May 13

We awoke to a sky that was dark and overcast. That would have been ok, but it was dark and overcast in the direction we were headed. We didn't need weather today. We had ridden all week with nothing but sunshine and today we were headed to camp. We NEEDED sunshine.

We gathered at the Harley dealership for our morning meeting. There was the feeling of rain in the air but some of us were not giving in that easy we refused to put our rain suites on. As we pulled out of the parking lot it looked like we were chasing a storm.

First stop of the day was Salina, KS. We'd been this route before. Once we even spent the night and received the key to the city. The route today is I-70 all the way. In Salina we gas after only 94 miles. We need to be in KC around 2 so we built in a little time. We fuel, sign autographs and talk to fans and riders. Its stops like this I enjoy the most, I get to see everyone.

Back on the rode the next stop is Topeka. Really just east of Topeka at the Topeka Service Area. There we pick up a few new riders. 4 or 5 people from a local racing group and 3 or 4 guys from Wal-Mart transportation. Those guys have done a lot for camp in NC and wanted to be a part of KC. We also saw an old friend Miss Ruth. She knits crosses and gives one to each rider with a bible verse to keep us safe. We invited her along to the camp and she and her daughter followed in their car.

From Topeka it was 41 miles to the camp site. As we pulled in it reminded me of the camp site in NC. Just an empty piece of land, which would soon hold so much hope.

We parked and walked onto the site. Everyone was excited to see the place for the first time. A tent was set up for lunch so that's the first place we gathered. As everyone was eating Pattie and I were doing interviews and taking photos. Time went so fast. Before we knew it we were on stage and the show had started. Some of the campers from NC had come out to help and they did a great job. Franklin Graham spoke and said a prayer, Mayor Reardon spoke and then Pattie and Me. Mike Lapore, who runs KC did an incredible job of putting everything together and getting people out. There must have been 450 people there.

We all donned our hard hats for a photo op, Matt Kenseth, Hershel Walker, Steve Park, Davis Love III and the people I had mentioned before. Along with Pattie, Gummy, Randy and Austin. Was truly a blessed day.

We found our way to our bikes and headed to the hotel as a group and as family. The rain had stayed away; the sun once again was shinning on Victory Junction...Miles, 271