- To track online our current location, see instructions on the “Ride the Nation Route Plan” page of this website
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- Check out our blog on www.bmxmania.com for exclusive details you won’t find here.



Jamie left to join his family and gave us all hugs. We continued to pack down our supplies for the ride out on Monday. A few local riders arrived to get a few runs in on the track and to wish us luck on the rest of our journey. It was so nice that so many of the Dayton riders welcomed us into their BMX family. We’ll miss all of you!
Mieckeikke and Vikki arrived and invited us to see a little more of Dayton. We all hopped into Mike’s van and first headed over to the Kettering, OH track, which is in a public park. The Beast enjoyed seeing her 25th track and learning more manualing skills from Mikey. Shawn and his dog, Blake, hit the track, too. Vikki and I hung out and talked and I also got a phone call from Kathleen at the Louisville track. Kathleen was very supportive of our project and said she’ll start working on our arrival plan and contacting media. Sweet!
As the sky turned to night, we all got back into the van and Miguel Tailor took us for a tour of his city. That’s the first time any track director gave us a real tour of their city. He showed us the GM manufacturing plants that build the vehicles in Dayton, his own Duramax plant that manufactures diesel engines and also factories that have closed during the economic downturn. He drove us down the red brick streets of an old section of town that really comes alive at Halloween with their “Boo and Brew” event, a “Mardi Gras” style happening.
When we came around the river, Vikki pointed out the many fountains that light up and shoot awesome cascades of water to and from a center fountain. We also passed by the Dayton Dragons field, where a dragon on the scoreboard has eyes that light up and smoke that blows from his nostrils, when the home team scores a run.



We talked and laughed until well past midnight. I don’t think Frankenbutt, the Beast or I really wanted our time in Dayton to come to an end. We’ve had such a good time and made so many new friends. Muycke and Vikki gave us hugs and told us they’d look forward to seeing us at the Grands. We waved goodbye and headed into the camper. Just before going to sleep, I sent Meike a text picture of my high school mascot. Glad it made you laugh, Miiiiike! Remember, I had the embarresment of that throughout my life. You’re lucky, yours was a Polar Bear!
Thanks again to all of the good people at Cindy Verburg BMX in Dayton … we will think of you often!
Again, my apologies for misspelling anyone's name. Especially Jamie, Shawn and Vikki!