Day 6 -Wilmington, NC to Kinston, NC- 88 Miles

Bob Newsham

Dan Sosa

On day number six the FLETC Long Riders left Wilmington, NC under clear skies and a tail wind for a change. We went up Route 17 with a police escort until we stopped near Topsail Beach where we picked up more escorts from area jurisdictions. After entering Onslow County we stopped and were joined by the local chapter of the Blue Knights MC and a local bicycle club. There were two really interesting bicyclists in the group. Bob Newsham aged 70 years and Dan Sosa aged 79 years young. Dan rode his first century last Monday (100 mile ride) after having a hip replaced. Next week when the rest of the guys get to the LEU ride I hope they will remember the accomphishmants of these men. Bob rides with the name of a police officer killed on 9/11 painted on his bike. We stopped along Route 17 where Deputy Steve Boehm and a Varona firefighter lost their lives in 2008 when they we hit by a tractor trailer while directing traffic. The ride stopped for lunch at Onslow County Sheriff's Office Headquarters in Jacksonville. After lunch we rode to Kinston, NC where we encountered rain showers about 4 miles. We tried to outrun the storm by riding at 27 mph pace but came up short. At the hotel, the mayor of Kinston and members of the local law enforcement memorial association greeted us at the hotel. all told...88 miles at a 18.7 mph pace.  Tomorrow we have a 100 mile day planned with a finish in Edenton, NC.

Day 5-North Myrtle Beach, SC to Wilmington, NC-97 miles

Today we got on the road at 0640 hours and a whopping 45 degrees. With riding at a 20 mph pace the wind chill was down in the 30s. We crossed the sate line into North Carolina at about 0715 and stopped for a picture. After on rest stop we continued to Boiling Springs Lakes, NC where we stopped to honor one of the fallen officers. They had prepared us a bag lunch and sent us on our way. We traveled to a ferry crossing and rode water transport to a landing near Kure Beach, NC. Once back on solid ground the FLETC Long Riders and several local police officers rode to the place where Wilmington Police Officer died in a pursuit in February 2009. His name is Rick Mathews and he rode the long ride in 2008. He had a moment of silence at the place he died and we next travled to the Wilmington Police headquarters for a bigger memorial and wreath laying. The local news covered the service. From the headquarters the riders went to the hotel and called it a day after 97 miles. The next two days will be over 100 miles each day.

Day#4 Georgetown to North Myrtle Beach-82 miles

Well today marks the midway point of the FLETC Long Ride. We started out the day with a short ride from the hotel back to the Georgetown Police Department we were treated once again to the hospitality of this nice community. The Chief of Police treated us to breakfast of scrambled eggs, ham/sausage biscuits, and GRITS!
This is a very small department and they were gracious hosts. One of their captains was in the kitchen at 0600 to get this ready for us. Thanks again!
 After breakfast we held a memorial wreath laying in their lobby with a few words form the Chief and our traveling chaplain Eddie Hill from Horry County, SC Sheriff's Office. Eddie is a great man and has rode with us from Brunswick GA. We left and stopped at a nursing home to visit Mrs Doris Scarbough- Owens who's father, Henry Scarborough was the first LODD in Myrtle Beach in 1949. He was on his first day on the job in a borrowed uniform and gun and was killed by a prisoner on a transport within the first 8 hours on the job.
After leaving the nursing home it started to rain on us but thankfully only briefly. We arrived at the Myrtle
Beach in a drizzle and they greeted us with cheers and clapping. Their honor guard placed a wreath at the memorial to their LODD officers. We were then off to Horry County where we encountered the worst head winds of the trip a sustained 20 mph wind which is very difficult to ride into. We all took turns leading the pace lines for the 14 mile trip to Horry County, After lunch and ceremony at the courthouse, we headed in the direction of North Myrtle Beach and a nice hotel on the beach. Tomorrow we go towards Wilmington, NC a ride of approximately 108 miles.

Day#3 North Charleston to Georgetown, SC-119 miles

Well day number three started off very well. We were escorted over the Arthur Ravenel Bridge. This is a new suspension bridge that is bike friendly. We were joined by members of the Manning SC Police Department who road with us from the start to almost Georgetown. They will rejoin us in Chesapeake for the LEU ride to DC. We traveled onto Munck's Corner, SC and Berkley County Courthouse where we met members of SC C.O.P.S. who's president is the mother of Trooper Mark Coates who was killed in 2002. Lunch was served by the F.O.P. which was very nice.
We traveled from Munck's Corner to Georgetown where we were greeted by the Chief of Police Paul Gardiner. The police department served us dinner and the chief actually served us sweet tea and cleared dinner dishes! Ahh the south, you would never see that up north. Desserts were made by survivor family members. Tomorrow morning we don't have to leave till 0720. The Georgetown PD is hosting us for a southern breakfast with grits!

Trooper Mark Coate's Mother

 After breakfast, we head off to Horry County, Myrtle Beach, and North Myrtle Beach

Day#2- Hardeeville, SC to North Charleston, SC

Daisy Fresh after 60 miles

Today was the second day of the long ride from FLETC to DC. We started at 0630 and headed north on Route 17 towards Ridgeland, SC. We are traveling unescorted today so instead of riding two by two, we have to ride in a pace line for almost 90 miles. The roads are not very smooth and we spent a lot of time dodging rim busting potholes all day long. We had a total of 7 flats for the day. A long ride tradition was fulfilled when the first rider of the day flatted the first of 6 flats for this one rider. He has to buy the liquid refreshment for everyone tonight. Several of the riders had to get in the support vehicles for various medical reasons. We finished up the day in North Charleston at 1630 hours. Total ride mileage for today was 111 miles. Tomorrow we head up the coast towards Georgetown, SC. We will have more memorials starting tomorrow until we reach Chesapeake on Sunday afternoon.

Day 1-FLETC to Hardeeville, SC-101 miles

The first day of the "Long Ride" started at 0630 at FLETC, Brunswick, GA. We had a short memorial service at the FLETC Chapel and Memorial Wall and were piped out by a Border Patrol bagpiper. We rode out of FLETC and headed north through several small towns and worked our way to Bryan County GA for a memorial for a officer killed in 2006 by a drunk driver. We were greeting by his widow and the President of C.O.P.S. in Ga who drove from Atlanta to be there. We continued  north to a F.O.P. lodge where we were treated to lunch. The afternoon portion of the ride took us through Savannah, GA with the huge Oak trees with Spanish Moss hanging from them. We crossed into South Carolina at approximately 1600 hours and finished up today's leg in Hardeeville, SC. Total mileage for the day was 101 miles.

NO Peaches but alot of "No See Ums"

Well Saturday morning at 0415 Juan, Sandy and I left Garrisonville to join the FLETC " Long Ride" of the LEU which starts in Brunswick, GA. We had a safe trip and arrived at 1300 hours at FLETC. We stayed at the dorm on the site and had dinner with the team of 18 others at Pam's #1 a "world famous" dining establishment. Tomorrow we start the long ride with the first leg from FLETC to Hardeeville, SC.