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Midway Route SitReps – It’s May

Hey Twotone here,

The month we’ve all been waiting for is here…finally. It seems like forever doesn’t it or does it. I guess for those that have been anticipating The Run it’s been a long time. For those that haven’t and are not quite ready for this to all come down (like me) it has been a short time.

I used to attend monthly luncheons I set up many years ago in California so all the area RFTW participants could get together, share lunch and a story or two and remake acquaintances. Our group called the Southwestern Regional Lunch Group consisted of Southern California, Nevada and Arizona areas. When last I counted we had about 150 members on the email contact list and we’d usually got about 30 or more RFTW participants to show up at one of our two locations in Southern California. We met each first Saturday of the month. Jim Frost heads up the group since I moved to Utah in early 2018. I miss meeting with all my RFTW friends. I guess I really mean RFTW family cause that’s how they feel to me. Each year we’d add a dozen or more FNGs to our email list and we all looked forward to riding in to our lunch site and spending a couple hours there. I see emails from other lunch groups around the nation and I hope this activity grows to cover as much of the US as possible. I think it’s too hard to wait an entire year to see folks you’ve met on The Run again. If there isn’t a lunch group in your area, make one. Nothing to it.

Here a picture from a group luncheon back in 2014. Some members move on. Others join in. Somehow it keeps getting bigger. It’s a wonderful way to keep the spirit of Run For The Wall alive.

I see several requests on the RFTW FB site for FNGs that want to know how to prepare. A good source is the RFWT.US website, Forum and FNG Stories. Maybe the best location for this information is in the FAQs area. There’s a packing list that much thought has gone into. It’s certainly not a conclusive list however. There’s a whole lot of info y’all need to know for making RFTW a comfortable and enjoyable ride. Excuse me, I meant to say a wonderful and enjoyable mission. It’s not a ride. It’s a mission.

I’ll just give one piece of advice. Said it before. Bring nothing new. If it ain’t tried and tested, you will not be happy with it. Tires, brakes, helmets, clothing, raingear, gloves, etc. I hope you’re comfortable with all of it. One thing to definitely leave behind is your attitude unless it’s a positive, uplifting and friendly one. No one knows what demons others battle. Yours are not worse than others. Part of the four part mission of Run For The Wall, the most important part if you ask me is healing for all veterans their families and their friends. To find healing, everyone needs to feel part of the RFTW happening. Help them feel that way. Hugs are usually always welcome but you might want to ask first.

I have a checklist I’ve been developing over the years. It keeps me organized. Somethings are off the list somethings I’ve added, but starting out with everything you need is certainly not necessary. Although we won’t be making regular stops to Walmart, you’ll have plenty of time to get what you need if you forget something. There are all kinds of opinions on how many pairs of underwear to bring. Not kidding. Bring more than you think you might need. Socks too. Shirts and pants bring less. If you end up wanting to do laundry in the host hotel in Amarillo or Shawnee, standby for lines into the wee morning hours. Just saying. We’ll be stopping at a few Harley dealerships. We don’t stop at any other motorcycle dealerships. Sorry. Maybe it’s because we need to stop at Harley dealerships more than others. Not sure. I’m a Harley guy and I like to stop there. Whatever the reason (fill in the blank______), the places we stop they feed anyone that has a Harley for free. All others pay exorbitant prices. Aww …well, that ain’t exactly true. Everyone regardless of transportation eats for free, even the cagers.

So y’all know there are three routes. Each route has a Hydration Trailer provided by M25 Ministries. Please use this every time it’s available. Every route has Emergency Medical Services staff as well as emergency towing vehicles and a Chaplains Corps. The RFTW Board of Directors has tried to anticipate everything possible for your part in the RFTW mission to be a memorable one for good reason.

Run For The Wall would be impossible without all the volunteers that are enlisted to help with everything from staging, fuel, leadership, BOD, state coordinators, ambassadors, etc., and all those at the venues where we stop. Please be kind, courteous and friendly to everyone all the time. No volunteer should have to take anyone’s bad attitude for something that didn’t work out perfect. Make the best of everything you can. Thank everyone continually.

Please follow your leadership instructions. Please follow Road Guard instructions. Please check your gear. Whatever falls off your bike becomes a hazard for all others behind you. I can’t begin to explain to FNGs what to expect. Keep an open mind. If you are going All The Way (ATW), make sure to get your “magic zip-tie” at the appropriate time. Ask anyone about this. By all means have fun, but keep your head and eyes glues on the riders ahead of you. What they do you will be doing very quickly. Best have great reflexes.

Welcome FNGs (Friendly New Guy or Gal). On your inaugural mission, you will be treated with love and respect. If you feel you are not. See your Platoon leader. He’ll fix it.

“We Ride For Those That Can’t”
Ride Like You’re Invisible

Tom “Twotone” Lystrup
RFTW Midway Route
Platoon 5 Leader
SitRep Writer
USN, LST-1183 USS Peoria ’72-’75
American Legion Post 90
American Legion Riders Chapter 100
Southern Utah Patriot Guard Riders
Southern Utah HOG Riders

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