Tuesday June 10, 2003

Pocatello, Utah

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We dedicated our ride today to Customer Care (Mary Adams,  Rick Jones, Marilyn Shaw, Andrea Rowe, Jackie Longcoy, Eddie Rolfe). These hard working people are integral to Ohio Willow Wood's growth and success. Without Customer Care, life as we know it would end. Or at least customer satisfaction would be severely impacted.

Notice how well Bruce's ride fits into this space? It doesn't look any faster when he's on it.

Support driver Tricia Delong in a really, really big chair that actually rocks. And that's the twuth...  blethhhhhhhhhhhhh.

It was extremely windy today on the road, and this time the wind was in our faces. You win some and you lose some. Finally, after 27 miles, we packed it in and rode into Pocatello for lots of visits with amputees and others.

We had two visitations today. The first was a cook-out hosted very graciously by Rocky Mountain Artificial Limb and Brace. Photos of participants are included later in this journal entry. Second, we visited the Idaho State Veterans Home.

During the day, we passed EBR-1, which is the location of the first nuclear power plant. An historical marker said that over 50 nuclear power plants were produced in this area for the US Navy in the 50s and 60s.

Cooling our heels, waiting to begin our visitations. As usual, there was a lot of laughter and fun in the brief down time.

The boys arrive at the prosthetic facility. A bit sloppy on Joe's echelon right, but at least no one fell down on camera. The boys will need some serious drill time in Salt Lake City. It has been so scheduled. Thus saith Joe the Sage. And that's the twuth...

This is Tricia giving some grandmotherly love to a local boy. She got more homesick for "her babies" after these snuggles.

The staff and patients of the Rocky Mountain Artificial Limb and Brace were tremendous. Very welcoming and interested in our ride and in our mission.

A group photo of the boys (Mark is out of uniform, leftmost on the back row). Then Dave Collette, alias YOU. Then Bruce and Jim. Then James Hansen, who took us to the veteran's home. Then Joe rounds out the back row.

The front row includes Dorothy and Marlow Lewis, and then Darlene Grimm.

This photo includes Greg Duncan (red shirt), who is a prosthetist and fellow amputee (AK). He was a volunteer at the SLC Paralympics.
 

At the front left, is a photo of Dave, his better side many think, who was our host today.

We ate, and ate, and ate while visiting with Connie and her friend. Connie is a bilateral amputee who actually drives herself without legs, but it scares her friends, so one of them took her to the cook out. Connie can't wait to get her legs back on so she can walk.

The woman second from left, back row, is Ginnie Galizia and next to her  is Steve DeRoche, who is a bilateral amputee and participated in an expedition to Mount Everest.

Ginnie and Steve are active in CWHOG, the Cooperative Wilderness Handicapped Outdoor Group. This group does a GREAT job getting people with disabilities out into nature on raft trips, etc.

The photo below is of Chris Brower and Bob Farmer. Chris and Bob are also volunteers with CWHOG.

We visited the Idaho Veteran's Home, which is an incredible facility. On the left with the boys is Carey Austin, who gave us a great tour and introduced us to many of the residents. Jeff Piper, to her right, is the facility Administrator.

This home has up to 66 residents. It is one of three in the state of Idaho that is jointly funded by the State of Idaho, the federal government, and most importantly by private donations. We were all extremely impressed by the staff. There were many nurses working, they had a full cafeteria and even a separate canteen. The residents could not have been better cared for.

Carey put of one of our posters on their bulletin board.

Jim is clowning with fellow veterans. He brought lots of smiles to their faces.

We visited with lots of residents, including two women, one each a vet of WWII and the Korean War.

This. is Chuck Coulsen (facing Bruce), who was an administrator in both the Army Air Corp and the US Air Force. Facing away from the camera is Mr. Ferrin, who flew P2V Neptunes for the US Navy.

Tomorrow we head to Bringham City.

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