Schedule - Reverse Pony Express

GPS Routes - planned - some deviation will be made - this are for rough guidance only

These are in Garmin MapSource format.

RPE-1            RPE-2            RPE-3

General Rules - Helpful information - Ten key facts

1. Start times - each day I plan to either be riding by dawn to get some miles in <or> to have an 8am event at a particular location for the media, post office, or other riders. Some days are near 1000 mile days because of the sidetracks etc so if I look tired it's likely because I am! If I miss you area because I have to have an early start time then I'm sorry there is nothing that I can do, it's a big country and we've got to reach Washington and New York on time.

2. Legality  & Responsibility - Each rider who decides to participate is not covered by any event insurance and as such must have their own properly licensed and insured motor vehicle as well as proper licensing. This may change as we've applied for AMA sanctioning - and if it does there will be a rider meeting before each parade leg or significant ride section. As such, by 'participating' in the ride you acknowledge your own responsibility for your actions and safety. I am merely 'co-coordinating' my own ride which you join simply as a fellow motorist (in the eyes of the law an insurers, unless we AMA sanction the event - at which point we will have some event coverage). Even if we do have the AMA sanctioning though, you are still responsible for your own actions just like if you were riding on your own.

3. Maps - On Monday I will upload to this page the GPS coordinates, waypoints, and routes that I plan to take. This will facilitate those of you who have GPS to also have the same data that I will be working from. As always routes that I take from point-to-point are subject to change. However if you start on a ride section with me we'll follow the plan and do a group ride just like any other group ride.

4. Arranging a ride section - This is a volunteer event! I have several key cities and places picked out but if you want me to ride with you (and vice-versa) then you need to take the initiative to let me know this. I have no way of reading your mind nor knowing what each of the local situations are. Please make recommendations for roads, contact the media and arrange for them to meet us, talk to your local post office to have us come and visit them to take pictures and say hi! - just think of anything friendly and fun to do as a group and we'll try to fit it in.

5. Contacting me now and during the ride - I ask that people e-mail me AND call me at 650-578-0100. I've got a dual sport training session in Las Vegas this weekend (see www.dhpmoto.com/jimmylewis) so I'll be pretty busy which is why if you want to get a hold of me I need you to do BOTH steps. During the ride if you just want an update you call 650-649-2808 BUT if you want to reach me you call 650-578-0100 (I don't answer though when I'm riding).

6. Weather - One of the biggest factors will be the weather. We will be riding rain or shine. I recommend that if you ride that you dress accordingly and be prepared. I have a lot of miles to cover and really can't get off schedule even in the slightest bit. If you're along on a group ride and you're not properly prepared for the elements and I am, there might come a time that we need to decide to part ways (of course making sure that each motorcyclist is okay and safe). If the weather gets really bad (i.e. blizzard!) the plan is to head south or in any direction that gives safety until we can get under way again. All I can say is cross your fingers for luck and bundle up!

7. Safety - Please maintain proper following distances and if the group gets large break it up into several smaller groups. If you're helping organize a particular section and know how many riders we will have, please contact your local police department and ask if you can get some escorts or parade assistance. If this costs money, please let me know ASAP and we'll try to do something about it (like pay it and ride en masse). For riders near Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Trenton, and New York in particular if you could start getting this done with the ride coordinators for your area it would be most appreciated. FYI - I ask that lead and tail riders wear conspicuity vests to help separate them apart from riders in the middle. If you haven't also checked your motorcycle over in a while now's the time to do it (brakes, suspension, clutch, air, tires - always a good time before every ride especially this one - now you've got a reason.

8. Route & Schedule -

I've got more detail but I'm pressed for time right now to get out the door and start driving to Las Vegas. I'll be able to post more Friday night. Many of you have been e-mailing me for details because you are going to have rider groups or want to know where to meet.

9. Meeting place - I need recommendations on where we can meet. People in various places are making recommendations and then I'm tending to go with these. We can always meet at a Post Office which are easy for me to find using www.usps.gov and the GPS. If you are going to be riding with friends please designate only ONE person to call me or get information so that I won't be deluged with call. Another recommendation is a Kinko's which I like as I can use the computers to check on things on the go (and they are open 24/7). Please don't be looking to me for all of the structure. Make recommendations as you know the local traffic patterns, roads, etc. I will take it all under advisement and we'll work it out together like the mature, responsible motorcyclists that we are. :-)

10. Roads to be traveled - description of the overall trip

From San Francsico I plan to take 80 until Reno then take 50 to cross Nevada and enter Utah south of Salt Lake City. This will be one of the toughest day and it is the first day. I need to start out early from the Golden Gate to do an event in downtown San Francisco (details coming) then make it to Sacramento on time to get the official letter. Then on to Reno so that we an do a ride section there - and then I'm off through 50 across Nevada and into Utah. This section will be at night and so far I'll be alone. If anybody wants to ride the Reno to Salt Lake section with me, please let me know but I don't need handholding and will be fine if you stay home.

I'll likely get into Salt Lake City very late and fellow Chain Gang member (www.f650.com) Eric Quilter has offered to put me up for the night. Thanks Eric! He's also arranging the group ride and media coverage as well as has helped out with route planning. Sounds great! I'll have my laptop and GPS card so if we change the route and you bring your GPS we can give you a download on the spot. From SLC we ride on 80 again to get to Casper by nightfall. There will likely be stops at historic old west places most of which I'm researching now.

From Casper we go to Fort Laramie, WY, then to Kearney, NE, onward to Belleville, KS and into St. Joseph by Saturday morning. The Pony Express Museum is arranging a group tour so stay tuned to the events page. If you are a coordinator or volunteer in these areas and you post/e-mail people please give out your contact details as well as mine so that we make sure everybody is on the same page.

It's a short hop on to St. Louis where we check out the Arch and go through Bloomington, Indiana onward to Cincinnati where quite a few people re waiting to ride I've got two options at Cincinatti depending on how we did on time getting to there. I'd like to hook south to pass through some interesting southern cities on the way to making a stop at the BMW Zentrum (museum) in Spartansburg, SC. From there we can ride the very nice Blue Ridge Parkway all the way back up to Washington. If the southern section doesn't happen we'll buzz across the mountains of West Virginia and into DC as soon as we can.

Once we get to the major metropolitan areas the events will be 50/50 between media, riding, and visiting the post offices. I'm very relaxed about the whole deal so whatever happens will happen. (well not really as the media aspect will drive things as that's key in helping to raise the money). We are waiting for the confirmation from President Bush if he can accept the letter or whether it goes to the Postmaster General. Either way it will either be part of the White House Archives, the Postal Archives, or the Smithsonian Archives.

I expect Washington, Philadelphia, Trenton, and NY to be four of the most covered stops. The riders on the western part of the trail need to pitch in and start creating the public awareness of the event through riding and talking to their media. I'd like to see the event grow as we cross the country barnstorming and finally riding into Washington (and up to New York) with a good group of motorcyclist in tow.

Last comments

Please if you want to get in touch with me don't think about what time it is - just call. I'll most likely be doing one of four things, riding, resting, eating, or sleeping. If you don't call then I don't know what you want or need to tell me. Communication and activity on your part is key. If anybody by-the-way can perhaps write a press release summarizing some of the key aspects then talk to me for some quotes, etc. we really need one immediately for the media. I talked to a few reporters who called me as well as the CNN San Francisco Bureau Chief. Let's keep up the good work and get the word out. The Reverse Pony Express is about to ride!

If I've left anything out please e-mail or call. I am posting more details but this is a FLUID event again so let's make plans TOGETHER not just one master plan that will be hard to keep.

Regards,

David H. Park
david@dhpmoto.com   

650-578-0100 phone
650-649-2808 Ride progress update hotline and voice mail./fax

Cincinnati Info

We will be meeting at the Main Postal Station in Cincinnati, OH is located at 1623 Dalton ave.

Click here for a list of ride volunteers and regional ride coordinators    Click here to read e-mails that people have sent in about this event.

Download the Reverse Pony Express flyer to print out for display and distribution at local dealerships, rider meets, etc. (save as file)

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