What a great day! My new trailer worked perfectly. I got on the road in Camp Wood around 9. My wife followed me for the first 15 miles. Very smooth and easy pulling trailer is a game changer. I rode to Ft. Clark Springs Campground in Bracketville. 6 hours and done. This is a beautiful park. I got my campsite set up, took a nice hot shower, and was relaxing with some TV and a MRE. Another camper brought me a plate of food. Feeling super motivated. My hydration was good today. I only saw one other couple cycling toward Florida on a tandem upright bike. Cindy needs to get ready for my next trip. I have a long day tomorrow. Going to make it, I’m sure.

Bracketville to Seminole Canyon State Park- 72 miles. Had a very long day but covered some good ground. Nice ride with many hills and a great tailwind. I got a sunburn on my legs. I saw a lot of sites today but didn’t take many pictures. Only saw one other couple headed towards Florida. I stayed hydrated but need to eat better. Camp is quiet and peaceful. I’m going to eat dinner and go to bed. I had a minor issue with my chain today but should be able to fix it with some adjustment. Trying to keep moving. 249 miles down.

Seminole Canyon State Park to Langtry 20 miles. I had a short day today. Almost everyone said to stay in Langtry and relax. I had free camping, fee water, and a lot of rest. I had a great tailwind today. Feeling good and getting stronger for the long days ahead. I am going to tour this museum today. Eating better and staying hydrated. 269 miles down.

Langtry to Sanderson- 60 miles. I had a good day of riding today. I left Langtry at 8:30 and planned to be in Sanderson by 6 (got there at 6:30). Met a couple of good people today. A retired Air Fotce man today named Darrel. He stopped and gave me a bottle of water, an energy drink, and then prayed over me. He lives in El Paso and took one of my cards to pass along to all his veterans. I ate dinner at the Ranch House in Sanderson. I set up camp at the Canyon RV Park and took a shower. Still doing good on energy level and hydration. 329 miles down.

I woke up early and was met by Sonny Adauto. He took me to his house and made me some sandwiches. He then showed me around town and invited me to stay the night. The rest of the day was a rest day in Sanderson. Yeah!

Sanderson to Marathon- 55 miles. I started the day off with breakfast at American Legion Post 160 in Sanderson. Good people. I got on my trike at 8. Nice ride at the start of the day but then got hit with a headwind. All day was a slight uphill and the last half into the headwind. I still made it to Marathon before 6. Stayed at the Marathon Motel and RV Park. Nice little campsite. I took a hot shower, ate dinner, and drank my water. Wind is still blowing and temperatures are dropping. Predicting to be 40 tonight. I’m feeling good and staying strong. Some more hills tomorrow but shouldn’t be too bad. One pedal at a time. 384 miles down.

Marathon to Fort Davis- 55 miles. I had a good ride today. Cold this morning (38). I had to dress extra warm. I had an elevation gain of 1000 feet during the first 30 miles to Alpine. Started today at 8:30 and arrived in Alpine at 1:45. Finally went to a grocery store. I left Alpine at 3:30 to ride to Fort Davis. I got to the Overland Trail Campground at 7:30. I set up camp, took a shower, and cooked a hot meal with my Kelly Kettle. I had another 1000 foot elevation gain between Alpine and Fort Davis . I was able to handle the climbs today. Getting stronger but I am looking to an alternate route tomorrow to avoid a really big climb. 439 miles down.

Interesting first day. I started in La Grange, TX at 9:00 am. I was making great progress at 12mph or more until I got to the Buescher State Park. Nothing but problems after that. Hills, hills, and more hills. I actually had to get off my trike and push everything up hill at least 10 times. Very steep. The bigger problem was the downhills. I had issues with my trailer wheels. Very wobbly. Almost flipped twice. Very scary. Not looking forward to the next several days. One of my roads was closed down and I had to take a detour. What a hidden blessing that was. Ended up finding American Legion Post 533 in Bastrop, TX. They gave me a free dinner, had a safe yard for me to camp, and gave me a ride to a bike shop in Austin the next morning. Getting some good rest tonight. Going to get my trike and trailer fixed up tomorrow. Trying to stay positive. 40 miles down. Better things to come.

Second day started early in Bastrop. Got a ride to Easy Street Recumbents in Austin. Got to bike shop around 9 am thanks to Jim Warren but they didn’t open until 11. No worries. Sat with my trike until Mike from Easy Street showed up. He started working right away. Found out that my brake rotors were installed backwards, my rear derailer needed adjustment, and he added some low rider storage solutions bags to my trike. He then tried to fix my trailer wheels. Anita interviewed me and did a live Facebook event. At 3:00, they were finally done. Mike did an awesome job. I left half my gear at his shop. I got on my trike and pedaled through downtown Austin all the way to Cedar Valley, TX. Camped in the ditch next to the road. It rained a little, I heard a rattle snake, and I got some rest. 61 miles down.

Woke up on the third day with a flat trailer tire due to another broken spoke. Changed the tire and packed up camp. Started heading down the road with a wobbly trailer. I need a new one bad. I ran out of water just before getting to Johnson City. Another biker named Jonathan gave me a full water bottle. I started getting cramps everywhere. I made it to Johnson City and went to the DQ to charge my devices and try to eat something. I made an emotional video. I stayed at DQ for 1 and half hours. I still had 10 miles to go to get to Sandy, TX. I again camped on the side of a country road. My body is sore and still dehydrated. I had many bad dreams. A cold front came in during the night. What an answer to prayer. 101 miles down.

Day 4 started out at only 40• with a strong head wind. I rested until 10:30 before getting on the road. I saw 10 ladies in a cycling group headed East towards Florida. Very motivational. I pedaled all day into the head winds and mostly up hill. Legs handled them all. I am getting stronger. I saw many deer, longhorn, and goat farms. I took my time and did what I had to do. I talked with a bike rider from Canada who then donated $10 to my cause. When I finally made it to Fredericksburg, my wife Cindy was waiting for me with a brand new trailer. Yes! We stayed the night at the Budget Inn and ate a delicious pasta meal at Bella’s Pasta. I had a nice bed, good shower, amazing rest, and spent time repacking my new trailer. Ready for the world. 129 miles down.

Day 5. Cindy was nice enough to give me a ride passed some tough climbs all the way to Camp Wood, TX (I know my limits and I have a long way to go). We stopped in Kerrville to meet Janice and Fred from Warmshowers to let them know that I would not be staying with them. They were both so nice. They still provided us a home cooked lunch and we spent some time talking and sharing. After leaving there, we drove through Leakey, TX. What a beautiful drive. I am glad that I was in the car instead of climbing those three big hills. We are now in a cabin at Los Rios Campground. It’s a cute little cabin. Ate a good dinner, reorganized my storage bags to make room for more fluids. Feeling very good and looking forward to getting back on the trike tomorrow.

I Ride For Those Who Can No Longer Ride

This was the last weekend before I will be leaving on my trike tour around the United States. Just to recap: I am a disabled United States Navy veteran and I will be riding my recumbent trike around the four borders of the US (12,000 miles) to raise awareness for veterans that are still effected by PTSD. My goal is to raise $25,000 to be given 100% to the Christian Warrior’s Retreat Center in Victoria, TX. Thanks to those that have already donated to my cause and I have already raised $1,504 before even beginning my tour.

This weekend was all about relaxation and family time. Of course, Sunday was Easter which is always a very special time for me in my life. Without Christ in my life, everything else would be worthless. Easter is the day that sin and death were completely defeated and I know that Christ is alive. Amen.

I spent a lot of time with my granddaughter, Nytalia. She is very special and I love her dearly. Whenever I am around her, she loves to hug on me and loves to have me teach her things. In the pictures above, you can see her hugging on my arm. Then I get to teach her how to eat her spaghetti noodles without making too big of a mess. She is always smiling and giving her Popi kisses. In the last picture, I am pushing her around in a store and we stop to look at the sparkling lava lamp. She loves to look at pretty things and I try to keep her learning all the time. I love to sing to her and read books with her. She is only a year and a half old but she is very quick at learning new things. I will miss her during my time on my trike tour but look forward to seeing her grow and can’t wait to see what she will become when she gets older.

On Saturday, my daughter’s boyfriend and his co-workers did a wonderful job doing a crawfish boil. They had so much fun doing this and there was some much food to eat. They added shrimp, potatoes, corn, sausage, and celery to the mix. Everything was delicious. I spent some time showing Nytalia how to peal a crawfish tail and was showing her the claws of the crawfish. She was even brave enough to try a bite of the crawfish but I don’t think that it was something she enjoyed yet. This was a great time and a fun way to celebrate my last weekend home. I look forward to trying the different foods from around the US. I hope that I am willing to at least try something new even though it may not be for me yet.

After lunch on Saturday, we got to go on a boat ride with our family. My daughter, Krystal, and Nytalia loved the ride. She would giggle and laugh every time we hit a wave and loved going fast. She is already an adrenaline junky and very brave. This was the first time that I was able to go out in their new boat. This boat was smooth and handled the water nicely. My wife, Cindy, was the one taking the pictures. She too enjoyed the fun time on the boat. My dog, Brutus, enjoyed the ride also. He was a little hesitant to get on the boat but once we got going, you would swear that he had a big smile on his face. The water was too cold to swim in so we will have to save that for another day. After the ride, we all walked hand in hand back to the campsite. It was so much fun.

That brings us to Easter Sunday. I was blessed and honored to have not only my wife with me but also my daughter, my son, and my granddaughter. We attended church at the Lakehills Baptist Church. This was my first time at this church but it felt like family already. This is a small church but reminded me so much of the church back in Ohio where I was a youth minister. This church has a wide range of age groups all the way from little babies to the senior citizens. The youth group did a little skit to show the Easter story and ended with Jesus coming out of the tomb. The pastor gave an excellent sermon. It was a very special service and moved me a lot. As you can see in the picture, Nytalia sat next to me with her monkey and even paid attention at times. She did really well for being so young. After church, Nytalia spent some times breaking the confetti filled eggs all over her head and table. We bought 100 eggs for her to use and she had so much fun. We all had a good Easter.

Sunday also was my son’s 24th birthday. Matt is becoming an amazing man. He moved to live with my daughter in January and got a job working as a Quality Control Officer. He has quickly learned that job and is making great strides at his company. We also spent time on Friday and Saturday looking at apartments for Matt. He is going to be moving into his first apartment in the next few weeks and is really looking forward to getting out on his own. I am very proud of him and will miss him a lot while on my trike tour. He told me that I will have to be back to celebrate the holidays at his place for the first time ever. Sounds like a great plan for me. He had a fun time celebrating his birthday and was able to have his favorites, chocolate cake with chocolate icing and of course chocolate ice cream. Matt, keep doing what you have to do to and become the man that God wants you to be.

Of course, I had a fun time this weekend with my daughter. Krystal has become a great mother and takes pride in her house and her family. She is always able to smile and brighten my day. We video chat almost every day and will continue to do that while on my trike tour. She has been the most worried about me while I have prepared for my tour. She asked me several times, “Are you sure you want to do this?”. I am glad that we have a good relationship and she cares about me so much. I will miss going to her house and eating her pico and shrimp cocktail. Krystal, continue to love your family and always do the work that needs to be done regardless of what anyone else says.

Well, this was the ending to my relaxing weekend. These three here are my strength and my support. I will miss them all but I am so proud that they support me. I look forward to returning home to see how they have grown and matured as I have been away. I love them all very much and could not have ever thought of having a better family.

I Ride For Those Who No Longer Ride.

As my tour quickly approaches, I have been reflecting on the true reason that I am doing all this. The answer at times is very clear and then sometimes it becomes a bit clouded. I know that the reason I am doing this tour is to raise awareness for our veterans that are suffering from the effects of PTSD. But, I ask myself, why me? I only can answer that question by stating that my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has placed this calling on my heart and in my life. There is no doubt that my strength only comes from Him. For those who believe, this makes since. However, for those who do not know Jesus as their Lord, this reasoning seems very strange and unimaginable. I know that this is my calling and have received confirmation from several sources throughout my training process and preparation. I have received blessing after blessing from those that I had not previously known. Every time that this happens, it confirms that this is truly from God. I must obey Him and continue to do what He asks of me.

I was asked recently what I think was going to be my biggest challenge or difficulty while out on my trip. I thought about this and came up with a few answers.

     1. One of the challenges that I see is going to be the mountain passes. I have been training very hard by riding over 50 miles each day and by doing hill workouts all the time. Victoria, TX does not have the type of hills that I will soon be facing so this brings some concern to me. I have watched many videos (100’s of them) while researching what I needed to do to prepare for my tour. Many of those videos where about the subject of climbing hills and mountain passes. For the most part, these videos simply state that I need to just take it one pedal turn at a time. I need to remind myself to not let that mountain defeat me before I even get to it. I need to know that it will be work but it can be accomplished. And finally, I will get better climbing hills and mountain passes as I continue along my tour. I will get stronger and learn what my limits are and what I am capable of doing. All this advice closely resembles how I live my life in other areas. I take things one day at a time, I take on challenges with confidence and not fear, hard work pays off, and finally, with every test that comes my way, I become better and more capable of passing those tests.

     2. The next challenge that comes to my mind will be the challenge of being alone and away from my family and friends for an extend period of time. I am sure that there will be times when I am in the middle of no where with nothing in sight and I will be asking myself, “What the heck are you doing out here all by yourself?” I am going to try to use those alone times to focus on my God and search myself for ways that I can become better. I plan on listening to the bible app that I have on my phone on a daily basis. I am also planning on meeting a lot of people and telling everyone that will listen why I am doing this tour. I do have a few days planned that my wife will be meeting me at different places along my tour. I am also going to be riding through my childhood hometown where my mother still lives. I will be staying another day there with family and look forward to that reunion. I like spending time alone but want to use this time wisely and will try not to loose focus. The saying that I hear a lot from some of my friends is “It’s Not About You!” I need to continually remind myself that I am not doing this bike tour for myself, but that I am doing this for all those veterans that we have lost due to the effects of PTSD. This is the reason why I am doing this tour and why I will be going through the struggle of being alone.

     3. The final item that will be a concern for me is that my wife will be still at home working every day while I am out on my tour. There are some things that I have always taken care of for my family. Now, my wife will have to do these things on her own. I have encouraged many of my friends and my wives friends to keep checking in on her at least once per week and help her out with any tasks that she is not sure how to do. We have a great support system and I know that she will be watched over and taken care of but I will still have those times when I will wish that I stayed home to take care of her. My wife is a strong and faithful woman and I love her dearly. I am truly blessed by her allowing me to do this tour because she knows that this is a calling from God. We have been married almost 31 years and work very well as a team. I just wish that she could go with me on the tour. Maybe next time.

As far as my preparation is going, I have everything ready for my trike and my trailer. All my gear has been checked and double checked. I have repacked my trailer many times to see what the best configuration is to fit all my gear. The Terra Trike company (the maker of my trike) has contacted me and is going to be supporting me while on my tour. Terra Trike has offered to provide any major servicing for my trike that can be done at any authorized dealer. If something happens to my trike that I cannot fix while on the road, they told me that they may be able to arrange to come and pick me up to take my trike in to get fixed. These are two major support systems that I had not even asked for. Again, reconfirmation by God that He is going to protect me while I am on my tour.

Another major blessing is the early success of my fund raiser. As of today, I have received $1,437 towards my ultimate goal of $25,000. This is amazing considering that I have not even pedaled one inch so far. I have had many successful business meeting in Victoria that may result in additional donations. I also have my family to thank for all their work to help share my story. My mom, brother, and sister have shared my story back in Ohio and their friends and employers are all now considering making donations to my cause. Several of my friends have shared my story over and over and I am being followed by hundreds of people both here in the United States and internationally. Even the RV park that I live in is doing a special chili cook off with all the proceeds to go to my cause. My church, Northside Baptist, is also getting behind my tour and several individuals have already made donations. I simply cannot thank everyone enough.

I also want to bring attention to my local newspaper, The Victoria Advocate, for doing a story about me and my tour. They ran a very long story about me and my tour and I have had a lot of positive feedback from that story. The reporter that wrote my story and took several pictures of me and my trike is Madelynne Scales. She did an amazing job and I thank her from the bottom of my heart. My cousin works at a newspaper agency in Ohio and has told my mom that they too will be running a story about me when I get closer to Ohio. The Terra Trike company is also going to do a national news release about me and my tour and that should be done sometime this next week. Several combat veteran motorcycle clubs from around America have reached out to me and have given me their support. I have went from not having a Facebook account to having over 1,700 friends now in only 3 months. I know that I will never meet most of those friends but my goal of raising awareness for veterans that are suffering from the effects of PTSD is progressing nicely. It is more than I could have even imagined.

I want to thank everyone that has taken the time to read my blogs and watch my videos. I will continue to get better and will continue to improve the quality of my blogs and videos. Continue to support me, to pray for me, and to share my story with everyone you know. Thank you.

I Ride For Those Who Can No Longer Ride

This week’s blog is going to be about the Riverside Bike Ride that is put on by the Kiwanis Club of Victoria, Texas. This was the second year that my wife and I have participated in this event. I rode in the 30 mile ride and my wife did the 20 mile ride. As many of you know, I ride a Tour II that is made by the Terra Trike company and my wife rides a Rover, also made by Terra Trike.

The morning started off with a delicious pancake breakfast at the First United Methodist Church prepared by the Kiwanis volunteers. This breakfast had a huge stack of pancakes, sausage links, fruit, and juice. This was more than enough to fuel our bodies for the upcoming ride. There also was a lot of sharing and story telling going on between all the riders. Volunteers were also busy registering other riders and directing guests to where they needed to be. Some riders appeared calm while others may have been some what nervous.

After breakfast, the riders made their way outside. After some opening remarks by the special speaker, the National anthem was sang. Final instructions were given and then the riders began lining up for the ride. The 100 mile riders departed first, and then those riding between 50 to 20 miles lined up. There were many riders in this group so everyone had to use extra caution to not bump each other or cause anyone else to crash. After a successful start, we were off.

I quickly got into my cadence rythm and began moving up towards the front of the group. I had been training very hard for my bike tour and have been riding 50 miles each day so I knew that this 30 mile ride wouldn’t be difficult. I was able to ride at an average speed of just over 13 mph and reached a top speed of 26.6 on one of the downhills. My wife and I decided to race to the last SAG (Support and Gear) station and then ride the last 5 miles together. I do admit that she beat me to this meeting point but do also have to point out that I had to go 25 miles while she only had to go 15 miles to get to this point. But, she did win fair and square. We enjoyed the last 5 miles side by side. Cindy really wishes that she could go on the tour with me but can’t due to her work obligations. Maybe next time. As we rode the final distance, we got to take in the sites and speak with some other riders. We had the chance to take in God’s awesome creation. It is amazing what you see while riding a bike at 10 mph.

Cindy said that this view is what most people are going to have of me while out on my Tour. I want to be able and willing to speak with other travelers and veterans around the United States. My goal is to raise awareness for veterans that are suffering from the effects of PTSD. My goal is to raise$25,000 to be given 100% to the Christian Warriors Retreat Center in Victoria Texas. I have already received $1141 which is amazing considering that I have not even started my tour. Continue to pray for me and my family and consider donating to my cause. Follow me on Facebook at: Gregory Hook, this blog at: texastriker.blog, and on YouTube: Texas Triker. I have also been in two stories in the Victoria Advocate.

I Ride For Those Who Can No Longer Ride

This week’s blog was supposed to be about my family’s fishing trip this past Saturday. However, the boat that we were going to go on had some mechanical issues and the trip had to be canceled. One could look at this situation and become upset or angry. I looked at this as an opportunity to work on some other projects that I needed to get done in preparation for my upcoming bike tour. Yes, I was disappointed that we were not able to go out fishing like we had planned because I really love to fish and I could have used a day of relaxation and fun. My wife and I did get to complete the remaking of a waterproof bag that was needed to go on my trailer to hold all my gear. That was a fun project and went together easier than I could have imagined. That bag will be traveling with me all around our great country and is much better than the original bag that came with my trailer. Was it as fun as the fishing trip would have been? Probably not, but it was something that needed done and it feels great to get another project done.

We also were able to film and edit my very first YouTube video. Please go view it when possible and subscribe to my YouTube channel at Texas Triker. This video looks pretty good but I am sure my videos will get better as I continue to learn and develop my skills. I plan on doing a short video every night to show some of the highlights of my day and to post some photos of things I find interesting.

Things are progressing nicely as the start date of my bike tour fast approaches. I have purchased all my food that I will be using for the first several weeks. I have all my gear that has been packed and repacked and double checked. I have all my clothing and personal items ready. My training has been going well and I am up to riding 50 miles each day, usually broken up as 30 miles in the morning and then the other 20 in the evening. I have been trying to get my body ready for the morning and afternoon ride schedule as I am trying to keep up my scheduled miles each day. I have also started to get up earlier to get my body used to the early morning riding. I will be posting more videos on YouTube to show my trailer with all the gear, to show all the food that I will be using, and to show what my nightly camping set-up will look like so stay tuned.

Now, how do I stay motivated to keep up all this preparation and training? I pray often and ask the Lord to direct me everyday. I also pray that positive situations continue to occur in my life on a weekly basis. For example, I have been praying about raising the $25,000 that I have set as my goal and I have already received $905 and I haven’t even started my trip yet. Thank you to all that have donated. I also have meetings this week with different organizations in Victoria, Texas that may result in more support. My brother, sister, mother, wife, and daughter have also been great in sharing my status and goals with their co-workers and this may also result in receiving more donations. My family and friends continue to share my story and have supported me in pray and have sent encouraging words to me at times that I really needed them. My Bible Study Group at Northside Baptist Church have already been praying for me and will continue to help my wife while I am on my trip. I also have made almost 1500 friends on Facebook. I may never actually meet most of you but I love the support and encouragement that I receive from those all around the world. I also receive encouraging post like the two shown below.

The church that I attend every Sunday is Northside Baptist Church in Victoria, Texas. For the past several weeks, our pastor has been preaching on the book of Nehemiah which he has titled “The Nehemiah Experiment”. These sermons have covered the story of how Nehemiah obeyed the calling that the Lord placed on his life and by doing so, was an example to others in that region. These sermons have really encouraged me and have affirmed that as I obey the calling that the Lord has given me, I may be an example for others in my area. I know that what I am doing is what the Lord wants me to do. I also know that there may be some negative times coming my way but if I really trust in the Lord and lean on His strength, I will succeed.

I also know that my family is supporting me and backing me in my decision to do this trip alone and be on the road for about seven months. Their support keeps me motivated and determined.

There may also be times that I will feel discouraged and may question why I am doing this trip. During those times, I need to keep telling myself that I am not doing this trip for me. I am doing it for all those veterans that are still suffering from the effects of PTSD. Every peddle turn that I make gets me one turn closer to the goal. I am only human with human abilities, but this trip is about digging deeper and finding that inner power that we all have. The Lord is my strength and my power comes from Him. There is a saying that we hear at the Christian Warriors Retreat Center and it goes like this “It’s Not About You”. I think about that phrase a lot. When I am tired and not wanting to go on, I think about that phrase. When I am tired and hurting, I think about that phrase. And when I am lonely and away from my friends and family while on my trip, I will think about that phrase.

I read an article in my local paper on Saturday. The writer of this article in Andrew Schroer who has been a pastor for nearly 20 years and is currently serving at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Edna, Texas. He writes what is called “Bread Crumbs” every Saturday. This weeks title is “Center of the Universe”. The article talks about how big space is and starts of with the following analogy: If a ballpoint of a pen was on my desk and was Earth, the sun would be the size of a ping pong ball about 15 feet away. The nearest star to our solar system, Proxima Centauri, would be another ping pong ball located in the city of Toronto, Canada. Now remember, I live in Victoria, Texas. That’s how relatively far Proxima Centauri is from the Earth. And that is the closest star to our solar system. There are more than 100 billion stars in our galaxy, all of which are trillions of miles farther away. And that’s just our galaxy. Scientists estimate that there are more than 200 billion galaxies in the known universe, each containing between 100 billion and one trillion stars.

Again, space is big. The article continues. From the perspective of the moon, the Earth appears to be the size of a marble. From the perspective of other galaxies, the Earth is imperceivable. It is invisible. It is nothing.

So what does that make us? We aren’t even a microscopic speck in God’s universe. We are insignificant microscopic specks in God’s universe. Yet God doesn’t treat us that way. In His great love, He made tiny, insignificant human beings the crown of His creation. We are tiny specks, yet God knows and loves each of us personally.

We need that perspective because so often our perception is skewed. We often see ourselves as bigger than we really are. We make ourselves the center of our own universe. My life, my goals, and my happiness become the purpose of my existence here on Earth. God made us tiny specks to be the crown of His creation. And what do we do? We treat Him as small. We treat Him as insignificant. Instead of our lives revolving around Him, He becomes a small satellite that enters our orbit only when we think we need Him.

God became one of these insignificant specks just like you and me to take our place and die our death. Because of what God did, we are forgiven for all the times we have made ourselves the center of our own universe. We are forgiven for all the times we have relegated God to being simply a small satellite that only enters our orbit occasionally. The God who created and fills the vastness of space does not treat us as we deserve. He loves us. He forgives us. He gives us heaven. Remember your place in God’s universe. Remember who you are and what He has done for you. Don’t make Him simply a satellite that enters the orbit of your life every so often. Don’t relegate Him to being just a part of your life. He is your whole life. Everything you have and everything you are is because of Him.

Again, “It’s not about you.” Trust in the Lord, obey Him, and get your motivation from Him. Thank you.

I Ride For Those Who Can No Longer Ride.

This weeks blog is going to cover some of the PTSD support groups that I have found and some more information on how veterans can find help and healing. My bike tour is my effort to raise awareness and show veterans that they are not alone in their efforts of fighting the effects of PTSD. My goal is to raise $25,000 to go towards the Christian Warriors Retreat Center in Victoria, Texas because this is the nearest local organization that is helping veterans. However, I am also trying to let veterans know that there are many other groups and organizations out there in their locations that can offer help. Take a moment to read this blog and share it with any veteran in your areas to help them out. The following information is taken directly from either the organization’s website or Facebook page. Please feel free to review this information for yourself. This is just a small sample of the many groups that are available. Please, reach out for any help that you need or share this with your friends and families so that you may help others.

What is PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. It can occur after you’ve seen or experienced a traumatic event that involved the threat of injury or death.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors
PTSD can occur at any age. It can follow a natural disaster such as a flood or fire, or events such as:
Assault
Domestic abuse
Prison stay
Rape
Terrorism
War
For example, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 may have caused PTSD in some people who were involved, in people who saw the disaster, and in people who lost relatives and friends. Veterans returning home from a war often have PTSD. The cause of PTSD is unknown. Psychological, genetic, physical, and social factors are involved. PTSD changes the body’s response to stress. It affects the stress hormones and chemicals that carry information between the nerves (neurotransmitters). It is not known why traumatic events cause PTSD in some people but not others. Having a history of trauma may increase your risk for getting PTSD after a recent traumatic event.

Symptoms
Symptoms of PTSD fall into three main categories:

1. “Reliving” the event, which disturbs day-to-day activity
Flashback episodes, where the event seems to be happening again and again. Repeated upsetting memories of the event. Strong, uncomfortable reactions to situations that remind you of the event.
2. Avoidance
Emotional “numbing,” or feeling as though you don’t care about anything. Feeling detached. Being unable to remember important aspects of the trauma. Having a lack of interest in normal activities.
Showing less of your moods. Avoiding places, people, or thoughts that remind you of the event. Feeling like you have no future.
3. Arousal
Difficulty concentrating. Startling easily. Having an exaggerated response to things that startle you. Feeling more aware (hypervigilance). Feeling irritable or having outbursts of anger.
Having trouble falling or staying asleep. You might feel guilt about the event (including “survivor guilt”). You might also have some of the following symptoms, which are typical of anxiety, stress, and tension:
Agitation or excitability
Dizziness
Fainting
Feeling your heart beat in your chest
Headache
-http://www.understandingptsd.org/what-is-ptsd/

Christian Warriors Retreat Center

Healing Veterans through Faith, Family, and Community. 

CHRISTIAN WARRIORS RETREAT IS THE NATION’S FIRST FOR VETERANS, BY VETERANS MINISTRY COMMITTED TO HONOR OUR NATION’S VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE ARE DEDICATED TO UNITE ALL BRANCHES AND ERAS OF THE U.S. MILITARY USING CHRISTIAN AND MILITARY VALUES AS OUR CORE FOUNDATION. OUR MISSION IS FOR OUR VETERANS TO FIND TRUE HEALING AND REGAIN PURPOSE IN LIFE, RELATIONSHIPS, AND SELF THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
Christian Warriors Retreat is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is entirely funded through private donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations.

The Christian Warriors Retreat Community provides a Christian environment that promotes spiritual and emotional healing. We believe in creating a community of excellence and honor. CWR Community is made of two groups of people; Veterans and those who love Veterans. Our ministry leadership is formed of those who served or related to those who served.

We believe that the United States of America was founded upon a covenant between our Father God and our founding fathers. When we swore our oath of enlist it was to serve both God and country. Our country needs its warriors to rise and fight a new battle. We believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as a Christian ministry. We also believe that the Bible is the living word of God, our training manual, and active in our lives.

We know firsthand the sacrifice made by our Veteran community. The Veteran community has hard hitting statistics. We lose 22 Veterans a day to suicide and have a high divorce rate for combat marriages. Through retreat experiences, discipleship, and 4Given Ranch, we will initiate and sustain three levels of success: Veterans will understand their value in Christ; heal and improve vital relationships; and, most importantly, find God’s mission for which they were created.

4GIVEN RANCH
Christian Warriors Retreat, CCCT 501c3, will be gifted 20 acres of land for 4Given Ranch, in the Crossroads area, in Goliad, Texas. This land has been dedicated for the use of God’s Kingdom and believe this will bring healing to our Veteran Community.
4Given Ranch is designed to be a U.S. Military inspired Community Christian Retreat Center that will honor current, past, and our fallen U.S. Military. Each building will be in honor of either a fallen Veteran or a supporter of the U.S. Military.
4Given Ranch Retreat Center will be utilized by Christian Warriors Retreat CCCT, Veterans Organizations, and Church Groups within the Crossroads Community and other areas.

In November of 2014 a family apart of the ministry closed on land will be gifting the land for 4Given Ranch Retreat Center to be built on. Together as a ministry we offered the land to the Lord and made a covenant to always stay Christ centered. Together we had communion and thanked God for what he will do with this land.

Warriors with a purpose was designed to get veterans active and involved. As service members are discharged many of them feel left without a purpose and often times find themselves battling feelings of insignificance. This program allows veterans to come and work on the land while enjoying fellowship with other veterans. As we work together and watch dreams become reality we create life long bonds and a true feeling of significance.

4Given Ranch Partner Program
NO Warrior, NO Family left behind!
It is time to for our Warriors to fight a new battle and it is not against flesh. Every day our Veterans are losing their jobs, families, and lives; yet with your donation we can provide a training ground that will bring healing, stability, and community. Pray about giving what you can, sponsoring a phase, or become a 4Given Ranch Partner.
Become a monthly partner with 4Given Ranch by giving to support the building of 4Given Ranch. Monthly partnership helps raise funds for 4Given Ranch Building Fund which will include purchase of land and building retreat center. By becoming a monthly partner today you will be honored by a plaque with your name or choice of honoring at 4Given Ranch. Also, we will be hosting an annual dinner for all of our 4Given Ranch Partners.
Please give today. Your tax-deductible donation blesses us to provide a safe haven for our warriors.

CWR is a Christian (non denomination) Retreat with the process of healing and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. The retreat begins Thursday evening and ends Sunday afternoon and will be held in twice annually in Crossroads area of South Texas. We are looking to open branches in other locations through our Nation.
What to Expect
CWR is designed for Veterans by Veterans. For 4 days you will experience music, worship, speakers, and participate in small groups where you will experience love and grace of God through acts of service.

Pedal Against PTSD

Our mission at Pedal Against PTSD is to empower military and veterans to overcome PTSD through the sport of cycling.

Our Strategic Vision:

1.) To provide quality bicycles to veterans and military in need through an application process.

2.) To create a support network that provides a larger community for our team members to plug into.

3.) To raise money for research and development through our PAPTSD Grind charity ride series.

It was during the grueling 2013 Tour Divide race that Kevin Campagna, a USMC combat veteran, felt the inspiration to share his passion of cycling as a source of relief for his affliction with PTSD. Kevin likens his cycling expeditions to his service in the Marine Corps. The training, the sacrifice, and the mental toughness are all similar to what he went through in the military and what he must go through every day in order to combat PTSD. Kevin believes that there’s healing through cycling and has made it his mission to help his fellow veterans who are suffering gain relief through the sport of cycling and to promote awareness in hopes of breaking the stigma that PTSD carries.

Our mission at Pedal Against PTSD is to empower military and veterans to overcome PTSD through the sport of cycling.

Our vision is to continue to raise awareness regarding the severity of PTSD and to share the benefits that the sport of cycling brings with all military and veterans that struggle with PTSD.

Our goal at Pedal Against PTSD is to provide vets with quality bicycles, create an strong community outreach program and contribute funds back to research and development to help combat the affliction that is PTSD.

http://pedalagainstptsd.org/about

Veterans With PTSD

Interested in PTSD research studies? Click the link on our profile to find a study near you!

http://bit.ly/2tW9Dr1

Veterans’ PTSD Support

Mission
This is one of several peer-support groups moderated by Veterans’ PTSD Support, we are in no way affiliated with the Veterans PTSD Project. We are an organization that hopes to change the national conversation surrounding PTSD through three distinct missions: outreach and education, the mentorship and publication of stories about post-traumatic growth, and these support forums which serve as a safe space where members can talk openly and share resources.

Veterans’ PTSD Support moderates a number of peer-level support forums for veterans and their families.

vpsworking@gmail.com

http://veteransptsdsupport.wordpress.com

PTSD The War Within

P.T.S.D. is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else, or to one’s own or someone else’s physical, sexual, or psychological integrity, overwhelming the individual’s ability to cope. As an effect of psychological trauma, PTSD is less frequent and more enduring than the more commonly seen acute stress response. Diagnostic symptoms for PTSD include re-experiencing the original trauma(s) through flashbacks or nightmares, avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, and increased arousal—such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, anger, and hypervigilance. Formal diagnostic criteria (both DSM-IV-TR and ICD-10) require that the symptoms last more than one month and cause significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Reality: hundreds of soldiers are suffering PTSD when returning from their tours. many hide their horrors, but thousands suffer greatly from it. while most get help when returning from war, thousands still are not being helped with it.!!!
FACT: our government, just sweeps it under the carpet when our soldiers return as if it isn’t anything to worry about as they have done their job. but the hard cold reality of it is, when these men and women return from war, the war isn’t over for them, its far from the end and they live with the nightmares everyday. It is about time that our government sits up and takes notice that many of our soldiers just can’t handle coming home, getting back into ‘normal’ routine and end up being violent, aggressive, abusive and in many cases commit suicide because they haven’t received the help they need to help deal with the trauma they have seen and been put through!! This isn’t just a job to our soldiers, its their lives and they need as much help and backing, so they can carry on! POLITICS!!! That’s all it is at the end of the day to our UK government… but these soldiers are people too and having there troubles swept under the carpet for doing their ‘job’ is not right or acceptable!

@PTSDthewarwithin

PTSD Support and Recovery

A page for everyone recovering from CPTSD/PTSD.

@ptsdsupportandrecovery

PTSD Break The Silence

This page is here to encourage those who suffer from PTSD from all walks of life to share their poems, writings and experiences with others and to let them know you are not alone in your what you are going through in the hopes of reaching out to help others.
The page will also provide information and invaluable insight to individuals who are interested in furthering their understanding of this condition and ultimately discovering the truth behind the myths that surround it. We will share stories, both uplifting some that will pull on your heart.

This is a support page for those who suffer or know someone who is suffering from PTSD. This page is to show support to people in all walks of life: Military, Police, Medical personal, Firefighters, First Responders, abuse survivors, rape survivors and all persons who are affected by this invisible wound. Anyone can suffer from PTSD.

We are not medical professional’s of any kind. This advice is not intended to replace the care of a trained mental health professional. We offer suggestions from time to time based on our own personal experiences as someone suffering one or more types of anxiety disorder. These suggestions may or may not work for you. Get professional help if at all possible. We offer a Closed online group to share with others your experiences with PTSD and to also support each other. Remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE! GROUP LINK IS https://www.facebook.com/groups/1440445089564849/

A PAGE TO SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH PTSD. HELP BREAK THE SILENCE! Order PTSD Book

http://www.heartsmovingmountains.com

@ptsdbreakthesilence

Veterans At Ease

I am Steven Ashton and I have recently become an Ambassador for Veterans At Ease, a Charity that helps our Armed Forces who have been diagnosed with PTSD. My role currently is to raise awareness that there is help out there and that help is not only for our Armed Forces but also their families. I will be attending a credited course to gain my certificate to enable myself to be a therapist. My aim is to have a Drop In Center in Chester, this will serve to help the Cheshire and North Wales area, this will be the first of it’s kind based in Chester, as Chester is a Garrison Town. Veterans at Ease is a Charity and this means that they are funded by donations. At this current time, funding is needed to push forward to get the Drop In Center up and running. With this is mind you can donate at MYDONATE BT.COM All donations will be gratefully received.

steash1@googlemail.com

http://www.veteransatease.org

The following information is in regards to how a veteran can obtain their DD-214, a very important document needed for many programs and benefits.

What is the DD 214?
The DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, generally referred to as a “DD 214”, is a document of the United States Department of Defense, issued upon a military service member’s retirement, separation, or discharge from active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, e.g., U.S. Army, …

Two methods for requesting military records:
1. Electronic method. Use the eVetRecs system to create your request.
2. Paper method. Mail or Fax a Standard Form SF-180. Print, sign, and date all copies of paper forms before submitting them. The address is listed at the end of the SF 180.1.

Here’s all the information that you will need to get a copy of your DD214. We’ll explain the various options that you have based on the timeframe that you have set within which to acquire your DD214. We’ll discuss free services where time is not a consideration and you can afford to wait weeks or even months, to paid researcher services when you need to have a copy of your DD214 in-hand today. We’ll also mention the services that you should avoid.
In essence, the “best method for you to acquire your DD214” is entirely dependent on your personal situation, with the primary consideration being the time that you can afford to wait. Ask yourself, “By what date do I absolutely, positively have to have my DD214?” Your answer to this question will dictate the best method for you to use in order to acquire your DD214.
There are just three (3) methods to acquire either your DD214 and/or your complete personnel file (known as your 201 File). They are:
Method
Time Required
1. Free DD214 Record Retrieval
Several Weeks to Several Months
2. Hire “Someone Else” to apply for your DD214
Several Weeks to Several Months
3. Hire a research company to get your DD214
Same Day, Next Day to One Week (or longer) but quality, speed, reliability and business-reputation of firms varies.

1. Free DD214 and 201 File Record Retrieval.
As it is in most cases in life, the old adage that you generally get what you pay for is just as true today when you talk about the free DD214 choices. The primary disadvantage: free services require time. And time is money. If you can afford to wait for your DD214, if you don’t need your DD214 soon, then the free services may be for you. Here’s the lowdown on free services. While the NPRC reports that they provide “certified copies of separation documents within 10 workdays 75 percent of the time,” they also state “cases more complex than simply copying a separation document now typically are worked in about five weeks.” And, finally, they say: “Please do not send a follow-up request before 90 days have elapsed as it may cause further delays.” Wow. But, if you can wait two weeks or more, a 75% chance of acquisition is not too bad. There are many reports on the Net that the NPRC is taking many weeks to perform record retrievals, with a backlog of two hundred thousand (200,000) requests. At their stated receiving rate of 4,000 to 5,000 requests per day, you’re talking a 40+ day backlog. Remember, too, that once you place your free order with the NPRC, you will most likely make your records inaccessible to anyone else for the period it takes for the NPRC to process your request. This situation also occurs when another agency requests your record. Once your record is removed from the shelves, it cannot be accessed again until it is returned – perhaps weeks later. So, consider the free offer carefully. Once you place your free order, you most likely won’t be able to “go back” or “do over” and order your DD214 for prompt delivery.
To request military service records held by the NPRC, veterans and the next-of-kin of deceased veterans can use their web interface at vetrecs.archives.gov (click here). Or they and others can use the Standard Form (SF) 180, Request Pertaining to Military Records (click here). Although not mandatory, the SF 180 is the recommended method to send a request for military service information. This form captures all the necessary information to locate a record. Provide as much information on the form as possible and send copies of any service documents that you may have. Requests may also be submitted as a letter. Your letter should parallel the basic information requested in the SF 180. Please see that form for details on the information that you should include within your letter.
Follow the instructions for preparing the SF 180. Check the table on the last page to determine the location of the record and submit your request to the appropriate address. In most cases, you can:
Send by Mail
The NPRC’s mailing address is:
National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, MO 63138

Send by Fax
Their fax number for requesting military records is 314-801-9195. Although fax IS faster, the NPRC will respond in writing only by U.S. snail mail, and that would include any problems that they may encounter – all of which increases the length-of-time the NPRC takes to deliver your DD214.

Send Electronically
ezDD214.com (Click HERE), a private company, puts a new electronic spin on the processing of your SF 180. Not all records are at NPRC, and if you use the Government’s standard submission procedure, above, you may simply receive a letter from the NPRC indicating that they’ve forwarded your request to some other records facility. This will add at least days to the process, if not weeks or longer. For just $10, ezDD214.com guarantees to submit your SF 180 to the correct facility the first time. And, better yet, with their patent pending eSign service, if you don’t have a printer or fax, no printer or fax is required. There’s nothing to printout, mail or fax to anyone anywhere. Their entire submission process is conducted purely electronically, entirely and completely Net based.

2. Hire “Someone Else” to apply for your DD214.
We review and rate several DD214 acquisition firms on the very next page. But, in general … Be wary of services that do nothing more than provide you with a Standard Form 180 for any fee in excess of a nominal amount. There are several firms that charge fees for “Membership” from $9.95 and up. Other firms charge $19.95; they provide you with the SF 180, but do NOTHING MORE THAN FAX THE FORM FOR YOU. Even if you don’t have a fax, you can go to a local Kinko’s or UPS store and use their fax for two bucks or so. Most computer modems come with fax software, computer printers often double as fax machines, and there are even free fax services on the Net. So why pay someone $19.95, when all they do is give you the same Standard Form 180 (free above), have you complete it and return it to them, and then they FAX THE VERY SAME FORM TO THE VERY SAME FAX NUMBER that you could use, all as we describe in the free alternative above?
Use some common sense. Do they have a phone number, a real street address (rather than just a Post Office or drop box)? Do they have researchers who physically go and get your records? Or do they simply do what you can do yourself, and charge an inordinate fee for that “service”?
Do some research, too. Visit the Better Business Bureau’s national database.

3. Hire a True Research Company.
While the NPRC usually provides copies of service records – after several weeks or months – as a free service, you may find that you require prompt return and/or more extensive research assistance. You may want to hire an independent researcher. You can consult NARA’s list of independent researchers (click here) (Do a search for “DD214” specialists.) for additional information. A qualified, experienced researcher will physically go to the record center and, with your written authorization in-hand, and acting as your agent, retrieve your records for you in person. That’s the BIG difference, and the service that you’ll definitely want when you need your DD214 promptly.
Make sure that they retrieve your record in person, and don’t merely fax a request on your behalf – something that you can do yourself for free. So far, we have identified only two (2) firms on the National Archives Independent Researcher List that specializes in acquiring DD214s and 201 files, acquiring these records in person with researchers based at or near the respective research facilities.

The Team

My support team is shown above and includes my wife (Cindy), daughter (Krystal), son (Matthew), and granddaughter (Nytalia). My wife designed these shirts and my daughter helped make them. These are the rocks and foundation of my family and will be supporting me from afar while I ride my recumbent trike around the United States. They fully support me in all that I do and are my motivation to keep going everyday and to do what I am going to be doing. Whenever I am down or discouraged, all I have to do is reach out to one of these loved ones and they keep me upbeat and encouraged. I would never be able to be successful in life if these loved ones would not be on my side. I love them beyond what I can describe.

My Wife

This is my wife, Cindy Hook. We met while in high school and were married between our Junior and Senior years. We have been married for 30 years and are still in love. Cindy has done so much work to help me with my trip already. She supports me 100% and does her very best to promote my trip to everyone she knows. She will be my main contact while I am on the road and will receive daily updates from me. She will continue to run our household and keep everything up to date while I am gone. She also has begun to work closely with the Christian Warriors Retreat Center as one of the editors of the Warriors Wive’s Group. She is mostly acting as an encourager and supporter of the wives of our male veterans. Cindy will be receiving and hand delivering any donations that I receive via mail. I would not be as able to freely do this trip without her full support. I am going to miss her on my journey and wish that she could have gone with me but she is not able to do that at this time. She plans on meeting me in California and then again in or around Ohio when I am closer to family. As I mentioned above, we have been married for 30 years and will celebrate our 31st anniversary in August while I am on our trip. We have been together for every anniversary except our first one (I was at boot camp) but we may not be together this year. It will be different but we will do alright.

My Daughter

This is my daughter (Krystal Hook). She has an amazing spirit and is a joy to be around. She thinks that what I am doing is a little crazy but she also supports me 100%. She keeps me grounded and looks to me for guidance as a father and role model. I take a lot of pride in calling her my daughter. Krystal has done an amazing job of promoting my trip with all her friends and contacts and has issued many challenges for people to donate to my cause. She is very passionate towards veterans and has seen first hand the effects of PTSD on those returning from war. She had a very big hole in her heart when our oldest son passed away and she believes that no one should ever have to go through the pain of PTSD without receiving specialized help. My tour is to raise awareness for the veterans that are suffering from the effects of PTSD and Krystal wants to do her part to also raise awareness. She is located just outside of San Antonio, Texas and has already begun to think of ways she can also raise awareness. She loves me and believes in me. I get energy from her passion and drive in life. She also video chats with me everyday and checks on me all the time. She is also an amazing writer and I will be getting ideas from her for my blog and videos.

My Son

This is my son (Matthew Hook). He is my youngest child and has a very passionate heart. He is very down to earth and looks at things from a different view point than I do at times. This has been a much needed asset for my team. Matthew is a natural born problem solver. This allows me to turn to him for advice when things don’t go as planned. He is not afraid to tell me what he thinks and what he thinks are the best solutions to solve a problem. He also has a passion for veterans that have PTSD and has already shared with some of his co-workers about my trip. He makes friends very easily and tries to lead others to a better life. Matthew keeps my heart in check and reminds me a lot of my oldest son that has passed away. I see how he is maturing and becoming the man that God wants him to be and it makes me very proud. Matthew doesn’t usually say much but when he does, it is very powerful and directly to the point. He is a great debater and he stands strong for what he believes. He is going to continue reaching out to those around him and those that are drawn to him because of his leadership style. He is one of the most important parts of my team.

My Granddaughter

This is my granddaughter (Nytalia). She is my pride and joy and I am her Popi. She makes my heart dance with joy and she keeps me feeling young. She is only 1 1/2 but she looks and acts so much older. She is starting to say more and more words and has finally been able to say “Popi”. I love her very much and even though I am going to miss her for a while, I know that she will be taken care of. She loves to video chat with me and does so everyday. I am very proud of how she is being raised and look forward to her learning and growing and discovering new things everyday. I look forward to the day I return and being able to give her a big hug and a kiss.

My Dog

This is my dog (Brutus). Brutus came into my life in August of 2016. He is a rescued dog from an animal shelter and has added so much joy and love to my life. He goes with me on many of my adventures and is always next to me in my house. He is my team mascot and will be missed by me while I am on my tour. He is going to miss me as well. Whenever I go outside just for a little while, he runs from the door to the window and back many times waiting for me to come back. My wife tells me that if I am gone for a while, he just lies next to the door like nothing else matters to him. I will be video chatting with him everyday as well and can’t wait until I am home to see him running and jumping around. He is truly one of the family.

If you look closely at the shirts that they are wearing, you can see that the name WILLIAM is down the middle and each of my team member’s names are on the shirts. I love these guys and am proud that they all support me and add to the team in their own ways.

I also have several others members that support me in all that I do. My mom (Deb Hook), my brother (Shannon Hook), my sister (Laci Hodges), all my other family members, and my friends (Keith Jackson and Dennis Roberts), the members of the American Legion Post 166 from Victoria, Texas, the members of the Christian Warriors Retreat Center, and the members of my church (Northside Baptist). I also want to mention all the family and friends that I have from across the United States. I couldn’t do this trip without all your prayers, financial support for my cause, and your love for me and my family. Thank you.

I Ride For Those Who Can No Longer Ride

Greg Hook, a 47-year-old Navy veteran, rides his trike bicycle across U.S. 77 during a training ride in Victoria. On April 4, Hook will leave from La Grange to traverse 12,000 miles by bike around the country in an effort to raise awareness for victims of PTSD as well as funds for Christian Warriors Retreat, a local organization. “I ride for those who can no longer ride,” Hook said. Madelynne Scales for The Victoria Advocate

He plans to traverse 12,000 miles around the border of America.
By trike bicycle.

Greg Hook, a 47-year-old Navy veteran, will ride 12,000 miles around the United States on his trike bicycle in effort to raise awareness of veterans suffering the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, a mental health problem that can develop after a person experiences a traumatic event such as combat.

“I ride for those who can no longer ride,” Hook said.

Hook had personal experience with PTSD after serving in the Navy for nine years, but it wasn’t until his son, William Hook, came back from Iraq in 2010 that he and his wife realized how strong the effects can be.
“There were several times that he didn’t recognize that I was his mom or that Greg was his dad in the moment of a flashback,” Cindy Hook said.

Cindy said William would wake from night terrors in search of his gun, thinking he was still in Iraq. She said she would have to physically hold him down until he relaxed. “There was a point when (William) would say how he can’t go on anymore,” Greg said.

On May 10, 2013, 26-year-old William was found dead in his home in Grove City, Ohio, after an accidental tramadol overdose, according to the Franklin County Coroner’s autopsy report. “That was a true test,” Cindy said. “This brought us to our breaking point.”

After William’s death, the couple moved to Victoria for a fresh start and to be closer to family, Greg said. But the burden of anger and guilt still weighed heavily on their shoulders. “I felt like I had failed him in life,” Greg said.

So in March 2017, the couple decided to seek help through the Christian Warriors Retreat, or CWR, a Victoria organization that offers Christian-based spiritual retreats to veterans and their families for free.
“It’s hard to get any kind of healing without first getting some sort of spiritual healing,” said Nicholas “Doc” Lowry, founder and spiritual director of the organization. Lowry, a former Marine corpsman and Iraq veteran, said the effectiveness of the retreats comes from being rooted in the Christian faith and incorporating a ministry of veterans for veterans. He said it’s like coming back to your home base, where you have people to relate to. “We understand where these individuals are coming from,” Lowry said. “We understand the nightmares; we understand the hypervigilance.” Retreats are scheduled twice a year for male veterans, once for female veterans and once for veterans’ wives at El Shaddai Ranch in Yorktown. Each retreat comprises roughly 8-20 people and includes activities such as personal testimony, small-group discussion and guest speakers.

Lowery said what Greg Hook plans to do is honorable, that raising awareness is important because in not sharing your story, you are putting someone who might be struggling at a disadvantage.
“What’s the importance of Christ if you and I just keep Him to ourselves?” Lowry asked. “It’s the same thing with Greg’s story or with Christian Warriors Retreat or any other organization out there that offers healing for these veterans.”

When asked what she thought was the first step in recovering from the loss of a child, Cindy said it was “realizing we were stuck.”
“(Christian Warriors Retreat) helped us see that,” Cindy said. “We were so stuck in where we were that we couldn’t move forward.”
And for Greg, it was this realization that gave him the push to move forward with his own mission: to cycle 12,000 miles around America in an effort to share his story and raise awareness and funds for CWR.
Greg will follow a route system developed by Adventure Cycling Association, a nonprofit organization focused on bicycle travel. Greg hopes to touch all four corners of the United States, starting April 4 and returning to Victoria in October.

Greg’s trip can be followed on his Facebook page. A GoFundMe account has been set up to receive donations for CWR, or people can donate directly to the organization, Greg said.

“Sometimes if you have that one sliver of hope or clarification, you can cling to that, and then it will grow,” Cindy said.

Greg Hook, a 47-year-old Navy veteran, reads a map for the California portion of his trip. Hook has a total of 30 maps outlining his itinerary in detail from Adventure Cycling Association, a nonprofit organization that encourages bicycle travel. Madelynne Scales for The Victoria Advocate

Greg Hook, 47, trains on an exercise bike at Gold’s Gym in Victoria. April 4, Hook will leave from La Grange to traverse 12,000 miles by trike bicycle across the country in an effort to raise awareness for victims of PTSD. Madelynne Scales for The Victoria Advocate

Greg Hook looks over Ball Airport Road in Victoria before starting a training bike ride. Greg said after he and his wife, Cindy, received healing from Christian Warriors Retreat, he hopes to share their story and raise awareness for other veterans suffering from PTSD. “Sometimes if you have that one sliver of hope or clarification, you can cling to that, and then it will grow,” Cindy Hook said. Madelynne Scales for The Victoria Advocate

Greg Hook wears a dog tag with his son William’s initials and a tent grommet given to him at the Christian Warriors Retreat event he attended in March 2017. The grommet is given to all retreat participants to symbolize the unity of all branches of military service. Madelynne Scales for The Victoria Advocate

Photos of the now-deceased William Hook hang on the wall inside Greg and Cindy’s home in Victoria. In the bottom photo, William is decorated as Superman because his favorite song was “Kryptonite” by 3 Doors Down. “The song asks ‘Will you still call me Superman?’ and he always asked us that when he was going through difficulties,” said Greg Hook. Madelynne Scales for The Victoria Advocate

Who Am I?

I just want to take time this week to explain to every one who I am and why I am doing this bike tour around the United States. Let me start by saying that I am just a normal man who is trying to do something truly amazing for my fellow veterans. I am a Christian man and a man of faith. I believe that God has called me to step out of my comfort zone and attempt to do something that I physically am not able to do on my own. He actually gave me this calling in 2011 and I did 7,500 miles that year but only at the gym. That was not enough and I again was given a calling to do this tour and raise awareness for veterans that are suffering from the effects of PTSD. I will obey Him and with His strength, I will be able to succeed.

I am a disabled United States Navy veteran. I served 9 years as a Navy corpsman and during that time, I injured my knee playing football at Camp LeJeune. I ended up having 3 knee surgeries during my time in the Navy but was eventually forced out on a medical discharge. Since my time in the Navy, I had my right knee total reconstruction surgery on June 30, 2016 and then I had my left knee total reconstruction surgery on August 31, 2017. I am recovering ahead of schedule and pray that both of my knees hold up during my tour. I have been training very hard to get ready and think that I am ready.

Why Am I Doing This Trip?

This is my son, William Hook. He served with the United States Army and did one tour in Iraq. When he came home, he suffered from PTSD and had a very difficult time adjusting back to life in the States. He had nightmares every night and had a difficult time having normal relationships with others. His marriage fell apart and then he turned to alcohol and other medications to ease his mind. He was eventually discharged from the Army. He moved to Ohio in an attempt to fix his broken marriage. He would have some good days but then, out of no where, his mind would be transported back to Iraq and he would become a different person. He was in and out of hospitals and treatment centers and was beginning to show signs of finally getting his life together. Unable to fix his marriage, he began life on his own. He had his own place and was seeking employment. However, something went wrong and he lost his battle with PTSD at the age of 26.

I tried to counsel William after he came back from Iraq but it became evident to me that he needed more help than I could give him. At that time, he did not receive much help from the Army and I started to see that more needed to be done for our young service men and women returning from combat. That is when it was first brought to my mind that I needed to begin raising awareness for PTSD. I wish that I would have listened a long time ago but I know that every thing is done in God’s timing. I now have the energy, the time, and the means to do this tour to raise awareness for those veterans that are suffering from the effects of PTSD. Some of the latest studies show that 22 service people commit suicide every day and more that half of all combat veteran marriages end in divorce. Many of these are due to the effects of PTSD. More needs to be done.

How Do I Plan On Doing This Trip?

Many of you already know that I will be riding my recumbent trike and pulling a loaded trailer behind me. My trike is a Tour II made by Terra Trike company. All my gear is in my trailer. I plan on staying with host families through an organization called Warm Showers. This is an organization that works closely with people that are doing bike tours across the United States. Many of these hosts are also tour cyclists. They offer up their homes for you to have a bed, take a shower, eat a hot meal, and to tell your stories. If no Warm Showers hosts are available for the night, my back-up plan is staying with members of the American Legion. As a member of the Legion myself, this is a very tight knit community of veterans that look out for other veterans. My third plan is to utilize campgrounds that offer tent camping. There are many of these campgrounds located throughout the United States and many offer discounted fees for bikers and/or veterans. My other plans for staying the nights if the first three fail are for me to stay at either churches or to stealth camp.

How Far Am I Going To Travel Each Day?

Most of my days are planned from any where between 40 miles up to 90 miles. My goal is to wake up everyday at 6:00 am and be packed up and ready to ride by 7:00. I plan on riding from 7 to noon everyday and then to take one complete hour off the trike for rest and lunch. I then plan to ride again from 1 to no later than 6pm. My goal is to average at least 10 mph. If I can manage my speed goals, I should be only on the trike until early afternoon everyday. That leaves me with plenty of time to sightsee and to rest each day. I plan to attend church services on Sunday and to up date my blog every Saturday. I plan on taking videos and uploading to YouTube as much as possible. This all depends on the access to WiFi.

How Long Is This Tour Going To Take?

If I can maintain my pace and schedule without any major difficulties or mechanical breakdowns, I plan on leaving on April 4th and begin done by October 14th. I have done a lot of research for my route and tried to balance my longer rides with some shorter rides. I also have looked at the terrain and mountain passes and have adjusted my route accordingly. I have some milestone dates in place and have tried to time my route to be at certain places on certain days. One of the highlight days is when I cross the Golden Gate Bridge, it will be on my dad’s death anniversary. I will be going over Emory Pass in New Mexico at the 1,000 mile mark of my trip. I will be in my birth state of Ohio at the middle of July. I will be in New York on my anniversary. I have many other special dates and locations planned on my tour.

What Am I Going To Eat On My Tour?

For breakfast everyday, I plan on eating quick meals like Pop Tarts, Power bars, Granola Bars, or Oatmeal. For lunches, I plan on using my Kelly Kettle to fix quick meal items like Idahoan Potatoes, Knorr Sides and Rice, Tuna packs, and other like items that don’t require much effort. For dinners, I plan to eat at hosts families and fix hot meals as needed.  I will eat plenty of snack items like Peanut Butter Crackers, nuts, fruit snacks, and any other handy food items that I can find. I plan on carrying 2 gallons of extra water with me at all times and will have my water bottles on my trike. I also have a cooler bag that I will be using to keep extra food items and drinks.

How Much Is This Tour Going To Cost?

My budget for this tour is $100 per week for food. That is $400 per month. I also have a budget of $100 per month for fun and entertainment. That gives me a total of $500 per month to be used on my tour. I can possibly do it on a much lower budget but that is what I am figuring for now.

Why Am I Riding 12,000 Miles?

The quick, smart answer is: because that’s how far it is from here to there. The better answer is because I believe that I need to do all four borders of the United States. I am following the Adventure Cycling Association routes and will be doing the Southern Tier, Pacific Coast, Northern Tier, and Atlantic Coast all in one tour. Many tourist do these routes, but usually only one section per tour. I believe that I need to do all the routes to raise the most awareness. Again, many veterans are suffering from the effects of PTSD and they all don’t come from one location or region. I want to raise awareness to all the US.

That is going to end my entry for this week. I will write more next week and if you have any additional questions, please ask me and I will include them in my next blog.

I Ride For Those Who Can No Longer Ride.