Back to the REAL World...?

After being home for 5 days, my gear is unpacked and put away, I'm still nursing sore knees, the Steed has been unwrapped, minor repairs completed, and assimilation back to my normal life has begun. No more washing my clothes in a sink, brushing my teeth at a creek, waking up at 5AM to finish a vlog, checking over the Steed, lubing the chain, kicking the tires, eating my meals from a bag, packing the gear and feeling the fresh air on my face on a crisp morning.

Life changes fast. As of today, donations have stalled at $38,177. Although $38K is a hefty sum of money and I'm grateful for all the support, my goal is $50K. Our wounded heroes deserve it. Please send this to all of your friends and ask them to donate to www.crossingamericaondirt.com . 100% of the donation goes to Wounded Warrior Project. Next week I will post my final vlog of the trip.

Thank you for riding along with me on this trek across America and for all of the support. Helping our wounded heroes is an honor.

My Wanderlust is already kicking in, dreaming of the next adventure....Central America, South America, Africa....? In January I turn 50 years old...what is a suitable adventure for a half century birthday celebration?

Stay tuned...

Wounded Warrior Spotlight - Physical Health and Wellness

Physical Health and Wellness (PH&W) programs for veterans are designed to reduce stress, combat depression, and promote an overall healthy and active lifestyle by encouraging participation in fun, educational activities. When wounded warriors commit to making a positive change in their physical recovery, Wounded Warrior Project is ready to help. Goal-setting, coaching, skill-building, physical training, and other opportunities provide the resources warriors need to make long-term changes toward a healthy life.

The PH&W coaching model focuses on warriors with the greatest physical needs, offering multi-day events covering fitness, nutrition, mobility, recovery and goal setting and followed up with bi-weekly calls. Regional physical activity sessions and fitness challenges are arranged for warriors to connect with and support each other in reaching their health and wellness goals. Online educational seminars are available on various topics including nutrition and building a workout plan. Wounded Warrior provides ongoing physical health and wellness opportunities to warriors, their family members and caregivers to help them learn and practice healthy behaviors and habits within the community.

Thank you for helping me help our wounded heroes by your generous donations to WWP or by your corporate sponsorship of Crossing America On Dirt.

It's been quite a ride!

Coast to Coast in 60 Seconds

Just the FACTS...

Start date: July 1, 2017
End date: July 28, 2017
Total Miles: 5,776
Total Days: 28
Days on bike: 24
Most consecutive days on the bike: 18
Rest days: 3 home/1 Bend, OR
Number of States: 13
Flat tires: 3- all rear; 2 Georgia, 1 Oklahoma
Tire changes: 2 rear; 1 front
Tubes: 6
Oil changes: 2
Fuel consumed: 116 gallons
Brake pads: 1 set front, 1 set rear
Zip ties used: 30
Crashes: 3
Most miles in a day: 370
Shortest day: day 6, 120 miles
Nights in tent: 9
TV interviews: 3
Radio station interviews: 6

The End! Day 28!!!

On the 28th day I reach the Pacific Ocean.  It is hard to believe that the CAOD ride is complete.  What an adventure!  The people I have met along the way will be with me forever.  This adventure had a purpose, and that is to help our Wounded Heroes.  It has been an honor to help those who have served our country.

Although the ride is over, helping our Wounded Heroes continues.  www.crossingamericaondirt.com remains active, please make a donation today.  The goal is $50,000 and we are sooooo close!

Thank you for riding along on this once in a life time adventure!

A special thank you goes out to Susan Richards, Sue Pyles and Amanda Reese.  You helped me make this adventure possible and I am forever in your debt.  You all ROCK!

Oregon Mountains..day 27. Dead end and low fuel.

The end of the ride is getting close!  After a wonderful rest day in Bend, OR, it is time to press on.  The OR high country offers spectacular mountain top views and challenging rides.  My bride met up with me in Canyonville after a road closure and I ran out of fuel....my auxiliary tank did not feed into the main tank.  I had to siphon fuel from the aux tank to the main tank.  After a good dinner at the Casino, my bride scored big at the slot machine!!!

Getting high (in elevation) in Oregon....Day 25.

Great day of riding, cool temps in the mountains, brutal heat in the valleys.   Made it to Bend where I met up with my Bride.  First stop in Bend is Giant Loop HQ.  Met Mr. and Mrs Giant Loop and the GL Team.  Giant Loop has been a great sponsor of the CAOD trip.  The GL Team consulted with me to determine the best gear and it worked perfect!  My gear was dry and safe through torrential rain, mud, 3 crashes and a lot of rough riding.  If your riding for the day, week, month or RTW, Giant Loop is the gear for you?  #giantloopmoto

24th Day...Day at the Spa for the Steed and 200 miles.

What a productive spa day for the Steed; new tubes, tires, new brake pads, fresh oil, clean air filter, chain and replacing a few missing nuts and bolts.  After the spa treatment, I rode 200 miles to John Day post rain shower.

Day 23, Camping, Sawtooth Mountains....and a long re-route.

Day 23 ended up being a long day due to a 121 mile re-route caused by a landslide.  Great camping and a lot of dust.

Wounded Warrior Project Spotlight - Thanks for your Generosity

Thanks to the generosity of the American public, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) provides free programs and services to address the needs of wounded warriors and fill gaps in government care. The demand for WWP programs and services has grown from serving a handful of injured veterans to now serving tens of thousands, and they continue to receive hundreds of new registrations from injured veterans, their families, and caregivers each month.

The purpose of Crossing America On Dirt is to raise awareness and donations to help support America's wounded military men and women through WWP. My motorcycle trek will be ending soon, but the plight and the needs of our wounded warriors will continue. Please find it in your heart to help them all you can - through your DONATIONS or by volunteering your time to those in need.

These Wounded Warrior Members found support and recovery programs through WWP.

You can read more about their stories by clicking HERE.

Hello Idaho...from the plains to the mountains in one day.

Departing from my home visit, back on the trail to conquer ID and OR.  It was a long day, riding nearly 370 miles to camp 20 miles outside of Sun Valley, ID.  Great day!

Please click the donate now button to help me help our wounded heroes!  Thank you for the support!

R&R = rest and repair. Day 19-21

After 18 consecutive days on the motorcycle and 20 days away from my family I finally made it home.  It was great to spend time with my loved ones.  I also gave the Steed some love as well.  It needed a thorough cleaning after Colorado and Utah BDR trails.

Please follow me on Facebook and Instagram as well as refer me to your friends.  Donations are going well, I am 74% of the goal ($37,077) as of today.  Thank you for the support.

Total Amount Raised

Thank you one and all for your generous donations. No amount is too large or too small. 

>>>PLEASE DONATE<<<

18 days and 4,200 miles behind me.

What a ride it has been....it is surreal that I have 1,400 miles in front of me.  Please take the time to click on the 'Donate Now' button to help me help our wounded heroes.  The ride has a purpose, it is to serve those who have served our great Nation.

Saturday morning the ride continues.

18.2 is all riding.

This is all riding, no narration.  Central UT mountains rising up from the desert floor.  Great riding and I end at my house.  It is great to see the family after 20 days!

Back in Utah day 18.1

Leaving Moab, riding the Utah Backroads Discovery Route (UTBDR) to my home in Salt Lake City.  Its been 20 days since the last time I saw my family.  Anxious to get home.  I will stay home to rehabilitate my knees and fix the motorcycle before departing Saturday morning to conquer ID and OR.  18.1 is riding the desert floor to Wellington, then start the ascend into the mountains.  18.2 will be the mountain portion.

Day 17.2 to Moab....

This is the 120 mile stretch, entering Utah and landing in Moab.  We crossed the LaSal mountains in the rain and mud.  

Riding Ophir Pass on Day 17.1

Day 17 was a treacherous descend from Ophir Pass.  The most dangerous of the entire ride.  There will be a 17.2 for the ride to Moab, UT.

Day 16.3...final descend into Ouray, CO. Last vlog for day 16.

Final descend into Ouray, CO.  It's dry but dangerous drop offs....

Day16.2; Engineer Pass.

Ascending Engineer Pass and peak descend in the rain!  GREAT views!