visit Mt. Rushmore!
Laurie and Molly began their journey, The Long Ride Home, on May 25th, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona, with one goal: Travel 10,000 miles, through two countries, to raise money for Boulder Crest Retreat for Military & Veteran Wellness!!
Article 5 in a multiple-series story:
Turning south, Laurie and Molly said their goodbyes to the beautiful Canadian landscape and crossed the border into the United States! Just 100 miles south of the US/Canadian border, the riders stopped in Idaho to visit with family members for a much-needed hiatus from the road. After enjoying a few days of lake-side rest, the journey home continued.
Laurie and Molly rested at the
gorgeous Lake Hayden in Idaho
Eight hours and 471 miles later, the mother-daughter duo arrived in northwestern Wyoming, near Jackson Hole, riding into the breathtaking Grand Teton National Park; Yellowstone National Park was next.
After saying goodbye to the unbelievable beauty of the West, the pair rode their Triumph Bonneville’s through Montana and then across the stretching plains of South Dakota.
The motivation behind the 10,000 mile motorcycle ride is to further the progressive mission of Boulder Crest Retreat (BCR), the first Military &Veteran Wellness center of its kind. Such an incredible facility would not have been possible without the charismatic and open-hearted nature of BCR Founder, Ken Falke. While en route to the Badlands, Laurie and Molly connected with Boulder Crest Retreat Founder, Ken Falke, at Mount Rushmore in Keystone, South Dakota!
Traveling past the extraordinary rock formations of the Badlands, the riders were awed by the Veteran Memorials situated in each and every community they visited. What an incredibly inspiring sight to see which reminded Laurie and Molly of the purpose of the Long Ride Home!
Laurie visiting the
Dubuque Veterans Memorial
in Dubuque, Iowa
After crossing into Iowa, Molly and Laurie stopped at the stunning Dubuque Veterans Memorial, where the five branches of services are acknowledged on a curved wall with corresponding flags flown above. In a tranquil array of granite, the memorial also recognizes thirteen conflicts involving Americans spanning from the Revolutionary War to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Though the road has been hard, beautiful and unrelenting, Laurie and Molly have persevered. Their efforts have raised over $35,000, so far; they hope to raise several thousands more before their homecoming in early September.
Grand Teton is the highest peak,
at 13,775 feet,
of the picturesque Teton Range.
Rolling hills of the midwest
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Join us in promoting The Long Ride Home!! As the Medal of Honor/Title Sponsor, VMSI is thrilled to support such an incredible fundraising initiative! To learn more about how to help Laurie and Molly reach their fundraising goal, please visit www.thelongridehome.org .
Click the links below to read the other articles in this series:
Article 1: VMSI is Proud to Support “The Long Ride Home” as the Title Sponsor of $20K benefiting our very own Boulder Crest Retreat!!
Article 2: VMSI Attends the Long Ride Home Send-Off in Tempe, Arizona – Memorial Day 2015
Article 3: The Long Ride Home – Traveling the Open Road
Article 4: The Long Ride Home – Entering Canada!