After arriving back home on August 9, 2008, the weekend for the final leg of the TransAmerica ride arrived. As promised earlier, this blog will cover the final events.
August 22, 2008 The ride from Hanover County into Richmond.
I packed all of the gear onto the bike and rode the 30 miles to Dave Jenkin's home in Richmond. He was a roommate of Jim's at the University of Richmond and for the past three weeks or so has been planning a Block Party to welcome me back to Richmond and to launch the final day ride to Yorktown, VA. Also, Doug Gardner, another college friend and roommate of Jim's. was going to come to Richmond from Winson Salem, North Carolina to join in the final ride. Dave has been a whirlwind of activity ever since I have been back in town, spinning a new idea for the party every few seconds.
I rode the 30 miles into Richmond Friday afternoon. The block was closed by the police at 4:30 for the party. Soon after two Model A Ford cars from the Old Dominion Car club showed up as one of the attractions. Next a guy who does tree climbing for kids arrived with his ropes and tree climbing gear. He positioned ropes WAY up in the tree and then the children actually propelled themselves up into the tree. The kids, about 8 to 11 years of age, loved it and the parents were breathless. It was quite an attraction. I mean, they were way up into the tree.
Meanwhile the 10 members of the Greater Richmond Pipe and Drums were arriving and tuning up??? their bagpipes not so inconspicuously in the backyard of Dave and Lisa's home. One tent was set up in Dave's front yard for the spaghetti supper which was served to those who were cycling to Yorktown the next day. Two beer kegs for everyone to enjoy were in his yard also. In the next door neighbor's yard (they weren't home, but Dave said they supported the party... I hope so) was another tent for the Caribbean Band, "Ban Caribe" and its 8 members. So the stage was set.
At 6:30 the bag pipers lead me onto the block. We paraded down the block and back with one final number in front of the tents. The crowd roared in appreciation. Then Dave made some remarks and introduced Doug Gardner, whom I had never met we in person; we had emailed often and talked by phone. I was really happy to finally see him face to face. They even gave me a beautiful plaque commemorating the ride. I gave my thanks for everyone's support and introduced my "team" of Nancy, Philip, Davis who rode with me the first two weeks, and Don Schubert who began the ride in Astoria.
The Carrabian band began playing and all of the riders enjoyed a big pasta feast to fuel up for the ride the next day. My bike was hung in front of the tent for people to tie various colored ribbons on depending on the amount that they pledged to the Jim Popp Fund. It was a real happening event and I can't thank Dave and his wife Lisa enough for all they did to create the RideForJim Finale Rally. What a couple they are!!!
August 23, 2008 Ride to Yorktown: the final leg
I went home and got up early to arrive at Dave's house by 7:00 AM so Dave, Doug and I could ride to the medical college where all of the riders were going to meet at 8:00 to begin the final leg to Yorktown. It was a perfect morning for the ride, clear blue sky and low humidity. The final count at the start was 13 riders which included two current medical students Charlie Nottingham and Jonathan Katz. They rode with us about 30 miles and then turned back to go to the library and study. Studying always has gotten in the way of a good time. It was a special treat to have a couple of our present day students show up to honor Jim. Thanks guys!!
We rode about half way to Charles City where there is a Mom and Pops kind of place for a rest stop. It was exactly like the hundreds of similar places I visited on my ride. Then on to Williamsburg for lunch at about 12:30. This was about the 60 mile point. Davis picked a great Deli for the stop which had very ample subs and many other choices of high octane fuel. We did a nice ride down the Duke of Glouster Street in Colonial Williamsburg, well, actually we sort of did a couple swings down the street before we got our bearings and found our way back to the Colonial Parkway and off to Yorktown, 12 miles further.
As we rode onto Water Street in Yorktown which is right on the York River, we were greeted by the loudest and longest AHOOOOOOGA I have ever heard. Five Model A cars along with an enthusiastic gang from the Old Dominion Model A Club that I am a member of were there to greet us. They had driven their cars all the way from Richmond just to show their support for the ride. It was a real thrill to see, and HEAR them. Thank you all for the interest you have shown all along in the RideForJim. Your are the greatest.
Next came the big moment of dipping the front wheel in the York River. The ride is not exactly from sea to shinning sea, as my friend Don Schubert will quickly point out to you. Instead it is actually from the mouth of the Columbia river from which one can SEE the Pacific to the mouth of the York River, from which one can ALMOST see the Atlantic Ocean. So the dipping marks the end of the trail.
I went to the water's edge and put the front wheel in the water with my team, the team that rode the last day with me, their friends and family that met them in Yorktown, and the Model A club all watching and taking pictures. Suddenly I was being sprayed by something. What was going on??? Dave and Doug each had a bottle of Champaign and had popped the cord and were giving me a celebratory shower. What a surprise. Of course there were lots of other beach goers at the scene wondering what in the heck was going on. Some of them were eventually filled in on what the occasion was. In fact one group got the email address and is going to send the pictures they took of the antics.
I could not have written a better script for the final leg of the trip, the RideForJim Finale Rally. The weather was perfect, we had just the right number to do the ride so that we could all hang together without interfering with traffic, and it was a perfectly compatible group. The dipping at the end was much more than I expected and will be something that I will never forget.
Now we are hoping that this ride can become an annual event, with perhaps someone doing the TransAmerica ride each year and culminating in the RideForJim Finale Rally. Dave has LOTS more ideas to add into the mix for next year. I think he was actually planning next year's event even as this one was being launched.
We hope for the fund to reach $50,000 before we start using income generated to fund a medical student for summer cancer-related research. Before this weekend the total had reached about $21,000. We are very pleased with how far we have come thanks to the efforts and contributions of so many great family members, dear friends and so many others who have heard about the fund and were moved to help.
We will be posting updates to the web site from time to time in the future so stay tuned.
Thank you for your interest and encouragement this past months.
Jack on behalf of the whole Haar family
August 22, 2008 The ride from Hanover County into Richmond.
I packed all of the gear onto the bike and rode the 30 miles to Dave Jenkin's home in Richmond. He was a roommate of Jim's at the University of Richmond and for the past three weeks or so has been planning a Block Party to welcome me back to Richmond and to launch the final day ride to Yorktown, VA. Also, Doug Gardner, another college friend and roommate of Jim's. was going to come to Richmond from Winson Salem, North Carolina to join in the final ride. Dave has been a whirlwind of activity ever since I have been back in town, spinning a new idea for the party every few seconds.
I rode the 30 miles into Richmond Friday afternoon. The block was closed by the police at 4:30 for the party. Soon after two Model A Ford cars from the Old Dominion Car club showed up as one of the attractions. Next a guy who does tree climbing for kids arrived with his ropes and tree climbing gear. He positioned ropes WAY up in the tree and then the children actually propelled themselves up into the tree. The kids, about 8 to 11 years of age, loved it and the parents were breathless. It was quite an attraction. I mean, they were way up into the tree.
Meanwhile the 10 members of the Greater Richmond Pipe and Drums were arriving and tuning up??? their bagpipes not so inconspicuously in the backyard of Dave and Lisa's home. One tent was set up in Dave's front yard for the spaghetti supper which was served to those who were cycling to Yorktown the next day. Two beer kegs for everyone to enjoy were in his yard also. In the next door neighbor's yard (they weren't home, but Dave said they supported the party... I hope so) was another tent for the Caribbean Band, "Ban Caribe" and its 8 members. So the stage was set.
At 6:30 the bag pipers lead me onto the block. We paraded down the block and back with one final number in front of the tents. The crowd roared in appreciation. Then Dave made some remarks and introduced Doug Gardner, whom I had never met we in person; we had emailed often and talked by phone. I was really happy to finally see him face to face. They even gave me a beautiful plaque commemorating the ride. I gave my thanks for everyone's support and introduced my "team" of Nancy, Philip, Davis who rode with me the first two weeks, and Don Schubert who began the ride in Astoria.
The Carrabian band began playing and all of the riders enjoyed a big pasta feast to fuel up for the ride the next day. My bike was hung in front of the tent for people to tie various colored ribbons on depending on the amount that they pledged to the Jim Popp Fund. It was a real happening event and I can't thank Dave and his wife Lisa enough for all they did to create the RideForJim Finale Rally. What a couple they are!!!
August 23, 2008 Ride to Yorktown: the final leg
I went home and got up early to arrive at Dave's house by 7:00 AM so Dave, Doug and I could ride to the medical college where all of the riders were going to meet at 8:00 to begin the final leg to Yorktown. It was a perfect morning for the ride, clear blue sky and low humidity. The final count at the start was 13 riders which included two current medical students Charlie Nottingham and Jonathan Katz. They rode with us about 30 miles and then turned back to go to the library and study. Studying always has gotten in the way of a good time. It was a special treat to have a couple of our present day students show up to honor Jim. Thanks guys!!
We rode about half way to Charles City where there is a Mom and Pops kind of place for a rest stop. It was exactly like the hundreds of similar places I visited on my ride. Then on to Williamsburg for lunch at about 12:30. This was about the 60 mile point. Davis picked a great Deli for the stop which had very ample subs and many other choices of high octane fuel. We did a nice ride down the Duke of Glouster Street in Colonial Williamsburg, well, actually we sort of did a couple swings down the street before we got our bearings and found our way back to the Colonial Parkway and off to Yorktown, 12 miles further.
As we rode onto Water Street in Yorktown which is right on the York River, we were greeted by the loudest and longest AHOOOOOOGA I have ever heard. Five Model A cars along with an enthusiastic gang from the Old Dominion Model A Club that I am a member of were there to greet us. They had driven their cars all the way from Richmond just to show their support for the ride. It was a real thrill to see, and HEAR them. Thank you all for the interest you have shown all along in the RideForJim. Your are the greatest.
Next came the big moment of dipping the front wheel in the York River. The ride is not exactly from sea to shinning sea, as my friend Don Schubert will quickly point out to you. Instead it is actually from the mouth of the Columbia river from which one can SEE the Pacific to the mouth of the York River, from which one can ALMOST see the Atlantic Ocean. So the dipping marks the end of the trail.
I went to the water's edge and put the front wheel in the water with my team, the team that rode the last day with me, their friends and family that met them in Yorktown, and the Model A club all watching and taking pictures. Suddenly I was being sprayed by something. What was going on??? Dave and Doug each had a bottle of Champaign and had popped the cord and were giving me a celebratory shower. What a surprise. Of course there were lots of other beach goers at the scene wondering what in the heck was going on. Some of them were eventually filled in on what the occasion was. In fact one group got the email address and is going to send the pictures they took of the antics.
I could not have written a better script for the final leg of the trip, the RideForJim Finale Rally. The weather was perfect, we had just the right number to do the ride so that we could all hang together without interfering with traffic, and it was a perfectly compatible group. The dipping at the end was much more than I expected and will be something that I will never forget.
Now we are hoping that this ride can become an annual event, with perhaps someone doing the TransAmerica ride each year and culminating in the RideForJim Finale Rally. Dave has LOTS more ideas to add into the mix for next year. I think he was actually planning next year's event even as this one was being launched.
We hope for the fund to reach $50,000 before we start using income generated to fund a medical student for summer cancer-related research. Before this weekend the total had reached about $21,000. We are very pleased with how far we have come thanks to the efforts and contributions of so many great family members, dear friends and so many others who have heard about the fund and were moved to help.
We will be posting updates to the web site from time to time in the future so stay tuned.
Thank you for your interest and encouragement this past months.
Jack on behalf of the whole Haar family
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