Muddy Angels 2008: One Rider`s Thoughts from the Road

"Why do you do the ride? I could never bike that far! What's a Muddy Angel? Are you crazy or are you a masochist?"

These are the usual questions that get asked of those of us who ride the 600-mile EMS Memorial Bike Ride from NYC to Roanoke, Virginia. There's only one answer to all the questions; we do it to honor and remember the fallen EMS providers and their families and to remind everyone who sees and hears of us of the tremendous sacrifice that has been made.

This is my third ride. Before my first ride, my friend and partner Doug Martin spent two years talking about taking on the challenge. Since we are always looking for something to do that is physically challenging, a little crazy and sounds like a good time, adding "for a good and needed cause" seemed like the perfect combo.

What we found was much more. We found a tremendous physical challenge, craziness and really good times but also new friendships that will last a lifetime. These are friends who we know understand the level of caring and emotion we bring to our work every single day, friends we miss as soon as the ride is over.

Friday 5/16; New Hampshire to New York City

Made it to the Big Apple! Easy going until we got to lower Connecticut where real traffic kicked in! Ran into rain in Hartford and had it all the way into NYC. Only one close call when someone merging from the on ramp decided to cut across three lanes of traffic. Had to hit the brakes and found that a Subaru loaded with 30 cases of water, Gatorade, bikes and luggage doesn't want to slow too quickly.

Along the way Doug had to stop at all the rest stops for drinks and snacks. I'm not sure what kind of training he's doing for this ride, although he keeps telling me he's carb loading.

Registration was quick once we got into the hotel. Invers Community College Paramedic students are back again to assist with rider support as well as doing the ride themselves! They are the wingmen! Without them this ride couldn't happen!

At the hotel we met two riders from Ireland. It's exciting to welcome riders from other countries for the first time.

The boys form Ireland happened upon the ride when they were making plans to come to the Boston area to see how some of the EMS services in that area worked. Gary and Kerenan come from different areas of Ireland. Gary is from Cork and Kerenan is from Belfast. They were chosen to come over for the observation from a large group of applicants. While they were making their plans a co-worker told them about the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride. They made contact with the organization, got together with Dr. Ted, who provided them with bikes, and the rest is history so to speak. For here they are making this an international event and making the trek with us.

Orientation at 2100, going to learn what the rules will be and the routes we are taking.

Start bright and early tomorrow May 17th, from Jacobie Station (the first EMS station in NYC), pedal across Manhattan and Staten Island to Battalion 23 (the frontier) for lunch, then off to New Jersey.

We met the families of 2 EMT's fallen in the line of duty on 9-11. This is the third year these families have been here to meet us.

I can't even imagine what these families are feeling or what they have gone through in losing a loved one so suddenly! We hope our presence and our commitment to honor and remember provides some consolation for them.

On Sunday May 18th, there is a second group of riders that will be starting from Lexington Kentucky. We will meet this group next Friday outside of Roanoke Virginia, in Salem. From there we will regroup and ride in to Hotel Roanoke together. Along the way we will be picking up more riders. There are many who ride for one, two or three days with us.

It's not the distance but the cause that makes me ride. You don't have to pedal every mile and there is no shame in hopping into the sag wagon when you're tired. It's amazing what a short rest and conversation with other riders and the drivers of the sag wagons can do for your tired body. You find that, as the week progresses, you start getting stronger in the legs but the butt gets sorer (unless you use some butt paste.....but that's another story!)

Saturday 5/17; NYC to Plainsboro, NJ

Saturday 5/17, what a fantastic day! Up as always at 0530 for the 0700 start. We were bussed over to Jacobie station for a parting prayer from the FDNY Chaplin and then off we went pedaling through all the boroughs of NYC in parade formation.

When we reached Ground Zero we slowed our pace and said our own silent prayer as we passed by. From there it was on to the old navy boat yard where we were met by the Marine 9 EMS Unit. This is our passage to Staten Island along with a tour of the harbor. We had perfect weather, sunny and cool and no waves made for smooth sailing.

At the Statue of Liberty the pilot slowed down so we could take some pictures (we're all tourists at heart!) We were "piped" off at Staten Island by the local EMS Bagpipers, then had a quick lunch, and were off to Perth Amboy NJ. At Perth Amboy we participated in a ceremony for one of their own, Joe Murawski, who died in the line of duty this past year. After the ceremony for Joe the honor guard from the Invers Community College read off the names of all the people being inducted into the memorial this year. The same bell that tolled for the 9/11 victims tolled for each of the inductees as their names were read (and by the same bell ringer, who was a close friend of Joe's). It was a very moving experience. Everyone at Perth Amboy was fantastic and we were treated like family. We were glad to have time to spend with the crews that were there and to hear Joe's story. As always, tears flowed and lots of hugs were passed around. From Perth Amboy we headed off to our next destination, Princeton NJ. We spent the night in Princeton after the Hillsboro Rescue Squad fed us a great dinner.

There weren't enough support drivers to get our vehicle to the first night's stop so Doug and I ended up borrowing a car, driving back into the city and retrieving ours. Got back to the hotel at midnight and up at 0500 to get ready to go out.

Why Muddy Angels? Well, think of some of the places that we find ourselves doing our job; on city streets, in the back woods, wading in water, at fires, tenements, mansions, you name it, we're there if someone needs us. How many flights did you go up today and then have to bring the patient back down? Have you had to get some kid's hand out of a gumball machine lately? As EMS providers we do all of this without giving it a second thought and, on occasion, we come away from these encounters just a little dirty. But we always come away feeling good about what we have done for the person who needed us. Thank you Steve Berry for the perfect design!

Sunday 5/18; Plainsboro, NJ to Wilmington, Del.

Wow was it a short night! After getting to bed after midnight and getting up at 0530, I wasn't up to my usual energetic, chipper self. A quick breakfast of bagels and fruit and we're on the road again at 0700. Luck was with us as we were able to find a driver for our vehicle and it has been officially designated a "support" vehicle. I feel that I've traveled back in time; the students from Invers Community College are driving the support vehicles and every morning they ask for money so they can put gas in the car. Just like my girls used to do when they were still at home!

Today's first 25 miles was done in what we call "touring formation" which just means that you can choose your own pace as long as you end up at the first rest stop by 0900. We all like "touring formation" since you can ride at a pace that's conducive to conversation and share stories with other riders.

Today I rode with Alex from Colorado Springs. He's riding to remember and honor three co-workers from Topeka Kansas. I also found myself riding with Chris Thompson from New Mexico. Chris is 14 years old and is doing the ride with his father who is in the army. Chris is one squared away young man, he responds to calls in the fire service as an Explorer Scout and is taking an EMT Basic course for two high school credits. What a great way to get young people involved in EMS!

Our first stop of the day was at Bucks County, the site of the third plane from 9/11. A beautiful memorial has been built, The Garden of Reflections, to all of the lives lost in 9/11 and EMS. They lost two EMS personnel this year and we had the honor to participate in their memorial ceremony. And, as in all the ceremonies we attend, the students from Invers Community College will read the names of the heroes being inducted into the EMS Memorial. This one definitely got to me; the tears were running freely before we were halfway through, as I realized where we were all standing and the events that surrounded the significance of it all. Once that set in, I just completely broke down when I went to meet the families. Afterwards I definitely needed some alone time. I believe everyone on the ride felt the same way. We were all very somber as we left the park to continue the ride. I know that I pedaled for many miles with a heavy heart.

Next stop, Philadelphia.

We were met by the Philly police and escorted downtown. No stop signs or traffic lights for us, the road was shut down and we owned it!! Once again in parade formation, with plenty of shouts of support from the Philly residents, we ended downtown at Franklin Park; this park is used for honoring police and fire personnel who have died in the line of duty. We were all very pleased to see EMS also being included.

Commissioner Ayers and Chief Butts presided over the ceremony. This one wasn't as hard on me as the last one. Maybe because Philly had no loss of life this year or because of the weather, or maybe I was still working my way through my emotions from Bucks County. As the students are reading the names they have included names from previous years. As they read there are some names that stand out from the past. Family's survivors that we have met, the thoughts and memories all come back in a flash as to what happened to these lost souls and the tears shared with the families. The ceremony was cut short by a sudden downpour so I (being the He-Man that I am) put my bike on the rack and jumped into the support car as Doug drove us to the hotel.

Monday 5/19; Wilmington, Del. to Annapolis, Md.

Last night the Blacksburg support vehicle was struck by a DUI when they went out to fuel up. It was hit hard enough to break the rear axle but luckily the local dealership was able to put them on the lift first thing this morning and had them on the road in a couple of hours.

Sunny, cool and windy (gusts at 25 to 40mph) is the weather for today. Gusty wind can sap the energy out of the best of riders! But as we were getting buffeted around and pushed into each other by the wind this group of riders came together as a team, supporting each other and encouraging each other along the way, working as a team to cut through the wind, learning to draft off of each other and taking turns leading the pack with no words of anger towards Mother Nature! Instead everyone shrugged their shoulders, gritted their teeth and took the wind head on, with persistence and willingness in true EMS fashion.

I rode with Matt today; he works for Nassau County on Long Island. They are usually a single responder rescue, and have police officers for drivers. This morning Matt found out that one of the officers he works with was in a serious accident last night. It seems he stopped a DUI and as he pulled up behind the vehicle, his cruiser was struck from behind causing a brain stem injury to him. Our prayers were with this officer today and with his family.

I've also been riding with and keeping track of a friend I made last year, Dave Millsap. Dave had a close call five weeks ago. As he was moving a patient from an MVC that he had strapped onto the eight level, a vehicle drove around the fire apparatus protecting the scene and pinned Dave and his partner up against the bumper of the ambulance. Ironically, the driver of the vehicle was a DUI! Thank goodness no broken bones, but a lot of crush injuries. But today Dave is riding strong and covering every mile with no ill affects.

80 miles today. Last stop was at the Fire & EMS Memorial at Annapolis. They have a beautiful memorial. As always we feel the pain of the families and co-workers of these fallen heroes. I believe I speak for the group that every one of these ceremonies is a moving experience. Tomorrow we ride into DC and a ceremony at the capitol. We expect to meet with representatives from our respective states.

Tuesday 5/20; Annapolis, Md. to Manassas, Va.

Today started with pouring rain and bad news on the support vehicle front. Two of our support vehicles were broken into last night and had cameras and GPS units stolen. The Blacksburg vehicle was one of them as was the vehicle from Northstar out of Farmington, Maine. On the bright side, Royal Glass Company generously replaced the windows at no cost. Word went out to different State EMS agencies about our setbacks and, true to the EMS way of helping others, the donations came rolling in; New Hampshire led the way along with the NYC Paramedic Association. The news media also picked up on this event and Jennifer Frenette, president of the Muddy Angels had several opportunities to tell the public of what our group was doing and why.

We loaded up the bikes in the big yellow Ryder truck to go to the first rest stop as the riders followed in the buses. This for me was another hour's sleep; the early mornings and the ride were starting to wear me down. By the time we got to the Capital Heights Fire/Rescue station the rain had stopped. A short ceremony was held for Nadar Hamet who was coming back from a training exercise when yet another drunk driver killed him. The department Chaplin and Nadar's mother both gave a very moving talk. We all met with the family members, who are a tight, loving family and some of the nicest people a person could hope to meet. Nadar's brother Faheen rode into DC with us. Faheen teaches grade school phys ed in an inner city school in DC... talk about a tough job! He promises to come back next year to do the entire ride with us. I look forward to riding with him again, he's such an easy person to talk with and he really misses his brother.

In DC we gathered at the Capitol building in Senator's park and met with a representative from New Hampshire Senator Judd Greg's office. We explained to her why we ride and asked for the Senator's support for House Bill 3822 which would provide for loss of life benefits for all Fire and EMS providers, whether paid, volunteer or third service providers. Some of the riders went to their respective representatives' offices to meet with them. We also met with representatives from Advocates for EMS which is promoting this bill. Advocates for EMS is a group that lobbies for EMS legislation.

From there it was an escorted ride to the White House, then through the city and on to Georgetown and Virginia. As soon as we crossed the state line we encountered the first of many of Virginia's hills.

Wednesday 5/21; Manassas Va. to Skyline Resort on Skyline Drive

We left Manassas bright and early at 0700 heading for Skyline Drive, 60 miles away, and then seventeen miles uphill. The day was sunny and cloudy but always with a cool breeze blowing. I find Virginia is much like the central and western part of New Hampshire, with rolling hills and lots of small farms. Today we were on our own riding in touring formation and with no ceremonies to stop for; we had until 6 pm to get to our next overnight spot, the Skyline Resort. As we proceeded further into the state the hills became taller and the group spread out more. For once I was riding at my pace and able to spend time with many of the new riders. Usually I'm riding in the rear doing sweep, making sure everyone gets in, offering tips on how to ride and peddle more efficiently and offering encouragement to those who are falling behind. There are several of us who do this, Ted, Steve, Doug.

I rode with an EMS provider from NYC who was riding to remember his Captain who died in the line of duty several years ago. He had the Captain's picture mounted to his handlebars and told me that when he started to feel like he couldn't pedal another mile, one look at that picture and his legs seemed to re-energize!

Our next-to-last rest stop was in Sperryville, Va. just before we enter Shenandoah National Park. We needed that rest to muster our energy to face a ten-mile push to Skyline Drive. The folks in Sperryville got quite the chuckle when we were discussing the hills we had just come over. They informed us that the real climb uphill started just around the corner from their station, but there were many switchbacks that helped ease the pain of the climb. Once we entered Skyline Drive it was another seven miles pedaling uphill to the resort. Just imagine having Crawford, Franconia, Pinkham and Kinsman notches lined up together. Or maybe like riding up Pikes Peak in Colorado, for everyone who rode, it was a tough uphill ride with a 10-12% grade. That is what this ride was like, seventeen miles uphill at a 5-9 mph pace.

At this point I was back riding sweep. I was riding with Elizabeth, who moved to the United States from Japan and now lives in Michigan and is going to paramedic school in Invers. Elizabeth is all of four feet tall and is doing this whole ride on a mountain bike! She has one of the biggest hearts I've ever seen... there really was no quit in this girl. She wasn't riding for anyone in particular, she just thought it was something she should do and she did it smiling all the way!

When we reached Skyline Drive, dark clouds rolled in, the wind started to blow hard and sideways gusting up to thirty mph, the temperature dropped fifteen degrees and it started spitting rain. The sag wagon came by and asked if we wanted to call it quits given the weather change. Elizabeth said no, so off we went, Elizabeth with her fierce determination and me thinking we were both crazy, but if she wanted to do it who was I to say no. We chugged hard up the last five miles with many of the riders, who had already finished, driving out to cheer us on. But for me, it was all about Elizabeth making it to the end and about the families of the fallen EMS providers. At 5:45 pm we rolled into Skyland Resort where the rest of the team was cheering us loudly in support. Heavy blankets and lots of hugs warmed us up pretty quickly. As tired as we were, we were both proud of what we had accomplished and our reasons why.

Thursday 5/22; Skyline Resort to Lexington, Va.

Just a little note from yesterday's ride: we gained 7200 feet of elevation climbing up Skyline Drive, with all the ups and downs we did. That's not to say the mountains are at 7200 feet of elevation, but every time we climb a hill or mountain then go down the other side, climb the next hill we add each elevation together to get our total for the day.

Today the temperature at ride time was a balmy 38 degrees. Everyone was wearing every piece of bike clothing they had brought just to stay warm in the parking lot before leaving. Once under way and with the wind hitting us it was cold! For the first 11 miles of our so-called "downhill decent" we climbed another 2500 feet but were able to maintain a heady 11 mph pace. This is really beautiful country where the deer are so plentiful we had to be constantly alert for them so we didn't have any deer-bike collisions. The views from the lookouts are spectacular and we could see our destination, the Shenandoah Valley.

One of the support vehicles hit a bear last night and did some damage to the front fender of the car. The bear ran off and no injuries to anyone in the car.

Once we came to the final descent, it was a fast seven miles with speeds over 40 mph. Makes up for the 5 mph uphill grind yesterday.

Speaking of yesterday, I found that I used up everything I had on the mountain. After the first few miles this morning I seemed to have no legs to get me through. So at the thirty mile mark, on the second rest stop the bike went into the truck and I hopped in with Karen, one of the bikers and support personnel. We went off in search of lunch makings. We found the local supermarket where we got lots of peanut butter and jelly, bologna and cheese, yogurt and snack items. Karen even got the store to give us a discount... what sales talent!

Lunch was at the local PHI Med Flight hanger. We were sorry they got called out shortly after we arrived...would like to have exchanged stories with them. All the riders arrived in good sprits, chowed down and hit the road again in short order.

After lunch, on to the hotel to unload luggage and bikes, and have a hot shower! For dinner, the Fairfield rescue squad served us the best southern fried chicken any of us had ever eaten... two helpings and pudding for desert!

Tonight after dinner the boys from Ireland spoke to the group. The Internet is such a wonderful tool, Gary and Kernan kept in touch with family and friends back home. Kernan read us a letter from the wife of a friend of his who died in the line of duty. She told him how proud she was of him for doing this ride in his memory and how her prayers were with both him and Gary and the rest of the bikers every day, once again a very touching moment.

Gary spoke about an EMS Memorial ride that is done in Cork every year. This is a one-day event that is held in July. Some of us are planning on joining them next year. Unfortunately they don't have a web site for it, so we will have to contact the local EMS service for information.

Gary is leading the charge; he is one fast, tough rider. He and Steve Berry are competing to see who can out bike whom, which is almost as funny as Steve's cartoons! I know from experience that Steve is a good rider, I've tried to keep up a couple of times and I'm no slouch.

We had another major crime spree last night. One of the FDNY buses has a broken rear window and the raccoons crawled in and ate some of our food.

In the morning on to Roanoke.

Wingmen - can't say enough good things about them! These are the support personnel who organize everything every day; they're up early marking the routes and get in late after everything is cleaned up and put away; driving the sag wagons making sure everyone is safe and on time to the final destination of the day; passing out food and fluids, making sure the riders are hydrated and have enough fuel to keep them going. Wingmen, these are the unsung heroes of the ride, I take my helmet off to them, cheer and applaud them loudly. Without these people the ride could not be done.

Friday 5/23; Lexington, Va. to Roanoke

The last day... a lot has happened over the last week. Today was just a perfect day for riding. Temperatures were in the mid 70's with a mild breeze and no humidity. We are once again riding in touring formation, and after a partial day of rest yesterday I feel very strong today and started out that way. For the first fifty miles I chewed up the road and made riders a lot younger than me whimper as I passed them and they couldn't keep up. At the third rest stop I backed off to keep my friend Gunny company. Gunny is a Captain in the Army reserves; she is also a paramedic/RN in Massachusetts and works in the ED of a small hospital outside of Worcester. We rode the final twenty-five miles into Salem, just outside of Roanoke.

Remember those Kentucky riders? Well after a short rest about twenty of us rode out to meet the group of riders coming in from Kentucky. After we met them, friendly hellos and a quick introduction, we returned to Salem Rescue under EMS escort.

At 17:00 we were organized and ready to head into Roanoke. We had close to 100 bike riders and twenty rescue/response/ambulances escorting us front and rear, with lights blazing and sirens blasting. What a sight! Traffic pulled off to the side of the road and people were cheering and clapping as we passed by. This went on for the nine miles to the Hotel Roanoke. Once at the hotel we had a fly over by the Carillon med flight unit.

After congratulations were over we dispersed to talk to the families of the fallen EMS providers. There was a lot of hugging and thanking us for what we've done. But to the last man and woman, we all came away feeling wonderful completely forgetting our aches and pains. We felt that we were walking on air and every one of us was ready to get on our bikes and do it again.

The riders were wearing wristbands with the names of the people being memorialized this year. As we were meeting the families we started to give them the wristbands, and will continue to do so for the weekend. There were many warm, embracing, tearful moments as the riders met the families.

After meeting the families it was time to register, grab a quick shower, then off to the BBQ to mingle with fellow riders, families, and anyone who happened to drop by. What a great time.

Tomorrow some of us are off to Blacksburg, Virginia to visit the memorial at Virginia Tech and to visit the Blacksburg Rescue Squad. In the evening we will be going to the memorial service. At the end of the service at 2000 there is a national moment of silence tone; dispatch centers across the country participate. Doug and I have gotten six dispatch centers in New Hampshire to participate in this. For me it is sharing the memorial with my friends and co-workers back home.

Saturday 5/24; Blacksburg, Va.

Saturday a group of us went to Blacksburg, Virginia for two reasons. One was to thank the Blacksburg Rescue Squad for their continued support of the bike ride. They send a rapid response vehicle and crew to escort and support. Secondly to visit Virginia Tech, sight of last year's campus shootings, to pay respects to the ones lost and thank the Virginia Tech EMS squad.

This visit hit me hard and I'm not ashamed to say I broke down at the memorial. Thank goodness for friends when you need them!

DJ, who is our support driver from Blacksburg Rescue and was on the first duty ambulance to the shootings, escorted us around the scene. DJ is still working his way through this event and this was one part of the healing process. DJ made two trips to the hospital transporting a total of five wounded, and then worked in body recovery where they were bringing out the dead, as their cell phones were ringing in the body bags. We also visited the memorial for the fallen students. The one main thought going through my mind was why so many young people had to die, the families left behind and the rescue people who, admittedly through their own choice, moved into the fray and made the necessary choices. My hat is off to them along with my humble thanks.

Saturday evening was spent at the first Baptist Church in Roanoke for the National Memorial service. There were 73 inductees to the tree of life this year. The church was full and we were in the grandstand seats on the side. Each family is presented with an oak leaf medallion, a flag that has flown over the White House and a white rose. After the ceremony we all moved outside of the church where those in uniform (and there were many) stood at attention as taps was played and a flyover by Carillon Hospital Med Flight took place.

After all was over, twenty-six of us went to a local restaurant for dinner and final stories about the ride were freely exchanged. As I sat there with everyone I was amazed at how a group of strangers who came together only a week ago turned into a family. There was the usual joking and razzing, laughter at some of the stories that happened to people on the ride and tears shared by all over the sad reasons why we were there and the bonds that we forged with each other, all with no embarrassment.

Monday 5/26; Back at home

Well, we are home after a fourteen-hour drive back from Roanoke. Ah... what a luxury to be sleeping in my own bed!

This has been one wonderful week what with all the miles we covered, all the fantastic people we met and, of course, all the opportunities we have had to honor and remember our fallen EMS brothers and sisters.

Over the past three years it's been my observation that anyone can do this ride. I'm in the second half of my fifth decade; I have good days that I ride and not so good days when it's okay to catch a ride in the sag wagon. As I've said before it's not about riding every mile, it's not a race; it's about remembering and honoring those that we've lost, and being there at the end for the last stretch into Roanoke.

Some odds and ends from this year:

Number of states represented: 24
Number of countries represented: 2
Youngest rider: 14
Oldest rider: 73
Tandem bicycles: 1
Recumbent bikes: 2
Mountain bikes: 1
Hybrid bikes: many
Average speed: 13.5 mph
Average calories burned per day: 4500
Camaraderie: PRICELESS

If anyone would like to contact me about this year's ride or for more information about how to sign up for next year, my e-mail is m.kennard@comcast.net.

For more information about the ride go to the Muddy Angels web site: www.muddyangels.org.

Until next year, be safe and remember we've got your back!

Mike

Mike Kennard has 30 years of EMS service, currently as Paramedic at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester NH and I/C, Program Coordinator for the State of NH Bureau of EMS. He also has 43 years in the fire service and is retired Assistant Chief from Nottingham NH Fire & Rescue. Mike has been married for 31 years and has two daughters and five grandchildren. 2008 was his third year riding the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride.