Ride Blog

Bowling, Bowling, Bowling

2008-05-27T23:36:00.002-04:00

Hey everybody,

Sorry we haven't blogged in a few days. It took a little while to collect everyone's photos since our (un)official photographers had to leave us in Naples. We still managed to get some pretty good shots of our event site - Splitsville in Tampa, FL. Thanks so much to GM Kris Knox and Courtney Dempsey, our event coordinator. This was such a fun event for the crew! See pictures of us bowling here (check out the awesome form - yeah right!). Can anyone tell me how Traci Smith bowls with those fingernails?!?

In addition to breaking in the lanes, we met some new friends. See photos here and pay special attention to the young man in the red shirt. His name is Adrian and he is THE STRIKE KING! He showed Nikki and I a thing or two and promised to give us some more pointers next time we're in town.

Once again, we had a fantastic time, raised money, and reminded people about the continuing fight against breast cancer. This was our last official event and just as it did last year, it brought a sense of relief as well as a twinge of sadness. We were all getting a little road weary but so enjoy each others company. And, of course, once we arrived in Knoxville, we would be saying goodbye to Nikki as she headed back to her new home in California.

That's all for now.

Holly

Saltwater Cowboys

2008-05-21T23:49:00.005-04:00

Day 5 - We are officially more than half way through our ride and on our way to Naples. Here are some pics of our trip including the trek across Alligator Alley. Except for a brief stop for road work and a glimpse by some of us (supposedly) of a gator, it was pretty uneventful. We made good time for a long day and made it to our event site of the evening almost on time :-).

Saltwater Cowboys, for those of you who don't know it, is a "real biker bar". Ask anyone who's been there. Here are some pics.

We couldn't believe how much orange welcomed us upon arrival. Here are some pics of some of the UT lovers who came out to visit. We were even lucky enough to have an old friend, Bobby Denton stop by for a visit as well. Any long time Knoxvillians reading this blog will know exactly who he is. He looks great. It's clear the Florida climate agrees with him.

Thanks again to Saltwater Cowboys for helping us fuel the fight against breast cancer!

The Cruisin' Crew

Making it to Mile 0

2008-05-19T22:56:00.005-04:00

We left Miami early to avoid traffic and, of course, get to Key West as early as possible. Here are some photos from our trip down. Our original reservations were made at a hotel near the airport but our friend and honorary Cruisin’ Crew member, Kathy Witt and her friend Donna Moody had other plans. First, they made contact with City Commissioner Teri Johnston who arranged for a police escort for our caravan. These guys made the trip to Mile Marker 0 and the Southernmost Point possible. They also made connections with some unbelievably generous people and we wound up staying at two magnificent properties. Cindy DeRocher at The Gardens Hotel on Angela Street was our main host (thank you Kate Miano, owner). Part of the crew also stayed at another property right down the street called Ambrosia Key West (thank you Claude Vansteaden, manager). We were all equally thrilled with the accommodations. The next time you make plans to visit Key West you HAVE to stay at one of these locations! The property is beautiful and every staff member is friendly and professional. We cannot say thank you enough for the generosity we enjoyed but want to say a special thank you to Alicia, Billy and Jessica for taking care of us.

After checking in, Nikki and I along with some of our crew headed over to Bahama Village to do a 2 hour clinic at the Frederick Douglas Gym. Thank you to City Commissioner Clayton Lopez for helping make the clinic possible. We had a great turnout and the kids were very enthusiastic. Thanks to Beth Bass and the WNBA we were able to provide 20 basketballs and cool giveaways to every participant. These were two of the most satisfying hours we spent on the road. A special thank you to Mr. Major for facilitating the event.

Once the clinic was over, we returned to the Gardens Hotel for a reception in our honor and Nikki and I were made honorary citizens of "The Conch Republic" by Secretary General Sir Peter Anderson.

Check back for more updates tomorrow!

Go Cruisin’!

Holly

Catching up

2008-05-17T00:44:00.001-04:00

Okay. We’ve got a lot to catch up on so Holly and I both are writing tonight. We finally had a chance to get some of the photos organized. Here are some pics from the TaTa Tour - what a great event! If you missed it, plan to ride with us next year – this will be a repeat event for sure.

You've already seen some photos from Day 1 posted by the Cruisin' Crew (thanks Cindy). Here are some more pics once we got on the road.

We also have photos from day 2 (including the mind blowing experience of Daytona International Speedway).

We started day 3 thinking about the Florida families who have been affected by the fires currently burning there. We saw some of the devastation pictured here. Our prayers go out to everyone affected including the fire fighters who are out there trying to gain control. The smell of smoke permeated everything for miles. Luckily we made it through the fire zone about 30 minutes before they closed the road and were glad to leave the area behind us.

After the sobering start, the rest of the day turned out to be gorgeous. The weather was great and apart from a brief pit stop for an oil leak, we had a great trip into Miami.

Deli Lane, a local Miami restaurant hosted us for our first event on the road. Thank you Patty and Linda for working so hard and having such a great setup. Cindy Russo, the head coach of Florida International University as well as members of the FIU football and baseball teams joined us. The athletes were enthusiastic and supportive and helped in the fund raising effort with great giveaways. Thanks FIU for your help!

We will be updating more tomorrow so check back in to see pics from Key West, Naples, and Tampa.

Thanks for following along with us!

Holly and Nikki

Rain, rain go away

2008-05-16T00:51:00.002-04:00

And here we are pullin out of the lot at Smithbilt only to hit the rain 3 miles down the road.

Check back over the next few days as we play catch-up with the blogging.

~ H & N

Getting Ready Part 3

2008-05-16T00:43:00.004-04:00

Getting ready part 2

2008-05-16T00:37:00.001-04:00

Getting ready to roll

2008-05-16T00:23:00.002-04:00

Thought you would enjoy seeing some photos of what it takes to get us ready to go. Sadly we only made it 3 miles (defintitely the shortest leg of the entire trip) before we had to pull over and put on the rain gear.

Blog Apologies!

2008-05-16T00:11:00.003-04:00

We want to give you all our sincerest apology for the technical blog issues that we have faced during the ride! Obviously there was no way to anticipate them, so we want to assure you that we will spend the next few days getting you all caught up!

Once we got out of rainy East Tennessee, the weather has been spectacular! It doesn't get any better than cruisin' through sunny Florida. Please bear with us while we play catch-up, but know that we are going to overload you with ride photos and facts.

Thanks for your support during the past week!

We're still cruisin'!

Holly & Nikki

Test

2008-05-15T23:35:00.001-04:00

We have had some rather serious technical difficulties during the ride. This is a test posting to ensure that all systems are go!

2008-05-13T00:49:00.004-04:00

Okay. It is LATE and I am tired! Here are some photos from the road today. I will blog more details tomorrow. Suffice it to say that we had an amazing day. Have you ever taken a couple of laps INSIDE the speedway at Daytona? Chad, one of our crew leaders set us up with a quick run - amazing doesn't begin to sum it up... Are these photos awesome or what?!?

Cruisin' Kick-off 2008

2008-05-11T22:14:00.003-04:00

WHEW!!!
It is 10:32p.m. in Columbia, SC and the Cruisin' Crew are all in our respective rooms settling down for the night. Tomorrow is officially our longest day on the road so we need our rest. After today, WE HAVE EARNED IT! We left Smithbilt this morning trying to dodge raindrops but didn't have much success. Between a stop for rain gear and a brief pause under a bridge, we somehow made it through a monster storm of rain and wind (don't tell my mom).

It's day one of the ride but really day three of this year's effort. We had a beautiful kick off party , b3 - bikes, basketball & breast cancer, at the home of Eddie Mannis - so wonderfully set up by our committee only to be drenched by late breaking storms. We made due with Eddie's generous hospitality and had a great auction with the music of Jen Foster setting the tone for the evening. Thanks to all who survived with us!

We also unveiled our new one-day ride - the TaTa Tour this year presented by Regal Entertainment Group. We had a great turnout at Wild Wing Cafe on Saturday afternoon and a fantastic ride through East Tennessee. Nkki and I were thrilled to have such a great turnout and are already planning next year's event. Thank you Wild Wing Cafe for welcoming us so graciously!

Tomorrow we will be heading south toward Daytona and we are all looking forward to the smell of the ocean and some sand beneath our boots!

Nikki and I will be posting every day (including photos tomorrow) so check back in for updates.

Good night and Go Cruisin'!

Holly

Nikki Caldwell - A Bruin!

2008-04-21T17:39:00.002-04:00

By now I am certain that you have heard the news......My riding partner is the new Head Women's Basketball Coach at UCLA!! I am so very proud of her and know she is going to make a statement on the West Coast and across the country.

I do have mixed feelings. I am happy, but extremely sad for her to depart. I have worked with Nikki for the past 6 years. I understand that she is a great coach, but more importantly, she is a GREAT person. She has become one of my closest and dearest friends. I can't talk about her leaving without crying. But a know she is following a dream and our friendship will be forever.

Which brings me to our ride....Yea, Nikki is still committed to the ride and the cause. Didn't I say she was a great person! I hope the fans of UCLA will jump on board and help fund our ride. We need you!!

Tampa was SPECIAL

2008-04-21T17:27:00.002-04:00

How was the National Championship....AWESOME! What a tremendous display of heart and determination!!!! Nicky Anosike was such a key to our performance. She is a great leader and her intensity was incredible. Every one of our players stepped up at the right time!

With the end of the season, women's basketball lost two great players....Sylvia Fowles and Candice Wiggins. Their influence on their respected teams was so revealing. Great competitors and a class act after the game. I know they will do a great job in the WNBA.

What was the first shirt that I saw in the crowd during our open practice? A Cruisin For a Cause Shirt! Unbelievable!! We are getting the word out against breast cancer. I hope you will continue to support us and help our fight.

Purdue connections

2008-03-27T12:22:00.002-04:00

We have just returned home from the 1st and 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament. The games were awesome and we were all very proud of our team's effort. We had two big wins and now getting ready for the Regionals.

After the Purdue game, a young woman approached me and told me of her battles with breast cancer. She had lost all her hair, but it did not make her lose her smile. She was in recovery and cancer free!! What a wonderful feeling I had walking away from her thinking how honored I am to hear such heartwarming stories. If I can make a survivor smile, then I know I can truly make a difference in other people's lives.

I will continue to spread the word on my basketball platform. Because I know with the Lady Vols' exposure, we can bright another light to our battle against breast cancer.
-Holly

2008 Campaign is NOW!

2008-03-16T11:50:00.002-04:00

Hey, we are ready to roll again and the new year is looking to be as fun and exciting as our last trip. We are headed to Key West! Yeah! With several stops along the way, I think it will be a great ride to continue pushing Cruisin in the forefront for Breast Cancer awareness.

Our first ride was a huge success, raising over $50,000. I know we can do better. Please take the time to check out our fund raising options. You can personally set up you own fundraising page and get your friends involved in our wonderful cause.

We need your help in finding a cure! I am very passionate about Cruisin for a Cause and hope you are too! Together we can make our 2008 Campaign a huge success!
-Holly

Credits

2007-09-17T16:39:00.000-04:00

This is hard to write without getting tears in my eyes thinking about this wonderful experience. I started this event with a vision about riding a motorcycle across country and trying to honor my Grandmother, who died of breast cancer. I wanted to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer and try in some way to honor those who have survived this deadly disease.

I know that this was accomplished by the response we got through donations and all the stories that I personally got to hear from survivors. You are unbelievable role models and heroes. You are the ones who show tremendous courage and fight. You have been a true inspiration to me. Now I know the true meaning of battle. You will forever be in my thoughts and prayers.

A trip like this does not just happen by chance. It requires a whole lot of organization, direction, and passion. I have always been told you surround yourself with quality people, and that is exactly what happened. Please let me take this time to acknowledge the wind beneath my wings…..

To Nikki, thanks for agreeing to be my partner in this endeavor. You are a great friend with a love for life even though you are from Oak Ridge!!

To the Cruisin Committee, Renee, Sherry, Carol, Janet, Cindy, Lori, Andy, Beth, Elle and Susan, thanks for all your direction and putting in an enormous amount of hours for this event to happen.

To our traveling crew, John, Lori, Andy, Stacey, Tony, and Terri. Thank you for all the great support, getting us to our destinations, making sure our bikes were running right, and setting up for the rallies. You made our trip so much easier!

To our support crew, Traci, Beth, Kim, Janet, Renee, and Sherry, your efforts help bring back a little home on the road. And to the Smith Family, thank you for allowing us to use your RV along the way! You are a special family and I am thankful to have your friendship. Traci, I think you found a new career….No one can handle a boat on land better!

To Pat Summitt and Joan Cronan, thank you for allowing both Nikki and I to take time away from work for this cause.

To the Blue & Red Knights, especially Rick Coatney, your welcome at Cookeville was breathtaking!

To the Knoxville Sheriff and Police Departments, Bobby Hubbs (a Bearden Boy), and Bernie Lyon, thank you for giving all of us a thrill of a lifetime. The escort was awesome.

To our photographer, Erin Donovan, you took awesome shots! We’d love to have you on the road with us next year!

To all the Harley-Davidson Stores and HOG Chapters, we appreciate all your help and allowing us to be a part of your brand.

To Under Armour, for the awesome clothes. We were very stylish!!

Special thanks to Andy Preston for getting our bikes up to speed for a long journey....Corbin Pacific Seats saved me from Monkey Butt, J&M Corporation allowed us to communicate, and Cycle Xtras gear protected us from the rain. These companies donated their product to help make the trip smoother! Thanks to Overby's Two Wheel Sound and The Electrical connection for the extensive work on our bikes. We appreciate your tireless support!

To Mary Howell for all the embroidery work on a very short notice!

And to all the Tennessee Alumni and fans, you made all of us feel at home. You are true Volunteers and we will forever be grateful for all your help.

To all the media outlets….The Sports Doctor, Ashley and Brad in the morning, Andy and Allison,WATE, WVLT, and WBIR sports departments, Style, and Live at Five….You helped us get the word out and we say thanks!

And finally, to my family, thank you for putting up with my ideas and allowing me to dream! No one, and I mean no one has a better support group. I love you dearly. I know its tough taking care of two dogs with a lot of energy. I’m even proud that people say I’m just like Fran! (That’s my mom)

Our Sponsors:

To Presenting Sponsor - Fed/Ex Kinko’s, thank you for jumping on board first! You really can make things happen with a very short notice. Cindy Catlin, thanks for getting Fed/Ex Kinko’s to buy into this dream! And, you were great on the ride!

To Wayne Basler, thank you for donating the Lady Vol bike to our Champions for a Cause foundation! It always turns a lot of heads and makes a lot of pictures!

To Knoxnews.com, your help with the website and advertisement was awesome!

To Skirt Magazine, thanks for the advertisement and what you do for women!

To Pilot, you fueled us across the country! Thank you! Ever time I saw a Pilot Station it felt like home!

To Gatorade, thank you for fueling our bodies! Especially across the desert!

Our Homecoming Sponsors:

To Regal Entertainment Group, Bandit Lites, and Cherokee Distributing, you were all very generous in donating your product and services. And especially to Sound Ventures,TERI Productions, and Stage Call, as Jackson Browne says “You were the first to arrival and the last to go!” We truly appreciate your time and hard work. You are all great friends of both Nikki and me, and you are great ambassadors of Knoxville. That is why we always see your companies sponsoring events throughout the year. We are very thankful that you are a part of the Knoxville community.

Thanks to Mickey Dearstone, the City of Knoxville – Office of Special Events, Bruce Pearl, Lady Vols Staff and Managers, Famous Dave’s, and Chandlers for your presence and help.

The Chillbillies….you rock and we appreciate you taking time away from your family to help entertain us!!!!

A huge thank you to Ryan for the Viva Las Vegas Video….that was really cool. And to one of our own, Charlie Harless, a Lady Vol Manager, who produced the slide show. You always make everything look so easy!

Through this all, I will always be reminded that we need to continue our fight against breast cancer…. And that is why I want to continue this journey! Breast Cancer does not take a break, nor will Nikki and I. With your help, we can make a difference!

Coming soon……….Our next adventure!!!!

We will keep our website up and running for those people who believe in our cause!!

Home, sweet home!!!

2007-09-14T13:39:00.000-04:00

View the photos, with the captions below them. It will tell you a lot about our homecoming and how we did it Big Orange Style!!!

Special thanks to Regal Entertainment Group for sponsoring the Homecoming Event.
Gregg Dunn, Mike Campbell, Dick Westerling

Michael Strickland with Bandit Lites
JR Sanders with Sound Ventures
Robbie Henry with Stage Call
Ann Coatney with TERI Productions
The Chill Billies
Doug Reneger with Famous Dave's
Charlie Chandlers with Chandlers
Cherokee Distribution
Gatorade
And All the Volunteers!!!!

Thank you Knox County Sheriff's Department for the grand escort along with the Blue Knights and Red Knights.

Thank you travelling crew!!!!

2007-09-14T13:17:00.000-04:00

This has been one of the highlights of my life. I was given the opportunity to try to make a difference in a small way towards the fight against breast cancer. This trip could not have been possible without our travelling team. You guys rock!!!!

To our traveling team:

John and Lori - we could not of got across country safely without you guys at the point, leading the pack. Holly and I probably would have ended up in Colorado somewhere.

Andy and Stacie - thank you for keeping the wheels turning on the bikes, the contacts you made to outfit us; for us to talk on our CB's; and listen to music; and most importantly the contact with Corbin (the best motorcycle seats in the world.) Special thanks for helping to maneuver us through traffic.

Tony and Terri - thank you for the support, Tony thanks for running me back to gas up too!!!

Sherry and Renee - thank you in many, many ways. You guys really know how to travel in style - via convertible. Great photos too!!!

Traci - you're my idol. Your ability to drive a RV with a trailer attached across the country is incredible. Although you did run across the desert doing 80-85 mph. (no wonder the RV over heated, heavy foot)

To the RV crew, Kim - photographer/set up, Janet with Skirt Magazine, and Beth, our accountant - great job in assisting with the set up of the rallies and also for having the cold beverages ready...

Cindy - thank you for stepping up to the plate with FedEx Kinko's and making this happen!!!

Thank all of you for Cruisin' with us!!!

To Carol Evans for the contacts with The Knoxville News Sentinel and her media team, Susan Robertson and Elle Butler.

Knoxville Homecoming

2007-09-14T11:02:00.000-04:00

Unbelievable! What an experience and a thrill! We were first met in Cookeville by the Blue Knights(Police Department) and Red Knights(Fire Department) motorcycle riders. They rolled with us to Knoxville where we were treated to a police escort by the Knox County Sheriff's Department. I got chills when I actually saw what was happening. Don't want to get into a motorcycle driving contest with them!

The reception at Market Square was unforgettable! Again, way beyond my expectations! Thanks to Mickey Dearstone, Joan Cronan, Pat Summitt, and Bruce Pearl for being a part of the program. And the Chillbillies were great as usual! Just make sure Pat and Bruce practice "Mustang Sally" before their next gig. To Kathy Johnston, thank you for sharing your survivor story on stage.

Thanks for all your donations Knoxville! You were very giving and generous! Special thanks to all the survivors who shared their stories with me. And, a big thank you to Renee Repka and Sherry Jenkins for putting the homecoming event all together.
To all the volunteers who helped with the setup and worked the booths, I appreciate you very much!

KNOXVILLE you are the best!!!!

-Holly

Nashville Rally

2007-09-11T19:07:00.000-04:00

Nashville photos.

We are slowly but surely edging our way home. It was a great reception at the C & S Harley-Davidson. We had a great turnout. Thank you for hosting our event.

See you in Knoxville at Market Square at 5:30 pm. for our Homecoming Celebration.

Music City Rally

2007-09-11T19:04:00.000-04:00

We are getting closer! Yea!! We rolled into the C&S Harley-Davidson around 3:30pm. We were welcomed by the Ladies of Harley!! Very special ladies who did a super job welcoming us to Music City.

How courageous are breast cancer survivors? We met women who survived breast cancer for 6 years, 11 years, etc. They learned to fight and enjoy each day. Why don't we learn from them!

One more day on our trip! Watch out Ktown!

PS - Thanks for our family coming to the Nashville Event! That was special....Especially Dixie and Chesney!!

Memphis Rally

2007-09-10T21:01:00.000-04:00

Memphis photos

Tried to meet Elvis in the Jungle Room but they were afraid I would leave tire tracks on the shag carpet. O well, maybe tomorrow!

Our Memphis rally was a Tennessee reception! I love it!! No matter where we go, there is always a Big Orange contingency. But this group is very special. When Coach Summitt was in school at UT Martin, she was a Chi Omega. What a group!! The Chi Os are a family to me. I sometime feel like I went to school with them all. Okay I feel like a secret Chi O, but they won't show me the secret handshake!

Thanks to Bumpus Harley Davidson! Joe and his crew had a great setup and very warm welcome.

-Holly

Jana Fuqua, you are AWESOME!! Thank you for all you do for the Big Orange and especially our Lady Vol family! I can't say enough about your loyalty to our program. If I ever need anything done in Memphis, I know you can make it happen.

PS-Our friend Tut is battling cancer and I want to personally say I am thinking of you and love your spirit!! You are a TRUE inspiration!

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2007-09-10T19:57:00.000-04:00

Photos of our ride to Memphis

The weather was not very nice to us this morning, but we did make it safely to Memphis. The rain gear came in handy. I did put the lining back in Holly's and I gear.

I can't tell you how happy we were when we saw the signage - Tennessee Welcomes You. We all put one hand in the air and cheered. Don't get me wrong, this trip has been unbelievable. If you ever want to see God's country, this is the way to do it. All senses are heightened, you're just in the thick of it all. It's fabulous.

John, who's our point man in getting us place to place was so amazed by the police escort we received. Thank you Shelby County Sheriff's Office. Ok, we all were amazed and excited with the escort!!!

Nikki

Almost Home!

2007-09-09T22:30:00.000-04:00

After being on the road for a few days, some of the Cruisin' posse had to head back to Knoxville to finalize the Homecoming Celebration. We can't believe it is already here - this Wednesday on Market Square from 5:30 - 9:00 p.m.

We've been working hard and we're ready to welcome back the carravan with a great night and a few surprises. FedExKinko's has been fantastic - churning out signs and banners and taking care of last minute print needs. Robbie Henry at StageCall and JR at Sound Ventures/Bandit Lites are all over the details and are spending their whole day Wednesday overseeing the setup 'cause the Chillbillies are ready to rock!

We'll have barbecue and burgers from Chandler's and Famous Dave's and Cherokee Distributing has us covered on beverages. Get down to Market Square early to try our Beat The Coaches Shootout, register for giveaways, and purchase your official Cruisin' Gear and autographed items.

We've met so many interesting people during this promotion and heard so many great stories. The Lady Vol Graduate Assistants have been great, helping to distribute posters and info cards. Amazingly, one of the GA's, Whitney Welch has a personal breast cancer story that Holly and Nikki are just now discovering. Her mom, Martha, had a very serious breast cancer 17 years ago and underwent a bone marrow transplant and many other aggressive treatments to fight the disease. It was great to see Whitney out there helping out with this cause.

We're looking forward to a great night and hope you're planning to be there to help us Celebrate!

Thelma and Louise