{"id":1023,"date":"2013-07-11T07:47:33","date_gmt":"2013-07-11T14:47:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cancerrideamerica.org\/blog\/?p=1023"},"modified":"2013-07-11T07:49:25","modified_gmt":"2013-07-11T14:49:25","slug":"rocky-karen-host-cancer-ride-amcerica-cabbage-patch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cancerrideamerica.org\/blog\/rocky-karen-host-cancer-ride-amcerica-cabbage-patch","title":{"rendered":"Rocky and Karen Host Cancer Ride America, and CABBAGE PATCH??"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dateline New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Your Intrepid Cancer Cure Rider takes a couple of days to enjoy time with my old friends Rocky and Karen. I first met Rocky when he moved into my neighborhood back home, and we became fast and best friends quickly. Then Boeing decided they needed him elsewhere in the world many years ago, and we only got to visit every few years. And so today, I went and found he and his wonderful wife.<\/p>\n

I hasten to tell you that Rocky served several tours in Viet Nam and was a Squad Sergeant, and decorated hero. As with all of the Viet Nam Veterans I know, he speaks rarely about the war, and has difficulty doing so. Over many years, I have learned that he always took \u201cpoint\u201d on patrols if there was an open area to be crossed, that he literally ran to the front when under fire so as to spare the \u201ckids\u201d on his squad, and eventually was shot up and had to be sent home for medical care. He now suffers back, leg, and knee problems, but refused to give up riding so he traded in his two wheels for three.<\/p>\n

They own a trike, so of course he had to take me out to the Cabbage Patch. \u201cFantastic!\u201d I thought. Leanne likes Cabbage Patch dolls, I can get her a little souvenir!<\/p>\n

Now here\u2019s one for you. The name of the place is the \u201cCabbage Patch\u201d. ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? Cabbage Patch is a little girl\u2019s doll! This turned out to be a local biker watering hole. We pulled up and there must have been 30 bikes of all varieties parked out front. Inside of course were the usual suspects\u2026\u2026men and women of all ages, types, tattoos, long hair, and so on. Just watch the movie \u201cWild Hogs\u201d and you\u2019ll get the picture. I couldn\u2019t help but quietly smile. A \u201cBiker Bar\u201d named \u201cCabbage Patch\u201d. I\u2019ll apologize up front, but I just found the whole thing funny as hell.<\/p>\n

Anyway, Rocky and Karen showed me around New Smyrna, Highway 1\/1A on the Atlantic Coast, and the famous town of Daytona Beach, where they celebrate Bike Week every year. Rocky said they had over 300,000 bikes in town last year for this amazing event.<\/p>\n

And after hosting Yours Truly and entertaining me for three days, Rocky and Karen made a very generous donation to Cancer Ride America. And I also now have the privilege of carrying Gary and Audrey Schwartz, Rocky\u2019s sister and brother-in-law. They are fighting the good fight and have my prayers as I encircle America with them riding on my shoulders.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a few pics of this fun interlude to Cancer Ride America.<\/p>\n

Ride On,<\/p>\n

C.C.R<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n