TAA Riders

Kathy & Clark-NM
Michael-NM
Mark-CA
Frank & Lil-PA
Steve-CA

Sept 11 - Somerset PA Flight 93 Memorials

We headed toward the Flight 93 Memorial Chapel after 7:30 a.m. - Mike had told us that we needed to be there by 8 a.m. because they would be providing a breakfast.

Well, when we arrived they weren't even set up. We milled around for a while. I helped make the coffee and managed to break a carafe!

There was a very nice service in the chapel. Following the service many riders left to go to the crash site memorial (contrary to what we were told by Mike, there WAS a memorial again this year). Some riders left to go into town to get something to eat.

We stayed long enough to eat at the chapel area and then left to go the crash site. We had been told you had to park as far away as we did last year - not so if you have a trusty GPS - Larry routed us to motorcycle parking directly in front of the memorial. We had missed the official service, but there were still many people there. Larry spoke to two young men who worked at the coffee shop where Nicole Miller purchased her coffee, hence the photo of the men with the photo of Nicole on their shirts. The photo in the center with the lei is an angel memorial with Nicole's name on it.

While there were fewer people at the crash site, there was still a nice turn out and more continued to arrive. Of course, it rained. At least there were no protesters this year. There seemed to be more flags and participation by locals in the area around the crash site than last year.

There was supposed to be a ride in the afternoon, but with all the rain we just headed for the motel.

We are meeting whoever is left in Somerset for dinner.

We have had a VERY enjoyable ride across the United States. Nice group of people to ride with. It really is too bad Gary Covert's trike had issues and he could not ride all the way on it.

This may be the last year Gary organizes the ride, but perhaps there will be a way to make it happen in a slightly different format. The vision Gary started with should be carried on - but not at the expense of one individual.

There is Torches Across America Troy, Inc. They will be raising funds to build a memorial in Troy, Illinois.

The people in Cambridge, Ohio are dedicated to the cause - but any rides need to be on some other day than Friday - interferes with football!

Seems to me, since this is about the First Call Responders THEY could become part of the process in a more direct way.

Perhaps the ride can be a relay with banners containing the important information Gary has been carrying around for the last 6 years. Perhaps there can be a corporate sponsor to assist. Maybe a hotel or motel chain? Don't believe any connection to a particular motorcycle manufacturer is the way to go because some people are so narrow they would not participate if it wasn't the manufacturer of the bike they ride. Definitely should not be connected with CMA if the current spokesperson is involved.

So, to Clark and Kathy, Frank and Lil, Joel and Nancy, Barr, Steve, Mark, Dennis, Michael, Peter and Pam, Gary and Marge, Joe and Mike - A BIG THANK YOU for helping to make the ride a pleasure!

Sept 9 & 10 - VA to NJ to Somerset, PA

A quick note - rode from Vienna, VA to Secaucus, NJ on the 9th.

With the able leadership of Michael (NM) we toured DC - only stopped at the Air Force Memorial because everything else was blocked off due to the rally that day.

LONG HOT DAY to NJ - got stuck in construction traffic on the I-95 outside of Pittsburgh - 6 of us cheated and rode up the shoulder to an exit to cool off ourselves and the motorcycles.

On arriving in NJ we went to the Hoboken MC clubhouse - they hosted a pizza party and carted our butts to the PATH station. We took PATH into Manhattan. Walked down to Battery Park - back up to PATH and the train to NJ.

On the 10th we rode NON-turnpike roads (led by Frank & Lil) to Somerset, PA - with a stop in Hershey, PA. We arrived just in time to attend a dinner at the American Legion.

This a.m. we are off to the Flight 93 chapel and memorial.

Sept 8th - OH to Vienna, VA

We departed Cambridge on the edge of a heavy rain. Once again everyone headed out at different times and different routes.

A hot day for a ride. I think we all thought we would be done with HOT weather.

Tomorrow a.m. we ride over to the Pentagon and then we are free to make our way to the motel.

Sept 7th - IL to Cambridge, OH

We left Troy at 6 a.m. to ride over to Collinsville, Illinois for breakfast at the VFW....the ladies of the auxillary very kindly worked hard on an excellent breakfast.

Unfortunately we stayed 10 minutes and were on the road by 6:30 a.m. for a 500 mile ride to Cambridge, Ohio. We were trying to ride ahead of the storm....which I am happy to say was a success.

We arrived at the designated meeting place 2 hours early and visited with other riders as they came in. We had a fire department escort from the Zanesville Love station to Cambridge on I-70. We finished the ride with a gathering at the Walmart and a presentation by several people.

Clark picked up Kathy at the Columbus airport. Steve, Dennis and Mark got in early enough to check in at the motel, get cleaned up and take a nap!

Les Knauer and his wife made it to the ride. We also met Dave and Naomi who live east of Columbus, Ohio and had just heard about Torches Across America. What a nice surprise!

On to Virigina!

Sept 6th - MO to Troy, IL

Three hours of rain....then the ride was dry.

Stopped at Gene's Gallery so Frank could see all the goodies he NEEDS for his new Goldwing.

On to Troy - a much better ride into Troy led NOT by law enforcement, but by Butch of the VFW in Troy until we got to the Illinois border. From Illinois the state troopers took over and the ride was similar to last year......once again Troy stands out!

Gary was approached by many people letting him know that this needs NOT to be the last year of the ride.....perhaps someone else can pick up the torch!

Sept 5th - OK to Branson, MO

We rode the back roads from Tulsa, OK to Branson, MO - lots of drizzle, but not much real rain until we arrived at the motel.

Arrived early at the Fiddler Inn - ate a rather yucky Mexican meal with the guys at the restaurant across the street (learned later the good place is in the opposite direction). The weather deteriorated rapidly on our arrival - Peter & Pam arrived in the middle of an awful downpour.

Gary had arranged for us to attend the Bart Rockett show at a significant discount. Many of the TAA riders attended, but none of the first call responders he had invited.

After the show Bruce & Ed decided to cut short their TAA ride and head west for their other commitment.