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

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2007-09-09T20:35:00.000-04:00

Photos of Little Rock Rally

OK, we now have experienced driving in the rain! Remember that I said the rain felt like pin needles?....today, they felt like rocks! Of course we were soaking wet because Ms. Nikki took out our jacket lining because she was hot and thought I would be too. But, she didn't realize that it was also the rain blocker!

But we made it to our rally site, LUV Homes! What super, super people. Good crowd and we raised a lot of money. Danny and Tammy Mills were our host and they did it RIGHT!!!! They made us feel very welcomed and that is what it is all about! I met Tammy in Knoxville during basketball camp and we thankfully have stayed in touch.

The support staff has been great. Traci and her traveling crew have been troopers. It doesn't matter that they went to the wrong hotel tonight. We still love them!! Hey Traci, can you read?

Nikki and Holly

Take the Highway

2007-09-08T18:03:00.000-04:00

What a long day.... the morning came by way too soon! 4:30am roll call was a little to early for me. We hit the 2,000 mile mark in Vernon, TX in the pouring rain! The rain drops feel like pin needles going 70 miles an hour.

We rolled into the Dallas Harley-Davidson to a warm welcome committee! A ton of Tennessee Volunteer supporters and a huge contingent of the Dallas Hog Chapter. They joined both Nikki and I in a drive by around the dealership.

Another great day for our traveling crew! They all worked through the heat and did a super job. We will continue to spread the word and raise money for breast cancer. And that is what this is all about!!!!

Off to Little Rock in the morning!!

Dallas Rally

2007-09-08T16:45:00.000-04:00

The day began at 5:00 am with us heading from Amarillo to Dallas. The RV and the crew had to roll ahead of us so that we could make our 2:00 pm start time. We were able to have lunch together at a Sonic about half way into the ride. I'm not going to say any names, but one of our riders had not had the pleasure of an enjoyable meal from Sonic. Her company is only our presenting sponsor.

Our team did a fantastic job of setting up the event, along with the Dallas Tennessee Alumni Association. It was so great seeing the orange. There were a few future Lady Vols in attendance as well.

Photos of the rally.

We had a special person in attendance, Leslie Reid. She shared her story with her bout against breast cancer. She was diagnosed with Intraductal Carcinoma Stage II in June of 2006. She is championing her cause against this disease. She has 2 beautiful daughters and a loving husband. We wish her much success and we send her many blessings.

We leave for Little Rock, AR in the morning. More photos to follow tomorrow.

Nikki and Holly

Amarillo by Morning - NOT!

2007-09-07T21:50:00.000-04:00

Our goal....Amarillo by morning! Sorry George Strait, it didn't happen. Way to much wind!! We almost got blown off the road several times and it was a little scary.

We rolled into Amarillo on historic Route 66. Before arrival, we stopped at an old country store for a bathroom break. Check out the sign in our pictures. Better come with a quarter!!!!

We ended the day at the Cadillac Ranch!! The Lady Vols are now represented on a car. Why did they bury them on the ranch? We don't know, but it was pretty cool to see them in the middle of a pasture.

Heading to Dallas early (5:00 am) in the morning! We've got our 3rd rally to attend at The Dallas Harley-Davidson in Garland, TX.

Holly and Nikki

FedEx Kinko's on Coors Blvd.

2007-09-06T21:42:00.000-04:00

A special thanks to FedEx Kinko's on Coors Blvd. for coming out and supporting our cause. We've also got a few pictures that will reveal the surprise they had for us at their store.

Thank you!!

Rally in Albuquerque, NM

2007-09-06T21:14:00.000-04:00

The rally at Thunderbird Harley-Davidson was a blast. We have some great photos to share with you. We were extremely excited about the amount of people we were able to reach. We shared our story and in doing so donations were made. Thank you to all who helped make this a special day for The Volunteers Cruisin' for a Cause team!!!

Rally at the Thunderbird

2007-09-06T21:11:00.000-04:00

The reception in Albuquerque at the Thunderbird Harley Davidson was huge. We met survivors, families of survivors, friends of survivors, etc.

We were joined by Vicki Macaulay and Kathy Anderson from Albuquerque Komen For a Cure, two women who have a strong passion about this fight.

Thanks to our traveling crew for all their hard work....Andy, Stacie, John, Terri, Tony, Kim, Beth, Traci, and a special shout out to Lori for the great job organizing our event.

How bout our friends at FedEx/Kinkos! What a nice welcome! They had a cake, drinks, and a big smile waiting for us as we entered the door. Don't know how they get any work done cause they face the Sandias Mountains, and they are turning pink as I blog.

On to the next event..........And getting closer to home!!!!

Cindy Catlin - Senior Manager, FedEx Kinko's

2007-09-06T02:13:00.000-04:00

FedEx Kinko's photos

Holly & Nikki asked me to blog a bit tonight about FedEx Kinko's sponsorship of the ride and my involvement. First, it is great to work for a company that believes in team member involvement and giving back to the commmunity. I was truly excited when the company came on board as the presenting sponsor and allowed me to serve as the corporate point person. It is an honor to be associated with Holly and Nikki and their efforts to raise funds and awareness in the battle to find a cure for breast cancer.
FedEx Kinko's will be on board again in 2008 as the presenting sponsor, and we encourage you to share our website and mission with your family and friends...every little bit helps!
As we cross the country, it is a great opportunity for me to meet FedEx Kinko's team members in different cities and states. We visited the Las Vegas Paradise location and received a warm welcome, last minute help with extra copies and computer time. Many thanks to Chelsea, one of the assistant managers, for her help following the rally and for shipping a wallet that we found along the side of the road to it's owner.
More to come during the next week! We are having a great time, are a bit tired, but overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response we are receiving everywhere we go.
We keep on cruisin'!

Contributed by Cindy

Best Day Yet

2007-09-06T02:07:00.000-04:00

Check out some more photos!

Bye Elvis, we want to thank you, thank you very much! We did Las Vegas and headed out to Hoover Dam! Massive! Probably the biggest challenge for me today was to deal with the wind. It was blowing me and the bike all over the road. We hit the 1000 mile mark in Williams, AZ heading toward the Grand Canyon. Spectacular! All I could do was stand and stare! It was one of the most fascinating sights that I have ever seen. And to end my favorite day, I stood on the corner of Winslow, AZ and sang with Jackson Browne and the Eagles....And as the song says "Take It Easy"

PS - Thanks to Jackie, Sherry and Renee for the great help! Ya'll were great photographers, organizers and runners! Can ya meet us in Dallas?

Holly

The Hoover Dam and The Grand Canyon

2007-09-06T01:20:00.000-04:00

Unbelieveable photos...This was my first time seeing the Hoover Dam and The Grand Canyon. It was amazing. We've got some great photos of both places. We are now in Holbrook, AZ.

On September 6th we will be at Thunderbird Harley-Davidson from 4 pm - 6 pm. The address is 5000 Alameda Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM. Come out and see us!!!

Viva Las Vegas

2007-09-04T21:42:00.000-04:00

OK the King is still alive!! Only he lives in a slot machine. I found an Elvis slot machine. When you win, it plays the theme from his Hawaii concert!! Too funny!! It suckered me in....but I did win my money back plus a couple of $100.00!!
I spent all night with Elvis....WOW!! Found out how he gets himself in that studded suit.

Remember what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!!!! OK I was in bed last night by 9:00pm.

-Holly

Las Vegas Rally

2007-09-04T21:36:00.000-04:00

Rally photos, a special fan showed up!!!

A huge thanks to the Las Vegas Harley-Davidson. Thank you so much for helping us with our quest to fight breast cancer!!

Day 2 to Las Vegas

2007-09-04T21:23:00.000-04:00

More photos to view.

The ride to Las Vegas through the Mojave Desert was one word ---- HOT!!!! To keep from being dehydrated we would ride about 30- 40 minutes, gulp the gatorade and water, and ride again. We can't say enough thanks to Gatorade for refueling us and of course Pilot for refueling our motorcycles.

110

2007-09-03T11:23:00.000-04:00

This is the first time that I have travelled 374 miles on a motorcycle. I must say it was an eye opening experience. The reason I entitled this post 110 is because I listened to 110 songs on this ride. Now, take into consideration that we were in traffic for awhile trying to get to the coast line. We rarely even got out of first gear. The coast line was fairly windy and we were travelling about 20-30 mph. So the 374 miles felt like 600.

There are 2 things that stood out on this ride.

Hot to cold, cold to hot. This was the weirdest thing ever. We would ride along the coast line for about 10-15 minutes, the temperature would be like 100 degrees. Then we would hit 50 degree weather. Crazy!!!

Since we were travelling at night time, the second thing that was crazy was the bugs. I had to hide behind the shield!!! They were coming at us. I just kept my mouth shut too.

But all in all, a great day.

Nikki

Day 1

2007-09-03T10:42:00.000-04:00

Photos say it all. We've put together a photo album for you to view.

I must admit, the ride was long, but going down the coastline was priceless. We will be leaving out today heading to Las Vegas. We will be back to share more photos.

Nikki and Holly

The Tree People

2007-09-03T01:02:00.000-04:00

Oh yeah, we did have the opportunity to see the tree people. It was amazing the hazing the tree people endured from the local.s

Game day

2007-09-02T09:58:00.000-04:00

Although we fell short of a victory against Cal Berkley, all was not lost. It was amazing to see the Tennessee fan support at the game. I must say, it's great to be a Tennessee Volunteer...There had to be about 12-15,ooo fans there. Awesome!!!

Holly and I on the Bart heading to the game!!! Quick story, there was nothing but Tennessee fans on our train car. A Cal fan got on with us. Obviously we where giving him grief. Then Holly and I started clapping and began singing Rocky Top. The entire train car chimed in and the poor Cal fan just shook his head.

Holly and I with Tennessee fans who were

showing us southern hospitality. Thank you Seth and Waun!!!

We are heading south to the Pacific coast highway. Will keep you posted on our first day adventure!!!!

Coming to Your City

2007-09-01T15:56:00.000-04:00

Along the way we will be stopping in and having rallys at the dealerships listed below. Please come out and support Volunteers Cruisin for a Cause. Their will be opportunities to beat Holly and I in a shoot off. There will be prizes and give aways!!!

Las Vegas Harley Davidson Date: Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007
2605 S. Eastern Time: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Las Vegas, NV 89169

Thunderbird Harley Davidson Date: Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007
5000 Alameda Blvd NE Time: 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Albuquerque, NM 87113

Dallas Harley Davidson Date: Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007
1334 West Centerville Road Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Garland, TX 75041

Love Homes (Little Rock) Date: Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007
262441 I-30 Time: 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Bryant, AR

Bumpus Harley Davidson (Memphis) Date: Monday, Sept. 10, 2007
2160 Whitten Road Time: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Memphis, TN

C&S Harley Davidson (Nashville) Date: Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007
4600 Delaware Avenue Time: 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Nashville, TN 37209

Recap of travel to California

2007-09-01T08:48:00.000-04:00

First off we had to send our clothes on the RV Tuesday. We started the day yesterday with a 6:10 am flight to California. Only thing in tote was a small carry on or duffle. For the most part it was smooth sailing. About 20 miles out it got a little bumpy. Enough where kids were saying whee, whee.

Holly then navigated us to The Bart, which then took us about 2 blocks from our hotel. Nice job Warlick!! We then had the challenge of picking up our luggage, because the hotel didn't have parking opportunities available for the RV. So the RV was about 5-7 miles from the hotel at a Pier. Cab time!

Special thanks to John and Tony. They drove the RV from Knoxville on Tuesday evening and arrived in CA on Friday. They had their own little adventure. First the RV lost a mirror in Memphis, secondly the tire blew out in Arkansas, and then the RV decided to take a rest, it broke down in Oklahoma. But other than that it was smooth sailing. Road warriors!!!

So once we got to the Pier, we then immediately changed because a few of us had to go to the Harley Dealership and pick up our motorcycles. We loaded Tracy down with all the luggage. She was great, and so was her driver. The trunk was full and the back seat was packed.

Holly, Cindy, and I then ran down another cab to take us to the Dealership.

Our lucky driver was Asheem, he was from Bengaal. We loved his music and his driving skills. We didn't have to move to the beat, for he was slinging us around. I think Holly was about to get car sick...

We then arrived at Dudley Perkins Company Harley-Davidson & Bell and they were awesome. We thank you so much for not only taking good care of the bikes, but the courtesy of the service department. Thanks...

We road back to the hotel, went to dinner, and then it was nite, nite. That 3 hour time change was getting the best of us.

Today is game day --- GO VOLS!!! We will let you know how today goes too.

Packin Up

2007-08-28T07:50:00.000-04:00

Packing time! We are loading up the RV for its departure this afternoon. What do you take? I really have no idea, so I am packing a lot of stuff. Jackets, T-Shirts, jeans, rain gear(lets hope we don't need), extra helmet, sun screen, etc.

Two of our riders, John and Tony, will be making the journey twice. They are the lucky ones who get to drive the RV out, then ride motorcycles back! 6,000 miles in 15 days is way too much traveling. The rest of us are flying out! Need to conserve energy. If everything goes as planned, they will be rolling into San Fran on Friday afternoon. We want a speedy trip for them, but more importantly a safe one.

So if you see the RV goin down the road, check out the banners and give them a honk! They are traveling down I-40, then taking a turn on I-15!

Rally Sunday

2007-08-26T16:04:00.000-04:00

I made a promise to my mom that I would attend her church this morning, the Sunday before I left. What a reception! During the greeting midway through and after church, everyone was talking about the ride. The main concern was safety. Absolutely! That will be first and foremost. Cancer survivors, motorcycle riders, and just well wishers talked about our cause. What a great feeling to know that we are making a difference with breast cancer awareness.

I have to admit, I do have some butterflies for two reasons: First, it is getting closer to the departure date and secondly, thinking about what exactly I have committed too. Remember my longest trip has been 200 miles! The heat is on!!

Started packing today! What a mess. How do you pack for an 11 day bike ride? I will let you know.

Riding Nick names

2007-08-23T11:32:00.000-04:00

For those of you who are interested in the CB handles of the crew, they are as follows:

Holly - Monkey Butt - she was the first to buy the powder so she is now tagged that.

Andy - who has assisted us with gear and communication equipment is Yogi, and his wife Stacie, is none other than Boo Boo.

Me - I'm Foxxy Brown - and that is spelled with 2 x's.

John and Lori have done an outstanding job of putting together the route, the ralleys, and raising money - their CB handles are Sumo and Pebbles. John wouldn't go for Bam Bam.

Cindy - Kinkie - she came up with that name and I'm going to leave that alone. She is our presenting sponsor with FedEx Kinkos, so maybe that's where the name originated from.

Tony and Terri - also known as Barney and Thelma Lou, will be joining us as well.

To the rest of the team, that will be travelling some of the way, you guys are The Possee!!!!

Nikki - aka Foxxy Brown

Final Meeting

2007-08-23T08:42:00.000-04:00

Our last Cruisin meeting! Hard to believe we are getting close to our departure! Thought you would want to see our crew. Just want to say thanks to everyone. I know both Nikki and I would not have come close to making everything happen. NOT CLOSE. I have always been told to surround yourself with quality people, and that is exactly what we have done. The individuals took what was in my head and turned it into reality....especially the logo (Thanks Sherry!) And a huge shout out to FedexKinkos....the first to jump on board. Please tell a friend about our cause. We need your help as we travel the country spreading the word about breast cancer!

Media Day

2007-08-17T15:45:00.000-04:00

Media Day!!!! We have had some great coverage from the media. Both Nikki and I have done a couple of radio station appearances and talk show interviews. This morning, we got the chance to talk to several TV stations about the ride. It really got me excited that this trip is actually going to happen and only a couple of weeks away!! We will never get tired of spreading the work regarding breast cancer!

History of the Bike

2007-08-13T14:49:00.000-04:00

My Harley is a Softail that has been custom painted with the Lady Vol Logo and checkerboard on the gas tank! Definitely one of a kind! Now the history....The bike was auctioned at our Lady Vol fundraiser and was purchased by a huge Lady Vol supporter, Wayne Basler. In fact, he out bid me for it! Wayne does not ride, but he wanted the bike to be seen and put to good use. So Tom Cronan was the perfect person to break it in. Tom rode the bike across the country traveling 6,600 miles raising awareness for the Wellness Community. Tom lost his battle with cancer, but his memories on the Harley will forever be a part of our lives. To the present, Wayne was kind enough to donate the Harley to our foundation with the purpose of continuing the fight. It is an honor for me to follow in Tom's footsteps and represent Wayne in our fight against breast cancer. What a chill I get ever time I get on the bike!

Why???

2007-08-08T15:59:00.000-04:00

There's not too many people who believe that two well respected, intelligent, funny, attractive women like myself and Coach Warlick will venture across country to ride our motorcycles over 3,000 miles. We don't even drive 300 miles in a car. Those of you know that travelling with the Lady Vols is always first class. WE CHARTER everywhere. Spoiled to say the least. But the truth of the matter is we have a cause. A huge cause, and we want the country to know about this cause. So what better way than to ship motorcycles across country, kick off with our fabulous football team on Sept. 2 vs. Cal Berkley and bring a buzz from CA to TN. Breast cancer has attacked not only family, but friends. It doesn't discriminate at all. A dear friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 at the age of 36. She was also the mother of a 3 year old at the time. It's one thing to battle against opponents on the court, or to battle against your teammates in practice, but to battle cancer, breast cancer, is it's own Final Four Championship Game. It's you, versus cancer. Her attitude, her faith, her will to conquer breast cancer, makes her my champion. She has shared with me that we should pay attention to our bodies, be aware of any changes, visit your physician, and revisit them if you still don't feel comfortable with the diagnosis. She was told she was too young to have breast cancer, but she knew something was wrong, so she insisted on a mammogram. She was in Stage II A (1 lymph node positive). She then chose the most aggressive treatment and she is a breast cancer survivor.

Monkey Butt

2007-08-08T15:51:00.000-04:00

HaHa! This is a new term that I have learned while riding a motorcycle. You know the monkeys at the zoo that have red behinds. That is where Monkey Butt comes from.....what happens when you ride your bike for a very long time. There will be no pictures to prove it happens to me!!!!

But the real story is that yesterday I bought Nikki some Monkey Butt Powder! That's right, they actually make a product for prevention. Does Nikki have to take pictures to prove it works? NO NO NO NO! We will take her word for it!

Here we go blogging

2007-08-07T09:28:00.000-04:00

Hey this is Holly and OK this is a first for me. I have always heard of blogging but have never taken the time to do it. Well here I go! Now blogging has become very important to me because it involves my fight on breast cancer. How does all this fit in.....I thought I would combine my fun with riding harleys and my passion against breast cancer. You know someone who has had breast cancer don't you? Your mom, sister, best friend, best friend's mom, etc. You get the picture. For me it was my Grandmom! My best friend, my rock, my hero! She battled it to the very end. So you see, passion against breast cancer is easy for me. Now my riding my harley may prove to be a challenge!! Up to now, I guess I could be considered a causal rider. Taking short rides around town and a couple of long ones now and then. They say its all about practice.... I think its all about conditioning your back side!!
Let me end today by saying thank you for your donation. I know we together can make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. I can't wait to tell you about our journey!