Day 1 New York City to Princeton, NJ, 75 miles... Tree

Greetings and salutations from the 2008 National EMS Memorial Bike Ride!!!

Piece of bike humor... I can't believe that after ten years of riding, I still believe the little maps they hand out on rides when it comes down to the exact mileage of the day's course. Mile 65 was supposed to be the hotel.... Not really.

We've got 95 miles (per the little map) of riding tomorrow so this is not going to be too long, my apologies.

The rain, wind, and frigid temperatures lifted in the wee hours of the morning to give us plenty of sun and warm weather. We caravaned from the hotel over to FDNY EMS Jacobi Hospital (in the Bronx) for the official send off. Kyla and Amber came in just for this from Portland, Oregon. The riders enjoyed meeting Kyla and talking with her about how she has been doing since the accident. And, it was just super cool to have her there with us (yes, I cried...). FDNY EMS Chief Peruggia spoke and the FDNY Chaplain gave the ride a blessing. Then we were off!!

We had a full police escort from the Bronx into Manhatten. We rode all through Manhatten and into Brooklyn. In Brooklyn, we took FDNY Marine 9 (see photos) across the East River. This was a REALLY BIG DEAL for FDNY. Mike Potasso of FDNY EMS pulled a lot of strings to make this happen and it was better than we had thought it would be. And, a nice 45 minute break of riding through downtown.

We had lunch once we stepped off the boat and continued with our ride! The weather was SO beautiful. We entered New Jersey and hit about some 15 mph winds (that was never at our backs, haha). At mile 60 we were all counting the miles til the hotel which was a bit confusing because we were in rural New Jersey with no signs of life. Ten miles later.... there was the hotel :). Geoff and TJ did an AWESOME job of motorcycle support, they were a HUGE help in intersections. Susan has been off her bike being Super Duper Bike Director (Go, Susan!!). And, Mark and I peddled like crazy today.

Perth Amboy FD of Perth Amboy, NJ gave the ride an INCREDIBLE welcome. Perth Amboy lost a paramedic, Joseph Murawski, last year on Father's Day (June 17). He will be inducted in this year's Memorial. He began having chest pain and shortness of breath while taking care of a patient. When they were moving him from patient care to the back of the other ambulance, he went into cardiac arrest. He left behind a beautiful wife and daughter, as well as his mother, brother, and sister. His brother, Edward Murawski, is also a firefighter with Perth Amboy. The ceremony they held was first class and a welcome the ride has never seen before. (see photos) Two paramedics of the service and a member of the EMS division of their state health services joined the ride for the next leg. One of the riders told me he was going to train and do the whole ride next year :). We are deeply sorry for their tragedy but are honored to ride on behalf of Joe, his family, and his brothers and sisters of Perth Amboy FD, including the hospital he worked at. Thank you...

Be safe...