Welcome To The Sandbox Family – Are You Ready
Fall is a great time of year. For some of us, the riding season is bringing on the challenge of staying dry (testing our rain gear) and warm (testing our heated gear). For others, (like those folks in Arizona) the riding season is just beginning. You can never do too much preparation for the run, and getting in as much riding as you can (especially long-distance riding) is one of the best ways to prepare. Regardless of where you live, if you are planning to ride ALL THE WAY on one of the 3 cross country routes and then WALL TO WALL on Sandbox, you will ride at least 6000 miles round trip Another great way to prepare is to take a Motorcycle Rider Course. There are many types of classes taught at various levels. If it’s been a while since you took a class, you might want to look into honing your skills before joining the RFTW in May.
Add Something Extra to your RFTW Experience – GET INVOLVED
The Sandbox Team is really coming together. The State Coordinators are hard at work coordinating with the great people that support and feed us at our stops, as well as the Gas Stations and Hotels that accommodate us. The teams are almost full, but we could still use some help on Staging, Fuel, and Ambassador teams. If you are interested in being a part of any of these great teams, go the RFTW site and fill out a volunteer application and / or find the Team Leader contact info on the Sandbox Contact tab and let them know you are interested.
The Forum
There are various costs associated with the RFTW. Besides the cost of making sure your bike is ready for the trip (good battery, fresh fluids, plenty of tire tread, everything tightened, working lights, etc.) there is the registration fee, prepaid gas fee, topping off each evening or morning, and a place to sleep. Hotel rooms are probably the largest expense on the run. One of the best ways to help keep your cost down is to have a roommate. The new Forum has a ton of topics from GMRS radios, to various meet ups, to items for sale. It is also an excellent place to post that you are looking for a roommate to share hotel costs. And, if you are planning on sharing a hotel room, the trick is to get rooms with two beds. The hotel list for all routes is released on January 1. Each hotel has a limited number of rooms with two beds in the RFTW blocks. If you plan on sharing hotel rooms, you might want to consider booking early on New Years Day.
Why We Ride
There are so many wonderful things about RFTW. The amazing people you meet who quickly accept you and become family you look forward to seeing year after year. The incredible ride across our great nation and the dedicated patriotic supporters that feed us and wave to us from overpasses every year. And of course, the Mission. I can find no way to put into words how powerfully our Mission affects me. I am humbled to be part of such a great cause and to honor and remember those that have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our country free. Above all else, while you are on the run, please keep our Mission in mind.
To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.
Say Their Name Tell Their Story Never Forget
Platoon Assignment
The registration information has been released to the routes. The Sandbox Platoon Coordinator, Sam “Polar Bear” Warner, is starting to place riders in platoons based on the info you provided on your registration form. Type of bike you are riding, preference of riding (side by side or staggered), riding with friends, etc. As he gets the platoon information out to the Platoon Leaders, they will be contacting the riders assigned to their platoon so everyone knows ahead of the run what platoon they will be in. If you are in a platoon that doesn’t work for you, or would rather be in a different platoon with friends, just let your Platoon Leader know so we can make adjustments.
RED SHIRT MONDAY?
I believe most everyone is aware of Red Shirt Friday. RED stands for “Remember Everyone Deployed” and by wearing RED on Fridays, we show our support for our active-duty Military deployed all over the world. Since the Sandbox Route doesn’t take part over a Friday, I would like to make Memorial Day a special Red Shirt Day. I am asking everyone riding on Sandbox to wear red on Memorial Day as we ride into St. Clairsville, Ohio to join in their Memorial Day Ceremony.
If you don’t already have a red shirt, you can go to the RFTW merchandise shop and purchase one (or two).
Is it May Yet?
Bill “COB” Brehler
Route Coordinator
RFTW Sandbox 2025
