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| Paramedic Milsted and the rest of the 2012 National EMS Memorial Bike Riders take a pit stop on Long Island, NY. |
Once
again, CHFD Paramedic Dave Milsted, the A-Group Medical Services
Officer, is participating in the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride. This
year's route will take Dave and nearly 100 other riders approximately
500 miles as they pedal from Boston, MA to Alexandria, VA over the
course of 7 days. The CHFD will post updates from Dave as he sends them
in. Here's Dave's recap from Day #2:
"Today we started at 7am in parade format (2 x 2). We had to ride 52
miles before we boarded a ferry at 1pm. We started out with 2 make shift
rest stops in the first 20 miles. We had a police escort for this part
of the ride. At the 30 mile mark we stopped at
a Charlestown Rescue Squad for another rest stop. We lost our escort
here. We were told we had 1 hour to ride 20 miles. So we were in touring
format, ride at your own pace, with no escorts only paint markings on
the road directing us.
This 20 miles had a lot of hills. But we made it to the Mystic Connecticut Fire Headquarters with plenty of time to spare. Several of us even stopped at the Welcome to Connecticut sign for a photo opportunity. From fire department we loaded our bikes onto a Ryder truck and were bused to the Cross Sound Ferry. We were supplied lunch from Subway here while we waited for the 1pm hour and a half ride to Long Island.
The ferry ride was nice. Many of us took this time to take a nap. Earlier this year one of the Muddy Angels died, Lori Mayfield. Her friends and co-works have a see through back pack with the flag that was on her casket, rider number from last year, her dog tags and her favorite drink, a can of Red Bull in it. We are all taking a turn wearing it. At each rest stop it is turned over to another rider. I was given the backpack while on the ferry. I wore it for the next 22 miles of the ride once we got back on our bikes.
Once we arrived on Long Island NY, we had a small service and reading of the names of the new inductees to the EMS Memorial Wall. We had 38 more miles to go. We had a rest stop at around mile 22. It was a quick water & bathroom stop, During this stretch there was a crash and 1 rider was taken to the hospital.
We rode the last 16 miles into Riverhead. We are staying at the Hilton Garden Inn. Here we had a BBQ for dinner. During dinner the injured rider from earlier returned to the hotel, a little banged up, but doing well. She just joined the ride today when we got off the ferry. She only had 14 miles in when she crashed. Tomorrow we have to be on the road by 8am.
The weather today was sunny and around 80 degrees again. Sunscreen was applied at every rest stop, but we are all a bunch a lobsters. A big change in the weather from last year, where it rained on us everyday. Maybe it is Lori looking over us.
Today we traveled 88 miles in 6 hours on the bike. Max speed was 32.5 mph. We climbed 2200 feet and burned 6700 calories. I am doing well in the hydration department.
Follow the ride on Faceboook: Muddy Angels, Twitter: NEMSMBR or #2012NEMSMBR
Day 3's weather is listed as showers likely with a high of 67. Hope the weather people are wrong... Till tomorrow!!
Dave Milsted"
This 20 miles had a lot of hills. But we made it to the Mystic Connecticut Fire Headquarters with plenty of time to spare. Several of us even stopped at the Welcome to Connecticut sign for a photo opportunity. From fire department we loaded our bikes onto a Ryder truck and were bused to the Cross Sound Ferry. We were supplied lunch from Subway here while we waited for the 1pm hour and a half ride to Long Island.
The ferry ride was nice. Many of us took this time to take a nap. Earlier this year one of the Muddy Angels died, Lori Mayfield. Her friends and co-works have a see through back pack with the flag that was on her casket, rider number from last year, her dog tags and her favorite drink, a can of Red Bull in it. We are all taking a turn wearing it. At each rest stop it is turned over to another rider. I was given the backpack while on the ferry. I wore it for the next 22 miles of the ride once we got back on our bikes.
Once we arrived on Long Island NY, we had a small service and reading of the names of the new inductees to the EMS Memorial Wall. We had 38 more miles to go. We had a rest stop at around mile 22. It was a quick water & bathroom stop, During this stretch there was a crash and 1 rider was taken to the hospital.
We rode the last 16 miles into Riverhead. We are staying at the Hilton Garden Inn. Here we had a BBQ for dinner. During dinner the injured rider from earlier returned to the hotel, a little banged up, but doing well. She just joined the ride today when we got off the ferry. She only had 14 miles in when she crashed. Tomorrow we have to be on the road by 8am.
The weather today was sunny and around 80 degrees again. Sunscreen was applied at every rest stop, but we are all a bunch a lobsters. A big change in the weather from last year, where it rained on us everyday. Maybe it is Lori looking over us.
Today we traveled 88 miles in 6 hours on the bike. Max speed was 32.5 mph. We climbed 2200 feet and burned 6700 calories. I am doing well in the hydration department.
Follow the ride on Faceboook: Muddy Angels, Twitter: NEMSMBR or #2012NEMSMBR
Day 3's weather is listed as showers likely with a high of 67. Hope the weather people are wrong... Till tomorrow!!
Dave Milsted"
