Ride Report posted for Spike

One of the WWR – Dano met this gentleman at the local gym where he works out.  This gentleman turned out to be a Major at one of our local military installations called Camp Parks.  It turns out, he was with a unit that was getting ready to deploy.  Total number of personnel was 138.  We staged early in the morning about 1/2 mile from Camp

 

Parks with 12 bikes.  We did a slow roll over to the camp’s main gate.  At the stop light to make a left into the gate, we pulled up on the Major in his SUV.  The Major rolled down his passenger window and yelled “hey Spike, follow me”!  We followed the Major into the main gate over to headquarters.  We found out that all the unit members had gone up the road within the camp to a huge parking lot to meet the busses.  We rolled up the street and as we pulled into this huge dirt parking lot, we could see all 138+ members of the 368th yelling and waving at all our bikes.  As we were parking, at least 50 or so came over and started taking pictures of us.  Ironic was it is since we’re the ones always taking pictures of them!  So, we dismounted and they mugged & hugged US.  We gathered up a good majority of the

 troops around the bikes and took a big group photo shoot.  Then the 1st Sargent called the troops to formation so they can review some final details about their departure.  Approximately 15 minutes later, the Sgt. Major asked me to assemble the riders.  I asked him where and he instructed me to line up facing the batallion.  We did as he told us to and I brought the riders to attention, having no clue what was about to take place.  WWR received two certificates of appreciation – one from the unit and one from Batillion Headquarters to thank us for supporting their troops.  About that time, it started to rain (hard).  The three busses arrived and the troops loaded on them.  Approximately 10 minutes later we rolled out.  Camp Parks police escorted us through camp to the main gate where we were met by the Blue Star Moms, Pleasanton Military Families and assorted supporters waving flags and banners, wishing the troops a safe mission.  Since this was a week day and we had to go to Oakland Airport, we left a bit earlier than scheduled.  For some strange reason, there was NO traffic (which is unheard of in the bay area on a week day).  We were to go to the back side of the airport to meet a chartered aircraft, but we were 2 hours early.  So, the troops were ushered into one of the hangers while they waited on the aircraft.  We then departed – mission complete.