Day 1 – June 17

We left Matt’s house and drove 100 miles to Astoria. The country is really amazing; it has so much beauty. It rivals the fiber and life of the north east. We arrived and got the two riders on the road for the ride back to Portland. I took pictures (one of my duties) and started to follow the route. My comfort level was not high because I was not sure how to support them, but it was not long before it became better because of their predictable style of riding. They make support an easy job. I would drive for 5 to 10 miles and then wait or drive back and check them. The new job and large amount of new sites kept me busy. A friend of Gary’s got us in touch with an Oregon resident named Bud. He started from Portland at the same time we started from Astoria. I talked to him by phone to make sure we did not miss him. We met him at the half way mark and he began to ride with Gary and Matt.

One of my tasks is to have food and drinks for the riders when they need them. The less they have to worry about this the more they ride and enjoy the trip. This is a ride to Boston for enjoyment. I hope to help the joy part. The menu I serve when they stop is quite simple. They eat turkey sandwiches with mustard, peanut butter with banana slices and bananas. They drink water, Gator Aid and V8 juice. At the end of the day beer is cold and ready. They eat on demand; any amount at any time. I frequent the gas stations and small shops to keep up the inventory. I use the fathers day gift of hand sanitizer before I fix the food. I think it kills germs and adds a little flavor to the food.

Oregon folks are different; more later.