What a finale!

What a party.

Sacramento and San Jose/VMC were absolutely awesome. Thank you to the Sacramento Shriner's Hospital for bringing ALL of the kids outside for the very nice ceremony. Shriner's Hospitals are the next thing to Disneyland for a lot of these kids- toys, games, cool rehab rooms. Great job. Thank you to Sacramento FD Station 2 for the MetRx Bars, T-shirt and great directions. Big Terry joined me on his yard sale Trek 5200 bicycle for the ride from Shriners to Station 2, nice riding w/ you Terry.

San Jose FD and VMC pulled out all of the stops for the finale. Thank you to everyone for your amazing efforts for the BIG fiesta at the VMC (Especially the clean footed nurses in the burn unit). Big Bad Bruce Weisberg made it out to the party, good seeing you brother. California is passionate about their burn care and that is awesome - let's keep that going!!!

Thank you to everyone who's donated, supported, housed me, helped me, helped a burn survivor, supported a burn unit. Think globally and act locally, let's all come together to expand the scope and power behind burn care. An hour of your time, even if it's once a month or every 2 months can really make a difference in a burn survivor's life - burn camps, burn units, FD's, the Phoenix Society all need your help in making burn care work for everyone. Thanks for watching the blog - let's do something BIG next year everyone, we are thinking about a cross country relay from burn center to burn center next year w/ FF's riding motorcycles to promote awareness. My email is mikethebuddha@yahoo.com if anyone is interested in doing something like that.

So peace out y'all, keep smiling , and express some gratitude everybody -- and like my blood brother Adam says, don't forget to "Check Your Head."

Beastie Boys, Gratitude

Good Times Gone
And You Missed Them
What's Gone Wrong
In Your System
Things They Bounce
Just Like A Spalding
What'd You Think
Did You Miss Your Calling
It's So Free
This Kind Of Feeling
It's Like Life
It's So Appealing
When You've Got So Much To Say
It's Called Gratitude, And That's Right

Good Times Gone
But You Feed It
Hate's Grown Strong
You Feel You Need It
Just One Thing
Do You Know You
What You Think
That The World Owes You
What's Gonna Set You Free
Look Inside And You'll See
When You've Got So Much To Say
It's Called Gratitude, And That's Right

More Photo's

Thank you to Patty Neifer for these photos of Mike in Sacramento.
.
Mike at Shriners Hospital signing t-shirts for the kids.




Mike with firefighters from Sacramento Fire Department Station
2 taking off on the last leg of his ride.

PHOTO's !!

We're Getting Close!!!! Yay!!!!

As we get ready for the grand finale of the Feel the Burn 2007 in San Jose we are very excited. I know this fundraiser is far from over but want to write some thoughts down for all of you before I am overcome with the daunting task of finding a full-time job to provide for my family. We have raised over $15,000 (thanks to many of you reading this right now) and donations are still coming in, I have visited 9 burn centers:

-Boston Shriner's Hospital
-Ohio State University Burn Center, Columbus OH
-Riley Burn Center, Indianapolis IN
-Memorial Medical Center, Springfield IL
-Burnett Burn Center at U of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City KS
-Via Christy Regional Medical Center, Wichita KS
-University of Colorado at Denver Burn Center, Denver CO
-Denver Children's Hospital, Denver CO
-The Arizona Burn Center, Phoenix AZ

and given out, with the help of 2 Germantown Fire Fighters, over 50 toys, crayons, books, and stuffed animals. I have received many calls from burn survivors I've never met before expressing their gratitude and kindness regarding what we ALL have accomplished. Many nurses and doctors expressed their thanks to the Phoenix Society and to all firefighters for what we do and how we always remember that there are burn patients and burn survivors. I have met many burn survivors who instantly became some of my closest friends and visited over 21 firehouses:

Branford, CT
Hartford, CT
Bloomingburg, NY
Dalton, PA
Canton, PA
Coudersport, PA
Germantown, OH
Martinsville, IN
Springfield FD, Springfield IL
Little Dixie Fire Protection District, Mexico, MO 573.581.6235 Chief Hoover c573-473-4001
Kansas City FD, Kansas City MO
Wichita FD, Wichita KS
Grant County FD, Ulysses, KS
Trinidad FD, Trinidad, CO 81082
Denver Fire Rescue, Denver CO
La Veta FD, La Veta, CO
Durango Fire and Rescue, Durango, CO
Phoenix Fire Rescue, Phoenix AZ
Las Vegas Fire Rescue, Las Vegas, NV
Sacramento FD, Sacramento, CA
San Jose FD, San Jose, CA

I have helped people look at the bright side of being in the closely knit burn community and they have helped me understand that helping others, and allowing others to help is priceless.

The Phoenix Society is an amazing organization. I knew it was when I started but feel it with much more conviction now. Every fire department and hospital I visited was touched at how the Phoenix Society fills a much needed void in burncare today. They all wished they could join me on this journey and that just shows the commitment and caring that is in the full circle of burncare; from first responder, to hospital, to therapy, to the Phoenix Society. There are so many people who have benefited from the Phoenix Society's matrix of support; burn survivors, their families and friends, healthcare workers, firefighters, and the hundreds of people who have donated to this fundraiser, especially Chief Anding whose Harley is such an inspirational symbol of the energy in all of us powering this ride forward. Giving is a beautiful thing isn't it - it helps the one who gives as well as the one who receives. Awesome.

I do not have any commitments this week so I am taking some time off from traveling right now, getting some much needed rest. I have made a change to the finale in San Jose. I am recently 100% healed from my cycling injury and want to finish on my bicycle, the one with so many signatures from burn survivors I've met along this great journey. I will be leaving Sacramento on June 19th to finish the final leg of the journey on my bicycle, arriving in San Jose on the 20th. This is how I want to finish this coast to coast journey of raising awareness of the Phoenix Society and those whom they help.

I will not be posting much this week as I gear up for San Jose and focus my thoughts on what good we ALL have accomplished. I will post all of the details of the San Jose reception party as they come in though. The world is definitely a better place because of this fundraiser, I truly believe that. From the bottom of my big warm heart, I want to thank all of you out there who have donated, supported, given me water, given me food, given me a place to sleep, washed my clothes, given me clothes, driven me places when my legs we so tired, let me use your internet connection, let me ride in your firetrucks on calls, given me hope, made me laugh, made me cry, bought me drinks, given me directions (good and bad), given me toys (thank you Target), and shared your burn survivor stories with me. I also want to send a big thank you to Jani Spede and the Clemson University marketing class who helped get the word out on this fundraiser and helped focus our efforts before my tires even hit the road.

There are some phrases in the English language that fall short from the meaning we are attaching to them. "Thank You" is one of these phrases that I want to use for three individuals who are/were such a big part of this fundraiser but feel it is inadequate. I would like to say "Mahalo" instead. Mahalo is Hawaiian for thanks and gratitude, and also thanks for all that is, I have said it only a handful of times in my life. My friend Big Will from Hawaii (the Big Island) explained to me that it is the deepest way of showing appreciation and love of someone with your spirit. You say it with your spirit and your voice simultaneously. I say Mahalo to four individuals right now: Amy Acton (Executive Director of the Phoenix Society), my good friend Jeff Derderian (the person behind the scenes of all of the media support we have received), and my lovely cousin Kathy Greenler (internet guru, positive influence, and the one who set up the blog), and Chief Scott Anding (new Daddy) who donated his motorcycle to this cause. These four people are very special to me and have transformed part of my spirit during this fundraiser, and for that I say Mahalo to you all.

See you in San Jose my friends, stay posted for event details.

Your friend,

Mike Manning

Images from the Road: Vegas Bound (From Mike's Cell Phone)

La Di Da Di

Las Vegas. The city of sin, you never come out the way you went in.

I'm staying at Station 5 tonight and am excited to have a pillow to sleep on, I'm running about 50% pillow/no pillow in the firehouses, i can pretty much sleep anywhere with or without normal bedding now.

I started my day at 0545 and headed NW to beat the heat. After getting out of the Valley of the Sun the temp was very mild. I kept under the radar today and saw a ton of Joshua Trees. Very cool, apparantly they only grow in NW AZ, that's the word on the street, and you just can't beat the word on the street.

I THEN GOT AN AWESOME VOICEMAIL FROM CHIEF SCOTT ANDING. MADISON MARIE ANDING WAS BORN LAST NIGHT AT 10:30. MOM IS DOING OK AND SO IS MADISON, AT 12 POUNDS. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK TO SEE LITTLE ANDING. GREAT NEWS, JUST GREAT.

I went over the Hoover Dam today and that was pretty cool. I was amazed at all of the powerlines coming from that bad boy.

I got a good work out today and the guys fed me a great lunch. I just got a call from Bruce and I'm meeting him later on for a bite to eat. That's about it. I'm still really amazed at what great weather I've had on this trip, I got rained on in Wichita and that's it. Giddy up.

I'll post some pics in a minute.

I'll be visiting the Lions' Burn Center here in Vegas tomorrow and can't wait to see it. It is really new.

A little John Donne to finish the post, Broken Hearted:

He is stark mad, whoever says, That he hath been in love an hour,Yet not that love so soon decays, But that it can ten in less space devour ;Who will believe me, if I swearThat I have had the plague a year? Who would not laugh at me, if I should say I saw a flash of powder burn a day?Ah, what a trifle is a heart, If once into love's hands it come !All other griefs allow a part To other griefs, and ask themselves but some ;They come to us, but us love draws ;He swallows us and never chaws ; By him, as by chain'd shot, whole ranks do die ; He is the tyrant pike, our hearts the fry.If 'twere not so, what did become Of my heart when I first saw thee?I brought a heart into the room, But from the room I carried none with me.If it had gone to thee, I knowMine would have taught thine heart to show More pity unto me ; but Love, alas ! At one first blow did shiver it as glass.Yet nothing can to nothing fall, Nor any place be empty quite ;Therefore I think my breast hath all Those pieces still, though they be not unite ;And now, as broken glasses showA hundred lesser faces, so My rags of heart can like, wish, and adore, But after one such love, can love no more.

Images from the Road: Phoenix (From Mike's Cell Phone)

Phoenix, AZ

(NOTE: This is from Mike ... he couldn't log into the blog so he emailed us this post so everyone could read it tonight!)

Today I visited the Arizona Burn Center in Phoenix, the second largest burn center in the US. I got a grand tour from Dr. Marc and also met with Brett, the hospital's PIO, and Mike and Joe from the Burn Foundation here.

They informed me of the potential problems burn units around the country are running into, mainly staying financially afloat, to remain open to burn patients. Pretty sobering. There aren't but a couple hundred beds in burn units across the country, 43 burn units to be exact, so the potential for some capacity problems is very real. I was able to meet with a 12 year old boy today who was progressing well and picked out some cool cars from the grab bag o' toys. The burn unit here is looking into getting involved with the Phoenix Society, especially the SOAR program. I also think it would help with the burn foundation's totally awesome burn camp which starts each year on Father's Day.

Big Mike from the burn foundation gave me a highly sought after shirt from the camp - THANKS! Big Joe took me out to lunch at La Casa de Mariachi restaurant, it was great and Gracias.

After some lane splitting through PHX traffic, still got it, I made it back to the station just in time to avoid bursting into flames from the heat. I am absolutely amazed that people live here in Phoenix. No offense to all of you out there who love PHX, which is a great town, but it's really hot. Really hot. My Nordic genes are not cut out for it at all. Allright enough whining Mike. Oh no, i'm typing to myself, must be the heat.

I just made contact with the Chief in Vegas so I now have a place to sleep tomorrow, yay! I'm going to head out around 5am to beat the heat and should be in Vegas by 8. I'm meeting burn survivor "Big Daddy" Bruce Weisman tomorrow in Vegas which should be cool. Bruce has offered a lot of support for me on this long trek and I can't wait to meet him.

Since i'm in Vegas, should I put the roughly $12k we've raised so far on the Craps table? Let me know, we could win big.:-) What could happen?

Let's do a poem of the day shall we? I don't think any of my own are good enough to be read, so here is my main man Henry David Thoreau:

The Inward Morning

Packed in my mind lie all the clothes Which outward nature wears, And in its fashion's hourly change It all things else repairs. In vain I look for change abroad, And can no difference find, Till some new ray of peace uncalled Illumes my inmost mind. What is it gilds the trees and clouds, And paints the heavens so gay, But yonder fast-abiding light With its unchanging ray? Lo, when the sun streams through the wood, Upon a winter's morn, Where'er his silent beams intrude, The murky night is gone. How could the patient pine have known The morning breeze would come, Or humble flowers anticipate The insect's noonday hum-- Till the new light with morning cheer From far streamed through the aisles, And nimbly told the forest trees For many stretching miles? I've heard within my inmost soul Such cheerful morning news, In the horizon of my mind Have seen such orient hues, As in the twilight of the dawn, When the first birds awake, Are heard within some silent wood, Where they the small twigs break, Or in the eastern skies are seen, Before the sun appears, The harbingers of summer heats Which from afar he bears.

Doesn't get better than that,

Mike

Images from the Road: Durango to Phoenix (From Mike's Cell Phone)

Durango to Phoenix

(NOTE: This is from Mike ... he couldn't log into the blog so he emailed us this post so everyone could read it tonight!)

I started the day off at 6am in Durango, at a brisk 50 degrees. I was able to see the sunrise light up the San Juan Mountains and it was beautiful. One of those images that will always stick with me. I passed through the Ute and Navajo Nations today. What a travesty of human justice and caring. I saw extremely poor people living on the crappiest and most unfertile land I've seen. Very sad.

Both times I stopped for gas in the Indian Nations I was approached by men asking for money, albeit politely. My usual response is "No, but if you're hungry i'll be happy to give you some food." In all the years i've said this only one man, in Downtown Crossing in Boston, said that he needed food. 2 big Macs and fries later he was in good spirits. One man today took me up on my offer, I kind of thought he would by the look of him. I gave him some bananas and bread and he was very thankful. Oddly enough, we got talking and it turns out he is a burn survivor, showed me his scars and everything. I gave him the Phoenix Society flyer and wished him good luck.

Who knew that riding a motorcycle over 89mph was a criminal offense in AZ? News to me. I did not bother explaining that in Boston (where I learned to drive) the posted speed limit means you can roughly go 15mph over without getting harassed. Anyway, before you judge me everybody, I was on the straightest, smoothest, most desolate road you can imagine. doing the limit would have been a crime. So there I was, in the Painted Cliffs with a very perturbed state trooper by my side. Upon explained why I was there, speeding on a borrowed motorcycle, he relaxed and wrote the ticket for 10 over the limit. Thanks Rosco. Boo yah!

I rode 500 miles today, 480 of it in the desert. The sun was scorching, the wind felt like a blowtorch, or like hanging out over a roof ventilation hole for 9 hours. I have never felt heat like I felt today. OK, once but i can't explain that here.

I couldn't help but think "why?" someone would or could settle down here in this desert. If I were an early pioneer, I'd a been rowing through the Carribean pal. Why would you search for gold when you can eat coconuts and sleep on the beach?

The temp rose about 70 degrees from the start of my day to the end of it. The seguros were very cool upon reaching the valley here in Phoenix. It looks like it hasn't rains here in eons. I wish i had more time to visit all of the neat sites in the southwest that I passed today, Anasazi ruins, the big meteor crater, Grand Canyon, and Ship Rock. I'm on a mission so that'll have to wait. They're not going anywhere.

I'm very excited about seeing the 2nd largest burn unit in the US tomorrow. I'm going out after dinner to restock my toys and coloring books. There is a vicious rumor that a few PFD Ff's are joining me on their Harleys for the arrival at the hospital. I hope that materializes.

Peace for now my good friends. Was it just here or was the moon in the sky all morning today? Just awesome.

Quote of the day: "Knowledge speaks, wisdom listens." - Jimi Hendrix

Images from the Road: Durango (From Mike's Cell Phone)

Can't forget the quote of the day!

Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared. --- buddha

Durango day 2

Rafting the Animas river was awesome. The water we were floating on was snow yesterday so it was maybe 38 degrees. Captain Lou brought us through some very beautiful whitewater for about 3 hours or so. I hit a health food store (they're everywhere out here, it's great!) and stocked up on food and juice for tomorrow's big ride to Phoenix. I'll be heading out around 5 or 6am to get a jump on the heat. We just finished a great chicken dinner here at the station and I'm going to start packing so I can get up and go in the morning.

There is something about traveling on a great journey that changes you to one extent. In Buddhism they say that leaving your homeland is half of the Dharma or teaching. I would have to agree and add that leaving one's home allows one to find who they truly are; nice, mean, generous, greedy, loving, introverted, etc. There have been many times when I have been out of my element or comfort zone. As the journey goes along, I find that my comfort zones are all but vanished and I'm comfortable with anyone at anytime and anywhere. There have been times when I have been so hungry and desperate for any place that sells food that I'll eat anything. You'd be surprised how much you don't care what is on your plate when you're truly hungry. There have been times when I've been so tired I was thankful to have just a dry floor available to sleep on, but of course the awesome Fd's have taken great care of me, every night.

However, we don't need to take great trips across the country to grow and make positive changes in our lives. Maybe just opening up and letting go a little during our daily routines can bring us more peace, happiness, and understanding of this sometimes mysterious life.

I also feel like this world is a smaller place than I thought. I never thought it to be very big in the first place, but it is smaller to me now. I have met hundreds of FF's and their families and eaten and slept in many people's homes. I have asked tons of people for directions along the way, and assisted a few motorists along side of the road. Knowing more people on this planet feels good. I have met many people whose struggles and tribulations make any woe I've ever thought to be important look so foolish. I have met people who have buried their children, some younger than my own. Some have had to bury their soulmates, and a piece of their own in the process. I have met people who have lost their vision from burns and hearing from burn related antibiotics. I have met parents who feel as though there is nothing they can do for their child who is in a hospital bed in a drug induced coma. I have met burn survivors who have inspired me to tears, and many who have shown me how to find the fun in life. We all will suffer and struggle in this life my friends. Because we will all suffer to one degree or another in this life there is interconnectedness among all of here. We are not alone, we all are trying to find happiness amongst our suffering and struggles. Maybe knowing that everyone we encounter in life is trying to be happy/find happiness will make it easier to help them find that happiness, and perhaps find our own in the process.


Good night,

Mike

Images from the Road: La Veta (From Mike's Cell Phone)

This came in this morning from Mike.

Images from the Road: Denver to La Veta (From Mike's Cell Phone)

These are from Saturday, June 2nd.

Sunday AM

Well, I'm going on little sleep today. DFD ran all night long. I'm ready for my first rafting experience and can't wait to have some fun. The river is very cold and fast today and seems to be cresting. We had breakfast at the Colorado Mounted Rangers banquet. They had a country band, with a cool stand-up bass. I filled up on about 4000 calories worth of eggs and biscuits and returned to the station to catch up on some poems I've been trying to finish. Now, off to the Animas River, which means "river of lost souls" in Navajo.



Mike

Denver to La Veta

I left Denver around 10am and headed to Colorado Springs to see the Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial. I would encourage everyone to visit it once. It was very somber seeing the names of our fallen brothers and sisters, I definitely feel a stronger connection to the profession that I love. It was very sad seeing the 2001 part of the wall where so many names were followed by a "NY" on the wall. Let's remember to buckle up out there to keep as many names off of the wall as possible.

After downing a huge burrito I headed further south to La Veta, CO. La Veta is a cute town of about 800 people nestled at the base of the Spanish Peaks (pic). Asst. Chief Rich took me to dinner (thanks!!!) and then gave me a tour of the area. I saw my first elk (freakin' huge) and a ton of deer. I was later told about 50 bear stories and told to be careful walking around at night. No problem, I think I'll just stay in thank you. Sue Pezze of the LVFD made a wonderful breakfast for myself, Rich, and her husband Richard. Sue, you are a great chef! Everything was perfect.

Sue took me for a tour of her farm and showed me a few of the classic tractors her husband has restored, really cool. Thank you LVFD for putting me up in a hotel last night, nothing like a good night's sleep.

I headed out to Durango, CO this morning after the top notch breakfast. I saw some of the most beautiful country I've ever seen today. Words cannot describe the natural beauty in the Wolf Creek Pass area. Check it out if you can, it's worth the trip and then some. it was cold and snow was on the ground up there around 11k feet, I figure the Harley lost about 40% power up there. Durango FD gave me warm welcome and we're having burgers tonight. I worked out for a while in their huge gym and am ready to chow down. There is a rafting competition going on this weekend in Durango so I'll be checking that out tomorrow after seeing if there are any kids in the local Hospital. After that I'm going rafting with Capt. Lou, can't wait, I don't have a swimsuit so I guess the birthday suit will have to do, sorry Lou. Lou just read this and did not find that funny at all.

I hope all is well at the Gtown FD while I'm gone. Chief Anding's wife Heather is expecting a baby any day now. Good Luck!!!!!

EVERY Harley owner I've spoken with is absolutely shocked at the generosity of Chief Anding. Thanks again chief, you're the bomb.

Till tomorrow my friends, be good.

Quote of the Day: "I have got a running stream of love you see. So no matter what stages.. they put us through, we'll never be blue." - Bob Marley

Images from the Road: Denver, CO to La Veta, CO (From Mike's Cell Phone)

Images from the Road: Last Evening ... Denver, CO (From Mike's Cell Phone)

Denver, CO

Hey hey hey, hope your last day of May was okay.

I had a wonderful night's sleep at station 21 last night. No calls. I headed out early to get the rear tire changed on the bike and then rolled out to Red Rocks. Red Rocks is an area west of the city that has these huge, beautiful, red rocks jutting out of the landscape. There is a natural amphitheatre there that I'm told has great acoustics. The amphitheatre is located just beyond where my shoe is in the pics. I hiked up a good size hill to get some great views and meditated on a small overhang for about a half hour. On my way down a 5 foot rattlesnake was warming up on the path. I'm glad I've watched Steve Irwin and Jeff Corwin - I kept hearing them in my head on the path - "You gotta be very careful, danger, danger" (in an Australian accent). I carefully found a way around the awesome snake and met with the burn unit Dr's and nurses at U of C at Denver. Mary and her clan were happy to have me and I was able to meet Kedrick, a burn patient there. The other patients were sleeping at the time.

I then met up with Melisa, a burn survivor who is helping get the Phoenix Society SOAR program started in Denver -YAY! I am meeting with Melisa and her boyfriend Erin, also a burn survivor, for Asian food tonight and some Jazz.

After U of C Hosp. I drove over to Children's Hospital to meet up with Denver FD Asst. Chief Pat Hynes. We met with Jamal, a 7 year old who is in burn rehab and doing great. He did a great job today in rehab and loved the toy and crayons I gave him. A smile on a child's face is priceless isn't it? Hopefully Jamal will be able to attend the Denver Burn Camp this year.

I want to thank Pat for letting me crash at his place this evening- all for the small price of washing and ironing his laundry, tiling his bathroom, and waxing his truck. Not a bad deal if I may say so.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After dinner post:

Just got back from a great dinner with Melisa and Erin, 2 very cool people. Thank you both for the great conversation and dinner.

Erin is from Durango and gave me a list of restaurants and microbreweries (take it easy Mike) to try down there - can't wait!

Melisa is a stunning inspirational speaker who's mantra is "Pain is inevitable, but misery is optional." Doesn't get more real than that folks. Melisa can be reached at melisa@ofloveandfire.com for speaking engagements.

Well, I'm tired and going to bed after I get this 2nd coat of wax on Pat's truck. Good night all.

Mike