[mitchrand]

My first RFTW and would appreciate any advice on what to expect and how to prep. I’m booked for Midway run and looking forward to honoring my brothers in arms!

[Bearcat]

Check out “10 days in May’.  It’s on the top menu under “New Participants”.    It’s got a TON of GOOD info for FNGs

Welcome to the family!!!

Ride Safe, Ride Often!!
Viet Nam 70-71
US Army (Ret 1993)
CR Participant 2014 & 2015 & 2019
CR ATW 2016, CR ATW 2017, CR ATW 2018
AZ PGR
AZ ALR Post 108, Prescott Valley, AZ

[mitchrand]

Thanks Bearcat, I’ll check it out.

[suescruizin]

Mitch-

Please contact me about riding in the Missing Man Formation.  My email is [email protected].

And others that aren’t riding the Midway Route, please contact your Missing Man Coordinator for your route.  Their contact info can be found on the Route Hub, Route Contacts.  We love our FNG’s.

Welcome home.

Sue "Odds" Chapin
Midway Route Missing Man Coord. 2022, 2023
Sandbox Route Recon APL 2019
Midway Route APL 2018, 2019
Midway Route FNG 2017
Retired USN, E-9

[mitchrand]

Hi suescruzin, I did get your email and thought I responded, but not sure it went through!? You can contact me through through email or text. I would be honored to ride in the missing man formation.

[Wally Gator]

Welcome mitchrand to the mission it will change you forever,  you were asking for advice on what to do to get ready for the run. There is a list of everything you would need to take on the web site BUT if you took everything on the list there would be no room for you on your bike.  I have a popup tent trailer so I take 3 pair of pants, 6 pair of socks and underwear, 6 tee’s, two long-sleeved tee’s, and a ditty bag 2 towels if you are staying in hotel skip the ditty bag stuff.  Have you ever ridden in a really large group before, if not get some people together and ride 10 to 12 feet apart  and staggard and try and keep that distant while riding also practice emergency stopping, we do have to do it a couple of time during the run.  If you forget anything there is a Walmart somewhere. Drink lots of water before and during the run, they will have a hydration trailer at every stop. make sure everything on the motorcycle is taken care of before May 17th Tire, oil change, Lights also money my wife puts the money together (1) 10.00 (1) 5.00 (5) 1.00 with a paper clip for fuel stops they round it up or down to the nearest dollar amount!  What else to expect lots HUGES and HUGES from people you don’t even know all the way across the US  you will have more brother and sister than you can count.  I don’t know when you will get to Ontario Ca.  We are leaving Mid-Michigan May 1 2023 and will get to So Calif around the 5th or 6th of May staying with my son in Apple Valley Ca. till the morning of the 15th then to the Host hotel 15th and 16th of May you know what happens on then starting of the mission.

 

Retired city employee
USN 76 to 80 USS Raleigh LPD 1
USNR 80 to 91 USS Duncan FFG

ATW 14,16,17.18,19 Tail gunner 17,18 and 19

[Post]

Hello and Welcome MitchRand,

Quite a few years back there was a large string of information in the Discussion page titled “Tips for a FNG”.  Below I included the link as so many helped in passing along some great information.  Hope this helps.

https://rftw.us/forums/topic/tip-for-fng/

Steven "Post" Boyd
USMC Veteran 1994-2002
RFTW - Midway Route
- Top Platoon, FNG - 2017
- Road Guard 2018 - Present
PGR - Southern NV PGR
- Road Guard 2017 - present

[Gonzo]

Mitch:

A few people have already given some great suggestions, so I won’t add a ton.  I’ll just say that every year it seems like I pack less and less as I figure out what I need and don’t need.  For clothes, I take a couple pairs of jeans and enough T-shirts to last a week so I only have to do laundry once during the Run.  I see there was already mention of cash for the fuel stops – that is a big one.  I think it was already mentioned, but doesn’t hurt to pack layers in case (when) weather changes.  I have a riding jacket that has different layers that can be added/removed, but people do it different ways.

Most of all, welcome to Run for the Wall!

Director of Risk Management
Road Guard - Southern Route
--------------------------
CVMA Chapter 6-5

[mitchrand]

Thanks to all for the great advice on prepping for the run, most helpful!

[Jim McCrain]

Howdy Mitch!

 

I am “Hoofer” and I will be your Midway Route Photographer and SITREP author in 2023.  I urge you to read all of the previous years SITREPs for each route, to get an idea of what to expect.  Also, be sure to watch the recently released movie, entitled “All The Way.”  It was filmed by and about a couple of our Midway Riders.  You will find it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PZy3DPT5TE.

I look forward to meeting you in Ontario.  Give a shout if you have any specific questions.  Otherwise, ust get ready for an AMAZING experience!

 

Jim "Hoofer" McCrain
Photographer, Midway Route (2019, 2020, 2022, 2023)
SITREP Author, (2019, 2020, 2022, 2023)
Road Guard, Midway Route (2017, 2018)
Road Guard, Southern Route (2016)
Tail Gunner, Southern Route (2015)
FNG, Southern Route (2014)

[Author]

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