LibertyRide - A Grassroots Journ3y

[ronpaulhawaii]

[h2]Lancaster PA[/h2]
May 26th, 2009


70 miles in a cold rain today. But Harrisburg/Mechanicsberg folk definitely know how to make a man comfortable. Many mahalos to Tim Shoemaker for getting me a room with a Jacuzzi. Many mahalos to Don and Monique Shoemaker for treating me to an awesome dinner. Many mahalos to Seth Shoemaker (are you seeing a pattern here - haha) for coming down to say hi and get on the vid I will soon be mixing. Tim deserves special mention for being the first to get on board the grassroots team we have built. We all know how no-one likes to be first, and Tim filling that crucial slot was key


Again for Scott Davis who did a lot of work getting me here and helping me navigate Harrisberg, and finally, Sandra who came down and brought me more of the PA handouts she designed and had printed at her company.


The rain is not conducive to canvassing so got maybe a dozen handouts out. But, one thing we did get, thanks to Lisa from Lancaster, was our first TV interview. I rarely feel comfortable with my performance, hopefully it came out good…


The best part of the ride was being led by Lisa through a tricky navigation. There is nothing like live GPS (Grassroots Positioning System) even better when it is a cute bubbly hardcore r3VOLutionary.


I’d write more, but have been getting about 4 hours sllep for the last month and I only have 45 miles tomorrow, so I am going to take advantage of the bed Tim got me. I’ll try to get the vid from today up tomorrow am. For now enjoy this from our friend in Philly, Rob Pepe



YouTube - Liberty Rider - Michael Maresco "Ride for Honesty" Memorial Day 2009



PS - Tune into Freedom Watch every week, regardless of the fact that they are going to report on the trip for the rest of the journey and I will be on between 2:30 and 3
onward and forward

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

YouTube - Liberty Rider Mike Marasco May 26 2009

will blog tomorrow...

ZZzzzzzzZZZZZZzzzzzzZZZZz

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

[h2]The First Mountain Was A Doozy[/h2]
May 28th, 2009
Timmonds Mountain… I was warned… The locals shook their heads seeing the book-mobile I was pulling. That was a bit intimidating, but, if life was easy it would be boring, and like our r3VOLution, we can’t let seemingly insurmountable obstacles stop us from moving forward. We can’t let people scare us off our task because they can’t imagine themselves doing something extraordinary. We must move forward, boldly. They may slow us down, they may beat the hell out of us, but winners never quit and just keep eyes on the goal and noses to the grindstone.

It. Was. Brutal. I ain’t kidding, at all. Look at this map, and notice that I climbed over 1000 ft in less than 3 miles

Now, consider that I was in a fog, on a road that often had no room for a shoulder…

I started out strong, the pedal-elec system helps, but certainly cannot pull the load I am carrying. In fact, even pedaling as hard as I could, the brains began to overheat about halfway up. What happens when it overheats is it shuts off, and I am left to make that next section, to the safety of a shoulder, on my own. By the time I got to the top I was going 50ft, resting and letting the brains cool, repeatedly…

A local had told me the road splits into a truck route near the top, and I could take the truck route because the road down is very steep. He said it would mean about 10 more miles and a few more hills but would save my brakes. By the time I got to the fork, I wanted no part of 10 more miles a a few more hills, so decided to buy a new set of brakes if I had to and just get the hell off this mountain.

Big Mistake. I wasn’t even close to the top…

But, perseverance and determination are the qualities of those who get things done, and I was blessed to be born with both. I finally made it to unmistakable top and was incredibly thankful to see the fog was not as bad on the other side. So after a short rest to catch my breath, I had quite the exhilarating ride down the mountain and was safely back into civilization.

By this time most of the locals had heard about, “some guy on a bike pulling a trailer over the Timmonds” so had quite an easy time of getting them to listen why. I slowly made my way to this nice $40 motel seeding a message of liberty all along the way. I stopped at an Ice Cream Stand and got a cone to celebrate. A man walked up and asked about my bike, I gave him my spiel and the next thing I knew I had a dinner of home cooked, farm raised, (and delicious) chicken cassarole and fresh salad. I was famished, and it was heavenly. We talked as I ate. The wife had liked Huckabee, and Paul, but “didn’t want to waste her vote.” We had a nice talk about voting your conscience and how the whole “waste your vote” thing is a farce. Voting for the lessor of two evils, is still evil…

The rest of ride was fairly uneventful, it hardly rained so I was able to seed the route better. That always make me feel good. Convenience stores are pretty good about letting me leave stacks on their shelves. I encourage people to take “sunday drives” with lit and stop for a little something at these stores and ask. You turn one good mind in a small town, and you can turn an entire town.

I had my first flat as well. Here is the culprit, the nemesis of a man on a bike…

The culprit

It is a shard of the steel belting from a blown tire and will go through any tire…, no biggie though. I had ~70 flats on the last trip, hopefully I have better luck this time, but, such things happen and we just deal with them. I’m just glad it was just drizzling…

Now, for the reason I am still in Fannettsburg. On the mountain, when I changed a battery, I failed to secure the trailer properly and the chargers dropped out somewhere. Luckily, there are decent folk in these parts and I easily found someone who would not take my money to go drive over the mountain and look. We had no success (foggy night…) , but it was very heartening to have people go out of their way to help a stranger. So rather than power over another mountain with no assistance, I decided to get the spare charger sent from home. Even better, my brother, who loves road trips, decided to deliver it in person and he will be here in a few minutes

So, it was stupid mistake on my part, but I figure whatever happens is for the best. I just take it in stride and continue on. Perhaps it was best because some wicked storms have come through today and I would have been in the mountains for that, as well.

While I would have loved to have spun this story so as to relieve my embarrassment, this is the Ride for Honesty -

 

[ClayTrainor]

I love reading your updates Michael, and seeing you on Freedom Watch was a trip

I just threw down another $17.76, for a new tire

 

[JoshLowry]

You rock. I think that goes without saying.

Stay safe out there!

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

 

[acptulsa]

Much more fun to recharge the battery! Once you get to me you've conquered the last mountain for some seven or eight hundred miles. Bad news is then comes the Rockies. With all due respect to you Easterners, the Rockies make both the Ozarks and the Alleghenies look like speed bumps.

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

[h2]Mountains Must Be Crossed[/h2]
May 30th, 2009 http://libertyrider.com/mountains-must-be-crossed/#comments


3rd day in the Alleghenies. There is one more major ridgeline in my path, then it will just be hills. Beautiful countryside, tough pedaling.


What makes this country great though, is the people. I talked to quite a few yesterday, despite what you may see in the media (including New Media), people are more aware of the rising police state and the fraudulence of the “establishment” than many people give them credit for. People were very appreciative of the info I brought,(especially the PArevolution handout). When I get around to explaining creeping fascism, they are not afraid to look at it for what it is. Basically, the country folk I am meeting give me hope for America. Again, I encourage people to get in their cars and take “sunday drives”, looking for people in their yards, on the road, etc. and just give them some info. Most of these folk are just not aware that there are others who share their concerns. It is our job to let them know and give them an opportunity to help…


The ride yesterday was not easy. I am going to go ahead and spend the $400 on a real bicycle Computer/GPS. I am very tired of missing turns and having to find a signal so I can unpack the trailer, get the computer out, re-route, repack the trailer, etc… I added about 10 miles to the day yesterday, because of no street signs… I am real thankful to the farmer I met who helped me out and gave me a route over the last ridge of the day.


A friend on LibertyForest.com mentioned how the Rockies make the Alleghenies look like speed biumps. I want to clear something up about that. The eastern mountain roads were built before the days of heavy equipment, while the size of the mountains are not as high, the roads are much more steep and winding, In the Rockies I can ride on interstates, the grades are low and the routes as direct as possible. IOW, give me the Rockies any day. The Alleghenies are the hardest I have encountered, including the last trip, over Texas Canyon, through Texas Hill Country, etc.


Finally, I want to talk about the book drops. If you have read the site, you would Know that it was never my intention to pedal from sheriff office to sheriff office. I did that in Jersey because the Jersy people were not materializing and the offices I went to were pretty much on my route, but there is no way I will personally be able to deliver tyhese books. The intent was always to have a local supporter meet me on the road, take the books and deliver them themselves. This is much better as the whole idea was to increase communication locally, this ride just gives the local supporters a good excuse to go and introduce themselves. This goes for the Governors as well, If local supporters do not help arrange a meeting, or agree to deliver them during office hours, I have no choice but to pedal on.


The long and the short of it is this ride is not about me. It is an event for us all, and will be what we all make of it. I have more on my plate than most of you can possibly imagine. Any help increasing the success of this trip will be rewarding in many ways. Regardless of such assistance, I will make the best of the hand I have, but need the help of the grassroots to maximize the effect of this effort.


And with that, I will be packing up and getting on the road. I just have one more major ridgeline to cross and that is only a few miles away. See y’all on the other side


pedal pedal


PS- Firefox has just crashed 4xs trying to add photos, will try again l8r…

 

[Oyate]

Was a bit slow to uptake but first post made it for the weekend edition of Freedoms Phoenix. We have Stu in Flagstaff signed up to help and Ed and I have discussed support options for you when you come through AZ. We'll get it together by the time you are here

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

Was a bit slow to uptake but first post made it for the weekend edition of Freedoms Phoenix. We have Stu in Flagstaff signed up to help and Ed and I have discussed support options for you when you come through AZ. We'll get it together by the time you are here

Thanks Trevor

http://libertyrider.com/day-7-high-peaks-and-high-spirits/[url]http://libertyrider.com/day-7-high-peaks-and-high-spirits/[/URL]

[h2]Day 7 High Peaks, and High Spirits[/h2]
May 31st, 2009


Yesterday was quite the day. Two big peaks to cross, the first was the biggest, the second the highest (and I was already at elevation). I am getting stronger, able to avoid the crawler gear for the lower grade climbs. I am still taking rests on the steeps, but not the 50ft intervals of Timmonds Mt.

It was a beautiful sunny day. I was able to talk to plenty of folk and get out the lit. Left stacks in a few stores, mostly talking to farmers and people out working in the yards. I have found that I am targeting differently than on the RP ride. Where-as last time I was more looking for voters and seeking out the elderly, this time I am more looking for activists and seeking out the younger folk. Most readily agree with my assessment and are very thankful I stopped by. Hopefully it turns into people contacting the PA folk and getting aboard the r3VOLution. I emphasize that need for action, hopefully, it works…


While getting over them dang peaks was a bit of a… high point (haha) what really got my spirits up was accomplishing the primary mission of getting books to Sheriffs. I pedaled into Somerset and was disappointed to find the office closed, but that did not deter me from making a second effort and I found the Jail where I convinced the LT in charge to come out hear my spiel. He was really impressed with the bike and I’m sure that helped as I went into the reason for the visit. Again, I found a person who agrees with the facts I present. Especially about the fact that we are being lied to. He agreed to see that the books get to the Sheriff Monday, and I am kinda stoked that they will be looking them over in the Jail Control Room till then…

Another thing to note is that I went through Shanksville where flight 93 crashed and set in motion the War on Terror that the fascists are using to instigate their police state. I could not help myself and had to hand out fliers to a family that was at the Memorial Chapel…

The final event of the day was the last 10 miles. I got to my target town, and the only motel was a Days Inn. I usually avoid the big chains so asked a semi local on a Harley about motels further down the road. He told me there would be more here in Mt Pleasant and it was pretty much a downhill run. Both of those statements turned out to be false, while there was a large downhill, there were also some steep uphills that are killers at the end of a day. Worse, there is only one motel here, a Holiday Inn (corpo-yuck) that is three miles off route down a large hill. As it was getting late I had no choice but to bite the bullet. There is a sliver lining though. I finagled a discount, a free dinner, and it comes with a free breakfast, but more importantly, with free internet I was finally able to use my phone while online and spent an hour on the phone with tech support and may have dialed the phone in to avoid having to buy the $400 GPS unit. While the GPS would be very handy and helpful for knowing distance and speed, etc… That is not as critical as knowing where I am and being able to map out without dragging out the computer. So we will see how this works…


Finally, I thought you all might like seeing the elevation charts comparing yesterdays’ mountain climb, to todays’ multi hill climbs, but for some reason FireFox keeps crashing if I try to insert photos, (grrrrrrrr…) Till I work that out, the album is here (LF folks dont have that problem )


Yesterday

Today

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=105503&id=663957952[url]http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=105503&id=663957952[/URL]



pedal pedal

with many mahalos to those who have joined the ride in support

 

[JoshLowry]

I love reading your updates/looking at your pics!

Lather that sunscreen on amigo!

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

OK, I had a few glitches, including having to reformat my computer, but am getting back up to speed... Have some catching up to do. Having a LOT of trouble converting video from my phone, ah well, moving on

Day8 was quite the day. Very beautiful, hilly, countryside. In trying to catch up I will have to be brief.

The high point of the day was being met by fellow RPFer Paul Wortman. I was stopped at a convenience store having lunch, it was hot so I was tucked in the shade behind the AirPump when a friendly face popped up and asked "Hollywood"? I was a bit perplexed at first till he mentioned RPFs and then said "Hawaii" at that point we were on the same page. His is the video I am having trouble with, and I look forward to getting the time to order the Cam you guys raised the money for, (never enough time in the day...). I can't tell you how great it was to be met by a fellow RPFer in his home county. Great guy, great spirit, great laugh. Haha - made my day... He kindly took the books to deliver so it was mission accomplished for Washington County. Thanks Paul.

It was a beautiful day so I managed to seed plenty of fliers and talk to quite a few people on the route. People are more accepting of the fascism message that I expected, I had one Obama supporter who kept trying to avoid the subject, I just planted some seeds in his mind and can only hope they take. He was a bit perplexed as I ran down a list of broken promises and how he felt about that... Another group I hit was a firehouse crew. At first they seemed a bit apprehensive, but as I went on they warmed up. When I got to my final point that we need them to stand up and start fighting the fascists politically, to avoid worse, they were all nodding their heads in agreement. The OathKeepers Patch on my bike helped emphasize another aspect of my pitch

Finally, there was a bit of drama and near disaster on the road. A long section of the highway had them dang rumble strips, which are great for car safety and keeping them off the edge where am, when the shoulder gets narrow I am forced into them and they ralltle the hell out of my and the bike. It seems the rattleing loosened an axle on my bike and as I was flying down a hill trying to make my target by sunset it came loose when I could not avoid a large pot hole, came half out of socket and bent. I was flying when I felt a sudden drag, couldn't turn till I had slowed down, when I finally got stopped I saw the damage. Didn't care to take pictures at the time due to the setting sun, but here is the after effect

It could have been real bad had it came all the way out, but my lord is with me and reminded me of the need for continual bike maintenence... You guys would have laughed to see me on the side of the road fixing it with a multi-tool and a flintstone hammer...

Due to that delay I ended up a few miles short of Wheeling and was in a tiny WV burg where there was barely enough cel service to get one phone call out that I was safely in a little motel (who didn't take my card - which is another story- haha) That was the beginning of the blog backload I am trying to repair now. Bottom line is I made it safe and have continued on.

more to follow...

much aloha

m

 

[DirtMcGirt]

I love reading your updates/looking at your pics!

Lather that sunscreen on amigo!

I second that!!!

 

[FSP-Rebel]

Yo Mike, are you gonna swing thru NH for the Porcupine Freedom Festival June 25-28? I'd like to shake your hand for all the activism you're doing.

 

[AdamT]

Yo Mike, are you gonna swing thru NH for the Porcupine Freedom Festival June 25-28? I'd like to shake your hand for all the activism you're doing.

He's heading west, almost to Ohio.

 

[speciallyblend]

hey mike . i do not mean to tease but 2906 ft??? those are ant hills??? hmmmm wonder why mike is going south of the colorado mtns, snickers. not ready for 11,000 to 13,000ft peaks hehe snickers. much love mike side note the wv mtns are awesome use to live in snowshoe wv before i moved to colorado!!

mike depending on when you get to new mexico and how well my wife recovers. i would love to join you biking somewhere in new mexico,since i know you chickened out on the 11-13,000 ft passes hehe sorry have to tease you

 

[2orb]

Sunday May 31st I am running errands and just before 5pm pull into the local gas station/convenience store. All the parking spots are full with the exception of the one on the end. As I pull up to it I see a bicycle with cart attached parked in it and think WTF. Then I see the signage...

Speak to Michael for just five minutes and you’ll experience a true patriot at work. I am re-inspired. Follow his progress, get out and meet him, and help him spread the Liberty message.

 

[angelatc]

He's heading west, almost to Ohio.

He's almost through Ohio! If you check his spreadsheet, you can kind of see where he is, by following the money.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=r6FiCAeZILLoeogom_okNyg

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

Yo Mike, are you gonna swing thru NH for the Porcupine Freedom Festival June 25-28? I'd like to shake your hand for all the activism you're doing.

I sure wish I could make PorcFest and appreciate the sentiments, but if you want to do something much better than shake my hand, get the bookset and deliver it to your sheriff That would give me strength, and make my day... Maybe next year, enjoy...

hey mike . i do not mean to tease but 2906 ft??? those are ant hills??? hmmmm wonder why mike is going south of the colorado mtns, snickers. not ready for 11,000 to 13,000ft peaks hehe snickers. much love mike side note the wv mtns are awesome use to live in snowshoe wv before i moved to colorado!!

mike depending on when you get to new mexico and how well my wife recovers. i would love to join you biking somewhere in new mexico,since i know you chickened out on the 11-13,000 ft passes hehe sorry have to tease you

Big talk there, Kenny. Why don't you ask TruckingMike about Texas Canyon and it's overgrades? . And as I said in another post, give me the Rockies over the Alleghenies any day. There is a reason that France sends it's tour team to PA to train and not you beloved low grade peaks. The day you pedal over Timmonds Mountain is the day I'll think you ain't just talking out yer ass

Sunday May 31st I am running errands and just before 5pm pull into the local gas station/convenience store. All the parking spots are full with the exception of the one on the end. As I pull up to it I see a bicycle with cart attached parked in it and think WTF. Then I see the signage...

Speak to Michael for just five minutes and you’ll experience a true patriot at work. I am re-inspired. Follow his progress, get out and meet him, and help him spread the Liberty message.

Paul!!! I hope I got your name right... am real sorry I still haven't got your video up, it look great on my phone but I can't get it off my phone in working order (I am such the e-gnoramus...) You really made my day, dude. Thanks again

He's almost through Ohio! If you check his spreadsheet, you can kind of see where he is, by following the money.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=r6FiCAeZILLoeogom_okNyg[url]http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=r6FiCAeZILLoeogom_okNyg[/URL]

hehe

Still Catching Up

My final day in WV was great. Practically all downhill to the Ohio River. I stopped and talked to some Gas Station guys asking to clarify direction (they were stoked to get an Obama Deception DVD and didn't realize it also had a bonus track of Freedom to Fascism - haha). They got me to do something I hate, turning around and gpoing backward, but the new directions avoided an legendary hill and followed a bike path along the creek that coasted me into town. At one point the bike path was closed so I asked a cop about a detour and he told me to just go around the signs, the path was fine - haha. He was on traffic duty so I decided not to pitch him, but he gave me great direction to the Sheriff Office.

The Sheriff of Ohio County had just left, but the Chief came out. He was basically all business, politely heard my spiel, and genuinely thanked me for stopping by. I was expection to make up for lost time so did not try to drag him into a conversation, just planted my seeds and moved on. The guard was much more personable, but the Chief seemed a decent enough guy. I imagine if he had seen the bike, as others have, he would have been a bit warmer...

It was a bit tricky getting out of town, made a wrong turn or two, asked a heap of directions (and got rid of more fliers ) till I was finally on the (cool old) bridge heading west into OH

There were no entering OH signs, But for the heck of it you may get a kick out of this one I forgot to put on the last post

I was pretty stoked; had just done a drop and was enterring a new state (where the land would flatter). There was one long hill, gettiing away from the river, but nothing like the grades of PA. But, before I got there, I came across the local congressional office of one Charlie Wilson.

Now, remember, I was trying to make up lost time, so I debated stopping for about... a nanosecond... and turned up into the drive. The Lady at the desk was very nice and we had a bit of a conversation about 1207. Seeing as I know very little of the congressman, I tailoered the pitch to suit, and after hearing her promise to pass my concerns on to her boss, left a few fliers (and a CfL constitution) and went on my way.

After leaving I called LibertyRider#3 Rob Pepe and asked him to look into Congressman Wilson and do a followup call. It turns out that Rep. Wilson is a Blue Dog Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, and that the staffer was impressed enough with my stop as to give Rob the name and numbers for the Legislayive Assistant in DC, whom Rob has since been lobbying. The original post on this side bar story made the front page of CfL and is continueing to develop. As I have stated, if we get another co-sponsor out of this, I will have to learn to dance a jig.

The final encounter of the day was anothr sheriff, whose office ws less that an mile off route. I was a bit taken aback when I saw the Sheriff's tank out front

and wondered what would encounter. But have never let a peice of military hardware disuade me from my goal and went on in. Again the Sheriff was not around and I met with a deputy. Again the officer was a bit shocked to see me standing there, wearing a gadsden flag hat and expressing my displeasure at being negatively profiled by the DHS because of my political beliefs, but at least he could see the bike parked in front and warmed up as I explained why I was delivering the books and the significance of each...

From there I pedaled on to a small, seemingly quiet, country motel and got off the road before dark. What happened in the middle of the night I will save for the next post, - haha.

pedal pedal



m

 

[acptulsa]

Big talk there, Kenny. Why don't you ask TruckingMike about Texas Canyon and it's overgrades? . And as I said in another post, give me the Rockies over the Alleghenies any day. There is a reason that France sends it's tour team to PA to train and not you beloved low grade peaks. The day you pedal over Timmonds Mountain is the day I'll think you ain't just talking out yer ass

You really, really do have a point. You just don't see ten percent grades out west--at least not often. But ol' Kenny has a point, too. It's hard to breathe good and heavy at 13K. I think you're wise to go the New Mexico route, though Glorietta still ain't going to be the cakewalk that western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle will be.

The good news--the Mojave is downhill from Kingman and doesn't present any tough grades until almost Barstow, iirc.

Take care of yourself--and congrats on conquering the first range!