October is here! The Fall chill is in the air, changing of the leaves are on the trees and now the road, as well as the need to thicken up the riding gear before we ride. It also marks the gateway of the Holiday season: Halloween, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and before you know it, 2026. Oh, how time flies.

And as we approach this holiday season, we all tend to get busy with our families and friends, get together and gatherings, dinners and celebrations, and I’m no different. But if I may request a simple gift, one that won’t cost but a little time, a warm handshake and/or hug, a smile and kind remark; that would be to visit a Veteran’s Home this holiday season. I promise it will make someone feel special and that they are not forgotten, not to mention making the heart of the greenest of grinches grow.

I had the pleasure of reaching out to Mr. Johnnie ‘Bravo 6’ Huddleston of Southern Route earlier about their group get-togethers and he sent their schedule of meeting up in November at a Veteran’s Home in Biloxi, Mississippi; a kind of ‘off-season’ outreach. To say the least I was awestruck. Here our group, as with so many others, would meet for lunch and discuss past and upcoming rides, help FNGs with the advice from FOGs (Funny Old Guys/Gals), and yes, sometimes the ‘fog’ does become a factor. But there in Mississippi folks are carrying on the mission well after and before May. What better example of what RFTW can there be? If interested in joining Bravo 6, you can reach out to him johnnie.huddleston@rftw.us.

I Googled “Veteran’s Home locations” and found so many across the great states of Tennessee, northern Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, and asked our group if they would be up for meeting for lunch and a ride to a home. 

It may be a simple gesture on our part, but it would mean the world to a veteran, more than many know. It also shows new riders what they can expect during our ride in May, especially during outreach missions. 

So, I ask you to get with your local group; RFTW, mc, Legion Riders, friends/family, and contact a local Veteran’s Home, ask when visiting dates and hours are, explain your group size (if applicable) and when you plan to visit. I can assure you; they’ll welcome you with open arms, and you’ll end your day with a smile knowing you gave a gift that means more to them than anything else; they aren’t forgotten.

-Meetup Schedules & Locations 

13 Arizona RFTW family meeting 11 October Dedicated to a great RFTW Brother, Michael ‘Wizard’ Turner, who passed away 3 weeks ago. Our Mission – Riding for Those Who Can’t

Arizona: Monthly Luncheon 11:30am every 2nd Saturday of each month at; Nov 8 @ 8415 W Carefree Hwy, Phoenix No RSVP Required.

Got a meetup schedule that you would like get out there? Contact me with dates & locations bnoyce1213@gmail.com

-FNGs! (Fun New Guys/Gals)

WELCOME TO THE RFTW FAMILY! You are the face of the future. Your participation, ideas, and commitment to the organization is our future of keeping the mission going. Please do not shy away from asking questions, participating in everything that you can, and becoming a member of the family. Please reach out to our FNG Liaison Officer Roger ‘Bullseye’ Ford at roger.ford1234@gmail.com for any comments, questions or concerns.

-Machine & Riding Tips

As the seasons begin to change, many folks are beginning to transition their riding techniques from summer riding to more technical methods. Although it’s a great opportunity to sharpen those skills of awareness and precaution; just remember as leaves change and fall on the road, rains wash sand and gravel into our paths, or even on those cool mornings with frost or even ice, all of these will change how we ride and plan our routes of travel.

Please plan accordingly, be smart, and be what I like to call ‘Road & Weather Wise’. Know your conditions as well as your limitations. Know your equipment and understand riding on replaced parts vs get a few extra miles on the worn ones. 

-Midway Leadership Messages

Be sure to watch Hitch & Boots on the RFTW Podcast each month. This year marks season 2 as they dive into Why We Ride with bios of fallen Hero’s, introducing key members of each route and Organization Leaders, provide excellent advice and information with Tech Tips with Ted, as well as other fun facts and bits of information. Links can be found in the ‘Connect’ tab on RFTW.US, YouTube, X (Twitter), TikTok, and even Facebook. 

Have a question, want to see what the latest discussions of the groups are, or maybe even just reach out to members across each route? Then you need to visit the RFTW Forum pages. An excellent source of information, past and present. No question to small, or group to bug, here we take care of each rider and any questions or concerns they may have. 

Facebook and other social media platforms are also available and another great source of information. Just please remember to be professional in your conversations. How we hold ourselves online can be and is seen by the public and perception is key. 

Were you an FNG on last year’s ride? Do you have an amazing story or experience that you would like to share? You never know, your words and/or experience may be what someone is looking for to make that choice and commit to this year’s run. Don’t think so? Just take a look at previous FNG stories posted on the site. Or better yet, do a web search on RFTW stories, you’ll find many more stories, videos, and even books written on the subject. Each ride has a way of bringing something out in everyone. Some choose to hold and cherish it while others need to share and let others know how the ride made them feel. Either way, it is a very powerful, spiritual, emotionally healing, and even therapeutic experience. 

“All Hands Effort” We are asking for everyone’s help in an effort to raise funds for the Midway Route this year. Our mission across this great nation is not only to make a visual statement or ride from coast to coast, but to help support the communities that strive so hard to support us. We visit schools in low-income communities where the kids eat their only healthy meals at school, provide students with the basic learning materials needed every day like pencils, paper, glue, books, and the list goes on. We visit veteran homes that have taken financial support cuts but still carry on their duties to our Hero’s to ensure they have everything that they need from transportation to healthcare, a decent shelter over their heads, support and interaction they so desperately long for. And every community that we roll into for fuel, lunch, visits, and even diner; all of these communities’ plan and save for months to support us and our missions every single mile we ride. Every group that we encounter and that support us, we in turn support them by donating funds to help and assist their cause and mission. 

These monies are raised from supporting businesses and contributors that you have helps secure while spreading our message and the reason why we ride, riding for those who cannot.

We are asking that all Midway Riders and supporters come together and help raise funds necessary to help our community families across the route. If you would like a Midway 501c3 letter to reach out to your donors, you can request one at ed.brundage@rftw.us and he will get one for you. With this you can reach out to a business and other donors where they can make all donations tax deductible.

Let’s make this year unforgettable in monies raised for Midway!

 

‘Service Before Self’ Many veterans may recognize this statement. This also rings true with any core value of ‘Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence In Everything We Do’ (yes I’m retired Air Force). We are looking for volunteers to step up and into leadership positions.  I promise you that volunteering will make the mission, ride, and overall participation so much more rewarding.

Call to Service – Positions & Contacts:

Risk Management Officer – Are you one that helps an organization in incident reports, safety management, and/or quality reviews and reports? – Contact Randy ‘Stinger’ Sheets randy.sheets@rftw.us 

Honor Guard Coordinator – Do you have a deep sense of patriotism, honor, and feel of pride for all services, veterans, and this great nation? – Contact Randy ‘Stinger’ Sheets randy.sheets@rftw.us 

Registration Lead – If you are great with meeting folks and getting them registered for an experience of a lifetime? – Contact Randy ‘Stinger’ Sheets randy.sheets@rftw.us 

Platoon Leaders – Are you a leader that loves making a difference while guiding and mentoring a platoon safety across the nation? – Contact Joe ‘JavaJoe’ Bookataub bookataub.joe@gmail.com 

Assistant Platoon Leaders – Are you ready to assist in leadership, mentoring, and riding safety? – Contact Joe ‘JavaJoe’ Bookataub bookataub.joe@gmail.com 

Platoon Tailgunners – If you are one that never leaves a person behind, mentors riders to help them become better, and help in the leadership of a platoon? – Contact Joe ‘JavaJoe’ Bookataub bookataub.joe@gmail.com 

Leadership Team Member Assistant – Are you good with numbers, detail oriented, looking to learn and become part of the leadership team? – Contact Holly ‘Shooter’ Thomas hothomas1@yahoo.com

-Registration & KSU (Kickstands Up)

Registration is open! Register as soon as you can to help leadership plan better. Remember, they need to let volunteers across each state know how many riders to expect so they can plan to assist us with our journey and mission. Fuel, food, lodging, escorts; all require a head count so their organizations can plan on how to assist us in getting everyone across this great nation safely. 

3 Coast to Coast Routes: Central, Midway, & Southern: May 13 – 23, 2026

Sandbox Route: May 24 – 26, 2026

 

Early Bird Registration Sep 11 – Jan 31

Coast to Coast: $100/person

Sandbox: $40/person

 

Regular Registration Feb 1 – May 

Coast to Coast: $120/ person

Sandbox: $60

Until next time, 

Ride Smart

Ride Safe

Keep the rubber side down & the shiny side up!

~Is it May yet? Then again, every day is May if you let it. 

 

Ben ‘Stitch’ Noyce