1st - Day #153
DODGING SNOWFLAKES IN UTAHIf you'll look back to just a week ago, I mentioned how we would have to change our travel times to avoid the blistering heat of the desert. Well, today, we had to bundle up against sleet and snow as we sacrificed our comfort to bring you the today's photos from Cedar Breaks Park. But it wouldn't be charity without a little sacrifice, now would it?
Max & Bailey actually spent most of their day with some very special students in the Cedar City area. Their morning began with an informal gathering at a nearby park where several vanloads of special education students came to meet the dogs and learn more about our Ride Across America.
We also spent time at Fiddler Elementary School where I (Blaine) spoke to a large group of future teachers from Southern Utah University about ways to expand the classroom through the use of Internet expeditions like ours. The University students were very kind as I stood balanced on the seat of Janet's motorcycle to deliver my laymans message about teaching to those who are far better skilled in these areas. I think it was well received and I hope each of them will go on to their future teaching careers with a seed planted for future projects like ours. They even feed us lunch before I took on the toughest crowd of the day: Fiddler Elementary Second Graders!
Actually, the second grade students were wonderfully well-behaved and gracious during our presentation.
So while we had a full day, we didn't have permission to post many of the photographs taken today. And, rather than leave you hanging for photos, we rode up the mountain in freezing rain and snow to Cedar Breaks Park - elevation 10,400 feet - to capture a few shots of this amazing place. Okay, so we enjoyed the scenery too, but boy was it cold!
We owe a very special thanks to Dr. Genell Harris and her Southern University Students for all they did to make our visit a success. Dr. Harris invited us not only to speak with her students, but also offered us the hospitality of her home.
TEACHERS -- We've finally had some success with adding lesson plans to our Hogs, Dogs & Kids Teacher's Corner section. Two resources are there now with several more coming in the near future. A special thanks to Jackie Post for helping us put these together.
Donor-of-the-Day : Nothing but dust in the mailbox today. However, Joseph Williams from Mount Laurel, NJ purchased one of our limited edition Max & Bailey t-shirts from the online store. And that makes him our Donor-of-the-Day.
Photos-of-the-Day : (1) Perched on the bike speaking to SUU Education students (2) Blaine bundled up at Cedar Breaks (3) Breathtaking views (4) Making friends with the local inhabitants (5) Just another typical Blaine photograh (6) Janet with the snowball that she unceremoniously threw at the photographer (ME!) (7 & 8) More Cedar Break views
Have a few extra moments? Stop by our company store to see all the great Max & Bailey gear. Each purchase helps provide Assistance Dogs for those who need them. Good looking gear that makes you feel good about helping others. Buy yours today!
2nd - Day #154
MAX & BAILEY ENTER ARIZONA - THE GRAND CANYON STATEToday was a travel day for the Hogs For Dogs team. After saying our good-byes to our Cedar City hosts, Genell and Keith Harris, we pointed the bikes toward Zion National Park.
I can't remember a day when we have seen such a variety of landscapes in a single day's ride. From high desert plains to sandstone cliffs reaching thousands of feet into the sky to deep canyons painted by eons of exposure to the elements. It was an amazing day to be a tourist with a camera. I'm sorry that my eye isn't as good as a professional photographer, but I think you may find a photo or two that catches your imagination.
For those of you who haven't seen this part of the country, pack up the family and get out here soon. I said "Wow" so many times today that Janet finally told me to just shut up! And I expect the next few days will be more of the same with our plans to travel through Arizona's Painted Desert, visit the Grand Canyon and awe in the beauty of Sedona as we make our way to Phoenix where we have several more school visits.
Oh -- did I mention that we entered Arizona today? That marks our 40th state in Max & Bailey's great adventure. Only eight more to go before arriving home in North Carolina.
TEACHERS -- We've finally had some success with adding lesson plans to our Hogs, Dogs & Kids Teacher's Corner section. Two resources are there now with several more coming in the near future. A special thanks to Jackie Post for helping us put these together.
Donor-of-the-Day : I mentioned that the mailbox was empty yesterday and everyone made up for it today. I have an entire scroll-full of donors to mention today. Genell Harris started the day with a generous $30 donation plus lots of logo-gear. Their neighbor Kevin Robinson matched that donation with a $30 online donation of their own. Then, our good friends and former neighbors Kathy & Kevin Hart came in shortly thereafter with a $100 online donation.
And then came the puppy raisers rising to the earlier challenge made by Julie Thorington: Meet or beat her $12 donation to help sponsor the Hogs For Dogs Dirty Dozen. Hannah Tainter started the bidding at $12 today, followed by Aimee Brumleve who raised the ante to $37 (see her entry in our guestbook) and Neil Begin also pledged $12 to the cause. It looks like these puppy raisers mean business. And their challenge still stands -- help them raise enough to sponsor all twelve Paws With A Cause puppies. Make your donation today!
Photos-of-the-Day : (1) Welcome to Zion National Park (2) Bailey strikes a pose (3) Zion's Court of the Patriarchs (4) Arizona - state #40 (5) Zion beauty (6) group shot in a desert canyon (7) scenic stop (8) Max grins for the camera (9) Zion cliffs (10) More Zion views (11) A view while riding (12) Bailey does the desert
Our days on the road are running out but our warehouses are still full. Please take a minute to visit our company store and make your purchase today -- before it's too late! Max & Bailey can't ride forever, but your purchase or donation can give someone the gift of independence for a lifetime.
3rd - Day #155
BIG DOGS DWARFED BY EVEN BIGGER CANYON - THE GRAND CANYONSmall. That's how I felt with my feet dangling over the edge of a sheer cliff after a very strenuous climb down, up and over some challenging terrain to get there. Janet and about twenty other onlookers cheered when I finally arrived at that point, but my heart was cheering on its own. I had finally arrived at the Grand Canyon! And after coming this far, I simply had to look over the edge, swallow my fear of falling and take in the Canyon's enormity. I felt very alive at that moment - but small. I hope you enjoy today's pictures.
Rather than bore you with more words about today's ride, I wanted to take a moment to highlight the efforts of some very special people working behind the scenes on our behalf. Unless you have planned an event for us in your area, you may never have heard of April Fort or Annette Rowan. These two ladies are on our board of directors and have been working their tails off to coordinate with volunteers from around the country to make our events possible. I thank them often, but can never repay them for their relentless dedication to this ride.
If you are an educator, you've probably spoken to Beth Cassels on more than one occasion. Beth, also on our board of directors, has worked tirelessly to help organize the hundreds of school requests we've received since leaving home. If we arrived at your school on time and on the right day, Beth is the reason why.
Now, how about the website? Do you enjoy your visits here? Do you find your way around the site with ease? If so, please join me in thanking Jay Schwantes, my long time friend, mentor and now our website/media guru. Jay has been a pillar of support for this ride since the idea's conception nearly two years ago. He helped with motorcycle and equipment selection. He helped organize our ideas into realistic goals. He masterminded the route we've taken for Max & Bailey's Ride. And he's done it all for the sum price of a handshake and a few cold beers.
There are hundreds more volunteers who give of themselves everyday to help us make sure that people living with disabilities don't have to wait three-to-five years for an Assistance Dog. And there are hundreds of employees and puppy raisers who work with our charity partners to ensure that those dogs are well trained and ready to take on the challenges facing their clients with disabilities. Without any one of these people, our ride would simply be another cross-country family adventure.
They have made it much more than that. They have made each mile mean something for a person living with physical disabilities. And surrounded by them - or the Grand Canyon - I feel humbled and small. Thank you all for what you do.
TEACHERS -- We've finally had some success with adding lesson plans to our Hogs, Dogs & Kids Teacher's Corner section. Two resources are there now with several more coming in the near future. A special thanks to Jackie Post for helping us put these together.
Donor-of-the-Day : Today's donor is another Paws With A Cause puppy raiser. Lynn Begin made a generous $50 online donation in honor of the many puppies she's raised. She also left us a nice guest book entry detailing how she came to that $50 figure. We love you Lynn! Keep up the good work!
Photos-of-the-Day : (1) Grand Canyon arrival (2) Rocky road Max (3) Big dogs dwarfed by even bigger canyon (4) Dangling my feet and feeling small (5) Post card view of the Canyon (6 & 7) Blaine-ism photos of the Canyon (8) Janet takes in the view (9) Janet - afraid of heights - poses with me near the edge (10) Another angle of the Grand Canyon (11) Can you see the Colorado River? (12) Blaine thinking about all his friends around the country.
4th - Day #156
ANOTHER DAY IN THE GRAND CANYONYesterday's ride around the east rim of the Grand Canyon was spectacular and personally moving. Today, we took half a day for ourselves and decided to visit the west rim. The big difference is that the west rim has blocked all vehicle traffic except for the shuttle buses. So, you stop where they let you stop and you see what they want you to see. Somehow the wild nature and grandeur of the Grand Canyon wasn't so, well, wild or grand.
Tomorrow we'll head for Sedona, Arizona on our way towards Phoenix for our school visits on Thursday and Friday. We've also been asked to call in to Tom Sweeney's ESPN American Street Rider radio show on Wednesday night. So, look for a local station that covers the show in your area and listen for our call with Tom.
For those of you who keep asking about our end of the ride events, we are putting the final touches on our big Cross The Finish Line events to be held at Ray Price Harley-Davidson in Raleigh, North Carolina on December 4th. Look for an event update soon and plan to join us as Max & Bailey complete their 25,000-mile journey.
TEACHERS -- We've finally had some success with adding lesson plans to our Hogs, Dogs & Kids Teacher's Corner section. Two resources are there now with several more coming in the near future. A special thanks to Jackie Post for helping us put these together.
Donor-of-the-Day : Today's donors are shoppers in our online store. Erica Wilhelmsen from Ventura, CA and Allison Duffield-Harper from Coloma, MI get top honors today. Thanks ladies, for all your support.
Photos-of-the-Day : (1) Janet shows off our #1 selling t-shirt (2) Canyon view (3) Another Blaine photo of the Canyon (4) Blaine hanging on for more donations at the Grand Canyon.
Our days on the road are running out but our warehouses are still full. Please take a minute to visit our company store and make your purchase today -- before it's too late! Max & Bailey can't ride forever, but your purchase or donation can give someone the gift of independence for a lifetime.
5th - Day #157
MAX & BAILEY ARRIVE IN SEDONA, ARIZONAMax & Bailey left the Grand Canyon today and are on their way towards Phoenix for our school visits at Arlington Elementary and Ironwood Elementary on Thursday and Friday, respectively. We stopped in Sedona tonight and will finish the ride to Phoenix tomorrow.
This area of the country has to be one of the most beautiful we've seen, but we're sorry to report that there are very few photos to share with you today. It seems that the state of Arizona keeps their beauty well locked up. To get the pictures I had hoped to share with you would have cost us over $40 in parking or user fees. And, well, most of my money has gone into making this charity ride possible. I have to say that I missed North Carolina today - where the parks and all its beautiful scenery come free to those who visit.
TEACHERS -- We've finally had some success with adding lesson plans to our Hogs, Dogs & Kids Teacher's Corner section. Four resources (two more today) are there now with several more coming in the near future. A special thanks to Jackie Post for helping us put these together.
Donor-of-the-Day : Jayme Hanson of Rigby, ID is today's top donor. Jayme purchased over $200 in Hogs For Dogs logo gear. I think that may be our single largest online order to date! Thanks Jayme.
Photos-of-the-Day : (1) Riding to Sedona (2) The Birch are changing into their fall colors (3) A stream along the Red Rock area (no fees for this one) (4) Courthouse Butte in Sedona.
Independence is on sale in our company store. Purchase any item today and help give the gift of independence to a person living with physical disabilities. It's never been a better time to get involved.
6th - Day #158
MAX & BAILEY RETURN TO THE HOT DESERT HEATFor those of you who have been vicariously traveling along with Max & Bailey, we have yet another experiment for you to try at home -- just to get the true feeling of being with us on the road.
Step one - preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Retrieve a small fan and bring it to the kitchen while waiting for the oven to preheat Step two - open the oven and place the fan on the oven door facing outwards. Step three - straddle an uncomfortable chair backwards just in front of the oven and turn on the fan. Step four - stay put for four hours.
Ah, the joys of riding in the desert. We had gotten spoiled by the cool dry air in the upper desert regions near the Grand Canyon and Sedona, but we were shocked back to reality on today's ride towards Phoenix. HOT was the word of the day.
We'll be riding 90 miles to the west tomorrow morning to meet with the students at Arlington Elementary thanks to our inviation by the school's Tech Coordinator, Kerry Blackson. We think we have another school visit at Ironwood Elementary on Friday, but haven't been successful in confirming that visit with the school We'll have an update for you by tomorrow on that one.
Then, on Saturday, we will be in Tucson for a great fundraising event at Desert Gardens Cumberland Presbyterian Church on East Old Spanish Trail. Come out to meet Max & Bailey, enjoy a great spaghetti dinner and pick up some Hogs For Dogs logo gear. It's all for charity and we promise you'll have a great time! Check out our Upcoming Events page for more details.
TEACHERS -- We've finally had some success with adding lesson plans to our Hogs, Dogs & Kids Teacher's Corner section. Four resources (two more today) are there now with several more coming in the near future. A special thanks to Jackie Post for helping us put these together.
Donor-of-the-Day : Mary Dilley of Grand Rapids, Michigan is today's donor-of-the-day thanks to her $50 online donation. If you haven't been our donor of the day yet, why not make a generous contribution today and have your name listed her tomorrow?
Photos-of-the-Day : (1) Bailey poses for us in Sedona (2) Janet shows us her pearly whites. (3 & 4) Scenic photos of some Sedona red rocks ala Blaine
7th - Day #159
ARLINGTON ELEMENTARY WELCOMES MAX & BAILEYWe always enjoy our school visits because each one is different and we have the opportunity to interact with students of all ages and backgrounds. Today, however, the adventure began long before we arrived at Arlington Elementary, as we found ourselves looking at impassable dirt roads courtesy or our GPS routing. We ultimately worked our way to the school with a few minutes to spare and were met at the door by our host, Kerry Blackson.
The students filed in and after a few technical difficulties, we were off and running. The students were very alert and had many of the answers to the questions we ask. And they really liked it when Max showed off his stylish goggles. Another successful visit with future heroes.
Unfortunately, our visit to Ironwood Elementary - planned for tomorrow - has been cancelled because we can't seem to get in contact with the teacher who invited us to the school and the principal wasn't aware of the visit. If you or your children go to Ironwood, we're sorry that we missed the opportunity to visit with them. Maybe next time.
I also need to make a correction to yesterday's virtual riding exercise (see yesterday's update). In step one, you should set your oven to 450 degrees. 350 degrees is much too cool to simulate the desert heat : 100 degrees here today!
If you live in the Tucson area, come out and meet Max & Bailey on Saturday at Desert Gardens Cumberland Presbyterian Church on East Old Spanish Trail. We'll be there for a fundraising event where you can enjoy a great spaghetti dinner and pick up some Hogs For Dogs logo gear. It's all for charity and we promise you'll have a great time! Check out our Upcoming Events page for more details.
The Hogs For Dogs 2005 calendar is in design and we're picking the best pictures from this year's ride to share with you. We hope you'll save a place on your favorite wall for a 2005 Max & Bailey calendar. Like all our stuff - all proceeds will go to support our Assistance and Guide Dog charity partners. Based on our first look, we think you'll love the design!
TEACHERS -- We've finally had some success with adding lesson plans to our Hogs, Dogs & Kids Teacher's Corner section. Four resources (two more today) are there now with several more coming in the near future. A special thanks to Jackie Post for helping us put these together.
Donor-of-the-Day : Kerry Blackson and several of the teachers at Arlington Elementary made donations and purchased a couple t-shirts after our presentation. They are our donors of the day for their generosity.
Photos-of-the-Day : (1) Janet and the dogs pose with our Arlington Elementary host, Kerry Blackson. (2) Max chills on the floor while Blaine talks with students (3) Blaine shows off his Hogs For Dogs' colors during the presentation (4) Max again.
8th - Day #160
BLAINE TRIES TO REGAIN HIS VOICEI lost my voice during our school presentation on Thursday and have sounded like a 13-year-old going through puberty ever since. So, with our school cancellation today, I spent the day trying to rest, fill up on vitamin C and recover before tomorrow's events in Tucson. Though frustrating, I can't complain too loudly since this is my first real bout with illness on the trip.
Janet, however, complained plenty because she was left with her least favorite tasks today: talking with the media, both radio and newspaper reporters. With my voice shot, Janet rose to the occasion and promoted our Tucson event on KVOI-AM 690 at noon today and quickly followed with an interview for the local Fountain Hills Times. We are always grateful for the media's help in spreading our message, but Janet prefers to let me do the public speaking. So, today I owe her a big hug for filling my shoes while my voice was left squeaking and squawking.
We make our way to Tucson tomorrow for our event at Desert Gardens Cumberland Presbyterian Church on East Old Spanish Trail. We'll be there for a fundraising event where you can enjoy a great spaghetti dinner and pick up some Hogs For Dogs logo gear. It's all for charity and we promise you'll have a great time! Check out our Upcoming Events page for more details.
The Hogs For Dogs 2005 calendar is in design and we're picking the best pictures from this year's ride to share with you. We hope you'll save a place on your favorite wall for a 2005 Max & Bailey calendar. Like all our stuff - all proceeds will go to support our Assistance and Guide Dog charity partners. Based on our first look, we think you'll love the design!
TEACHERS -- We've finally had some success with adding lesson plans to our Hogs, Dogs & Kids Teacher's Corner section. Five resources (one more today) are there now with several more coming in the near future. A special thanks to Jackie Post for helping us put these together.
Donor-of-the-Day : Dust in the mailbox today, but I did have one donor who tried to make a donation but had trouble with our online server and have asked us to help them work it out. So, today's donor of the day is the Anderson Family from Michigan who tried to match the challenge of $12 for the Hogs For Dogs Dirty Dozen puppies. I'll contact them in the next couple of days to help them with the donation.
Photos-of-the-Day : Only one photo today - Max & Bailey at the world-famous fountain in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
Independence is on sale in our company store. Purchase any item today and help give the gift of independence to a person living with physical disabilities. It's never been a better time to get involved.
9th - Day #161
TUCSON EVENT RAISES NEARLY $900Suzanne Heins makes some delicious spaghetti - and for $5 you could have as much as you wanted at today's fundraiser held at the Desert Gardens Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Organized by our former neighbors and friends, Brad and Barb Brock, the fundraising dinner at the church went off without a hitch. Brad enlisted the support of the Triple S & E 4-H club, Boy Scout Troup 141, the local Lion's Club led by Chuck and Sally Moffett and many more church members and volunteers. Pastor Mike McNeese was kind enough to offer us the use of the church for the event. And when the dust settled, there was another $886.50 to help shorten the long waiting lists for Assistance Dogs.
We also need to thank a few special visitors. Joe Nowak drove almost an hour to meet Max & Bailey, enjoy some spaghetti and buy a Max & Bailey t-shirt. We work with Joe's daughter at Carolina Canines for Service - one of our charity partners.
Melissa and Robert Ross also came out to meet Max & Bailey and to help support our Dirty Dozen - the PAWS puppies named after Max & Bailey's Ride. They purchased some logo gear and brought their friendly four-legged companions Joni and Blue with them. Joni and Blue are two 18-month-old Yellow Labs who we really enjoyed meeting.
We are always humbled by the efforts of volunteers in local communities who believe enough in what we're doing to get out and put together events like these. So, to everyone involved - too many names to list - Thank you for everything you did to make the event a success. Whether you planned the event, helped at the event or simply came to enjoy a great pasta dinner, you have made a contribution that we hope will lead to more independent living for people with physical disabilities.
Today's ride will lead us east from Tucson on our way towards El Paso, Texas over the next two days. We have been asked to speak at the El Paso Community College on Tuesday morning as part of their first ever Disability Awareness Program. We were honored to be asked and look forward to sharing our experiences with students and Staff at the college.
Donor-of-the-Day : I think today's honor goes to everyone who turned out at Desert Gardens church in Tucson. $886.50 is a wonderful donation!
Photos-of-the-Day : (1) Max & Bailey outside Desert Gardens church (2) Our crew poses with many of the Triple S & E 4-H club (3) Brad and Barbara Brock join us with their two boys who helped as part of the BSA 141 volunteers (4) Our happy food servers passing out delicious spaghetti
10th - Day #162
TRAINS, RAINS AND GUN-TOTING COWBOYS ON OUR WAYTO NEW MEXICO -- STATE #41
After waking up to the smell of bacon sizzling in the pan and having breakfast with the Brock family - our hosts in Tucson - we said another emotional good-bye and headed farther east. But, before we talk about today's adventures, we have to make a correction in the totals raised at yesterday's spaghetti fundraiser. Due to Janet struggling with new math, we made a $100 mistake. The fundraiser at Desert Gardens church actually raised $996.50 and not the $886.50 previously reported.
Our first stop today was at the Saguaro National Park in Tucson. The Saguaro cactus - called the Snoopy cactus by Janet - is one of Arizona's great landmarks, so we had to stop by the park to capture a photo or two with Max & Bailey.
After our drive through the thorny park, we headed out in search of the O.K. Corral in historic Tombstone, Arizona. So, Max & Bailey rode into town on their mechanical horses and turned the town upside down. Even the cowboys with their blank-shooting guns couldn't regain the crowd's attention after Max & Bailey rolled into town wearing their signature goofy grins and flame- covered goggles. We ultimately made friends with the Tombstone locals (see photo) and were even invited to stay until next week's Helldorado Festival. Sorry guys (and gals), Max & Bailey are booked to be in Dallas next Sunday!
With black clouds rolling in pretty fast, we put our faces into the wind and raced east along I-10 towards Lordsburg, tonight's stop. Train tracks run alongside the interstate, giving us the chance to race several trains eastward. The trains weren't very good sports because they wouldn't give us a horn honk after we beat them repeatedly. Fortunately, we also beat the rains and lightening -- but it's coming down in buckets as I write this.
Today's arrival in New Mexico is state #41 for Max & Bailey's Ride, but also marks Blaine's completion of visiting all 50 United States.
Donor-of-the-Day : Today's donor-of-the-day is Al Sandella of Fountain Hills, AZ who made a generous $100 donation after we met him during our stay in Phoenix. Thanks Al!
Photos-of-the-Day : (1) Max & Bailey with their 'Snoopy catcus' at the Saguaro National Park (2) Max & Bailey on the streets of Tombstone (3) Making friends with gun-toting cowboys in Tombstone (4) Blaine poses at the New Mexico border and brags about his now traveling to all 50 states during his life (5) Horse-drawn wagon in Tombstone (6) Janet and Bailey at the Tombstone Hawg Corral
11th - Day #163
TEXAS WELCOMES MAX & BAILEYToday's ride was fast and fairly uneventful. While we try to use back roads where possible, this part of the country doesn't have many to choose from if you're actually trying to get somewhere. So, we stayed on the interstate and crossed into Texas - State #42 - around lunchtime today. But, it will take many more days before we completely cross this big state.
We've been invited to speak at El Paso Community College's first Disability Awareness Program tomorrow and are excited about the opportunity to share what we've learned about Assistance Dogs with others. We owe a special thanks to DeAndra Atwood for inviting us to El Paso.
If you live in the Dallas, Austin or Houston area, keep an eye out for events in your area during the coming weeks.
Donor-of-the-Day : Ellen Sanchez from Dallas, Texas made a TEXAS-size $100 online donation and also purchased logo-gear for the entire family. Big state, big heart -- and we owe you a BIG thanks!
Photos-of-the-Day : Just one today -- Max & Bailey pose for our Texas arrival
12th - Day #164
U.S. HOGS FOR DOGS, INC. RECEIVES 501(c)3 STATUS - FINALLY!The IRS has finally released (and approved) our 501(c)3 application. We received word from our friend, accountant and board member Terry O'Malley that the IRS Determination letter arrived in yesterday's mail. This is great news because although they cashed our $500 check very quickly back on February 20th, the approval process has been long and tedius.
So, all you corporate sponsors who have been chomping at the bit to become a sponsor, now's the time! Okay - so maybe we could use some help with more sponsors. Got any ideas? Send them our way. If you support Max & Bailey's Ride and would like to see us do this again, we really need more sponsors.
And before I get 1000 emails from previous donors - yes, all donations made to U.S. Hogs For Dogs, Inc. are tax-deductible up to the IRS limits. Our approval is retroactive back to our incorporation date of December 8, 2003.
I also need to thank DeAndra Atwood again for inviting us to speak at the El Paso Community College yesterday. We were honored to have the opportunity. Each and every person we talk with is another person who can help us reduce the long waiting lists for Assistance Dogs. If you live in the Dallas, Austin or Houston area, keep an eye out for events in your area during the coming weeks.
Donor-of-the-Day : No donations today, but several logo gear purchases made by Melissa McMahan of Lumberton, NC and several staff members at El Paso Community College. Contribute today and see your name here tomorrow!
Photos-of-the-Day : No photos to update today because our connection speed is too slow to upload them. I will try to upload photos from our El Paso Community College visit at the next stop we have.
13th - Day #165
MAX & BAILEY ARE IN MIDLAND, TEXASEveryone warned us that our ride from El Paso to Dallas would be a long, straight boring ride. Well, they were right. Except for leaning forward to try and propel the bikes faster to beat the Texas-sized thunderstorms, the ride yesterday almost put me to sleep. I looked left and right hoping to find something to photograph, but came up empty. Folks, we're heading to the Dallas-Ft. Worth area for some great events this weekend. Until then, I wouldn't expect much in the way of interesting photos.
Here's what we have going on this weekend. After a school visit in Strawn, Texas, we'll arrive in Dallas-Ft. Worth on Friday afternoon. Then, come out to the Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday morning to meet Max & Bailey as they hang out with NASCAR driver Terry Cook before the race. Paws With A Cause and Terry Cook have teamed up for the 'Racing For Independence' program. Since we are both riding to support the same cause, Terry's team invited us out to join them on the track for this unique opportunity. Come join us for photos and try your hand at the racing simulator. Terry will be signing autographs while Max & Bailey shake a few paws. Because this is a Paws With A Cause event, we will not be selling logo gear at this event.
Sunday has us at Sneaky Pete's for a Poker Run from 10am - 1pm followed by a meet & greet party from 1-5pm. If you ride a motorcycle, come out for the poker run. If not, stop by around 1:00 for a great time at Sneaky Pete's.
We have two more school visits on Monday and then Max & Bailey will be in the TV studios to shoot a special show with Ceilidh Charleson-Jennings on Tuesday morning before leaving for Austin.
As always, our events are posted on our Upcoming Events page as soon as we know all the details. We hope to see everyone there this weekend. Or, if you see us on the road, give us a friendly honk and a wave. It's okay if you wake the dogs up from their comfy beds.
Donor-of-the-Day : Dusty, empty mailbox today. Maybe you didn't hear me yesterday. U.S. Hogs For Dogs, Inc. is now a 501(c)3 organization. All donations are deductible and may be eligible for employer matching. It's easy to donate and you'll be doing something wonderful for a person living with a physical disability. And don't forget - we still have to come up with over $200K to sponsor those cute, cuddly future superheroes - The Dirty Dozen (see View From A Sidecar).
Photos-of-the-Day : Imagine long, straight dusty roads bordered by scrub brush and gravel, interrupted at odd intervals by the long strokes of oil wells drilling silently in the sand. The holidays are just around the corner. And if you want to give the gift that everyone is talking about, you have to order soon! Max & Bailey t-shirts are a limited collector's item. Max is 11 1/2 years old and will never look that young again. Give a Christmas gift that gives back this year - log on and buy yours today. And, don't forget to save $9.95 for the Max and Bailey Postcards From The Road calendar - coming soon. All your favorite Max & Bailey photos in stunning color. 2005 never looked so good! Only 1000 will be printed!
16th - Day #169
BROKEN TRANSMISSION THROWS A WRENCH INTO MAX & BAILEY'S RIDEFor those of you who check in on Max & Bailey's progress on a regular basis, please accept my apologies for not keeping you updated lately. Max & I have been fighting a failing transmission that finally quit completely on Friday morning after our school visit in Strawn, Texas. So, it has been a real circus around here with having the bike towed, getting a rental car to help get Max and I to today's NASCAR event, and then reversing the process when the bike was repaired late today. The good news is that we didn't have to cancel any of our events. The bad news is that I fell a little behind in these updates. Sorry.
Here's what you missed - First, we had a tremendous school visit with Strawn Elementary, Jr. High and High School students on Friday. The Strawn students were wonderful hosts. They all learned a little about people living with disabilities and the special dogs that help them. I learned that the Strawn High School football team - the Greyhounds - are the State 6-man football champs from 2003. Their quarterback, Derek, was a good sport and helped me demonstrate several challenges that face people living with disabilities. We owe him and our host, Jennifer Elmore, our thanks for allowing us to share Max & Bailey's message.
Today, Max and I followed behind Janet and Bailey in our rental car. We both felt a little silly riding in a car, but it was the only way for us to all get to the Texas Motor Speedway for our Paws With A Cause event with Terry Cook and the Power Stroke Diesel by International racing team. It was a unique opportunity to combine Max & Bailey's Ride Across America with the Power Stroke Diesel's Racing For Independence program - both of which support Paws With A Cause. Terry and his team were super gracious and it was fun to be in the middle of such a large NASCAR event. By the end of the day, Max was willing to trade in his sidecar for a ride with Terry in the Power Stroke Diesel NASCAR truck. Fickle dog!
Sunday has us at Sneaky Pete's for a Poker Run from 10am - 1pm followed by a meet & greet party from 1-5pm. If you ride a motorcycle, come out for the poker run. If not, stop by around 1:00 for a great time at Sneaky Pete's.
We have two more school visits on Monday and then Max & Bailey will be in the TV studios to shoot a special show with Ceilidh Charleson-Jennings on Tuesday morning before leaving for Austin.
As always, our events are posted on our Upcoming Events page as soon as we know all the details. We hope to see everyone there this weekend. Or, if you see us on the road, give us a friendly honk and a wave. It's okay if you wake the dogs up from their comfy beds.
Donor-of-the-Day : Dusty, empty mailbox today, but I can't complain for you not being very supportive lately when I have been less than diligent with these updates from the road. I did, however, have a good reason.
Photos-of-the-Day : (1) Strawn school visit (2) Karen Vass (PAWS) and her demo dog, Rock, demonstrate some of the tasks Assistance Dogs are trained to do for their owners (3) Group shot with PAWS staff and NASCAR driver Terry Cook (behind Blaine) (4) Karen Vass, Rock, Janet and our 'boys' (5) Terry Cook signs autographs for the fans (6) Max & Bailey posing at the NASCAR event.
17th - Day #170
SNEAKY PETE'S HOSTS HOGS FOR DOGS POKER RUNSneaky Pete's in Lewisville, Texas joined forces with local Paws With A Cause representatives and volunteers to host a poker run event to benefit Max & Bailey's Ride Across America. And while we didn't have the turnout that the organizers would have liked, we are grateful for the $692 raised at the event. Every dollar helps make a difference and we appreciate each and every one of the riders who came out to join us.
The top prizes went to Bob Mealey with a Jack-high straight followed closely by Tator with a set of three 9's. The winner of the 50/50 drawing is anonymous, but left their tickets with strict instructions to donate their winnings back to the cause, which we graciously did. Once again, we found ourselves in awe of the generosity of others.
So, thanks to all the volunteers, visitors, business sponsors and riders who came out for the event! Some, like Scott Brady, drove all the way from Oklahoma City to be there for the event.
Monday has us visiting with two more local schools, Holy Trinity Catholic School in Grapevine and The Robert Muller Center For Living Ethics in Fairview.
Then on Tuesday, we have a very special opportunity to film a segment with Ceilidh Charleson- Jennings on her show Insight Out. We're chasing down the details of how and where you can see the show. Look for more info here, and on our Press Release page, soon.
Donor-of-the-Day : I'd like to nominate Karen Vass and all the local Paws With A Cause volunteers as today's Donor-of-the-Day. Karen has been with us for three days of school visits and fundraising events. The volunteers like Tiffany, Patti and Keith have worked tirelessly to make our stay in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area a success. Sometimes, volunteering is more important than just donating money. Today, we'd like to acknowledge them.
Photos-of-the-Day : (1 & 2) Megan and Ashley enjoyed a ride with Max & Bailey during the Sneaky Pete's poker run. (3) Last stop on the poker run (4) Group shot with all the Paws With A Cause volunteers and some friends from KSDS (another of our partners) (5) Tator accepting her 2nd place winnings (6) Bob Mealey accepting his 1st place prize (7) Barbara and her PAWS dog Ira pose with the Hogs For Dogs team (8) KSDS puppy raisers Paul & Norma Bell along with their latest KSDS puppy, Flash.
18th - Day #171
SCHOOL VISITS AND A SPECIAL GIFT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAYNEWS FLASH : Catch our radio interview with the Bob & Tom national radio show on Thursday morning @ 7am CDT (8am EDT). Find a local station or listen online at www.bobandtom.com
Max and Bailey had two school visits today. The first was with middle school students at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Grapevine. What a great group they were, and we owe a special thanks to Mark for being such a good sport and helping Karen Vass with her demonstration. Mrs. Mary Pat Mahoney arranged for our visit and informed us that the school is planning a Hogs For Dogs fundraiser to begin soon.
After a quick lunch with Karen Vass (our local PAWS representative) and her fiancé, Bob, we headed north to Fairview where we visited the Robert Muller Center For Living Ethics. The group varied in age from pre-school to Elementary and were very excited to finally meet Max and Bailey after looking forward to their visit for so long.
But, let me return to that quick lunch I mentioned. It was during lunch that we received what may be one of the most unique, thoughtful and touching gifts we've ever received. Bob, Karen's fiancé, works with canine search and rescue. In that capacity, he was one of the many who helped search through the World Trade Center debris after 9/11. Bob shared with us just how grueling and emotionally-draining it was to be there during that time. Children would often hold up photos of their loved ones as he made his way to work, pleading for Bob and his dog to help find them among the rubble. Bob was in tears as he recounted the story and we were in tears listening to it. Then, he shared the gift.
He said that he had returned back to their hotel room after an extremely difficult day and found a small package lying on his bed. When he opened the box, he found it full of dog booties made to protect the dogs' feet while they searched the rubble. And on each bootie, school children from a school in Michigan had colored inspirational pictures or messages. Bob picked up each bootie, one at a time, to examine their messages. By the time he was finished, his spirits were markedly lifted. These students from Michigan had sent him just the support he needed. The booties, however, were too slippery to use on the dogs' feet - but they were just what the teams needed to keep them focused on the difficult job in front of them.
Well, Bob saved those booties and continues to use them for inspiration every time he and his dogs get called to a scene. His gift to us was two of those highly-treasured booties to help remind us that we're not out here alone - that people around the country care about our welfare, are supportive of our goals and are quietly cheering for us to push on - regardless of the difficulties we face. Those booties, sent to Bob nearly three years ago, are still inspiring people around the country. Thank you, Bob, for sharing such a meaningful gift with us. We consider them priceless.
We have a very special opportunity to film a segment with Ceilidh Charleson-Jennings on her show Insight Out on Tuesday. We're chasing down the details of how and where you can see the show. Look for more info on our Press Release page soon.
Donor-of-the-Day : Bob -- and the students in Michigan who took the time to make those gifts for the search and rescue teams during 9/11. Look for more of this story because we intend to seek out the school, teacher and students who made these.
Photos-of-the-Day : (1) Holy Trinity Catholic School (2) Max relaxing while Blaine works at Holy Trinity (3 & 4) the special booties made by the Michigan students (5) Blaine talks about Max & Bailey's route with students at the Robert Muller Center (6) Karen Vass demonstrates how an Assistance Dog could help Mark if he was a wheelchair user
19th - Day #172
ANOTHER DAY - ANOTHER TOWN - AUSTIN, TXNEWS FLASH : Catch our radio interview with the Bob & Tom national radio show on Thursday morning @ 7am CDT (8am EDT). Find a local station or listen online at www.bobandtom.com
After several busy days in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, today was another travel day for Max & Bailey. But as I mentioned before, we had a great opportunity to film a 30-minute segment for the TV show Insight Out - a local program hosted by Ceilidh Charleson-Jennings. So, we shot the segment at the Richardson, TX Comcast studios and as soon as we get the schedule details from the show's producer, we'll post the viewing times here.
I wanted to share another special opportunity that we had a few days ago. One of our charity partners, Canine Partners For Life, asked us to name one of their new puppies. After going through several names, we decided that we wanted to honor one of our hardest working volunteers for her unending commitment to this project.
We were hoping to have a photograph of the 6-week-old female lab puppy to share with you today, but it hasn't arrived. As soon as the photo arrives, we'll be sure to get it posted here. But, in the meantime, I wanted to announce that one of the newest Canine Partners For Life puppies is named April after on of our national events coordinators April Fort. If that little puppy grows up to be half as generous and caring as our April, she is going to be a shoe-in for the next Assistance Dog of the Year contest. Your donations can help us ensure that April (the puppy) gets all the love and training she needs to become a canine superhero for a person living with a physical disability.
And, don't forget about our other puppies - The Paws With A Cause Dirty Dozen. Each of these dogs requires an $18,000 sponsorship. Help us sponsor these special Assistance Dogs with a donation or logo gear purchase today.
Max & Bailey will be at Knowles Elementary in Cedar Park on Wednesday and then have a full schedule of events on Thursday. We'll start the day with a special appearance on the Bob & Tom national radio show. That will be followed by a morning visit with the Texas School For The Deaf and Bowie High School in the afternoon.
If you live in the Austin area and want to meet Max & Bailey, stop by either of our two afternoon appearances at Dogstuff.com (5:30 - 7:30) or the Legendary Hills Cafe from 8:00 until 10:00 pm. Check out our Upcoming Events page for more details
Donor-of-the-Day : Today's donor is Debbie LeBlanc from Marrero, Louisiana for several purchases in our online company store. Make a donation today and see your name here tomorrow!
Photos-of-the-Day : (1) Ceilidh Charleson-Jennings interviews the Hogs For Dogs team (2-4) Take a first look at some of the pages in our upcoming 2005 calendar. On Sale soon!
21st - Day #174
BOB & TOM RADIO SHOW ROCKS THE HOGS FOR DOGS WEBSITEI realize that we skipped a day in our Daily Updates, but I'll include a quick update for Wednesday in here, too.
Max & Bailey shared their story with ~1000 students at Knowles Elementary School on Wednesday. Our school visit was followed by our first - of three - TV appearances in the Austin area. David Scott, from the local CBS affiliate KEYE, caught up with us on Wednesday afternoon and did a great segment for their 10 o-clock news. So, Wednesday was a good day.
But Thursday was HUGE! I grumbled out of be bed early on Thursday to be ready for our first Bob & Tom radio show interview. The guys had been giving us a couple plugs for the website before my 7:00 am call-in which gave us a slight increase in traffic, but after the interview the website went crazy with almost 360,000 hits in a single day. Many made donations or bought the famous Max & Bailey t-shirt or other logo gear. Bob & Tom really ROCKED our site and we sent them an email to thank them and all their listeners for the support. Check out our Guest Book to see what their listeners thought.
We wiped the sleep from our eyes after the radio interview and pointed the bikes towards the Texas School For The Deaf (TSD). I had been looking forward to my presentation since they had contacted us back in March. But I was also terrified because I knew there would be 5-year-olds in the audience who knew more about physical disabilities than I may ever know in my lifetime. But, my fear and anxieties were unfounded. The administration, staff and students were AMAZING! Interpreters helped me communicate our message with the students and answer their questions as they visited with the dogs in their sidecars after the presentation. We toured the school, stopping in several more classrooms and left the school feeling deeply touched by thier warmth and hospitality. Go Rangers! And thank you Joey (that's Mrs. Joey) Vaughn for inviting us in.
But our day didn't end there. No, it went on and on with school visits and events. Our next stop was at Bowie High School where we sat under a beautiful oak tree and talked with Karen Pearce's special needs students about Max & Bailey's ride. Another wonderful group of students who left us inspired to keep riding to help others.
From 5:30-7:30 we met with folks out at Dogstuff in Austin. Store owners Rick and Jane Fish have an extraordinary selection of items in their store and you can check it all out at their online store - www.dogstuff.com. KVUE-TV caught up with us there for another interview for their 5 o-clock news and many came out to visit and helped us raise $436.48 in the process. Thank you.
And the day still wasn't over. We left Dogstuff and raced over to the Legendary Hill's Cafe for our event with Austin Harley-Davidson. Laura from Austin H-D had saved us a parking spot right up front near their booth, got us on stage between Doak Short and The Dirty Dogs great music, and helped us raise another $290. And for the record - Hill's DEFINITELY has the best burgers in Austin (maybe in all of Texas!).
I know this scroll is long today, but if you're tired of reading, imagine how we felt after all these events. We didn't arrive back at our host's home (Larry & Beverly Russell) until well after 11:00 pm. A very long day, indeed!
Keep up the great support. We're not far from finishing this year's ride and we still have a long way to go to finish sponsoring our Paws With A Cause Dirty Dozen (see latest View from a Sidecar article) and with millions still waiting for an Assistance Dog, there is plenty of work to do.
Donor-of-the-Day : There were so many donors today that we'd need to purchase a billboard to fit them all in. Texas School For the Deaf, Bowie High School, Dogstuff and Hill's Cafe all played a big part in today's donations. And of course, Bob & Tom's national radio show had a HUGE impact on today's success. Thanks to everyone for the support.
Photos-of-the-Day : (1) TSD Principal Avonne Brooker-Rutowski (L) and Joey Vaughn (R) (2) Some TSD students and staff pose with Bailey (3) Bowie High School visit (4) Rick and Jane Fish at Dogstuff (5) News crew filming at TSD (6) TSD Hogs For Dogs bulletin board (7 & 8) TSD students visit with Bailey (9) New friends visit with us at Dogstuff (10) Blaine's on stage with Laura (Austin H-D) at Legendary Hill's Cafe (11 & 12) Austin H-D staff with Hogs For Dogs at Hill's.
22nd - Day #175
MAX & BAILEY ARRIVE IN HOUSTONIt took a lot of effort to climb out of bed on Friday morning after our event-filled day on Thursday. But with plenty of groans and grumbles we obeyed the alarm clock because we knew we had yet another long day in front of us. It may also be that we were a little grumpy because we always hate saying good-bye to friends like Larry and Beverly Russell who opened their home (and refrigerator) to us during our stay in Austin.
Austin had been very kind to us and will definitely be on any future rides. Today, however, we had to move on to Houston. And, other than being hot and humid, the ride was a pretty easy 3 1/2 hour trip. Unfortunately, it was almost all highway with very little to photograph and share with you.
Houston drivers welcomed us with big smiles and friendly horn honking as we made our way to the downtown studios of KHOU-TV Channel 11. News anchor (and Golden Retriever owner) Lisa Foronda had jumped at the chance to do a story on Max & Bailey's Ride. When I checked in with the receptionist at Channel 11, she immediately knew who I was, picked up the phone and announced "WE HAVE DOGS!" in animated voice. Two minutes later, most of the Channel 11 staff was in the parking lot to meet our furry friends.
Our story aired on both the 5 and 10 pm newscasts. Max & Bailey had officially arrived in Houston.
Donor-of-the-Day : We had several donors today, but I want to single out someone very special. Nancy Rosenberg is our local Houston volunteer who worked for weeks to get people excited about Max & Bailey's Ride. She arranged our TV interview and another radio interview for Saturday. She contacted motorcycle clubs and secured our visit to the Ice House for Saturday. She did almost everything with no other local help. And, on top of all that, she made a $50 donation. Like I said - she is a very special lady.
Photos-of-the-Day : (1) Lisa Foronda poses with Max & Bailey during our Channel 11 interview
23rd - Day #176
RAINED OUT IN HOUSTONAfter having good weather, though hot, for so long, we had forgotten how rain can really ruin a good event. We were reminded about that on Saturday. The rains came in steady and strong that morning, forcing us to cancel our first media appearance (KPTF Radio) since leaving home.
Of course, the rain stopped for a few hours before our afternoon event at The Ice House on West Alabama, but came back in earnest as soon as we put the dogs in the sidecars. But, we were already loaded up, so we just got soaked and made our way towards downtown Houston as we muttered the Postman's oath about four-letter words like rain and snow, etc. You know the one. And I admit, we may have muttered a few other four-lettered words that weren't part of the Postman's oath. But could you blame us? We had puddles of cold water in our underwear!
We're nothing, if not persistent and after a couple hours of rain, the sun tried to peak through all the clouds. We met some great people at the event and, ultimately, made the best of a bad day.
Now here's more bad news -- In all our muttering, we forgot to bring the camera to the event.
Since there isn't much to tell, I'll update Sunday's activities here, too -- another wet ride to Beaumont with more cold puddles in our underwear.
We ride into Louisiana on Monday - the 43rd State on Max & Bailey's charitable odyssey. We have two upcoming school visits in Cut Off and Lutcher, LA before our BIG (some might say HUGE) event at the Steel Pony VI event in New Orleans for the Halloween weekend.
Donor-of-the-Day : Though we were rained out at the beginning of our Ice House event, Jerry Rouse and his wife drove 50-miles (in the rain) to meet the Hogs For Dogs team and to make a very generous $100 cash donation. Suddenly, it felt like a little sunshine had made its way into this dreary day.
Photos-of-the-Day : since I forgot the camera for Saturday's events, I thought I could give you a preview of some of the photos that will be included in the 2005 calendar. There are more than 40 total photos used in the calendar. This may the most unique calendar you have ever bought!
We're hoping to begin taking orders for the 2005 Postcards From The Road calendar next week. The final proofs look AMAZING and we're sure you'll enjoy having one of these for every room in your house. Don't forget to pick up several more to use as holiday stocking stuffers for all the special people in your life. And if they have a big stocking - add a t-shirt or two to your order! Every gift you buy helps give the gift of independence to a person living with physical disabilities.
25th - Day #178
STATE #43 -- LOUISIANAWell folks, Max and Bailey entered the 43rd state on their ride across America. Louisiana welcomed us with its signature hot & humid weather. We had hoped to take another one of our patented photos at the state line, but the Texas/Louisiana line happened to be right in the middle of a busy bridge. So, instead I took a photo of the swamp at the next rest stop -- the first swamp in our travels.
I know these updates are supposed to be about 'today' - but we're really looking forward to tomorrow just so that today can be forgotten. I already mentioned the part about being hot & humid. Our kidneys are sore from riding on roads built in 10' concrete sections that didn't line up and our hotel, while free, has been nothing short of a scene right out of a National Lampoon's Vacation movie complete with the overflowing toilets and some late night room changing shenanigans.
But, chin up boys and girls -- tomorrow's almost here *smile*
Jerry and Pam Rouse - our donors-of-the-day from yesterday - were kind enough to forward us some of their photos from the Ice House event in Houston. You may remember that we forgot to bring our camera as we were too busy dodging raindrops.
We'll make our way to Cut Off tomorrow to prepare for our school visit at Cut Off Elementary on Wednesday. We'll follow that visit up with another at Lutcher High School on Thursday morning before heading into The Big Easy for our weekend events.
Donor-of-the-Day : Matthew Kreilein of Columbus, Ohio and Jennifer Schmidt of Massapequa, New York are today's donors for their generous purchases in our online store.
Photos-of-the-Day : (1-3) Ice House event photos courtesy of Jerry and Pam Rouse (4) Louisiana swamp.
We're hoping to begin taking orders for the 2005 Postcards From The Road calendar next week. The final proofs look AMAZING and we're sure you'll enjoy having one of these for every room in your house. Don't forget to pick up several more to use as holiday stocking stuffers for all the special people in your life. And if they have a big stocking - add a t-shirt or two to your order! Every gift you buy helps give the gift of independence to a person living with physical disabilities.
27th - Day #180
CUT OFF ELEMENTARY RAISES $443.68 TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIESFifth-grade teacher Louise Dykes contacted the Hogs For Dogs team back in April about having us visit them on our way through Louisiana. And today, after all those months of waiting, Max & Bailey rolled into the parking lot at Cut Off Elementary.
The fifth-grade students and parents held a pickles and sweets sale to raise money for Max & Bailey's Ride before our arrival and presented a generous check for $443.68 today from those sales. As a special treat for us, the parents involved in the fundraising event joined their sons and daughters for our presentation. It was very humbling to speak with everyone at Cut Off Elementary.
After our presentation, Max & Bailey enjoyed being treated like movie stars with students asking for autographs (paw-tograghs?) and getting kisses from all the pretty girls. Ah, the life of a motorcycle dog!
Tonight, we're just outside New Orleans preparing for our visit to Lutcher High School in the morning - another school visit that has been planned for months.
After the school visit, you can find Max & Bailey at Harley-Davidson of New Orleans at 6015 Airline Drive, Metairie, Louisiana. We'll be there for their Steel Pony Kick-Off open house event from noon until 3 PM. If you miss us there, come out and see us at the Steel Pony event this weekend. We'll be there from 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Friday & Saturday and from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday. With only forty days left in our ride, now is the time to get involved! Check out our Upcoming Events page for more details.
The calendars are on their way to the printer and they look AMAZING. I promise that you've never had a calendar as unique as Max & Bailey's 2005 Postcard From The Road Calendar. The pages are chockfull of photos and interesting notes from Max & Bailey's first nationwide charity ride. They will be available in our company store next week! Buy one, buy ten or buy all you want -- we'll print more! As always, all proceeds go to support our Assistance and Guide Dog charity partners.
Donor-of-the-Day : Cut Off Elementary fifth-grade students, their parents and teachers for their $443.68 donation from local fundraising efforts.
Photos-of-the-Day : (1) Bailey gets lots of love from Cut Off Elementary students (2) Janet and Max pose with fifth-grade teacher Louise Dykes. (3) Bailey's about to get another kiss! (4) Hmmm, this shrimp boat was for sale - maybe a Hogs For Dogs cruise in our future?
Do you think you have what it takes to be the next Hogs For Dogs cross-country team? Drop us a note and tell us why. Max and Bailey aren't getting any younger, so we're always looking for the next team of enthusiastic riders.
28th - Day #181
MAX & BAILEY VISIT LUTCHER HIGH SCHOOLMax & Bailey were escorted with flashing red and blue lights to Lutcher High School by Officer Travis Lawless of the St. James Parish Sheriff's motorcycle division. And what a reception we had. Hundreds of students came out with the teacher and staff to greet Max & Bailey as we rolled into the parking lot. The day was off to a good start.
After our presentation inside the auditorium, the students presented a check for $115.87, the proceeds from a collection done earlier in the week. Small buckets were passed around the room today for another collection and that money will be added to today's donation. And, of course, there were a few teachers and Sheriff department members that had to have the ever famous Max & Bailey t-shirts. Like I said - it was going to be a good day and we need to thank Assistant Principal Tracy Elliott Zeringue for inviting us to speak at Lutcher High.
The Lutcher High Bulldogs have a football game against their arch rivals, the 'Cats' tomorrow night. And since this is a Hogs For DOGS charity ride (and not a Hogs For Cats ride) -- GO BULLDOGS!
We spent the remainder of the day at an open house event hosted by Harley-Davidson of New Orleans. The event was the first in a several day marathon of events as part of the Steel Pony Express VII event in New Orleans. The Hogs For Dogs crew will be at the event all weekend, from early morning to late at night. If you email us and don't get an immediate response, that's why. Check out our Upcoming Events page for more details.
If you have made a donation in the past, don't forget to investigate the possibility of having your employer match your donation. Many employers will match donations (or make a donation for each hour you volunteer) to qualifying 501(c)3 organizations. Hogs For Dogs just happens to be a 501(c)3 qualifying organization. You can double your donation simply by asking your employer to get involved.
Donor-of-the-Day : Lutcher High School gets today's top honors for their $115.87 donation. We'd also like to thank everyone who stopped by to make a donation at the H-D of New Orleans event.
Photos-of-the-Day : (1) Our motorcycle escort - Officer Travis Lawless (2) Lutcher High students greet the Hogs For Dogs team (3) Lutcher football player, Chris, helps Blaine with our presentation. (4) Lutcher students present their fundraising check (5) Max shows off his gift from Lutcher High. Bailey got one, too! (6 & 7) H-D of New Orleans open house (8) Janet and Bailey are getting ready for Halloween in The Big Easy.
Do you think you have what it takes to be the next Hogs For Dogs cross-country team? Drop us a note and tell us why. Max and Bailey aren't getting any younger, so we're always looking for the next team of enthusiastic riders.
29th - Day #182
HOT, HOT HOT -- DAY ONE AT THE STEEL PONEY EXPRESS EVENTThe Louisiana heat and humidity were out in full force for the first day of the 3-day Steel Pony Express event. Max, Bailey and the Hogs For Dogs crew wilted through most of the day until a few clouds gave us a brief reprieve and then some volunteers brought in a couple big fans to get the air moving. Max & Bailey also used some unusual tactics to stay cool today (see photos), but they worked and that's what mattered.
Friday is always the slowest day of the 3-day event, but we were happily surprised with $297 in donations and $514 in logo gear sales. We'll take a 'slow' $800 day anytime!
We'll be back at the event all day tomorrow and until 6:00 PM on Sunday, so you still have time to get out to the event and meet Max & Bailey. We saw people from all over the country who had seen us either on the road, on the news, or at previous events. Max & Bailey are becoming very well known.
I'll keep this short. It's late, we're tired and we have still have half of this marathon event left to go. If you can't be in New Orleans this weekend, you can still make a donation or purchase some logo gear through our online store. Every dollar helps us provide Assistance Dogs to those who need them.
If you have made a donation in the past, don't forget to investigate the possibility of having your employer match your donation. Many employers will match donations (or make a donation for each hour you volunteer) to qualifying 501(c)3 organizations. Hogs For Dogs just happens to be a 501(c)3 qualifying organization. You can double your donation simply by asking your employer to get involved.
Donor-of-the-Day : Our mailbox was empty today, but our donation bins were full. Make a donation today and see your name here tomorrow.
Photos-of-the-Day : (1) Janet waits for the crowds to arrive (2) Max fights the heat with an icepack on his head (3) Meet Larry -- he liked Max!
Do you think you have what it takes to be the next Hogs For Dogs cross-country team? Drop us a note and tell us why. Max and Bailey aren't getting any younger, so we're always looking for the next team of enthusiastic riders.
31st - Day #184
IT'S HALLOWEEN IN NEW ORLEANSHalloween in New Orleans is renowned to be a crazy time. Unfortunately, we missed it. Our time was spent in the heat with the hundreds of other vendors at the last day of the Steel Pony Express VII event. So, our host and Paws With A Cause Field Trainer Carolyn Kerner carved up some very special pumpkins and we celebrated Halloween in our booth.
Our costumes all looked similar - wet, sticky clothes clinging to our hot, sweat-stained bodies. We were VERY SCARY!!! Boo!
The three-day event has now passed and our bodies are slowly recovering from standing for up to 12 hours each day. The people we met were wonderfully nice and sincerely interested in helping people with disabilities by reducing the 3-5 year waiting lists for Assistance Dogs. They made generous donations, media reps like those from Thunder Roads came by to get our story and some of the custom bike builders either sent their folks to see us or joined us for some photos in their areas. The money is still being counted, but the first count put us somewhere near $3000 for the weekend.
We owe a very special thanks to Carolyn and her husband Mike for hosting us in New Orleans and arranging all the details of our Steel Pony appearance. They made sure our logo gear was delivered, tents set up and special pumpkin carved (see photo). Carolyn also rounded up all the volunteers who helped us work the booth each day. Everyone (as usual) was extremely nice to us and we felt very lucky to have them on our team.
Monday has us heading east into Mississippi - the 44th state on Max & Bailey's Ride. There are only 34 days left on this ride and we are pleading with everyone to get involved before its too late. Help us make the 218-day ride a huge success for the millions of people living with disabilities.
We are now being asked if we'll make a second ride with Max & Bailey. The answer lies in the amount of support we receive. Janet and I have spent almost all of our personal savings to make this first ride a reality. Now, it's up to the public. We talked with a few potential sponsors at the Steel Pony event with no firm results. The bottom line is this: If you believe and if sponsors can help, we'll ride. We just don't have another year of savings to survive on the road like we did this year. Maybe you could be the riders for next year. Let us hear your thoughts.
If you have made a donation in the past, don't forget to investigate the possibility of having your employer match your donation. Many employers will match donations (or make a donation for each hour you volunteer) to qualifying 501(c)3 organizations. Hogs For Dogs just happens to be a 501(c)3 qualifying organization. You can double your donation simply by asking your employer to get involved.
Donor-of-the-Day : Our mailbox was empty today, but our donation bins were full. Make a donation today and see your name here tomorrow.
Photos-of-the-Day : (1) Max poses in front of the Steel Pony stage (2) Hogs For Dogs pumpkin, courtesy of Carolyn Kerner's steady hand (3) PAWS demo dog Killian holds his pumpkin basket looking for donations (4) Bailey has some pretty little visitors during his break (5) Max wonders if Big Dog has a sidecar for him (6) Or if Jack Daniels has the juice to get him across the country again (7) Meet Chad - he's now waited almost 5 years for an Assistance Dog. Will this be the year? (8) Custom bike builder Jim Nasi poses with Max (9) Bailey wins photo-of-the-day with his new friend from Martin Brother's Custom Bikes (10) Max went to the Martin Bros. booth and only got his photo with these cool choppers (lucky BAILEY!) (11) Bailey wants to take his own lead (maybe back to see his friends at Martin Bros. (12) Cool dual V-Twin custom bike
