This week Janice and I will be warming up for the main event by taking part in a sponsored ride for the Ride for the Heart Foundation.   This is another worthy cause and will allow us to check all our preparations for the PRISMgives cross-country ride. 

The Ride for the Heart Foundation (RHF) was formed with the goal of staging motorcycle related fundraising events that will benefit heart related charities while also promoting heart disease education, awareness and prevention.  In 2006, the Ride for the Heart Foundation introduced a ride format called 1072. The concept was very simple, they would organise a three day ride, (a thousand miles or so in 72 hours). A mini-tour was the thinking. Not complicated, but laying down some miles on some of the best roads they could come up with.

For our first day we plan is to depart from Ontario, CA, head east to Joshua Tree National Monument, then on to Amboy where we turn West on old Route 66 toward Barstow and the Mojave National Preserve. Our ride takes us North on I-15 to Baker where we turn north to Pahrump and our first overnight stay.

Our second day takes us through Death Valley west where snow capped Mt Whitney can be seen for miles as we approach the next stop at Manzanar National Historical Site. Our route takes us South on Rt 395 where we turn West toward Lake Isabella and Bakersfield and our second night. Once we reach Bakersfield the Bakersfield Harley-Davidson dealership will host a BBQ.

On the final day of our ride we depart Bakersfield south for the short ride to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Once you have stopped and checked in at the final park, each rider is invited to a special Ride for the Heart hosted lunch, in Malibu, to end our CalParks 1072 ride.

I will, of course, let you know how we get on.