Donating to Mr. McDonald

Other than sleeping, the most consistent activity I have done since arriving home nearly three weeks ago is to ride motorcycle with my dad at night.  Note: I ride; he drives... though it is on my bucket list to get my motorcycle license and I did have thoughts of potentially doing so this summer; but alas, I think it will get crossed off the list at a later point in life.  For now, it's nice just to sit back and enjoy the scenery, and here in Minnesota, enjoy the smells.  

Last Sunday we rode in "The Cruise," a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House.  In case you're not familiar with where Ronald McDonald lives, it's in a house with kids (and their families) who have cancer and are required to be near to the medical facilities, the Mayo Clinic here in Rochester. 

This was the third time I've donated to Mr. McDonald's house.  The first time I don't remember, but my mom says her and I took the kids Twins Homer Hankies.  The second time, I was about nine or ten and won the Post-Bulletin coloring contest, the prize for which was tickets to Sesame Street Live.  Those tickets went to one of the kids at Ronald's house. 

The third time, last Sunday, I donated by joining the 1,600+ motorcycles that rode 140ish miles around SE Minnesota.  Cycles of every size, color and kind were there, and people from every walk of life.  Everyone registered and departed at different times that morning, with strict rules to return by 4:30pm for the "parade." 

Talk about a sea with a roar so loud you could barely think.  There were no waves in this sea at the Rochester Community College, but the noise generated by pipes and revving engines definitely sent ripples through the ground and into every body above it.  It was awesome. 

 

We were escorted by police and ambulance across town, with police officers at every intersection on the way and people lining the streets eager to see the bikes as they pass.  By the time the first bike reached Ronald's house, the last bike was still in the parking lot, two miles back. 

Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of it, but you have to believe me when I say that I met Mr. Ronald McDonald himself.  Red hair, red nose, white face.  The whole works.  He wasn't as scary in person as you might think.  Maybe because he knew $130,000 was going to his house that day.  Pretty cool.