LibertyRide - A Grassroots Journ3y

[ronpaulhawaii]

I hope I get lucky enough to see you in Maricopa county, RPH!

Not this time ...

Too many images to post

http://libertyrider.com/going-with-the-flowing-layers/

pedal pedal

 

[nayjevin]

!!

 

[Cowlesy]

Everyone -- Visit the following site:

http://libertyrider.com/going-with-the-flowing-layers/

To see the commentary on his most recent leg.

Awesome blog post Michael!

 

[disorderlyvision]

I need my Liberty Rider fix. Haven't had an update for a few days.

 

[scandinaviany3]

awesome and amazing

totally awesome and amazing you rock!

 

[Cowlesy]

//

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

Vegas - Tha Approach

Lets see if I can catch up…

I left off crossing AZ after the Kokesh Independence Celebration. The final day was amazing.

Joan and Jeanne caught up with us as we reached Hoover Dam, and informed us that the temp was 119 deg. in the shade. That means the roadside temp was around 140.

Yep, 140 degrees. Baking hot… Kinda hard to believe, even though we were there…

But, like most challenges in life, sensibly using mind over matter, and keeping a determined eye on the goal, allows us to do things we never imagined. Allows us to do the kinds of things we will need to win. Extraordinary things. The term extraordinary is entirely subjective. Comepletly diiferent ballgames for each individual. The point is that we all need to find our limits, and reach past. Expand your limits. Keep pushing. Press On! I’ll be content with “I did what I could” when this body is rotting. For now, I intend to win!

Pedal pedal - haha

Anyway, we made it to Hoover Dam

Where we were joined by Jeanne and Joan (who had recorded the temp- still waiting to see the pic ) I was concentrating on mapping the (added) next section, so missed the camera call…

Then we pedaled across from AZ

to NV

We stopped halfway across the dam for the AZ boys to savor their border to border success

and pitched a few passerby including these guys

pedaled up a steep friggin hill out of the canyon and came on the Welcome to Nevada sign

This is where Ed got off his bike, but Tom decided to accompany me to Vegas. We had a nasty long hill to climb after this shot, but from Boulder City to Henderson was a downhill breeze. Here is Tom after his accomplisment. The Kingman to Vegas run was close to 100 miles in baking heat. He has every reason to feel like he looks in this picture

We got a motel in Henderson and I went through the RV gathering my scattered belongings, (thinking, “how in the heck do I fit all this in that cart?” - haha) said uor goodbyes.

I’ll make a new post the continuing saga, but want to, again, thank from the top, bottom, and sides of my heart. The AZ r3VOLution team for the hospitailty and support. The armed escort across your state was classic. Mahalo Nui Loa

 

[JoshLowry]

You guys rock! Cool bridge pics.

I got my Sheriff Mack book in the mail today. I'll deliver it to when I get done reading.

 

[acptulsa]

Didn't honestly occur to me to arrange an armed escort for you. But then, what happened to you in western Oklahoma at the rest area has never happened to me here, either...

Two states to go! Building up some anticipation, or sorry to see the end in sight?

You guys rock! Cool bridge pics.

That's not a damned bridge. That's a damned big dam.

 

[torchbearer]

Building up some anticipation, or sorry to see the end in sight?

there are no endings, only new beginnings.
liberty requires vigilance... the ride for liberty is never ending.

 

[JoshLowry]

That's not a damned bridge. That's a damned big dam.

New bridge in background. He's got another shot of it on facebook:

Humans are an impressive species.

 

[acptulsa]

Wow. Combining an arch and suspension. Neat.

Thanks for pointing that out. Missed it.

P.S. Have you read that a court is questioning Obama's legitimacy as Commander in Chief? If this thing goes anywhere, the Constitutionally elected sheriffs of this land could wind up being all the continuity of government we can expect for a time. You might just mention that to these sheriffs you encounter and see what they think...

 

[acptulsa]

So, you post that the Mojave heat made you sick and then you don't post at all? Trying to get us to worry about you?

Worked.

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

So, you post that the Mojave heat made you sick and then you don't post at all? Trying to get us to worry about you?

Worked.

sorry - :o

Here is yesterdays Facebook status updates:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=663957952&ref=mf

Michael Maresco got beat up pretty good by the sun yesterday. Was too beat to blog. Will try again tonight, but have another 90+ mile day in front... pedal pedal

`````````````````````
Michael Maresco [/b]is glad to be back in cel range. less the ten miles left. much cooler at 6000ft -haha . around 100, may need jacket

````````````````````
Michael Maresco - is comfortably on his back in Tonopah, NV., after pedaling 95 miles, climbing 4300 ft, in 120 degree weather. Is now 2 days in head of schedule and out of the worst of the desert . Will be resting a day before the next leg of 104 miles, with no bailout towns in between... pedal pedal

Hope to catch up on the blog today...

:o

 

[disorderlyvision]

So, you post that the Mojave heat made you sick and then you don't post at all? Trying to get us to worry about you?

Worked.

I know, right! went from daily updates to sparse. everything is good I hope

 

[acptulsa]

Damn.

Had a front move through yesterday. I won't tell you the temperature today, you'll think I'm boasting. It was 103 earlier in the week, if that makes you feel better...

Good job clearing the desert, and rest well. You've more than earned it.

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

First an AZ vid recap, from Tom Costanza of Freedom’s Phoenix


[url]http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Article/053163-2009-07-09-kokesh-revolution-liberty-rider-crosses-arizona.htm
[/URL]

(and a side note, the section of I-40 where the continental divide was had two ten mile construction zones where pedaling through would have been suicidal. As disappointed as I am not getting a Continental Divide pic, I am grateful for the RV assistance past these major obstacles)


I’m sure most of you have seen the vids, and reports, from Vegas.

I will not go into the whole thing, just post pics. It was great seeing old friends and making new ones.


Here is Drew (left) who I first met in Tuscon on the RP ride, and to the right is Tim, who was the PA coordinator for the ride and was kind enough to share his room with me…

We made a classic group picture for Jeff G and all signed it

We went to the CATO party for a bit. Here is Ben (rt) and 4409 (lft)

Spent some time at the booth, here is Andrew Ward who I first met during the Lawson Campaign

My favorite pic, by far, is this

I consider Tom Woods to be a treasure of the r3VOLution. He truly is a grassroot. Even with all his intelligence, degrees, and accomplishments, I cannot detect a single “elitist” bone in his body. He has power, and as we all know, power so easily corrupts, yet this man remains as fun loving and down to earth as a child. An easy smile, a hearty laugh, a firm handshake, all things I like in a man. While there are a few in our movement who I think have let celebrity, and power, get to their heads. Dr. Woods

is not one of them. Long Live Tom Woods!


Speaking of celebrity, people keep calling me one and it is really strange. I’ve resisted the thought. Perhaps I just am cynical, after watching those in our movement who get that “elitist” attitude and don’t want to be associated with such. Or, perhaps I fear the temptation of power that celebrity brings, and I will fall into the same trap. Regardless, I pedaled my way into this position, am here now, and do appreciate you all very much. So I figure I’ll just keep using Tom Woods as a role model, in hopes of remaining as down to earth, and in tune with the true grassroots, as I can be. (and if any of you every notice me being “elitist” please don’t hesitate to let me know- damn, even writing that seems weird...)



pedal pedal…

 

[disorderlyvision]

Nice! thanks for the update.

I don't think you have to worry about "celebrity" going to your head. You were a very laid back and down to earth character when I met you in Jeff City.

Cheers!

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

Nice! thanks for the update.

I don't think you have to worry about "celebrity" going to your head. You were a very laid back and down to earth character when I met you in Jeff City.

Cheers!

Thanks, DV. It is a really strange thing for me. I spent most of my life quietly, anonymously, exploring the world. My dream has always been to acquire enough wisdom to write childrens books when I reach retirement age, and quietly share what I have learned... What I am doing now would never have occurred to me in a thousand years...

May we help win this sooner, rather than later (Liberty WILL win), and I can return to my island paradise. I really miss the Sunset Ukulele Patrol...

Anyway, enough of that melancholy BS... haha

Vegas Pt 2
After Freedom Fest, I was picked up by Dave Freeman, National Peace Officer Liaison for Oath-Keepers, and brought to his house for two days to get ready for some dangerous ground; the Nevada desert on the edge of Death Valley... eek

But I shouldn't get ahead of myself...

We had a productive time in Vegas. Dave is a 30+year vet of the LV Metro Police (Sgt - Motorcycle Division) and he knows quite a few folk. So he got me in to see the Clark County Constable, Bobby G

Bobby deserves special mention. The constables office is an electoral one, and perhaps more ancient that the sheriff. (Some reports say the constable is the only one who can arrest a sheriff, others say the coroner is - I imagine different jurisdictions handle these things differently...) They serve papers. When he took over it was running a deficit and the officers had no uniforms, vehicles, or firearms. Now, the office has a large surplus and runs consistently in the black. The officers are armed, uniformed, have vehicles, and they are about to move to a bigger office - at no cost to the taxpayer.

Hmmm... I wonder where the money was going before Bobby G... (Vegas, baby)

As usual, a little confused on why I was there, at first, but thanked me for the materials I dropped off, and gave me some great swag, including an "official" shot glass, and another star for the ride... Thanks Bobby

Next we went to the Sheriff Office, where we found out the Sheriff had to cancel, but we met with Asst. Sheriff Ray Flynn

He knew right what I was talking about when I got into the part about the DHS reports and even asked if I knew about the "Sovereign Nation" thing the Feds sent out a memo on. I said, "do you mean Sovereign Citizens." He said, "yes, that's it" I said I know little of the nuts and bolts, but that it has something to do with the corporatization of the nation and birth certificates. He said, "yeah, they don't accept any government paperwork as valid." I said that I imagine there is some merit to their concerns and I believe that the corporatization of America is a large part of the problems we face. As the card I gave him states, "Face the Facts - Gov't INC. is Fascism" I hope he reflects on that and decides to look further into the other side of the story.

He was glad to get the Sheriff Mack book. The others he was just going to pass on to the sheriff, but he knew the Sheriff already had a copy so figured he'd get to read this one. I encouraged him to pass it around. All in all a good visit. He was a noticeably intelligent man, took notes, and promised to relay our conversation to his boss.

Then he gave me some more swag A Patch, a Poker Chip, and... another star (so far, it's a four star ride - haha)

Thanks, Ray...

Back at the ranch, Dave had decided that the desert was quite dangerous to travel alone, so he told his lovely wife Eileen that he'd be going away for a few days to accompany me across his state. A godsend...

But before we left, he did one other kindness that made my month. I haven't been talking much of pain/etc. While most of it has been the normal aches of a working body, one thing was pretty bad. My sciatic started acting up in MO, and if you've had sciatic problems before, you know what that can be like. A dull ache and shooting pains. Finding a comfortable position for sitting was tough, and standing near impossible. Walking wasn't bad, and I didn't feel it at all on the bike, but I was kinda miserable for weeks...

Well, I mentioned my lament to Dave and, lo and behold, the man who knows everyone, knew a former officer who had become a Chiropractor. He called him up and told him my story. The Doc comp'ed me two visits, and the pain was gone a day later. THANK YOU!!! Dr. McKay!!!

Interestingly, while he was testing he did a strength test on my legs. The affected Ham and Glute (lft) were not firing on all cylinders (much weaker), because the nerve carrying the brain signals was pinched. After fixing it I have noticed the difference on the bike. Muscles on my left side had over - compensated and now my right side had to deal with the extra load... haha.

Needless to say I am a much happier man... Dave really is a godsend...

The last thing I did in Vegas was a send off dinner with the Oath-Keepers

and put a new sticker on the bike, (I think it fits perfectly)

Next post, the desert...

pedal pedal

 

[torchbearer]

this is a great read.
maybe save them all and make a journal collection.