Hello, I’m Tim, and I want to share the story of my motorcycle journey across America. Starting in Orlando, Florida, my nephew and I rode to Los Angeles, California, to participate in Run for the Wall (RFTW), an annual cross-country motorcycle run supporting veterans.
In 2019, we traveled from Florida to Sturgis, South Dakota, and then to Colorado. I immediately started planning to join RFTW the following spring, but the pandemic delayed our plans until 2022. After learning about RFTW five years ago, I was eager to experience the event firsthand.
Upon checking in, we were asked to volunteer with the staging crew, though we had no idea what the role entailed. We were unfamiliar with the duties and found ourselves in over our heads, especially when we inadvertently passed the road guard platoon—a rare occurrence for first-time participants like us. Despite the excellent skills and leadership of the staging crew, riding outside my comfort zone wasn’t the experience I anticipated.
Riding with hundreds of motorcycles at highway speeds, mostly side-by-side, was unique and required intense focus. The first day was nerve-wracking, especially after witnessing the aftermath of a fatal crash involving someone we had just ridden with. This sobering event prompted us to switch to Platoon 2 on the second day.
One of the highlights was participating in a Native American Gathering of Veterans ceremony at Red Rock Park in Gallup, New Mexico. It was a powerful and moving experience.
RFTW is the largest and longest organized cross-country motorcycle run globally, beginning in California and arriving in Washington, D.C., on Memorial Day weekend. Its mission includes promoting healing among veterans, calling for accountability for prisoners of war and those missing in action, honoring those killed in action, and supporting military personnel worldwide.
By the third day, I was riding as an average first-time participant, adjusting to the unique riding style required. Despite facing dust storms, high winds, rain, snow, sleet, and temperature swings, RFTW maintained a schedule with military precision.
Participating in the staging team gave me a new appreciation for the challenges of organizing hundreds of bikes. Refueling and staging involved transforming chaos into order in just 20 minutes, thanks to the community’s generosity and the staging crew’s efforts.
Although the trip didn’t unfold as I imagined, it exceeded my expectations in many ways. The experience was challenging but rewarding, and I look forward to sharing more about this incredible journey. Thanks for reading!!
