Ride For Honesty

I like Missouri, great people.

As with most of us, a quick smile, wave, or tip of the hat tends to bring out the best. Missourians took that one step further. Not charging me for water, apples, and, “hey, let me make you an Ozark BBQ Meat sandwich special, on me.” In a way, it reminds me of Hawaii. I’ll be leaving you tomorrow Missouri, mahalo for the hospitality…

And I ain’t even got to the CfL folks. I happened to be passing through Jeff City during their state level organizing meeting, and was a guest at the BBQ. Saw some old friends

met some new ones

Gave a speech (((eeek)))

and went to the afterparty… which made for some hardpedaling the next day.

Did I mention The Ozarks have been a bit humid…?  Thunder and lightening ahead, and to the sides, today… frunny how distracting massive bolts can be… It cleared up in afternoon, and became sweltering, seemed the perfect weather for thunderstorms. I watched this one, far to the east develop quickly from this,

into this…

All in all a decent day though, not much heavy rain, kind cool for the AM. And quite successful on spreading the message. First thing in the AM I pedaled back to the Buffalo Sheriff Office

where I talked to (as usual) the Chief Deputy… Definitely a decent guy, reinforced that he certainly did not agree with the DHS political profiling…

A line that has been developing is tied to the presentation of the constitution. I have already been mentioning solutions when I get to the little green book, at that point I say something like, “and the honest truth is that the solutions are in this little book right here, The US Constitution.  We just need to get people to follow it again. I know a lot of people say it is an old document, but that fact is that times and seasons change, but human nature, and the root of crime, doesn’t. The same crimes that have plagued humanity forever are still with us today. (at this point I get strong body language agreement), and this here document is the best yet devised to keep the really dangerous criminals at bay, wannabe tyrants”

Speaking of tyrants…I often hear people complaining of “sheeple” and want to touch a bit on that.

The great mass of humanity just wants to be left alone. These are the salt of the earth, and god bless em. Think of them as the weight of a pendulum being acted upon by opposing forces. Tyrants on the one hand, liberty activists on the other. It is an age old battle. I have no idea (and frankly don’t care) why the world was set up with light and dark, good and evil, etc. It is just a fact of life. As are the good people, who just want to be left alone.

As things get more turbulent, more and more of these salty types get shaken loose from the mass. Most of them will side with the liberty folk. Tyranny is only attractive to the truly warped and mentally ill. That is why it is so important to be out there planting seeds. As these types reach the edge of the mass and are about to shake loose, they need to know there is a net for them to latch onto, otherwise they will cling to that pendulum against all hope…

I hope that makes sense, much seems clear while engaged in the zen of bicycle wheel r3VOLutions, but not so easy to put in words, all knackered on a motel bed.

Other events of yesterday included a local reporter coming out to see what I was about, no article yet, but went very well. I stopped at the Greene County Sheriff. It was in one of them new “Justice Centers” and not as friendly as the small town sheriff offices. The retiree guard was nice enough. The two guys behind him seemed a bit of the smirkish types (yuck), the receptionist in the actaul office was sweet, and after finding out everyone was in a meeting took the books for me. One weirrd thing was a younger lady who hung inj the doorway, just out of sight as I gave my pitch. I knew she was there from shadows, etc… As I left, I was sure to lean a bit and catch her eye.

The final good news for the day was a supporter, Renea came from another county and picked up a pack for here sheriff, and gave a cool roadside interview I hope to get up with better i-net.

The only drama of the day was pulling into town where I had problems with my rear tire. Fixed it once as darkness fell, but something hadn’t seated right… The rains were approach and darkness growing, I finally had to ride on the flat for a bit to get to the motel and off the road. I think it is fixed now… will know for sure in a few…

pedal pedal

Journal, Photos, Uncategorized

First, a big shout out to all who are helping, notably today, the good folk of RonPaulForums The Crucible of The r3VOLution. Those of you who are long term members know why I say that, those of you who have visited in the past may have an inkling, but for those of you who didn’t see the magical summer of ‘07, the archives hold gold… Search any major grassroots project there and you will see a pure grassroots r3VOLution being born. Sign Bombs, Money Bombs, and Blimps. The full page USA Today Ad edited by thousands… LOL…

Anyway, my compatriots over there have been holding mini funding bombs for the ride, and that really means a lot to me. Raised a couple hundred yesterday… Pure Grassroots. We’ve been through a LOT together and seeing those funding threads gives me great drive to excel…

And yes, I would like to finish out the chip-in. Get that off my mind, (and get them Liberty Forest netizens doing something else like organizing their own book drives – haha). We are at almost 70% of the goal, whether by donating, or promoting for donations, please help… Any amount is respected, appreciated, and put to good use… Thanks

Now, about that early evening bridge… Cowlesy had asked for an update, here it is

Your wish is my command

Short day today, am lingering in the Jeff City area to attend the CfL MO-State BBQ tonight (part of the statewide organizing meeting they are having today) Here is my route and schedule for the next few days

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united…24490262233008

Eldon tonight (Sat)
Buffalo Sun Night
Springfield Monday afternoon
Aurora Monday Night
Neosho Tuesday Afternoon
Wyandette (OK) Tuesday night

Mike Mikkelsen from Kansas City came and visited last night, drove me around to a bike shop for tubes, and a goodwill for desert clothes… Very helpful…

Had bit of drama entering Jeff City. I’ve been wondering about the bridge for the whole time. I planned on staying in North Jefferson and crossing the bridge all fresh and chipper in the AM. (You have to go the wrong way down an interstate, kinda spooky passing those signs…)

There was a convenient motel on my google map, everything looked perfect. Only the motel wasn’t where the map said it was… I ended up on the back side of an airport having to make a decision to race the sun, cross the bridge, and get here on the southside of Jeff City, all at the end of a 60 mile day…

I’m telling you, these early evening sprints down interstates are a bit hairaising – haha

pedal pedal

and a big MAHALO for the help – y’all ROCK!!!

m

Gallery, Journal, Photos

To start this post I want to thank all of you who are helping and cheering us on. It’s a tough message to pedal, nasty at times, but I think you’ll all agree that things like this, Must. Be. Done. I can’t really say I’m “happy” to be pedaling towards Alcatraz, to visualize the grim history symbolized in this ride. But I am satisfied. I am satisfied that with the help of my fellow roots, we are doing… something.

I grieve for my country and I want to see her back in hands of the only safe stewards of true freedom, peace, and prosperity, you. All of you I’ve met in my travels. The vast majority of you are such good hearted folk, with the wisdom of common sense. We just need to reach out, and connect. Most everyone I talk sees what we all see. We are the teeming masses, we just need to talk to one another. We can’t all ride a bike a ridiculous distance, but we can all do much more than we usually think ourselves capable. Every second we wait is one more second a child will live under tyranny.

And so I ride, connecting us all on a fragile thread across this nation, sowing seeds along the way. Satisfied…
…and that’s so much more important than being happy…

mahalo and much aloha

m

“Let it not be said we did nothing” – Ron Paul

Journal

I’m 55 miles out of Jeff City… Hope the rain holds off… Here is a fresh vid… Please help spread it, I’d love to get money off my mind and almost 70% there… (with much thanks and appreciation to those of you who have already joined the ride…)

Journal, Video

I gotta tell you, the last two days beat the begeezus out of me, Sheesh… There have been some great parts mind you, but the wind yesterday, and the “bridge-out” today… plus the finicky front-tube needing three repairs. Or the dirtroads… Did I mention the wind yesterday? It was wicked…

Such is life on the road. Pedal pedal. I’m just thankful the ForLiberty guys came down to shoot a promo for the ride and took most of the weight out of my cart.

Joetta Duetch was a big help through Illinois and it was great to get to see her on her own turf. She brought a welcoming crew down to the Sheriff Office, together we all made quite the troupe waltzing in. I didn’t know at first that Chris was filming, and have been a bit apprehensive about broaching the subject with the sheriffs, but the long and the short of it is that there will soon be a youtube example of the pitch. I hope it turns out good

I met a supporter Chad at the Springfield Capitol.

Great guy, cool car

The ride on Monday was into strong winds all day. I’ll have to write a proper post about ‘true’ and ‘apparent’ wind for y’all if I get the time

Tuesday started out great, was making good time. Had a local stop me before I went down a hill to a small bridge out in Jacksonville. I only wish I had discussed the rest of the day.

Part of the route was on some backroads I was a bit unsure of. They turned out to be unpaved and became increasingly ‘rural’ as I pedaled on, at one point I started hearing banjos and was wondering if I ever would see paved roads again… haha.

When I did get out onto Rt 100, it was great, The rain was light and the road clear and smooth. The dirt roads had slowed me down but I definitly had enough time to get to Pittsfield before dark. Or so I thought until I hit 106 where I found a major “bridgeout” sign… uh-oh. The closest suitable bridge was 20 miles north, and there were no motles anywhere in the area… uh oh… the closest motel on this side of the river was ~30 miles NNE (on this section I am traveling SSW – eek)

There was one other bridge though… Only that one entailed a 10mile uphill sprint along the interstate… Luckily I ran into a trucker who gave me the skinny on the bridge (wide shoulder) and I just went for it.

Total mileage for the day was 77miles… Last ten miles a looooonng uphill on a road few bikes tread;. It was safe, just a bit nervewracking, waiting for the Highway Patrol to pull up and ask me what the heck I think I was doing… Needless to say getting off the exit was a relief, then a quick 5 miles into town… and here I sit, getting ready to see what today will bring

Oh, I guess I forgot the three time I had to stop and repair my front tube… lulz…

pedal pedal

Journal

This is Joyce, who took care of me like a brother…

Here is Jennifer who was a pleasant surprise on a country road…

And lovely Janet, who accompanied me in to the sheriff

Thanks ladies

Video

Over the last few days I became intimate with Route 40, the old national highway, quite a bit of history. Folk that are used to people “passing through”

They ain’t met many like me, though – haha – I’m lightin’ brushfires everyday. A mentionable thing about this part of the heartland is that people are spontaneously giving me small amounts of cash. This says good things about the people, and the message… Old folk, young folk, democrats, republicans, long hairs, and short-hairs. People like a word I’ve been using.

Solutions!

And we do have the solutions; audit the fed, reform the IRS. Get involved, insist that candidates/officials understand the gravity of an oath of service… Organize against such bills as HR 875 – (The Monsanto Monopolization Act)

We have answers, we have the truth, and best of all, it’s just common sense. People are sick of the spin and the jig is up. All we need to do is reach out to them with… Solutions.

People love that word…

The ride has been good. Rainy some days, but not the day I met a few of the Heartland folk I met with on the way through Indiana. Had some good luck with the sheriff outreach… Joyce took some great pics. Here she is Joyce with the Privacy Advocate

Here is Jerry and Jan Titus, my primary hosts in Indianapolis

Thanks Guys

I was joined by a hottie and got a SEG

The next day I pedaled out of Indianapolis. The city streets are tough and I was glad to get out in the country…

Had a flat miles from much at all

But made it a good ways into

BTW – Here is what a reload looks like

and here is what a drop looks like

I’m leaving out heaps, got some vids should be coming up before long. Tim Dyer, in west IN was great…

pedal pedal

Journal, Photos