there was a US Flag on the wall. It was called the Flag Of Honor and it had all of the names of the people killed in the 9-11 Attacks. It was pretty ironic to be in such a small town and have that flag hanging up right behind us all while we ate, it was pretty cool.

On Day 9, the riders left for their next destination in the dark. An hour time change after crossing into New Mexico made it an hour later. Again, a beautiful ride across some hilly areas and then eventually dropping down into some drier areas again. A double rainbow was seen as the riders woke up their legs; some wore jackets that day because of the colder morning temps. Jim had been telling me the entire trip that I was going to get out of the motorhome and ride a bike for at least 10 miles. Up to this point I hadn’t really left the driver’s seat. I decided that although I could never do what these riders were doing that I might be able to honor the FDNY Fallen by riding 343 miles over the course of the 45 day ride. It was either that or 34.3 miles or 343 kilometers but I really want to try and do miles. Today, I thought, would be an ideal day because it was mostly downhill! So, in the town of Datil I donned the Ride For 9-11 rider’s kit and Jimmy graciously let me use his bike. I ride a mountain bike at home, I don’t even own a road bike. I decided to head out ahead of the riders while they snacked in Datil because I knew they’d catch me. I also was a little embarrassed while I learned how to shift, brake, etc. I have to admit, it was pretty awesome to ride with these guys and Alex. We stayed together and rode in single file, drafted off of Scott Hambly who “pulled” us. It wasn’t the downhill I expected and their was a headwind that slowed us down. As I passed the 10 mile point, I wanted to stay on the bike. I kept thinking that the burn in my legs and shoulders was nothing at all compared to what the Firefighters in the World Trade Center endured before they sacrificed their lives. It’s sounds clicheish, maybe, but it is what drove me to ride further. At the next break, the small town of Magdalena, I had ridden 35 miles. I thought I could do more, but was strongly suggested not to if I wanted to walk again the next day, lol. I thanked Jim for the use of his red, white, and blue bike and took my place back in the motorhome. The brief exposure to riding in the ‘saddle’ only increased the awe I have for what these riders are going to accomplish. My ass, quads, thighs, shoulders, and back ached from doing just 1/100th of what these guys are doing. It is truly amazing, and gives me all the reasons in the world to do a good job supporting them. As we rode into Socorro, NM the terrain was definitely more desert like and the temps matched the terrain. It was hot. We arrived at the Socorro Fire Department where they had offered to put us up in one of their ‘unused’ fire stations. The Chief escorted us over to a two story station which had four beds, three couches, air conditioning, and full kitchen. The goodwill of firefighters was showing itself again. We ate well at a local brewery (Socorro Springs), showered, and bedded down for the night. It will be an early morning tomorrow.

On Day 10, my last day for a couple weeks, we departed Socorro for Albuquerque. The team has definitely jelled together and strong bonds are forming. Matt and Derek, who are documenting the entire ride on film for their Film School portfolio, have become integral parts of the team as well. A routine has developed where the morning is started out with a “Plans” briefing every morning. I do this briefing because it’s actually one thing I think I’m good at, lol. Each day, the riders are told about the expected weather, safety concerns, an overview of the route, and a huddle is brought together with a cheer. The cheers have been different every day, “airborne”, “semper fi”, “tomato”(to rhyme with Quemado), “Payson”, “bomberos”, “honor”. Today, before we left, we dedicated the day’s ride to a Las Cruces Hotshot Firefighter who had died the week before battling a wildfire in Arizona. I should have chosen this cheer in Arizona but I guess better late than never. The cheer that we headed out on this day was “Dino” which was the nickname of the fallen hotshot. It was a way to honor him and a somber reminder that we have the most dangerous job in the nation. Today, technology failed us. The Map My Ride program had let us down, yet again. The riders were following the route set forth by Map My Ride and were let to another dirt road and this time they were chased by 5 mangy dogs. I gotta say this trip has not been a great commercial or endorsement for Map My Ride. This is at least the 3rd or 4th time that is has routed us on dirt trails. Anyway, the riders decided that is was early enough to get on the freeway and they did. They traveled for about 20 miles on Highway 25 before Alex was able to find them a better, safer route. The new route actually cut five miles off of their initial one. Our arrival into Albuquerque was at Fire Station 13. Chief Sanchez and the crew of 11 met us at their doors. They brought us in and offered fresh fruit, waters, and an air conditioned kitchen. (Firefighters are the same everywhere). Jorge did an interview with a Spanish newsstation and Scott Hambly was interviewed by ABC. After 45 minutes of storytelling and sharing info about each other’s department’s, the riders headed to the hotel for 2 1/2 days of rest. Before we left, the members of Fire Station 13 asked the riders to return for dinner which they accepted. (I didn’t go, but I heard the food was fantastic). I was off to the airport with Jim and Alex. My flights were short and I made it home to my beautiful wife in time to have dinner with her. I will be home for about 2 1/2 weeks and will return to the Ride to help finish it off.

My experiences, in my capacity on the ride, have been fantastic. Not without challenges, no doubt, but as a whole I know this experience will be one of the best and most memorable of my life. It is my greatest honor to be a part of this endeavor and I’m glad that it is happening.

That’s all for now, but I will post my pictures and videos so that you can put images to the words above.

I’d like to personally thank Alex for being an awesome co-pilot and navigator. I, like most firemen, am a type A personality who is a bit of a control freak. Alex was surrounded by 10 of those types for the first 10 days of the trip. She did a great job and was truly an asset to the effort.

I’d like to thank Mike Ketaily, as well. I think I spoke to him more each day than I did my wife. He was able to work on things from home that I couldn’t do because I was behind the wheel. Mike and Doak will do a great job for the next two legs of the trip.

Rob

Albuquerque Fire making the guys right at home

Albuquerque Arrival Today!

Rainbow in New Mexico

August 2, Tuesday: DAY 10 - Socorro NM to Albuquerque NM

It wouldn't be a fitting last day for Rob and I if we didn't end up down a dirt road, lost, and then on the freeway. Of course, Rob and I rally and find a route that actually shaves 5 miles off the day. We are so rad. These guys are gonna miss us when we're gone.

It's a gorgeous day outside Albuquerque and we are making great time into the city. Last night we stayed at the Socorro Fire Dept's open station and it was exactly what we needed after a long day in the sun, riding into the wind. We couldn't have asked for more.

As promised here is Jorge's top ten reasons not to ride hour bike across the country (and what would make you want to do it anyway):
1) the California/Arizona desert is so hot, it will melt the cleats off your cycling shoes.
2) after 800 miles in 10 days, no bike seat is going to feel good, no matter how much it cost you.
3) you will always be hungry. Always.
4) flat tires are inevitable. Sometimes they will cause you to fall down and go boom.
5) there will usually be wind, and it will generally be a headwind.
6) when it rains, you're brakes don't work real good. If at all.
7) you will have to climb many hills, some of them long, many of them steep and a few will even take you to 8100 ft of elevation. That's higher than Lake Tahoe.
8) 5 am wake ups feel even earlier when you change time zones.
9) your butt will never feel the same. Guaranteed.
10) after you review numbers 1 through 9, you will realize you are riding for the 343 FDNY ff's who died on 9-11, and for all the men and women still fighting for our freedom overseas. We have not forgotten.

Palisades Patch Article on Scottsdale and Jorge Ostrovsky

http://pacificpalisades.patch.com/articles/ride-for-9-11-cyclists-take-first-rest-day-in-scottsdale

August 1, Monday: DAY 9 - Quemado NM to Socorro NM

Long 105 mile day today. We started off the morning with an amazing double rainbow leaving Quemado (reference the pic Jorge posted on FB). It was a gorgeous, cool morning as we rode down off the highlands in New Mexico into the desert.

I'm sure you already saw Rob in his tighty-Ridefor911-whities... Yes he did indeed ride today, and let me be the first to tell you he makes a most excellent wind screen. Rob did a great job keeping up (and blocking gusts of wind) for a full 35 miles, and for that my hat is off. We had fun leaving the motorhome to get off our butts and get some exercise!!

We think we may have stumbled upon some secret NORAD huge satellite dishes today in the middle of the desert between Quemado and Magdalena, and there were definitely some train tracks to nowhere. There is some weird stuff out in New Mexico.

The word of the day was headwind today, and we battled it the last 45 miles of the ride. We did get one particularly awesome downhill, where I clocked our speed at over 41 mph!! Holy *!#?! That's fast. Ask Jim about the "law of inertia" and he'll tell you how fast he was going.

Socorro FD welcomed us with open arms, and again I am astounded at the generosity and willingness to help that we've come across as we reach out to fire department after fire department. I am continually amazed. Since their department is temporarily understaffed, they have opened their third fire station to us weary travellers, and it is fantastic. Tomorrow is Albuquerque, and my final day with the ride. I still owe you a top ten list, so stay tuned.

Crossing Over to Dark Side

Rob Scott dons the "Ride for 911" kit and actually leaves the wheel of the motorhome!

Jorge in Quemado NM

Quemado New Mexico

The Ride for 911 Team has made it to New Mexico.

July 31, Sunday: DAY 8 - Show Low AZ to Quemado NM

Can you believe it's been a full week of riding? Last Sunday seems like a lifetime ago. We left behind the state of AZ and entered the land of Enchantment, New Mexico. Today has been an eventful day. Let's recap.

Show Low gave us amazing accomodations in their fire house which was fantastic. We rolled out of Show Low and not long after, picked up Randy immediately post-crash. He had some good cuts and scrapes, so I put my newly minted RN license to work. Good news, he'll make a full recovery. We pulled into Eagar and met up with Eagar FD and we enjoyed delicious coffee and "second breakfast" at Java Blues. It looked like it could have fit in anywhere in Santa Monica. Hambly was over the moon.

After leaving Eagar we headed towards New Mexico, running into a herd of antelope cruising across the highland. Of course, I get another flat as we're making our final descent into Quemado (I'm told it means burnt), and seeing the giant thunderheads racing towards us, I threw my bike in the trailer to save time. I actually thought they would beat it.

As you come down Hwy 60 into Quemado, there's a hill about 5 miles long. The guys were booking it, and Rob and I thought they were going to pull in just in time. But as we saw the giant sheets of rain making their way up the road, it wasn't looking so good for their chances of staying dry. And they didn't. They got pretty drenched. We got to the Largo Motel where we're staying, and when the lightning bolt cracked over our heads, we booked it for shelter. I've never seen so much rain in my life. Ever.

Tomorrow is on to Socorro, and then a few days rest in Albuquerque. The guys need it. Show them your love here or on Facebook.

Route for Today

Show Low, Arizona to Quemado, New Mexico is today's route.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

Weather is 80 Degrees, Route 60, Stopping in Eagar for lunch, Thunderstorm Activity will start after lunch. 

July 30, Saturday: Payson AZ to Show Low AZ

First of all, thank you for posting a response to my brain teaser. I have to say, I have not seen one roadrunner while in AZ but will continue to keep my eyes peeled. I also have not seen any elk, despite the signs posted every 500 ft telling me to watch for them.

Today I spent the first part of the day in the motorhome (skipping the 5500 ft climb - ouch). Jorge took a header on his bike, but don't worry he's ok. Marv stepped on a cactus but he's ok too. Heber FD led us into town and gave us a space for lunch, and of course I got on the bike right as the monsoon was coming in and we all get drenched for the hour after lunch. Linden FD led us through town, causing a big backup but people have generally been tolerant of us and our less than speed-limit worthy pace. Like I said, all the Fire Depts have been unimaginably gracious.

Tonight we're in Show Low (look up why it's got that name) and Show Low FD is putting us up for the night in their training room. We also got a very happy surprise from Kristen, a friend of FF Allie who works at this station. She heard that the guys were sick of their usual protein bars, so she BAKED some for us. Amazing. The generosity we've run into has been staggering.

Final mileage total today is 87 miles. 5500 ft of elevation gain, summit at over 7700 ft. Raining, windy, who knew they had weather like this in AZ?

Beth told us something at our Saddle Ranch fundraiser that really resonated with the guys - "the 343 are looking down from Heaven and seeing everything through your eyes. They're on the journey with you."

Payson FD

Heber Weather!

Heber AZ

Just got off the phone with Rob.....report from the motorhome....they are hitting heavy monsoons in Heber AZ

Sent from my iPhone

July 29, Friday: Day 6 - Scottsdale AZ to Payson AZ

We started the day like celebrities. Adam Loeser did a live interview for the local Channel 3 News, Jorge had a great Skype interview with LA's ABC7, and we got followed out of the city by a news helicopter. It was awesome. I started off the day with a flat tire that just wouldn't quit, and then Marv ended up w/ a wrecked derailer (his bike basically ate it).

Jorge finally got his picture with a saguaro, something he's been talking about since Parker. We also had tons of honks/waves/shouts of encouragement, so to anyone reading this in the states of Arizona and New Mexico, keep em comin.

The weather on the way into Payson deserves it's own paragraph. After we stopped to meet the Tonto Basin Fire Dept (they graciously brought us Gatorade and water), they told us to watch out for the monsoon rolling in. I'm sorry, what? Monsoon? I thought this was Arizona. You know, like, the desert? Oh no. Monsoon is a good word. As we climbed the long hill into Payson we were greeted by cracks of thunder and bolts of lightning. And then came the downpour. It's was literally dumping buckets on us during the last mile into Payson, but it actually felt pretty good. Rob said it started raining in the motorhome, not cool.

We were greeted in Payson by Battalion Chief Fife and the rest of Payson FD, as well as LaRon Garrett, Public Works Director, and escorted through Payson by both fire and police. We stayed the night in Payson's brand spanking new $2 million fire station. The hospitality we've encountered along the way has been truly amazing, this being no exception. Mayor Evans came to greet us at Station 13, and afterwards we had a great dinner (fried pickles and all) and then crashed out for the night, hoping our soaked shoes and wet jerseys would dry by morning. Luckily we had the help of a brand new washer and dryer :)

Scott Hambly "Ride for 911" Blogs here

"Ride for 911"

recounts his day here:

 

http://ridefor9-11.blogspot.com/2011/07/scottsdale.html

July 28, Thursday: Day 5 - Scottsdale AZ (rest day)

Well, Jorge is too tired to give me his top ten list, so I'll give you a brief synopsis of the day and we'll just have to get back to Jorge on the list. The rest of the guys got massages and chiropractic adjustments down the street, and we had some great bbq at Dickie's.

Jorge and I had an adventure at the laundromat, you might have been able to guess that neither of us has had a lot of experience with coin operated laundry machines. First clue was that we didn't bring detergent. Second clue was that they don't even use coins anymore. We stash all the laundry in one giant washer, add the detergent that Jorge ran across the street to get, and start the machine. We think all is well. Until water starts spewing out of the top of the washing machine in a geyser-like fashion. We forgot to close the top. Hence the geyser.

After the laundry debacle (we managed to get all the clothes dried successfully), we headed to Saddle Ranch for a mini-fundraiser, where Scottsdale FD again came out to support the Ride, as well as Beth Jensen who has been an incredible help to us by coordinating lodging with Marriott. Tomorrow we head for Payson, AZ and I'm told it's a gnarly ride into the mountains.

I'll leave you with a brain teaser, since everything is more fun when it's interactive. I want to know, what's the state bird of AZ? Post your comments, let me know what you find on google.

Giving it a shot!

Here is Alex taking a shot at it on the bike.

http://player.vimeo.com/video/27018338?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&autoplay=1

July 27, Wednesday: Day 4 - Wickenburg, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ

Finally, a SHORT day! Only 60 miles between Wickenburg and Scottsdale, and we opted to get up mighty early (4:30 am) to get out and beat the heat. We actually started rolling down Highway 60 around 5:45, and it was a chilly 80 degrees. Not more than 10 minutes into the ride (with me driving Marasco's truck, Rob in the motorhome) do I get pulled over by Arizona Highway Patrol. "Driving 18 mph in the slow lane is not going to cut it here in the state of Arizona". "Yes, sir". "You are going to need to figure something else out if you plan to drive on this highway". "I understand sir". "You can drive on the shoulder with your hazards on, but you cannot hold up traffic in the slow lane". "Yes sir". Let's just review the situation. It's before 6 am, with about 2 other cars on the stretch of 10 miles of highway that I can see, one of them being the trooper's patrol car. Hambly rolls by and says, "Sorry sir, thanks, we're riding for 9-11". The day goes on.

It's a long downhill out of Wickenburg and the guys make excellent time. We stop to eat and regroup, the plan is to come into Scottsdale around 10:30 where we'll meet with ABC news affiliates at Scottsdale Fire Station 602, where we were again welcomed with open arms. After some mugging for the camera, and a lively discussion about our route again taking us down a potentially nonexistent road on the Navajo reservation (Navajo Service Road #74 didn't sound particularly legit) we head off to lunch at Stax for some burgers. We run into some ladies who were driving behind the trailer today and looked us up on Facebook. The power of social media.

We head to the hotel, the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Scottsdale. We're driving them motorhome now, for whatever reason the AC has decided to quit working, 104 degrees feels a lot hotter without AC. About one exit before we need to get off the freeway, some nice man flags Rob down, pointing to the motorhome. "Did we lose the Zico again??" (One of our outside cabinets keeps popping open, causing us to lose a precious cargo of coconut water somewhere on Camelback Drive). We pull over. We walk around the motorhome. No open cabinets. What do we find? The left tire of the trailer is literally shredded. Like, in shreds. On the rim. Awesome.

Rob manages to get our convoy off the freeway and into a parking lot, where we use a jack from Marasco's truck to change the tire on the trailer so we can at least get to Costco to get some new tires. It's hot. Like really hot. Jorge and Marv go to work, and the tire is changed out. Adventures with Ride for 9-11.

I'm looking forward to a day of rest, and I'm sure the guys are too. Scott Smith arranged for the guys to get massages and a chiropractic adjustment, which everyone is taking full advantage of. Next, Jorge wants me to post the Top Ten List of Why Not to Ride Your Bike Across the US. Stay tuned.

Report from Ride for 911 rider Jorge Ostrovsky

Hi all, Jorge here. Believe or not it's hot in the desert, go figure. Day 1 was the most difficult day, 142 miles and we climbed over 6000 feet. We spent the night at the Yucca museum. Day 2 we road to Parker Arizona 132 miles and it was 122 degrees. Ouch. Day 3 was 110 miles to Wickenburg, we spent the night at the old jail - bars and all. Everyone has been great to us. Today was our short day only 60 miles. We are in Scottsdale Arizona and it's a great day. Thanks all.
 

Alex Wendt

Part time rider, blog editor, media liasion, and truck driver.

Rob Scott

The Plans Chief, motorhome
driver, meteorologist and mechanic standing in front of the Firefighter Memorial in Wickensburg AZ

July 27, Tuesday: DAY 3 - Parker AZ to Wickenburg AZ

It's a little bit of a lie for me to post today as a driver, since I rode out this morning with the guys for about 50 miles. Which is actually also a lie, because it was EXACTLY 50 miles and I was dying. Believe me when I say these guys are animals with some higher purpose in mind that fuels them through these ridiculous days. We started off the day at 0630, after spending a luxurious evening in Parker's reserve fire station (complete with kitchen, 2 showers and a pool table. Oh, and air conditioning!). After conferring with a writer from the local newspaper (he had come to do a story on the ride), he informed us that he didn't think part of our route actually existed. Plan B added 10 miles to our already 100 mile day, but no complaints heard from the guys.
The word of the day today was windy. The head wind was insane. Nothing will break your spirit faster than 104 degree heat and a serious headwind in the middle of the desert.
At mile 50, Rob set up a feast in Hope, AZ where everyone was able to recharge and sit in the shade. I bailed out there, and the guys forged ahead. At one point, I hopped in Marasco's truck so fellow rider Randy could stretch his legs. On one particular downhill, I had Jorge drafting behind me at upwards of 40 mph. Jim and Adam were not thrilled I had left them to roll downhill by themselves.
We pulled into Wickenburg and got a great reception from Wickenburg Fire Dept - they put us up in the old town jail! Everyone has been incredibly hospitable (we even got back massages at dinner!)
Tomorrow is the shortest day yet, clocking in at only 60 miles. We may even be getting an escort from Scottsdale FD, and everyone should definitely check out the video that Matt and Derek created for us.

It just looks hot!!

The following link will give you a short video of the ride yesterday.  Done by the film crew that is with the riders.

http://vimeo.com/26902500

Parker AZ

Rob reports that the team made it to Parker in 7 hours and 30 min's. They are staying in a community room of a Parker Fire Station. There are no injuriesnto report, all is well. Road temps today hit 120 degrees. Air temp was 112 degrees. The team went thru 10 gals of water.

July 25, Monday: DAY 2 - Yucca Valley CA to Parker AZ

I'll keep this one shorter bc it's late, and I'm tapping away on Jorge's iPhone, all the guys are asleep and I got this silly notion in my head that "maybe I'll ride tomorrow". Here's the Cliff's Notes version of today, I'll post pix and more stuff tomorrow.
1) the asphalt was upwards of 130 degrees (unofficial) with air temp around 124 degrees (more official).
2) we went through almost 10 gallons of water and ice
3)I'm told mexican food tastes really amazing when you've burned approximately 8 thousand calories in one day
4) they finished 130 miles in 7.5 hours of riding time, making the mileage total 270 miles (semi-official) and also solidifying in my mind that these guys are BAMF (very official).

July 24, Sunday - DAY 1 LA to Yucca Valley

I can't technically say I'm "driving" the Ride For 9-11 so much as supporting the driver and riders ( I don't think they trust me to drive the gigantic motor home with trailer attached and to be quite honest, I don't think I trust myself to drive). The ceremony yesterday, MC'd by fellow driver Mike Ketaily was amazing and truly an awe-inspiring thing. Riding out of LA, with our LAPD escort and then with old Engine and Squad 51 to the city limits got us out of LA at a reasonable pace.
Around the outskirts of Palm Springs we realized that our so-called "road" was more of a dirt trail along the 10 freeway, and that our only viable option was to get on the 10 for about 2 miles. Sketchy proposition, especially as we passed the "no bikes or pedestrians" sign on the on ramp. I mean, what sign?!
We were forced to get BACK on the freeway after yet another discovery that our route included a road to nowhere. Trust me when I say you haven't lived until you've trailed a pack of weary cyclists on the 10 hanging out the window of a class A motorhome. A hair-raising experience.
As we made the turn onto Hwy 62 into Yucca, we started up what I will affectionately call "the grade". This isn't some wimpy grade like what you might have found in the hills of Malibu, oh no. This is a pair of twin beasts, somewhere in the neighborhood of 14 - 17%. Jorge now refers to it as "quite similar to chair 15 in Mammoth". I think it's an appropriate visual. We collected weary souls as we made our way up the grade. After all was said and done, at 9:30 at night, Jorge, Scott Hambly, Marv, and Scott Smith represented their Ride for 9-11 brothers as they reached the top of the mountain. Oh, and Jorge almost got eaten by a coyote.
Yucca Valley was such a welcoming host for our first, overly ambitious and exceedingly intense day of riding. The coolest part was (literally and figuratively) they let us sleep in their museum, with AC!
After all the twists and turns and route-altering, the mileage tally is at 140. We finally turned in at midnight, with another long day ahead.

Report from the Motorhome

The riders arrived in Yucca Valley last night about 8:30 PM.  It was a brutal 132 miles.  Temperatures hovered around 120 degrees on the asphalt.  They spent the night in a Yucca community center.  They are back on the road today and all is well.  Tonights destination is Parker AZ, where again they will stay in a community center. 

They are getting tons of support from bystanders and passerby's. Lots of clapping, thumbs up and horn honking. The riders all say it is very inspirational!

Motorhome mechanical status.....this tire on the trailer was changed 5 minutes before takeoff.  It is holding up!

LA Daily News : L.A. firefighters on bike ride to N.Y. to observe 9-11

LA Daily News Article about Departure Day!

http://m.dailynews.com/ladn/db_/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=7wMreyh5

Sent from my iPhone

Departure Day!

Everything went great today!  Good turnout today...great seeing lots of people I haven't seen in a while.  The riders finally got to hit the pavement!  Here is video footage of the procession leaving the Hollywood Fire Museum:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2l6Jz9EdCs