Day 1 Portland ME to Nashua NH

Day 1
South Portland, Maine to Nashua, New Hampshire!
80ish miles…

What a long day… But you have heard us say that before. We hit the road at 0700 this morning in South Portland. There were about 100 cyclists on the road! Mark drove the big Texas rig and Tree drove another vehicle. Susan was brave and rode her bike. South Portland FD/EMS did a beautiful ceremony to start the ride – thank you! Thanks for a great rest stop in Kennebunk, Maine (as well as lending us a medic for a week!). We had great lunch at Dover – thank you again! And an even bigger thank you for doing our laundry! (We have been on the road since Tuesday).

Unfortunately, we did have one wreck today. Mike D. from FDNY sustained a broken clavicle and elbow. We will miss you, Mike!!

Thank you, New England, for having a Dunkin Donuts on every corner as well as a parking lot big enough for a truck with a trailer.

Milford, NH FD/EMS welcomed us with huge arms to their town square for a brief ceremony and a HUGE escort to Nashua. What could be cooler than going lights and sirens? A code-3 escort on your bike by a dozen ambulances and emergency vehicles!!!

This is our fourth year for Team Texas to do this ride. We first came in 2007 after a friend from paramedic school, Eric C. Hanson, was killed in a head on collision after an early morning call. He had only worked in EMS for a little over a year. His partner that day, Kyla Wilson, was seriously injured and will never be able to return to duty. Shortly after returning from the ride in 2008, Stephanie Waters, a friend and co-worker’s wife, was killed during an air medical transport. She had also worked with Eric.

Our profession is so unique in many ways and if you are in public safety, you know what I mean. Every year, we make it a point during the ride to read the names of the EMS Memorial’s inductees and others that have died in EMS other than LODD each day of the ride. Today as we heard those names be called in Milford, New Hampshire, there was not a dry eye in the crowd. The names are not just names… They are someone’s partner, someone’s spouse, mother, father, sister, brother… They cared for strangers at every hour, every day, in every weather condition. There is a tremendous amount of strength as we come together during this ride to honor them. This is our profession and they are our family.

Until tomorrow, keep each other safe.