Day 19& 20 four corners 2011

Well I made it home safe and sound. Today Dylan and I rode down to the fourth corner together for a total miles rode the last two days of 752. Sorry I did not write last night but I was just a bit tired and was glad to be in my own home for a change. As I reflect back on the last 20 days what I really think about is getting home to the family that has supported me through this ride. I would like to take a min and thank everyone that has supported these efforts to make a wish come true for some very deserving kids. This years ride was the longest of all three with having completed 10,880 miles over a 20 or was it 21? day period,I lost count. No matter, we granted wishes again this year and that is all that counts. I am very blessed to be able to ride my bike across this country and be able to help some kids at the same time. When Dylan was granted his own wish to be a police officer,Dylan was uplifted into good health and that wish was a major part of it all. I dont think there is a family out there that has experienced the power of a wish that would say any different. The hope,strength and pure joy that is brought into a childs life because of a wish granted is priceless. These wishes not only help the child but there whole family,because they too get to see how a difficult time in life can be changed with one wish.

I am going to go through all the pictures and make a album of them all in the next few days to share with you all. I hope you have enjoyed this years adventure across America or should I say around?

I would again like to thank everyone that has supported this years event. I have not even began to think about next years ride but I will tell you this,It will not be AS LONG. It would be really nice to get some other riders involved so if anyone has any ideas please let me know.

Everyone have a great night and I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Keep The Chrome Side Up.

Dave

Day 18 Four Corners 2011

Tonight I am tired and will be home tomorrow. I rode 610 miles today and plann on riding to the fourth corner on Wed afternoon but I will write more when I get home.

Deanna it was nice seeing you today,hope it is not another 20 years before we meet again.

Thanks to everyone that has supported ride for wishes,it is only because of your support that wishes are coming true for some very special kids.

Thank You all.

Keep The Chrome Side Up.

Dave

Day 17 four corners,2011

Hello

I made it to the third corner today and I am now just south of Tacoma,Washington. I rode 634 miles today in complete sunshine. I guess I am lucky because I got through Seattle without getting rained on. I am looking forward to getting home. Today I left Idaho but not before waking up my buddy Mike to thank him for the shower and bed for the night. I am starting to acke in places I have never before hurt but it is all worth it when I know that our efforts are helping kids with life threatening medical conditions be granted their one heartfelt wish. I learned today that the kids and Kathy had a car wash yesterday and earned $122.00 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation,Way to go guys that is simply awsome. Knowing I have a family backing me, all my friends and co-workers supporting this event has made doing this much easier. I am deeply thankful for all this support and would like to thank each and every one of you,because of YOU four kids recieved there one heartfelt wish.

Everyone have a wonderful night.

Keep the chrome side up

Dave

Day 16 Four Corners 2011

I am in Idaho and only 430 miles to go to the third corner.Todays ride was 530 miles in another 80 plus degree day with lots of sunshine. I left Billings Montana and it was mid 50's but warmed up fast. I am at my buddy Mikes house for the night. I will write more tomorrow. I would like to thank everyone for all the support in helping to make a childs one heartfelt wish come true.

Good Night and God Bless

DAVE

I did alittle site seeing today to go along with the 538 miles I rode. Mount Rushmore has not changed since I was a kid other then I got there really early in the morning so I could beat the crowds and see some wild life. Those turkeys were just eating right along side the road. Crazy Horse has not been worked on since my last visit other then the welcome center is really nice.

I made it to Billings, Montana and it is really warm out tonight. I am all tucked into the hotel for the night and I am going to go see what the back of my eyelids have to say. I did meet a couple from Denmark who were nice enough to take my picture at crazy horse. They really wanted to know about my ride and why I am doing it. I informed them that the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children with life threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope,strength and joy. I gave them the foundations web site so they could get involved with it when they get back home. We parted ways but not before they learned how they could help grant a childs wish. This ride has been a challenge but not anything close to the challenges the kids face,so I will keep moving forward just like our kids do.

Thank you for all your support and everyone have a great night.

Keep the chrome side up.

Dave

Day 14 Four Corners 2011

Today was a great day. I started off tired but snapped out of it after I went to the Harley Dealer to get my bikes oil changed. I met the owner of the dealer in Souix Falls,SD and low and behold they support the Make-A-Wish Foundation by having a event they call Harley Nights the first weekend after July 4th of every year. To date they have raised over a million dollars to help grant wishes for the kids in South Dakoda,Awsome work they are doing to help some very derserving kids. I also got to visit with the staff of the local wish house in Souix Falls,they welcomed me and were a great staff who does alot of hard work making these wishes come true. Thanks for letting me visit with you guys and the departing goodies, I realy like the mini wish stars I you gave me for my tank,they realy look good. Today I rode 490 miles in a cilly morning that turned into an 80 degree T-shirt day. Tomorrow I am going to go for a short ride through the Black Hills and go see the mountain with the faces/LOL I mean Mount Rushmore. Heading west should be clear days for a while and I hope it holds until I get home but if not I just suit up and head on down the road because I will not let alittle rain stop me from my mission to help these kids have a wish granted. I should have some cool pictures tomorrow so stay tuned. I would like to thank everyone for there support.

Everyone have a great night and I will talk to you later.

Keep The Chrome Side Up

Dave

Four Corners Day 13,2011

Sorry I did not write last night but had a bad connection. I am sitting here in Austin,MN doing laundry at 5am before I start my day. Yesterday was a very nice day and I found a couple of cool spots to take breaks as you can see from the pictures. I rode 638 miles in some of the best weather I have had, Today should not be any different other then I am going to stop and get the oil changed on the bike at some point. I was reminded yesterday by a very young girl when I stoped yesterday to get a hair cut that we are very lucky to be able to live in such a wonderful country and that we should count our blessing everyday. This young girl was not listening to her mother, I told the girl if she does what her mother ask of her I would give her a prize,she did exactly as her mother said and I went and got her a Share The Power Of A Wish braclet. She had a hundred questions for me and I was more then willing to answer each and every one of them. I have been on the road for 13 days now and I am getting more energy as the days go by. I keep thinking of how when Dylan was sick and what he went through and how his wish to be a police officer was granted does nothing but bring smiles to my face when I think of the HOPE,Strength and JOY he recieved from his wish to push him over the top and get him better. The Make-A-Wish Foundation does remarkable work and as I am standing in that picture at top with my arm around my helmet,each of us should wrap out arms around the foundation and help grant another kid one heartfelt wish. Thank You for all the support,the wishes we have granted through this are awsome but there are more to be granted.

Everyone have a great day.

Keep the Chrome Side Up

Dave

I said goodbye to Canada today and hello Detroit City. Today was very cloudy with more rain but I did manage to get a few road pictures when the rain stoped. I rode 583 miles to get back into the old USA and I am glad to be home,I can read the signs again/LOL. I am going to be heading west via hwy 94 in the morning and where I end up I will let you know tomorrow night. Again I met an older gentleman who wanted to know what the star on the bike was all about. I told him about the Make-A-Wish and the work they do. I am sitting here and tonight my back is hurting alittle so I am going to make this short and sweet. I enjoyed my ride through Canada but did not like the rain. All in all it has been a good trip,I havehad alot of people ask me about my bike and I am not one to hold back when it comes to helping the kids be granted one heartfelt wish. Ride For Wishes was something Bobby and I wanted to do together and one day Dylan and I will ride together to make people aware of the work the foundation does. I have talked to Dylan everyday and everyday he tells me he is glad I am helping other kids have a wish. Dylan is also maping all my stops which should make a very cool way for him to get a lesson on the different states. I am starting to think about my last leg home where I willl go and pick up Dylan so he can ride to the last corner with me. I would like to thank everyone for there support and wish everyone the best.
Keep the chrome side up.
Dave

Day 10 Four Courners 2011

I must say that riding in the rain is not at all fun but when you have the right gear it is not bad. I left Madawaska, Maine in a light rain and then about 100 miles west the gates opened up and it started to pour for about 10 miles. The road was very straight so pulling over was not needed. Rode through that and got back into light rain for the rest of the day. I am in Cadwell, Onterio Canada which is about 430 miles west of Madawaska and just south of Montreal, Canada. The Four Corners Park in Madawaska , Maine is awsome, I just wish someone was around so I could have gotten a picture of me with the bike but o well such is life. I can think of alot worse things that are happening around us so I am very thankfull for be able to complete this ride to help a child be granted their one heartfelt wish. I have decided that I am going to hang all the wish stars at the last corner which will be in Calif. I think it will be alittle more fun having them all there. Dylan will ride to the last corner with me and if anyone wants to join me for a ride to the last corner please let me know. I am beat so I am going to say good night but not before I remind you that this ride is to help the Make-A-Wish Foundation grant wishes to kids with life threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.
Everyone have a wonderful night
Keep thechrome side up
Dave

Day 10 & 11

Hello Everyone,Sorry I did not write something yesterday but had no connection last night. Yesterday started off great. The morning was a brisk cool and traffic was very light. I made it into Maine late evening and started looking for a room,no luck everything was booked so I kept moving north. I then relized it was close to midnight and I was not going to find a room so I stoped at a reast area found a bench and made that home for the night. I managed to get a few hours sleep before I woke up to the sounds of a cop knocking on the wood table asking if I was alright. I was perfectly fine until you woke me up,I told him. He told me he was watching me and I was not moving so he wanted to make sure I was ok,Thats ok I told him it is time to get up anyway and get moving. I looked at the odometer on the bike and it told me I had rode 934 miles the day before,not bad considering I had to make miles through NY City,Philly and a couple of others. I made it to Madawaska Maine today in the late morning and a light rain, It is raining buckets right now but I am all tucked into a room for the night.Total miles for the last two days is 1240 miles which is alittle over 5000 miles for the trip so far. I looked at the back tire today and it is looking good still but I will need to stop and get the oil changed once I clear this weather west of here.

When I stoped for gas today a young guy came up to me and thanked me for what I was doing, He knows all about the Make-A-Wish Foundation seeing his son's wish was to go to Disney World. I handed him a card and told him he could read about my ride to help other kids have wishes granted. You know last night was kinda cool. I feel asleep under the stars and it was not raining so I had things to be thankful for. I am going to start heading west tomorrow and with some luck should be in Blaine Washington sometime late in the week.

Everyone have a great Labor day tomorrow and Thank You so much for all your support.

Keep the chrome side up.

Dave

Day 9 Four Corners Ride For Wishes 2011

After leaving Key Largo yesterday I made it to Key West and was able to get the huge crowd moved away for this photo. I did not hang any wish stars at this corner because of the crowds but when I get to Maine it will be more laied back there and not alot of people to deal with. I rode 650 miles yesterday. Afetr leaving Key West I stoped for the night in Jacksonville, Fl.

I got an early start this morning so I could take in some NC country side and visit our buddies at the lick. Even though they were all at a meet and greet I still got some cool pictures and left them all with wish stars and braclets. I am in Rocky Mount,NC which is 550 miles from where I started this morning, just off the 95 and west of Raleigh,NC. Today was very nice day,not bady hot and no rain,we will see what tomarrow brings. I am going to shoot to be somewhere in PA tomorrow depending on weather so we will see how goes. This ride has been alittle harder this year for some reason. I think leaving later this year brought warmer weather which is always hard to ride through. I should be in Maine/second corner by sunday and be at the Camden wish house sometime monday. I do kow now I am going to stay in the states and not enter into Canada.

I would like to thank everyone for their support. Knowing there are people like you guys in the world that are willing to help a child be granted a wish is priceless.

You all have a great night and look me up on face book at "Rideforwishes Rides" I have started an album in my profile there which will have all the pictures within the next hour or three

Keep the Chrome Side UP

Dave

Four Corners 2011 Ride For Wishes

I made it to Florida and I am done for the day in Key Largo. While in Florida I visited with staff at the Bonita Springs wish house. The staff were very friendly and gave me a warm welcome. I showed them Dylan's wish day video and got them to come out of the cool AC for a quick photo. The weather was very nice today because it was either cloudy or a light rain from Bonita Springs to where I am now in Key Largo. I rode 633 miles today with the last 100 or so in the rain,there went the clean bike again/LOL. I will get up early and get to Key West before the crowds and get bussiness taken care of,then I am going swimming in the gulf. While at the wish house today I got reminded about what this ride is all about. The kids that have life threatening medical conditions are very special and by all the pictures on the walls you could see all the hope,strength and joy in each of them,it was very uplifting and gave me more inspiration to ride further today. I am going to stop early tomorrow so I will have more time to spend and reflect on the past week. All the support I have recieved has been great and I thank each and every one of you, it is that support that makes these wishes come true.
God Bless You All.
Keep The Chrome Side Up.
Dave

Four Corners Ride For Wishes 2011

Today I found myself surrounded by some of the staff at the Georgia and Alabama Wish House. They are very busy and will grant over 300 wishes this year alone and should reach their 5,000th wish granted by year end. Thank you very much for allowing me to visit with the staff .Georgia & Alabama Chapter rocks!
I am in lenox,Georgia and it is Hot and humid here,so I cut it short today after riding only 408 miles. This trip so far has not been much for picture taking but that will change tomorrow when I get off the interstate for 100 or so miles and hit some back roads of georgia/Florida. As you can tell I have decided to go to Flordia corner first so I can get all this warm weather behind me and get up north. I have not decided if I will take Canadain roads west after reaching Maine but I will let you know. Coming through Atlanta today was a real thrill. Traffic in the big cities are no different here then at home, Very heavy but the other drivers seem to be alittle more laied back and easy going. I met a Georgia officer today,(no not while getting pulled over) at a gas stop and he was a young guy,he reminded me to be safe, before we parted our ways I gave him a card and told him to read about Ride For Wishes. I pointed out that like him, Dylan's wish was to be a police officer, we shook hands and parted ways.
I was reminded today that no matter how much we plann mother nature is in control so I am going with the flow and going to put my back side in the seat and head into Florida tomorrow. I am looking forward to swimming in both the gulf and Atlantic.
Everyone have a great night.
Keep the chrome side up.
Dave

I made it through Memphis,TN with the river below. I have a real bad connection tonight so I am going to keep this short and to the point. I put in 593 miles today and I am headed to Key West,FL as my first corner. I will find a wish house tomorrow to stop at,mybe Atlanta. anyway the weather was only in the low 90's today so was alittle better then the first days. The heat is nothing compared to the things our wish kids go through,so I will tough it out.
Thank You for your support
Have a great night
Dave

Texas and Oklahoma was nothing but alot of heat/105 to be exact. I am 200 miles west of Little Rock Arkansa and stoped for the night in Sallisaw,Oklahoma. I rode 441 miles today After leaving Amarillo Texas this morning around 7am. When I left it was about 88 but soon reached 100 plus in just an hour. I made alot of stops to get cooled off and pressed on. I met a real nice family at one of my stops,whereI gave all four kids wish braclets and a wish star to mom and dad. They had not herd of the Make-A-Wish Foundation so I informed them what the foundation does and for who,they thanked me for the information and told me they would look it up in their area when they get home. Even though the first 4 days of this ride have been very warm I am still very determined to help make wishes come true for some very special kids. I have a very special wish star to hang at each corner I touch. I am still up in the air if I am going to turn and go south to Fl or keep going east and go to maine first, The weather will let me know tomorrow. I could really use some cooler weather but on the other hand I am getting use to it now so I will decide later which way to go. I would like to thank you for your support and for helping a child have one heartfelt wish come true.
Everyone have a great night
Keep The Chrome Side UP
Dave

Four Corners Ride For Wishes 2011 Days 3

Today started off chilly and ended 498 miles later in Amerillo TX in another blazing heat day. I will be heading east to Oklahoma City then north east tomorrow to get into some cooler weather. I was stopping alot for water/shower breaks and found myself getting use to it. I think about what the wish kids go through fighting their life threatening medical conditions and it all does not seem so bad. I am starting to get on a roll,like when I rolled into The Big Texan and found myself up against a really nice steak dinner. well I am going to go relax and spend some time down at the pool and get ready for tomorrow.

Thank You for all the support.

Keep The Chrome Side Up

Dave

Four Corners Ride For Wishes 2011

Day 2 started off much how day 1 ended in a blazing heat. we did get over to visit the National wish house and the state chapter house pictured here. I managed 307 miles today with a late start and a visit with a friend in Show Low,AZ. I am about 50 miles west of Galliop,NM. Going to get an early start in the morning. Everyone have a great night and will write more tomorrow
Keep The Chrome Side
Dave

Four Corners Ride For Wishes Day 1

Today started in the dark of the morning, I had some kinks to work out but all is coming along good. I made it to Phoenix AZ today where I will go visit the national wish house tomorrow morning. Yesterday before I left I managed to break into the kids play time for a group picture. These kids mean the world to me and I look forward to seeing that line of kids waiting for their rides on the Harley when I get home. Milage today was 407 miles most of it in blazing heat.

Please remember that wishes do not come true without our help. Please use the donate button at the top of this page to make a wish come true for some really special kids.

Have a great night and I will start taking pictures tomorrow.

Dave

Ride For Wishes 2011

Dear Family and Friends
Today is July 25,2011 Just one month before I leave Aug 25th,2011 to go touch all four geographical corners of the lower 48 states in hope that I can bring awareness and raise a few dollars to help the Make-A-Wish Foundation grant wishes to children. These kids are going through many different types of treatments but they all have one thing in common,they have a life threatening medical condition. The foundation grants these wishes to kids who have life threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope,strength and joy. I have personally seen the power of a wish when Dylan was granted his wish to be a police officer. Dylans wish day not only brought a young boy hope and joy but gave him the needed strength to keep moving forward and one of the main reasons he is a healthy 12 year old boy today and his cancer in remission.
I will ride my motorcycle across this country in hope that more wishes can be granted to bring the same hope,strength and joy to other children. You see I ride because I want other kids and families to be able to experience and see how a difficult time in life can be changed with one wish. these wishes are made possible by people like YOU,they are not supported by grants or goverment programs. I encourage all who read this blog to find it in their hearts to make a donation so other kids can have a wish. 100% of all donations go directly to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Please visit https://secure.wish.org/ourfriends/007-000/rideforwishes.htm to make your online donation or send a check to 14232 Red Hill Ave,Tustin,Ca 92780. Include "Ride For Wishes" in the memo. Make check payable to Make-A-Wish Foundation. I would like to thank all of you for your support,prayers and encouragement. As the wise lady once asked me David are these rides not a challenge for you,I thought for a min,paused and answer her with this. Yes these rides are challenging but these rides are like a drop of water in the ocean compared to the challenges these kids face on a daily basis. I am just a small part of a huge picture,these kids need our help and that help starts with YOU.
Again thank you so much for any support you can give. I will keep you updated on a daily basis on my ride and as in past rides there will be some cool pictures and wish house visits.
Keep The Chrome Side Up
Dave