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Pics are from top to bottom, click on a pic for a larger pic, text for a pic is under the pic.
The title says it, Keith passed on, as we all do, but he was so young and one of the good guys and it's sad. I rode a few PGR welcome home rides with him and the CROSS team, and you will not find finer folks! God Bless them all and I ask The Good Lord to Watch Over Them All!
When I arrived, I found Jake, Georgie (sitting on the curb) and Bunker sippin' the cups! GBG I'm sorry, Bunkers wife was behind him and I didn't know it at the time.
The stage point was 125 Bernal at Starbucks! They were in for the ride, and good on 'um! I had things to do and couldn't make the ride, but I wanted to be there to say God Bless, wish the CROSS team well and give them my love! They are of the finest!
And to honor PGR, the RC asked Jake and Bunker to lead the run, and they both said, "this is your run, we are here to join you", and that was right on! Good words and choice!
Just shooting bike shots..... by KSU time I'll have to guess there was above 60 bikes... and at least two more groups were to meet them on route, which will total over 100!!!
Scanning and shooting, this was before 15 more bikes came a roarin'....
CROSS took up a big chunk of a very large parking lot.
The bikes spanned about 3 parking rows....
My sweet Ruby in front! Love 'er!
I remembered this bike, if you've ever seen it, you will not forget it! I found the owner and he was one of the riders with Keith on San Jose Airport rides and I believe also Oakland airport runs.
George and Manny! They were in for the ride, the RC was asking for road blockers, and Manny was curious, George and I both said, "this is not the time to learn!" GBG Good on him for asking!
They were selling a Memorial Pin for Keith, I was first in line. God Bless you my friend and may you and God be Roaring and Bouncing on the Clouds of Heaven!
Just received this from Bunker:
Sorry Cranky, Sara and I had acquired ours before you even rolled up on Ruby... Sorry man, maybe next time you can be first! Bunker Well, I had good intentions! Good on Ya Bunker for wearing a beautiful pin for a fallen rider!
Pics are from top to bottom, click on a pic for a larger pic, text for a pic is under the pic.
A brave young man was coming home and a hug and "thank you" was in order! God Bless and thank you for your service!
My sweet Ruby on the right! I forgot to do a bike count, I'll guess 25.
OK, I've not seen this before, this young lady was napping on the scoot! 
Of course, someone said get the camera out!!! GBG She had started to wake up and that's why the arm over the face! You're a star, sweetheart!! GBG
For those that think it was posed, check the saddlebag stencil mark! She was zonked!
We get to the airport and getting organized.. OK we're trying... GBG
I think the young lady on the left had an interest in Kester's coming home!!! GBG Mom with her bag pipes and ready to play and Slick John who won the honors call duty.
More of getting organized...
The street security guy told me that he was off duty, so watch your bikes... so here I am watching! One of the folks that came thru said "I'm a Nam vet and have a Harley!", later I saw him walking around our bikes checking them out. He was a rider, you could tell by the way he looked at the bikes....
Here he comes! The young lady got first hugs!!! I think she has an interest....
Kester is chatting it up with our folks and got lots of hugs and walked the line!
Of course we have to stage between terminal A and C and wait for the "target" to come by. My sweet Ruby on the left! That shine from my pipes was form 0000 steel wool! Try it on any chrome and you'll be amazed!
We arrive in Pleasonton, and it was 10 degrees hotter than San Jose. One of the honor speakers said that it was almost 10 degrees hotter here than in Iraq!! Welcome home!!! GBG
In case our bikes got hot... NOT! The Pleasonton folks are very supportive of their service folks, and I thank them for honoring those that serve!
The reception was great! Lots of groups that wanted to offer honors to Kester.
Many folks and the big flag. At the end the riders got to take a pic with Kester and because of all the pics we had to stand there a while... the sun reflecting off that flag was hot! I feel sorry for him! He had to stand there for 45 min! And folks kept shaking his hand and he couldn't drink his beer! GBG He took it all in fine form! God Bless you!
One of the honor groups, sorry, did not take notes...
More Thank You's, and well deserved!
More folks wanting to say thanks. This is a great honor ride!
Kester must have worn out his right hand... and I'll bet he did NOT mind!
This is where he is awarded a 5 pack. The presenter explained the gift and opened one and toasted Kester! I liked that gift, and so did Kester!
We finally get a pic of the family, like I said, he has been standing there for 45 min and the reflection of that flag was hot!
Of course, we get the honor pic and we all get up in front of the flag and get our pic taken, that's when I learned that that flag reflects the sun quite nice! I didn't get one, hope someone will send it to me!
I loved all the family smiles, and that's what it's about! The folks that serve and the honor to be there and give 'um a hug! God Bless all that serve and may they come home safely!
Pics are from top to bottom, text for a pic is under the pic, click on a pic for a MUCH LARGER pic.UPDATE!!! I received some pics from Gary Ragsdale 08/27 about the overpasses!!!! Out darn standing! All the overpasses were like this!!! Thrilling ride!!!
The men on the ladder were great!!!! THANK YOU!!!!
Another and more coming!!!
The fire trucks were everywhere!
Gary waving at the firemen!
Absolutely fantastic!!!Welcome home 2nd wave of Echo Company 2/23rd Marines to San Bruno! And a fantastic ride it was! A lot of bikes met at Santa Nella and being an old guy, along with another, Slick John a fellow ALR Dist 13 rider, staged at the Bailey overpass on 101. Doing that early stuff kinda hurts, sigh....Thanks to Gary Ragsdale for the telephone updates, we knew pretty much when they would be coming by.I expected them about 1230 so arrived around 1210 just in case, saw Slick John on the overpass and a police car behind him... I thought Oh, Oh... But they were there to turn on their lights and give our heroes a nice welcome home! Great on them!!! There was a lot of radio chatter going on, four other cars and the bomb squad truck pulled up! OUR overpass was full!!! One of the officers was a scoot owner, so I had to tell and show him what 0000 steel wool did for trashed pipes, and he was as amazed as everyone that has seen them, like new! Said he would try it! I let the wind plaster my 3x5 to the screen on the overpass, and hardly anyone saw it, sigh... good intentions!
And here they come, right on time, 1230 at the Bailey overpass... OUR, GBG, lights were flashing and we got a few toots from the scoots! An important note, the bikes in front are a few PGR, but parent riders also get to be in front! God Bless 'um!!!
I got one pic in before I had to stash my flag and go like "crap" to catch up! A few of the squad cars were doing the same... I drafted! GBG Must have confused folks to see squad cars with lights flashing being chased by a scoot! GBGThe entire trip was police escorted, various departments and there were plenty of them! The driving public must have thought there were some VIP's coming thru.... And By God there were!!!!! And there were many police on the side of the road waving and also flag waving! Absolutely a fantastic trip!!!! Here is the impressive part.... virtually all overpasses were full of police and fire trucks, some with ladders extended, and they were waving and saluting and it was absolutely gorgeous!!! I was tail gunner as I came on late in the mission, and prefer to be there, so I was the last one to wave and give them a thumbs up "thank you"!!!!
As we arrive, Just shooting some shots. Earl said his passenger took pics of the overpasses, I'll add a link here when I can, they were VERY impressive!
My sweet Ruby flying 'er flag!
Second trip for me, and the fire dept. does a great job of the flag over the entrance! Many horns were tooted on the way into the parking lot!
Just shooting pics of folks and scoots.....
A better pic of the trucks and flag...
A bit of stand, er sit down time, as they have to go thru the coming home ritual... it always takes time.God Bless 'um and WELCOME HOME! I hope that trip was a great one! And of course it was.. coming home is like that!
Pics are from top to bottom, click on a pic for a larger pic, text for a pic is under a pic...
Patriot Guard Riders and a lot of Blue Star Mom's had a BBQ at the Palo Alto Veteran's Hospital. And I can't thank the Blue Star Mom's enough! You are just AWESOME! love you all! They did all the work and the scoot jockeys got to shake hands and carry food and drinks to the vets and make them feel as special as they are! God Bless 'um ALL!
I met many great folks and the visit was one I'll remember for a long time.
We met at our staging point, I took this pic for my daughter, the bikes are purple, it doesn't show as the sun was in the wrong place, couldn't be me... sigh
This Corvette was just great! Driving memorial for that have yet to come home! God Bless 'um and may you be here soon!
The art work was real good!
Big Jake and Georgie coming in just in time, as normal! GBG He's our ALR Dist 13 newly "officially" elected prez, and he normally gets to meetings about 1 minute ahead of time!
Just taking pics of the bikes and folks...
Our RC Don Martin giving us our "say once" on how to behave and ride route.
We arrive, did a bit of drive around, but that's good.
That's my sweet Ruby with 'er flag flying, and some other bikes.. The tan things are wooden beads... I got a Walmart car seat , and if you cut it long, the beads will all fall off and leave a nice length without any retying hassle... live and learn... GBG
Trying to get them all in....
Great decorating!
Bikes, the trike in left front is nice, believe it belongs to Sacco...
Sgtmaj and Dianne "finally" get here! GBG 
This is special, whoever in this room made a sign "Thanks", and the thanks goes to the person in the room! God Bless and Healing Prayers for a fast and complete recovery!
This room, top right, is special to one who serves the vets, we'll see a pic in a bit... and he's special to all that honor those that serve, thank you for your service! Jim, as noted above.Got this from Don: Retired Marine Corps Warrant Officer Jim McDonald... aka Gunner Mac was in the room. Thanks Don!
Getting into the delivery room, the food delivery! It was popular, again, thank you BSM for what you do!
This is the tasty treat table.. I fell victim later.. sigh... I'm soooo weak...
Folks keep moving in and our vets are walking around the tables asking them "what can I get for you?", and it was an honor to be there! 
There also were some family members there visiting.
The fats in the fire! Things are cooking, and they did a great job.
Even Sgtmaj liked the cooking smell, on the right...
This is a special pic, Sgtmaj on the left, Suzie Rivera and Jim that was in the pic, upper right of the hospital earlier.
Doug and Dianne went up to his room to help him look out the window so we could wave and salute Jim!
He looked in fine form and was pleased to come down to visit. Debbie Smyser reminded me of Suzie's name, thank you!
Suz saw my vest 'nic and said "No way, you ain't Cranky!!!" Of course she's right.. GBG
Someone had the idea of a group pic, and we took 3 dozen.... GBG
I think this is when one of the pic takers dropped a camera and everyone said a mental, awwa crap... I had to publish it as I was in this one, second from the left in front... 
Another pic of Jim, with a loved one, and he looked like he was having a good time! God Bless you my friend! I think that was his daughter.
To the Blue Star Mom's, you are all jewelles! God Bless you! I can't think of anyone I'd rather ride for than your children coming home!
And now my ashamed moment... about 1300, I snuck out and went home so I could get a cranky ride in... 3 PGR missions in 3 days, well my crankin' has been effected in about a 2 pound way!
And today's lunck DID NOT HELP!!! But it was great! That cookie table was my downfall.... I fell hard...
Well, I got home and rode for about 1 3/4 hours, got in 17 miles and 1/2 mile of steep hill to get some of those cookies out... I hope at least, I broke even! GBG I only got in 93 miles this week... goal is 100... oh well reset and start again on Mon AM! GBG
Thank you all that rode! You make the difference! God Bless and all that serve!
