Author: Billie “Bugs” Dunlap

Greetings from Weatherford, Texas!

It’s finally MAY!!!  It feels like it hasn’t been May in three years, but it’s finally here!  We’ve all shared a long journey of triumph and frustration as many of us have enjoyed reunions and gatherings that were always enjoyable but never quite made up for the Mission as we execute it on the Run in May.  But the long dry spell is over, and we’ll soon be gathering in Ontario and then again in DC to kick off the long-awaited Routes. 

SandBox Route Leadership Team

I cannot possibly bring enough praise and gratitude to the Leadership Team that has been in constant contact with me and their respective counterparts for almost three years now preparing for this Mission.  Early on we spoke about the 3 P’s that formed the basic steps to success – Plan, Prepare, Perform.  What this team naturally did to further that success was apply 2 more P’s – Patience & Perseverance.  For the last 3 years, this team has faithfully sought and developed new and innovative ways to improve on the Plan that was ready the year before and pursued original and more effective ways to Prepare for its execution.  Now that it’s May, we are all locked and loaded to Perform.  I have asked a lot of this Team and they have always answered the call.  When we kick off this mission, from Arlington on 29 MAY, you’ll see for yourself!

SandBox Registration

SandBox Registration is closed (for now).  Our current registration stands at 271 Bikes (4 spots left to fill), 9 Trucks and Autos (including Support Vehicles) and 325 People.  Over the past seven months since registration started on 11 SEP 2021, I have processed 144 people through StandBy List, all of whom were provided opportunity to register.  Surprisingly 34 did not follow through to do so.  For those who may still wish to join the SandBox Route, I will resume registration after arriving in Ontario and we have a better understanding of where we stand with actual checked-in participants.

StandBy List… All that being said – IT IS STILL NOT TOO LATE!  Unfortunately, there will inevitably be no-shows as folks have last minute conflicts that may prevent them from joining us.  I will still be filling open spots later this month drawing from e-mails sent to me at sb-registration@rftw.us.  To get on that list, send an e-mail there telling me two things – 1) Your full name, and 2) Whether you are registering as a motorcycle rider, motorcycle passenger, or if you will be in a 4-wheeler.  That’s all I need to get you on the StandBy Registration list – the rest will come when you actually register.

Unregistered Pop-in at the Stops… As a reminder, some folks have told me that since they didn’t register, they plan to just follow along and pop-in at the lunch or dinner stops.  Please don’t plan on doing that.  The registration limitation is not about how many bikes we can lead down the road.  That limitation is based on the capacity of our supporters to provide accommodations for meals, seating, staging, etc.  Even if you are not registered and not wearing a SandBox Wristband, you are no less a part of the RFTW Family – but your role this year will be to support from a distance.  If we ALL do it right this year, there will be many more opportunities to join the Route!

SandBox Route Pre-Run Meetings Schedule

Remainder of the schedule may be found in your Itinerary Book – READ IT!!!

Biographies

What’s your story?  If you’ve ever sat and talked with very many of our RFTW Family, then you’ve surely heard some interesting stories about how people were drawn to the Run and likely even more amazing stories about what they found here that made them keep coming back.  Magic of the Run?  You bet it’s a real thing!  Shirley “Top Sarge” Scott and Carol Olmstead are our California State Coordinators and they have put out a call for Biographical Stories from our Riders – who you are, where you are from, what’s your background and what’s your story of the Run?  Anything that you’d like to share.  Put it into a page form and e-mail to them and they’ll compile into a binder that will be available in the Ontario host hotel lobby to give a little better insight on the wonderful people and amazing stories that make our family special.  As we get back together after a 2 year break, there’s bound to be some good ones.  So…  What’s your story?    Send to:  carollolmstead@ymail.com or angelluvers@att.net

Counting Down the Days

We are now 28 days and a wake up away from KSU out of DC. Y’all stay safe, stay well, and… I hope you’re ready – MAY IS HERE!

Remember, all roads lead to all roads so wherever you go, TOGETHER WE RIDE!

WALL 2 WALL!

Bugs out!

Greetings from Weatherford, Texas!

Last night’s All Hands Virtual Briefing was awesome!  To be clear, I’m referring to the way YOU made it!  We had 83 folks online, spirits were high, and participation was positive and encouraging.  It was a great 90 minutes spent with the family and a beautiful preview of the reunion to come in just a few short weeks.  There were a lot of interesting discussions and some excellent questions – perfect engagement for our last Virtual Briefing leading up to the Run.  Sorry this is a long newsletter, but I’d like to highlight a few points from last night’s Briefing…

Rider’s Role on this Mission

I’ve written at length about the Mission and how each of us plays a part in accomplishing it along our Run.  On this Inaugural Run of our new Route, I am challenging each of you to be true Ambassadors for the Mission, an Advocate for our Veteran Community and to visualize yourself as a positive Patriotic envoy for all the things we hold dear as Freedom loving Americans.  Here’s why…  This Mission and our efforts are all about Relationships.  It’s those personal connections we make with other like-minded folks that tightly binds our family together.  Your task on the SandBox Route is to build on the critical introductions established by the SandBox Recon in 2019 and help turn them into lasting relationships.  This year, on this Run, YOU are laying the foundation planks on which future Runs will tread.  Let’s make sure that foundation is solid and built to last.

SandBox Registration – Several issues to unpack here…

Registration vs No-Show – We mentioned last night that I had sent out instructions to fill the last two spots.  It was also emphasized that if anyone already registered knows ahead of time that you will unfortunately not be able to participate, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you let me know so your spot may be filled by folks waiting on StandBy.  You may be surprised to know that each of the other routes has a significant number of No-Shows each year from folks who are fully registered and just don’t join the routes.  We cannot let that happen on SandBox.  PLEASE write me at sb-registration@rftw.us to let me know if you plan to release your spot on the Route.  There will be someone waiting and grateful to fill it.

StandBy List – All that being said – IT IS NOT TOO LATE!  Just since last night, I’ve had 3 spots open up and I sent out registration instruction to fill them already.  If you aren’t registered and still want a spot write me at sb-registration@rftw.us and tell me two things – 1) Your full name, and 2) whether you are registering as a motorcycle rider, motorcycle passenger, or if you will be in a 4-wheeler.  That’s all that’s I need to get you on the StandBy Registration list – the rest will come when you actually register.

Unregistered Pop-in at the Stops – Some folks have told me that since they didn’t register, they plan to just follow along and pop-in at the lunch or dinner stops.  Please don’t plan on doing that.  The registration limitation is not about how many bikes we can lead down the road.  That limitation is based on the capacity of our supporters to provide accommodations for meals, seating, staging, etc.  Even if you are not registered and not wearing a SandBox Wristband, you are no less a part of the RFTW Family – but your role this year will be to support from a distance.  If we ALL do it right this year, there will be many more opportunities to join the Route!

Itinerary Book

The Itinerary Book is 99.9% complete and in first pass review at our publisher.  The draft print will come back to me for final review in a few days.  When I send it back as complete, it will be published as a pdf under a link on the SandBox Route tab on rftw.us.  In fact, the placeholder link text is already there.  We are about a week away from publishing.

COVID Mitigation Measure and Procedures

As we will be visiting Veterans’ Homes and other organizations along the way across multiple states, you might imagine that there are a variety of COVID related considerations for which we must plan.  The basics of all these procedures is the standard for social distancing, hand washing, hand sanitizer, temperature taking, building capacities, and possibly masking in some areas.  I have had no requirements for vaccines communicated to me.  I understand that some folks may have strong feelings about certain restrictions – I understand and may even share them.  However, some aspects of our Mission are solely focused on the Veterans and Family members we may visit.  My expectation is that we will all set aside our personal predispositions and comply with the guidelines necessary to show support along the way.  If those requirements at a planned stop are more restrictive than you like (temperature taking and masking are the strongest so far), you will be welcome to bypass and join us at the next stop.

Daily Itinerary

Not the book – the schedule itself.  I’m going to be honest with you… We have a couple of long days planned and I know that I will be asking a lot from each of you to support this Mission.  I assure you that each of these activities is thoroughly planned, coordinated and ready for your participation.  To ensure the successful completion of the activities planned along this route, you will each play a key role in accomplishing them.  The first part of that role is to READ your itinerary book and know the timeline expected for each event.  Your Platoon Leaders will be on time (won’t you!?!) and they will be your best source for guidance – just follow their example.  Bottom line is – read the book!  Use it up, wear it out.  It will still be a keepsake if you like, but a dog-eared copy will say that you were there and involved along the way.  I’ll be sure to save a nice clean copy for the museum so you won’t have to.

Biographies

What’s your story?  If you’ve ever sat and talked with very many of our RFTW Family, then you’ve surely heard some interesting stories about how people were drawn to the Run and likely even more amazing stories about what they found here that made them keep coming back.  Magic of the Run?  You bet it’s a real thing!  Shirley “Top Sarge” Scott and Carol Olmstead are our California State Coordinators and they have put out a call for Biographical Stories from our Riders – who you are, where you are from, what’s your background and what’s your story of the Run?  Anything that you’d like to share.  Put it into a page form and e-mail to them and they’ll compile into a binder that will be available in the Ontario host hotel lobby to give a little better insight on the wonderful people and amazing stories that make our family special.  As we get back together after a 2 year break, there’s bound to be some good ones.  So…  What’s your story?    Send to:  carollolmstead@ymail.com or angelluvers@att.net

Are you ready?

I’m going to close with this call for deliberate readiness once again.  There are so many things to prepare for a 6,000(+) mile motorcycle Run but the most important thing is YOU!   Mechanical, Physical and Mental Conditions all point back to a safe and healthy body getting back home when it’s over, fully recharged and ready to CONTINUE THE MISSION from there until we get together again.  See my NOV 2021 RC Newsletter for a little more detail.

If you are Counting Down the Days like I am, we are 52 days and a wake up to KSU out of DC. Y’all stay safe, stay well, and get ready – May is almost here!

Remember, all roads lead to all roads so wherever you go, TOGETHER WE RIDE!

WALL 2 WALL!

Bugs out!

Greetings from Weatherford, Texas!

Spring is here along with riding weather in north Texas!  Just last weekend I rode up to visit Mark “Mazz” Masman (our SandBox Road Guard Scout) and a handful of other RFTW Family for a Midway Route Fund Raiser in further north Texas.  It was a great day to visit with family and put about 225 miles on the new bike – I finally passed the 500 mile break-in mark!  Knowing that RFTW XXXII is quickly approaching made the visit just a small taste of what’s to come – we could all feel it! 

Route Update – Rider Reunion

The SandBox Route is ready and it’s going to be an epic Run!  Your leadership teams are putting the final touches on the Preparations and your State Coordinators are working at full speed to coordinate all aspects of our imminent arrival.  Throughout the past 3 years, your leadership team and I have enjoyed hosting the quarterly All Hands Virtual Briefings to keep you all informed on the progress of our Planning and Preparation.  But the more important part was to give you, the Rider and Loyal Supporter the opportunity to be more involved in the process along the way.  Since my selection as Chad “Slacker” O’Dell’s ARC in June 2017, I have been deeply immersed in supporting the Mission and preparation for the Run.  Through these almost 5 years now, the connections made with my Veteran and Patriotic family have become very strong – even stronger over these past couple years of delay.  The bottom line is that the strength of our Run is dependent on the strength of the relationships that bind us and our Run is STRONG!.  In a couple months, we’ll all experience the annual refresh and reunion that we’ve all been waiting for.  Yeah, it’s going to be an epic Run!

All Hands Virtual Briefing

As for the briefing, next Tuesday (one week from tonight) we’ll have the last All Hands Virtual Briefing before we get together in May.  Following the very successful FNG Town Hall meeting hosted last week by the Southern Route Leadership, this will be your final opportunity for a live update on plans and preparations as well as a preview of some of the activities, ceremonies, and locations that will be a part of the SandBox Route.  Following are the details you’ll need to sign in…

05 APR 2022 at 7:00pm Central

Join the Zoom Meeting at:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86059662994?pwd=cmQrbDUxQnNIQjZMSDhnQ2JFL1FOZz09

Meeting ID: 860 5966 2994

Passcode: RFTW2022

Leadership Team Highlight

On the last few Southern Route Runs, many of you may remember a Chaplain and Jr. Chaplain on the Route.  That Chaplain and his son Tyler (13 at the time) rode as a part of the M25 Chaplain Corps and instantly became an integral part of the RFTW Family.  Chaplain Brandon “Five-O” McCray is also a 22-year veteran Police Officer and avid Biker who until joining RFTW, had never stayed in a hotel while on a motorcycle trip, preferring to camp off the motorcycle or simply sleeping on a picnic table or on the ground by the bike.  Brandon is also an outstanding advocate of Veterans and Veterans’ causes. Just over a month ago, he testified before the Ohio House, advocating for the dedication of the Specialist Ronald Gene Johnson Memorial Overpass – you can watch video of that testimony here (starts at 17:15).  Five-O has for several years been a faithful and dedicated member of the SandBox Leadership team as your Senior Chaplain – he and our entire Chaplain Corp, Chase Team, and Hydration Team through M25 and Honor Bound are thoughtful, caring folks without whose support much of our Run would not be possible.  Be sure and tell him Howdy when you see him.  Thanks Five-O!

Standby Registration Update

The March Standby Group registration will close on Thursday night 31 MAR 2022.  If you are in that group with a link and password and have not registered, your password will expire late Thursday night.  On 01 APR, the next StandBy Registration Group will be sent registration instructions with a link and new password.  If you are not registered for the SandBox Route and have not signed up for the StandBy Registration List, it is NOT too late.  Please write to me at sb-registration@rftw.us to sign up.  In that message, please tell me two things – 1) Your full name, and 2) whether you are registering as a motorcycle rider, motorcycle passenger, or if you will be in a 4-wheeler.  That’s all that’s I need to get you listed – the rest will come when you actually register. 

I closely monitor current registration and will make every effort to include everyone who wants to join the Route.  Following that thought… If you are registered and know that you unfortunately won’t be able to participate, please let me know as soon as possible.  I will ensure that your spot is filled by another rider who is anxious to join the Route.

Are You Ready?

I know that we are all emotionally ready for the great reunion in a few months, but there are many other aspects of preparation to complete.  I’ve written several times about Mechanical, Physical and Mental Condition and refer you back to the NOV 2021 RC Newsletter if you’d care to read them again.  For a safe and meaningful journey on this or any Run, your preparation before KSU is vitally important and the best way to ensure success!

Y’all stay safe, stay well, and get ready – May is closer than you think!

Remember, all roads lead to all roads so wherever you go, TOGETHER WE RIDE!

WALL 2 WALL!

Bugs out!

Happy Armadillo Day from Weatherford, Texas!

Another arctic blast is heading down to greet us here in north Texas – we’re expecting temps in the lower teens before Friday, or as Den Mother would call it, “Just another weekday.”  This weather makes me even more thankful that Gunny’s original plan was for a late Spring run instead of Winter because the Run don’t stop for weather!  By the way, Bee Cave Bob  predicts an early Spring here in Texas.

Route Update

Your SandBox Route Leadership team has been hard at it with making and confirming Preparations for our Inaugural Run next May.  Having traversed the Route myself last May, I am very happy to report that you are all in for some of the most enjoyable countryside riding you could imagine.  Our first lunch stop will be at the VFW, Pleasantville Post 9219 in Schellsburg, Pennsylvania.  The roads we’ll take leading to the Post are the exact type I’d look for on a back country ride in May.  When I visited there on my Run last May, the folks were awesome and they are looking forward to seeing us come back.  From there, we’ll have more countryside riding on our leg into the Flight 93 Memorial where we’ll lay a wreath to honor the Patriots whose lives were taken on that fateful day over 20 years ago.  We’ll linger there for a while to allow everyone to take in the full depth of the legacy left us by the Patriots on that flight who chose not to allow terrorists to win the day.  From there we’ll proceed across the mighty Pennsylvania Turnpike as one of the only large groups in the nation afforded the guided and protected passage that we will enjoy.  The day will end with a dinner and a visit with Earl Gilman at North Star Polaris in St Clairsville, Ohio.  After dinner, you’ll have an opportunity for an afterhours tour of the Tri-State Veterans Memorial Museum.  And that’s just the first day!

Sounds like a great day on the road, right?  But how does this support the Mission?  I firmly believe in the Mission and strongly support the efforts of RFTW to fulfill it.  The first part of that Mission Statement is, “To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends…”.  That “ALL” refers not only to those who we support and visit along the way, it’s also YOU!  You the Rider, you the Support Team Member, you the Team Leader!  On this first day of the Inaugural Run of the SandBox Route, we will be bringing together riders from all over the country, with various experiences on other routes and truly melding all into one diverse family of Veterans and Patriots on this 3-day emphasis of the Mission and its focused application toward our SandBox Era Warriors.  On this first day, we embrace new family, honor the sacrifice of those who went before us, and build upon the bold synergy of purpose that will carry us toward the 2^nd, 3^rd , and 4^th tenets of our mission statement over the next two days. 

Yes, it will be a great day on the road, but we all know it’s much more than that.  As we push out from DC on Sunday morning, 29 MAY 2022, here’s my challenge to you – enjoy the ride, savor the day, love the family, and CONTINUE THE MISSION!

Standby Registration Update

The first group of StandBy registration closed on Monday morning and the second group has now been sent registration instruction with a link and new password.  If you are not registered for the SandBox Route and have not signed up for the StandBy Registration List, it is NOT too late.  Please write to me at sb-registration@rftw.us to sign up.  In that message, please tell me two things – 1) Your full name, and 2) whether you are registering as a motorcycle rider, motorcycle passenger, or if you will be in a 4-wheeler.  That’s all I need to get you listed – the rest will come when you actually register. 

I closely monitor current registration and will make every effort to include everyone who wants to join the Route.  Following that thought… If you are registered and know that you unfortunately won’t be able to participate, please let me know as soon as possible.  I will ensure that your spot is filled by another rider who is anxious to join the Route.

All Hands Virtual Briefing

Your leadership team has tentatively set Tuesday, April 5^th at 7pm Central as the time for our final All Hands Virtual Briefing before the Run.  More info and a Zoom link will follow as we get closer.

Y’all stay safe, stay well and get ready – May is just around the corner…

Remember, all roads lead to all roads so wherever you go, TOGETHER WE RIDE!

WALL 2 WALL!

Bugs out!

Howdy again from Weatherford, Texas!

I hope that everyone had a safe and enjoyable Christmas. New Year’s Eve is just a few days away and that means we are more than half way to May! As promised, below is detailed info about next week’s All Hands Virtual Briefing…

One week from tonight at 7pm Central Time, we’ll hold the next SandBox Route Virtual Quarterly Briefing on Zoom. Your Leadership Team’s theme for this year has been Plan – Prepare – Perform. The beginning is always an idea – in this case, an idea to build on the successes of our beloved Mission by expanding Run For The Wall specifically toward the next generation of veterans and their families. The Plan embodies the idea, our Preparation brings it to physical form and then we Perform the action of bringing it to life. I am very happy to report that the Plan has come together nicely and we are beginning our transition to Preparation.

Now for the Zoom Meeting Details…

The next all-hands SandBox Route Virtual Quarterly Briefing will be on Tuesday, 04JAN2022 at 7:00pm Central Time.  This will be a your next chance to learn about the latest developments, hear from several of your route leadership on their ongoing efforts, and have your questions/concerns answered live and virtually in person.  Following is the link info…

Join the Zoom Meeting at this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89822873516?pwd=VUlPTEYxOFV0elJuYndmL1lGbUlKZz09

Meeting ID: 898 2287 3516

Passcode: sandrftw

Standby Registration Update

I have received quite a few requests for SandBox StandBy in the last week – thank you! Please be patient as I work to ensure everyone is properly listed and is sent out the registration instructions. I intend to contact everyone on the list by tomorrow so that you can complete your registration before the Hotel List is published this weekend.

If you are not on the StandBy List and want to be, please write me at sb-registration@rftw.us to let me know.  In that message, please tell me two things – 1) Your full name, and 2) whether you are registering as a motorcycle rider, motorcycle passenger, or if you will be in a 4-wheeler.  That’s all that’s needed to get you listed – all the rest will come when you actually register. 

That’s All For Now. I’m looking forward to seeing all y’all on the call one week from tonight!

Y’all stay safe, stay well and get ready – May is just around the corner…

Remember, all roads lead to all roads so wherever you go, TOGETHER WE RIDE!

WALL 2 WALL!

Bugs out!

Merry Christmas from Weatherford, Texas!

On behalf of the SandBox Route Coordination and Planning Teams, I’d like to wish all our Run For The Wall Family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy & Fulfilling New Year!

As a Patriotic and Veteran oriented group, we are all well aware that many of our countries finest folks aren’t able to be home for Christmas to celebrate with their families. Please join me in an extra minute of prayer and thanksgiving for them and the families who miss them. Write a message, make a phone call, arrange a visit… anything we can do to let those families and the service men and women that they miss understand that their courage and sacrifice is appreciated. I know you understand that it will make a difference.

I’m no huge follower of Maya Angelou’s writings, but I came across a quote attributed to her that is quite fitting for the season…

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  

Maya Angelou

Virtual Quarterly Briefing

On 16DEC, Bob Nelson, Southern Route Coordinator, hosted an FNG Town Hall that was widely attended and a huge success. If you weren’t able to attend or have lingering questions from that event, here’s a second chance to discuss them…

The next all-hands SandBox Route Virtual Quarterly Briefing will be on Tuesday, 04JAN2022 at 7:00pm Central Time.  There we’ll discuss the latest Route and planning developments, hear from several of your route leadership on their ongoing planning efforts, have an opportunity to discuss issues on your mind and have your questions answered live and virtually in person.  I’ll publish the link info this weekend so watch for a followup to this newsletter.

Standby Registration Update

There are still quite a few spots left on the SandBox Route. If you haven’t signed up yet, there’s still time. If you are on a leadership team and haven’t signed up or registered, you should move quickly. Instructions below…

If you are not on the StandBy List and want to be, please write me at sb-registration@rftw.us to let me know.  In that message, please tell me two things – 1) Your full name, and 2) whether you are registering as a motorcycle rider, motorcycle passenger, or if you will be in a 4-wheeler.  That’s all that’s needed to get you listed – all the rest will come when you actually register.  For those already on the StandBy list who are waiting for the actual registration instructions, you should see them in your e-mail this weekend.

TAFN…

That’s All For Now. Y’all stay safe, stay well and get ready – May is just around the corner…

Remember, all roads lead to all roads so wherever you go, TOGETHER WE RIDE!

WALL 2 WALL!

Bugs out!

Greetings from Weatherford, Texas!

Halfway to May

Passing through November means we are halfway to May and the months are flying by.  The cool temperatures in North Texas tell me that the season change is here and that it’s time to winterize the bike.  Of course, for my riding family you all know that just means I’m adjusting the vents on the lower fairing.  My RFTW Family is made up of the hardest charging, the most capable and the most experienced riders I’ve ever known.  If you’re not humbled to saddle up with this bunch, then you just don’t know them.  I’ve been riding almost 44 years and I can tell you that I certainly am!  

Let Freedom Ring!

At the last Board of Directors meeting, all four RC’s presented their Alternate Route plans to make preparations for contingency operations should we have to modify our routes due to local or state restrictions.  All these plans point to one essential and immovable goal that we all have for next May – there will be a Run!  One of our strongest obstacles to executing on the original plan was somewhat assuaged earlier this month by the people of Virginia.  While there is no guarantee that future conditions will support our passage, I am personally comforted to know that we are now several steps closer to reaching a Mission Start from Arlington on 29 MAY as originally planned. 

RFTW FNG Town Hall on Zoom

Bob “Captain America” Nelson, the Southern Route Coordinator is hosting an All-Routes Town Hall Zoom Meeting to provide an introduction to Run For The Wall and answer FNG questions.  It should be a great discussion.  Find more info in Bob’s RC Newsletter at here.

Leadership Team Highlight

With this newsletter, I’d like to highlight a rider who has been working with me, supporting our Mission and our Run since I was selected as Southern Route RC in June 2018.  He is a former (no such thing as former) Marine who rides out of Arizona.  Most days you would have to look on the road to find him as he is out on a charity ride, or a long road trip to support someone in need.  Last May he helped plan and lead a cross country patriotic monuments and memorials tour that was a phenomenal success.  On the SandBox Route Leadership Team, he is never more than a text away from helping us prepare and organize any administrative or operational aspect of our Route planning.  He provides an essential service to our monthly meetings in scheduling and announcing them to the group, often making sure I stay on track for dates and times and then records the discussions and proceedings to ensure we all stay accountable for commitments and expectations.  He does all this while seeking no reward or recognition, only seeking to serve the Mission to which his dedication is strong and unwavering.  So, I’d like to offer and encourage all to give a big RFTW Family THANK YOU to our SandBox Route Admin Support Lead and my BFAM, Mike “Bonehead” Kyzer!  Thank you, Mike!

Following is a reprinted excerpt from my still relevant 31JAN2020 RC Newsletter…

Are You Ready?

I sincerely doubt any of us would answer “No” to that question, but let’s break it down to the basic issues that we all need to consider before getting on the road in May…

• Mechanical Condition – Be sure your bike is in good condition for a 1000 (or more) mile ride.  Although our Route is planned at just over 800 miles, those of us who ride one of the legacy routes from Ontario may have put as much as 6000 miles on the bike before we even leave DC.  Tires, oil change, and scheduled servicing may be available somewhere along the way but doing it during our short 3 days of the Run will take away valuable time you would otherwise have available for the Mission.
• Physical Condition – The Run always includes long, hot, cold, dry, wet, misty, tiring, enjoyable days on the road.  Be sure that your mortal engine is ready for the long haul as well.  Some simple daily activity, exercise or walks will pay off well in keeping you awake, alert and safe on the road.  Our Hydration Support crew works very hard to ensure there will ALWAYS be water available for you to pick up between segments of the Route.  Some people start hydrating early so they get used to holding more water – your choice, but regardless of conditions, be prepared to drink a lot of water along the way! 
• Mental Condition – I’ve written a lot in the past about PMA – Positive Mental Attitude.  Keeping that in mind, we all bring our own ideas and expectations for what the Run will mean to us and what we would like to get out of it.  Be positive, talk positive and share positive with others.  For me, this positively incredible event is a family reunion with a purpose and a Mission Statement of Healing, Accounting, Honor and Support and I ALWAYS have high expectations!

Standby Registration Update

On 01 NOV, there were only 54 people signed up for the 89 opens spots on the SandBox Route.  That morning, I sent e-mails with Registration instructions (link and password) to each of those listed.  To date, less than 25 of those have registered.  If you want the spot for which you applied, please take advantage of this opportunity before your window closes on 01 DEC.  if you were on the StandBy Registration list and can’t find the e-mail from sb-registration@rftw.us in your inbox, trash or junk folder, please let me know – I want to get you registered!

If you are not on the StandBy List and want to be, please write me at sb-registration@rftw.us to let me know.  In that message, please tell me two things – 1) Your full name, and 2) whether you are registering as a motorcycle rider, motorcycle passenger, or if you will be in a 4-wheeler.  That’s all that’s needed to get you listed – all the rest will come when you actually register. 

As you can see, there are PLENTY spots still open – one of them should have YOUR name on it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Recently, I saw a social media post that said, “Unless you have spent significant time outside of the good old USA, don’t lecture me on how the world works.  Go to any country and you will see just how good you have it here.”  As one who has spent plenty time outside the USA, I can certainly understand that sentiment of frustration.  Here in our country, there is plenty of anger and foul rhetoric to go around, but in the end, we must act like Americans and keep our focus on the big picture.  Succumbing to the personal victimhood mindset often sacrifices liberty for political ideology and makes that big picture hard to see.  As our family of Veterans and Patriots knows very well, we all have much for which to be thankful and protecting the Freedom to enjoy it should never be far from our minds.  So, with a sincere spirit of gratitude for all the blessings we enjoy as free Americans, I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Remember, all roads lead to all roads so wherever you go, TOGETHER WE RIDE!

WALL 2 WALL!

Bugs out!

Greetings from Weatherford, Texas!

Safe at home now from the All Riders Reunion in Kerrville, Texas.  Big thanks to Sam and Cowboy and all who worked so hard to make that reunion the great success that we have grown to love and enjoy.  At the RC/BoD Town Hall meeting there, I discussed the status of the SandBox Route and emphasized again the importance of our previously registered riders to take advantage of this Pre-Registration Period that ENDS TOMORROW!

The full details of the process and expectations may be found in my last 2 RC Newsletters at the following Links:

RFTW SandBox RC Newsletter – 11 SEP 2021

RFTW SandBox RC Newsletter – SandBox Route 2022 Registration Update

Two Issues/Questions have been surfacing regularly…

1. Why do I have to register if I’m already registered?  No one including myself nor anyone else was already registered prior to 11SEP2021.  All previous registrations were cleared and registration funds were donated to Homes For Our Troops as noted on the Board President’s message dated 19MAR2021 (Link:  President’s Message March 2021)  Opportunity was provided there to request $30 refund in lieu of donation)
2. I didn’t get the e-mail with the registration link and password. Instructions for finding the info or having it re-sent are in the 1^st RC Newsletter noted above.

As a reminder, the pre-registration system will remain open through midnight (pacific time) tomorrow, 30SEP2021 – now it’s time to rush.  If you need more info or clarification, please write me at sb-registration@rftw.us by tonight – I will be offline most all day tomorrow – out on two wheels again!

Now for something completely different…

The next all-hands SandBox Route Virtual Quarterly Briefing will be on Tuesday, 05OCT2021 at 7:00pm Central Time.  There we’ll discuss the latest Route and planning developments, hear from several of your route leadership on their ongoing planning efforts, have an opportunity to discuss the new StandBy Registration Process and have your questions answered live and virtually in person.  Following is the link info…

Join the Zoom Meeting at this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88327959907?pwd=MXc4ZGZKeHZVVURPUmlyZFM2djF6dz09

Meeting ID: 883 2795 9907

Passcode: Sandbox1

I look forward to seeing you all there!

Remember, all roads lead to all roads so no matter where you go, TOGETHER WE RIDE!

WALL 2 WALL!

Bugs out!

Greetings from Kerrville!

Great day to reunite with the Family at the Texas Riders Reunion here in Kerrville, Texas.  It looks like we’re in for beautiful weather that will be perfect for riding, visiting and of course – eating.  This promises to be a great weekend for the family as we all look ahead to better times.

Registration Update…

As of today, there are 194 people registered for the SandBox Route.  I don’t have a count toward our 275 bike limit but based on our previous ratio, I’d expect this is about 164 bikes.  As you can see, that leaves a lot of potential room that will be filled on the StandBy Registration process starting on 01OCT2021.  This pre-registration system will remain open through midnight (pacific time) on 30SEP2021 so there is no rush at the moment – but keep in mind that is only 7 days away.  Don’t let it catch you off guard.  For more detail on this current registration process, please see my last RC Newsletter published on 11SEP2021 at this link.

StandBy Registration Process

• The SandBox StandBy Registration Process will go live at 12:00am (Eastern time) on 01OCT2022.  To be clear, that is midnight at the start of 01OCT, not at the end of it.
• This process will be used to fill all remaining spots on the SandBox Route after Pre-Registration closes on 30SEP as noted above. 
• If you were otherwise eligible, but did not register during that period, this is the process you will use to get back onto SandBox Route Registration.

Following is the process you’ll need to follow:

1. Compose an e-mail with the Subject Line: “SandBox 2022 Standby Registration Request”.  This subject line will identify your message as a StandBy Request.  I will be grouping these messages by subject to keep them in order as received. 
2. In the e-mail, please provide the following:
   • Your Name (road name is OK, but I’ll need your real name as well)
   • List if you are a Motorcycle Rider, Motorcycle Passenger or 4-Wheel traveler
   • If you are a motorcycle rider with passenger, you may be placed on the list together
3. AFTER 12:00am (Eastern Time) on 01OCT, send the message to SB-Registration@rftw.us.  Messages received before that time will not be listed.
4. Additions to the SandBox Registration will be made in the order the messages (with the noted subject line) are received.
5. At the end of the month, you will be sent a link and password to access the system and complete your registration.  That password will be expire at the end of the next month  We’ll repeat this process (except for step 3) each month to fill the registration roster and keep it filled.

Coordinating these self-imposed registration limits has been a challenging but necessary task as discussed many times before.  I have tried to lay out the process as simply as possible, but I also know that there will be questions.  If you need more info or clarification, please write me at sb-registration@rftw.us.

Now for something completely different…

The next all-hands SandBox Route Virtual Quarterly Briefing will be on Tuesday, 05OCT2021 at 7:00pm Central Time.  There we’ll discuss the latest Route and planning developments, hear from several of your route leadership on their ongoing planning efforts, have an opportunity to discuss the new StandBy Registration Process and have your questions answered live and virtually in person.  Following is the link info…

Join the Zoom Meeting at this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88327959907?pwd=MXc4ZGZKeHZVVURPUmlyZFM2djF6dz09

Meeting ID: 883 2795 9907

Passcode: Sandbox1

I look forward to seeing you all there!

Remember, all roads lead to all roads so no matter where you go, TOGETHER WE RIDE!

WALL 2 WALL!

Bugs out!

Fellow SandBox Riders,

Today is a day that we all remember, that took the lives of thousands of Americans and changed the lives of so many who carried on.  This horrendous attack sent our military into a wartime stance upon which many of our military members may have served an entire career.  The abrupt and controversial end of in-country operations has left many of our recent SandBox Era warriors feeling lost and wandering in attempts to place value on their service. 

At ceremonies held today at the Flight 93 National Memorial, former President George W. Bush made comments that I want to ensure you get a chance to see…

Let me speak directly to veterans and people in uniform: The cause you pursued at the call of duty is the noblest America has to offer. You have shielded your fellow citizens from danger. You have defended the beliefs of your country and advanced the rights of the downtrodden. You have been the face of hope and mercy in dark places. You have been a force for good in the world. Nothing that has followed — nothing — can tarnish your honor or diminish your accomplishments. To you, and to the honored dead, our country is forever grateful.

Former President George W. Bush, speaking at Flight 93 National Memorial, 11 SEP 2021

On my SandBox Supporter Run this year, I was honored to have a visit to that Flight 93 Memorial.  President Bush made further comments that will forever change how I view that memorial, those 40 Americans who died there and what their sacrifice meant to our country…

Twenty years ago, terrorists chose a random group of Americans, on a routine flight, to be collateral damage in a spectacular act of terror. The 33 passengers and 7 crew of Flight 93 could have been any group of citizens selected by fate. In a sense, they stood in for us all.

The terrorists soon discovered that a random group of Americans is an exceptional group of people. Facing an impossible circumstance, they comforted their loved ones by phone, braced each other for action, and defeated the designs of evil.

These Americans were brave, strong, and united in ways that shocked the terrorists — but should not surprise any of us. This is the nation we know. And whenever we need hope and inspiration, we can look to the skies and remember.

Former President George W. Bush, speaking at Flight 93 National Memorial, 11 SEP 2021

The Mission of our SandBox Route is tied directly to this sentiment and will be brought to the forefront of our hearts and minds as we take to the road on our Wall 2 Wall mission next May.  On Day 1, we will visit the Flight 93 Memorial to honor those 40 great Americans, lift up their families and reaffirm to each other that the “exceptional group of people” lives on in each of us.  When we arrive there, I know that I will look to the skies and remember.

---

As SandBox Route Registration opened today, I must address a few issues that some folks have experienced and some other notes for everyone’s information…

First of all, on 10SEP2021 (yesterday) at about 5:50pm (Central) an e-mail was sent out to all previously Registered and StandBy Listed SandBox Route participants that were current on the day the 2021 Run was cancelled.  That message contained the internet link and password to register for the 2022 SandBox Route.  If you believe you fit into one of those categories and did not get that message, please do the following:

1. Check your Junk and Spam folders.  The message was sent to a large distribution list and may have been diverted by your system.
2. Check your current e-mail address.  Most people’s original registration was completed in late 2019.  If you changed your e-mail since then, my message went to your old address.
3. If neither of these work for you, contact me at sb-registration@rftw.us.  I will confirm your status and send you the message directly if warranted.  Please note, several folks believed they were registered when they in fact were not.

Next, some folks have told me that the system did not automatically direct them to fill out the on-line Liability Waiver.  Your registration is not complete until that Liability Waiver is complete.  The direct link to the Liability Waiver is on the e-mail message already sent to you.

For everyone’s info…  This Registration Link and Password message was sent out to over 300 people who met the criteria for this registration period.  If someone who does not meet the criteria uses that information to register, their registration will be cancelled when I scrub the final registration against the authorized list as described above. Beyond that I will sincerely appreciate the $10 donation.  I’m depending on your honesty and integrity to prevent that from happening.

Finally, this limited Registration Period will end promptly at Midnight Pacific Time on 30 SEP 2021.  The StandBy List process will kick off at 12:00am (Pacific Time) on 01 OCT 2021 for those authorized folks who failed to take advantage of this registration period and for anyone else who wishes to join me on the 2022 SandBox Route.  The 2022 Standby List process will be presented on a separate RC Newsletter before that day.

This has been a long message, but we have been on a long journey together.  This is our year, this is our Run and we will be brave, strong and united because we have such tremendous example to follow. 

Stay strong, stay well, stay positive and get ready.  The countdown has begun!

Remember, all roads lead to all roads so no matter where you go, TOGETHER WE RIDE!

WALL 2 WALL!

Bugs out!