I met so many great people along the way… I love talking to locals wherever I go.

Mission M25 after their Diaper Run

Riding Coast-to-Coast in under 50 hours to raise funds for at-risk pregnant women. These folks are amazing and I met them near Tucamcari N.M.  on their return trip. After hearing about their  48 hour coast-to-coast fundraising trip to fund diapers and wipes for pregnant women and young mothers at risk, I came up with my own explanation for the name Diaper Run, having to do with the “logistics” of ultra marathon motorcycling.

Bill Cochrane in East Peoria IL

It started as a chance encounter in a Walmart parking lot. Bill was parking his new HD trike near where I was pulling my motorcycle out of the trailer.  A conversation started, which led to a 2 hour breakfast at Woody’s the next morning. We agreed to reconnect in 2 weeks when he and some friends were riding to Kentucky and Tennessee.  We separated on the highway and I continued my day trip through Iowa and Wisconsin. At the first gas stop I see a message from Bill with a picture of his motorcycle on it’s side.  He got rear-ended by an SUV at the bottom of the exit ramp but escaped with minor injuries. His motorcycle didn’t fare quite as well, but is now fixed and back on the road.

Big Jim Dewitz of Big Jim’s Pizza in Amarillo TX

I went to Big Jim’s Pizza Co. in Amarillo TX for a calzone, but stayed for 5 hours with new friends.   I found a gastronomical gem and some great new friends, including “Big Jim” Dewitz the owner of Big Jim’s. Jim was sitting out front of his establishment with some of his friends, enjoying food and cigars, and I was invited to join them. I can’t recall a better meal shared with strangers that became friends. The food was phenomenal and it is plain to see that Jim loves people and food, and this business is his opportunity to put those two passions together. I sampled an example when he ordered a “Low Down Dirty Dog” pizza, the ultimate chili cheese dog as a pizza… it was amazing!