We are leavin' tomorrow to go on the America's 9 / 11 ride.. 4 of us are riding out to Somerset on our own. Then join the "group" for the rest of the ride. We're going to ride to all three crash sites, the Flight 93 site, the Pentagon, and Ground Zero in NYC. This is our first time for this ride, it sounds fun so we'll see. I'll let y'all know how it went and get some pictures up next week. Have a good weekend people


mavrick

 

Let us know more about the ride. Times/Places...............

 

Details are.. we ride to Somerset Pa tomorrow. We'll check in and register, get our ride info and all that, then tomorrow night, we'll ride out to visit the Flight 93 crash site. Friday morning, the group leaves for Arlington Va. After we get settled in at Arlington, we'll visit the Pentagon crash site, and have some time to ourselves. Saturday, the group will ride up to NYC where we'll visit Ground Zero. The group rides on both Friday and Saturday are police escorted. Exit and entry ramps are blocked, and the road is to be kept clear for the riders. I have a friend who went last year, and his take was it was a fairly well organized ride considering the number of riders. He also said local and state police officers, along with fireman volunteer to help at all the food and gas stops. The sponsor, the America's 9 / 11 Foundation, is expecting a 10 plus mile train of bikes.. so we'll see. I've been on groups rides, but never anything this big.. so it should be interesting to say the least. And, I'm very much looking forward, as humbling as it will be, to visit the 9 / 11 attack sites..

Again, I'll get pic's up and let you all know how it went sometime next week.

Cheers

mavrick

 

I've been to Flight 93 two times. Very surreal and quiet. I don't cry much, but I was choking back tears the first time I was there. Good Luck and have a safe trip.
NEVER FORGET!!!

 

oh wow. thats freaking awesome. I wish I could attend.

 

Two retired fire fighters and my self did the ride in 06. Met up with all the other riders in Hope NJ. The ride into NYC and to ground 0 was very moving....

Trucky911

 

Is there a website for the ride?

 

Sounds great, got goose bumps thinking about it. Let us know how it goes.

 

Have a great ride. I would love to do that run. My wife and I are both firefighters that were married on 9/11......1999. Needless to say, our second anniversary was kind of somber. I didn't even get any.

 

Hey people, it's Sunday the 23, and we just got home from the ride about 2 hours ago. Right off, sorry for the long post..

Anyway, ride was great. Great people, cool bikes and the America's 9/11 folks were outstanding. Very briefly, there were in the ball park of 700 riders, who formed a roughly 6 mile train of bikes. And although we had to deal with some bad weather, overall it was super time. Start to finish, I ended up putting 860 plus miles on the ultra. For such a huge event, there were no real issues at all. Obviously, staging, parking and such were tedious evolutions, especially going through the Holland tunnel into NYC and getting parked in the city. There were some bikes that overheated.. and I think 4 or 5 dropped bikes.. but, there were no on road accidents and no other serious issues.

Ok.. A few of the highlights for us.. One of the most memorable is my wife and I met, and talked to flight 93 mother, who out of respect will remain nameless.. we had a brief conversation and I have to tell you, I'm NOT an emotional person but.. we couldn't help but be emotional after spending a few moments with this woman. It truly was a once in a lifetime moment. With regard to the Flight 93 crash site itself.. all I can say for those who have yet to go.. do it. It is an experience you will never forget.

We also visited the Pentagon Memorial and that too was one of our highlights. While we where there, we got to talk with a young Airman who works at the Pentagon, who shared some of the details of that day with us. And the Memorial Park itself is very unique and, we thought, a very fitting tribute to the events that took place there.

Next is Ground Zero. This morning, before leaving NYC, the Port Authority Police provided us an escort, blocking streets and traffic, as over 200 riders rode from our hotel, though the streets of NY, down to Ground Zero, where we were all granted the privilege of having a Port Authority Officer, escort us into Ground Zero, 20 or so at a time. He openly shared his memories of that day, answered questions and shared some things about the first responders that didn't make the news. To actually stand there and realize your standing on the very spot the towers fell.. thinking about the people whose choice was to burn.. or jump.. thinking about all the people who died that day.. it's hard to explain how I felt.. but I can say this, it's not something I will forget..

Finally, I think one of the best things for me was.. the respect... for the lack of a better term displayed by everyday people. On the way from Somerset to Arlington, we rode through several small towns and it was pouring.. and yet, on every block and almost every porch, people were there.. standing in the rain, waving American flags.. cheering.. thanking the riders for not forgetting.. On the ride out to the Flight 93 site.. I don't think we passed a single house that didn't have a flag or sign displayed.. there were huge homemade signs.. thanking the riders, wishing us a safe ride and saying cant' wait to see you next year.. On the ride from DC up to NCY.. along route 95.. it seemed that on every overpass, there were ladder trucks displaying huge American Flags and fireman.. dressed in their gear.. waving and cheering and even saluting the riders..

And then there was one of the escorting motor officers.. he'd block or close his assigned street or ramp.. then stand at attention saluting every bike that passed.. To be honest.. it all sort of gave me chills.. but it sure made us feel like we were part of something very worthwhile..

Bottom line is despite the waits, the rain, and the staging and parking issues.. it was an incredible experience.. I don't know for sure what our big trip will be next year.. but whatever it is.. it's very likely we'll go on 2010's America's 9/11 ride again..

Give me some time to get pictures downloaded and sorted out and I'll get an album up this week sometime

Cheers

oh, I almost forgot.. there is a website, if you search for America's 9/11 Foundation you'll get there..

mavrick