Aloha RFTW O’Hana,
May is HERE. This will be my last newsletter before the Run starts in 2 weeks.
Reposting a few things here as well as a bit of new information.
Itinerary
The Itinerary is posted online. READ IT Every Morning and Every Night and at Every Stop. DO NOT ask questions of anybody where the answer is in the Itinerary (do not ask, for example, when are we leaving? Or what is our next stop?)!!
IF YOU DOWNLOADED THE ITINERARY MORE THAN A WEEK AGO, DOWNLOAD IT AGAIN. MAKE SURE YOU HIT THE “REFRESH” BUTTON ON THE WEBSITE AND GET THE LATEST VERSION. (2024-Itinerary-CR-Rev-3-FINAL).
Hotel Problems
The Best Western/Microtel hotel in Limon has informed us that they will not complete construction work before our arrival, so if you planned on staying there, you need to find another hotel. There are plenty of rooms left at other hotels in Limon.
Hotel Parking
REMINDER. Parking under the Portico (Awning) outside of the Hotels is not allowed except when you are unloading your gear. Do not ask the Hotel folks if it is OK and put them in an awkward Position (many don’t want to say no to us!). If you are registered for the Run and park under the Portico, I will ask the local PD to call a tow truck and have your bike or car ticketed and towed.
Personal note…… Years ago in Hurricane WV, I went down to my bike to grab something at about midnight and the Portico was packed with motorcycles and the Night Manager was frantic, because the Fire department had stopped by and told him he needed to clear the fire lane. He could not locate all the owners of the bikes (we found a few) and the hotel got a $1500 fine. He lost his job because of us (22 or so years old, married with a newborn baby) and we almost lost major support from the local community because some riders didn’t want their bike to be out in the rain! This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
PRE-PAID FUEL
We will be doing Pre-Paid fuel. CASH ONLY. In Ontario, Look for a Leadership Support Team Member at the Elks to get your sticker ($90 for ATW/ Prorated if you are only going part way). There is no Option to pay online or use a credit card or check.
Questions and inquiries
Both Kirk and I have been getting a ton of inquiries that are better directed to other leadership within the Route. Answering these inquiries take a LOT of time each day that we could better use in planning and Coordinating the overall Run. Examples would be questions about Platoon assignments, Missing Man, Fuel, Staging, etc.
Please go to the online contact list on the website under the “Central Route Hub” and find the contact that can directly answer your questions. I.E. Platoon assignments=Platoon Coordinator, Missing Man=Missing Man Coordinator, GMRS Communications= etc.
Important Links
For any questions you may have, check out our FAQs first. Then your next level of inquiry can be
directed to your platoon leadership or team leaders of the team you have a question about. We’ve got a strong cadre of leadership in the Pack Platoons and they are a great source of information, as is our FNG Liaison, Bernadette “Flat Tire” Staples, for our first-timers. All contact information is available in the Central Route Hub on the RFTW website. Additionally, familiarize yourself with our Rider Code of Conduct.
Arlington Escort
We are still working out the total number of Motorcycles we can send into Arlington and who will get to go. I know everyone is excited about this opportunity, but please be patient and wait until we have it sorted and announce the details (Again, emails and Messages to myself or the ARC are a distraction that we cannot spare the time for right now as we finalize details for the Run).
Ontario Schedule (CR Specific)
Communications (GMRS) assistance at the Holiday Inn from 1500 (3PM) until 1630 (4:30 PM) Monday (Conference Room) Point of Contact Harlan Olson (Leadership Support Communications on the contact list). We are looking for a few Radio Savvy Helpers to Volunteer and help folks set their radio and headset up (Connect Radio to Headset/Load correct frequencies, help conduct “radio checks”, etc.). Please reach out to Harlan if you can assist with this.
- Central Route Team Leaders and Platoon Leadership Meeting at the Holiday Inn Conference room. 1530 (3:30 PM)
- Riverside National Cemetery Ride. Tuesday. Stage at 0700 and depart at 0800. Need to be checked in with the registration team prior to the RNC Run. (MONDAY)
- Communications testing at Lot “D” (West end) Tuesday at 1400 (2PM) to test GMRS Radio set ups
- Central Route Leadership Meeting in Lot “D” Tuesday (West end) at 1500 (3PM) (MANDATORY FOR ALL CR LEADERSHIP/TEAMS)
- Central Route FNG Meeting in Lot “D” Tuesday (West End) at 1545 3:45 PM)
- Central Route ALL HANDS MANDATORY Meeting in Lot “D” Tuesday (West end) at 1630 (4:30 PM) followed by team and Platoon Meetings
- There are numerous other meetings and events in Ontario. Please go to the Hub and check out the Ontario Pre Run Schedule for more information.
This year we will have a Shuttle Bus running continuous loops between the Ontario Convention Center, the Holiday Inn Ontario Airport Host Hotel, and the Elks Lodge. The shuttle will run from noon-8 pm on Sunday, May 12th; and from 7 am through 9 pm on Monday, May 13th and Tuesday, May 14th.
ALOHA FRIDAY
Like we did at the Workday/Reunion in Angel Fire, we will have an Aloha Friday Shirt contest in Eagle Nest at Dinner. Best Aloha Shirt wins a prize1 Make sure they are R.E.D. though!
Breakouts and Outreach Missions
There will be opportunities to ride with the Outreach and Ambassador teams on Breakouts and other missions. Please ask your platoon leadership about opportunities and volunteer to go on these missions. They are very rewarding and give a great picture of the overall mission outside of the day-to-day riding.
I would like to reiterate something from my last newsletter that I feel is extremely important. During the last year I have been focusing on planning the Central Route with much support from many great people. In the last few weeks, it has dawned upon me that I have been focusing so hard on the planning and worrying about last minute details/glitches, etc., that I was not thinking about the MISSION. Please remember our Mission and try to keep that first and foremost in your mind.
At each stop along our way you will see Tom “Bones” Pogue on his knees next to his motorcycle writing the name and details about the Person we are riding for on that leg. Please go and read the name on your way back to your bike after fuel/restroom/lunch, etc. and remember that name during that leg (and after). That is a large portion of why we ride. When you are tired or hot or wet or cold or mad about something during the Run, take a second and say their name.
In closing, please get yourself and your Bike ready for the MISSION. Be safe traveling to your starting point and begin hydrating NOW. Don’t forget your paperwork so you can check in and remember your meds. Make sure your bike is ready for the trip to, during and after the Run. Don’t forget to Bring cash for your prepaid fuel stickers ($90 for ATW/What a great deal!).
MUCH ALOHA TO MY ‘OHANA
Nick “Richboy” Hentges
RFTW Central Route Coordinator 2024
Check out the Central Route Facebook Group.
Due to circumstances beyond our control, Midway Route Photos from previous runs are no longer available. 