RFTW Day 8 9 10

Things got pretty busy after the first official day of RFTW. We need to catch up here. Like I said I'm on the fuel crew and for day 2 and day 3 we kinda looked like the FOOL CRU. Our leaders were wonderful to step forward and try to organize us, but then they half-stepped when faced with the volunteers (ARMY MEAN GREEN). Most of the volunteers are retired military (or conscripts like us)and are use to giving orders, so if you don't take charge right away they start complaining and griping and holding back to see if it is worth it. The guyz in charge are Air Force and they were/are all specialist, not leaders of groups of individuals. One leader was a backseat man on Phantoms so all he has seen has been from 35,000 feet looking at a screen (and besides he rides a BMW) and the other leader was an Air Force NCO sent to help the ARMY in Song Be (r u followin me BEAV???) while the rest of us had our feet on the ground. Now, 35 years later on the ground he likes to go super sonic. Most of Texas is legal 80MPH on the interstate. That means we can go 90MPH to the lead guyz. Besides jet jockeys, there are chopper pilots that like the rush too. Somewhere in TX before the DEA check point we were riding 80MPH in the rain....that's a no brainer, there is stuff on the road that can hurt you. We made it out of the rain and the check point because our guardian angels can fly as fast and high as we can...............

Day 2 we rode 390 miles from Phoenix to Las Cruces like a bunch of crazy gringos...........faster than a speeding ticket. Two FREE fuel stops on day 2 that cost donor's $1,500 aprox and two meals provided with programs by communities we visited. We ask for donations at the FREE fuel stops and any money over and above what we owe goes to a fund that helps a child or children of a VET who dies. Time for a true story.....VET returning from Iraq to Dallas..........his wife and two children are driving to the airport to meet him and a drunk driver hits them............when he got off the plane he was greeted with a message........his two children were gone and his wife was in IC.............all gave some............some gave all...........what did this guy give????????.

We looked like fools in Wilcox, AZ because last week the truck stop we were lookin for changed names and we drove by it twice before the local cops pulled us over and said follow us dumb asses. Day 1 and Day 2 we had 2 free fuels and 2 free meals and 2 free MOMENTS. There are people out there building memorials to VETERANS out of pure love for VETERANS and a lot of them are VN vets We have seen more hand built and maintained memorials and the most beautiful thing is they did it to honor us and in turn we honor them when we stop.........I was listening to Prairie Home Companion tonight and after there was a program about a son taking his father, a Purple Heart Vietnam Vet, back to Vietnam to see where he was attacked and wounded..........fab program until the next program which was about somebody and their struggle to end the war,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it musta been hard carryin those signs and doing those panty raids. Last night I saw a guy who I kept seeing in the fuel line. I asked him if he wuz havin fun still? He said, "I'm from California and my faith in America has been restored"........he is coming back next year with his wife.

DAY 3 Las Cruces to Odessa, TX. More high speeeed pursuit......Things were AFU...........some of us got left behind at the noon pump and munch and so we had to catch up. Music Man and I did 90MPH for 90 miles to catch up in Pecos, TX. When we got to the exit my front tire went flat.......good newz......I put it on the trailer and road in the back seat to Odessa. Two free fuels and two free meals and two programs honoring veterans.

DAY 4 Odessa TX to Weatherford TX.......New leaders and new flight plan.......90MPH in a tight pack and once in awhile 95MPH....yikes.....I know my Road Glide can do 110MPH now tryin to keep up.....Hoppy, a front seater on Phantoms in the day did an amazing evasive manuever at the Colorado City, TX exit when he saw some gravel in the corner and amazed us ground pounders when he kept it up right and over the berm and into the ditch and back onto the ramp. The best day and fuel stop we had so far. We have got it figured out now if leadership will stay out of the way. GOD, I LOVE THIS COUNTRY. Tomorrow we finally get outta TX and can slow down for some MS and LA down home stylin. Every day is better than the previous and every day I get closer to home.

L+P DJ II Cor 1:8-11