I headed north to Leucadia, California in The Kindness Bus to meet with Hero Michael Fox’s dad, Tweed. Ever since reading his quote that “something good will come of this,” I’ve wanted to hear what thoughts he has. What great ideas he has planned to help Marines in need. I will write about what he has planned, in the near future. He is focusing on long term help on an individual basis. A website and Facebook has been put in place and I will write about that as well.
Today’s ride was once again, in perfect conditions. Being through this town a little over a week ago, I talked with some of the same friendly people.
Ryan and Megan, a young couple I talked with were very interested and are spreading word to family back in Philadelphia that The Kindness Bus will be through their town in late spring.
That’s what I love, a message of Kindness and Heroes from coast to coast

Bogart and I started this very productive day at Nate’s Point Dog Park at Balboa Park in San Diego. Getting some much needed off-leash time for Bogart. One of the many interested individuals while at, and bicycling to and from the park was Sarah from UC San Diego. Sarah was more than happy to volunteer posting The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes flyers throughout various departments in her school. What a great way to get the word out about The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes, even after we have left the region.
I talked with Amanda Rogers, who I met last week. Amanda is part of the Health and Wellness program, called the Balboa Warrior Athlete Program, at the Bob Wilson Naval Hospital, which helps to place Wounded Warriors in a sport or activity program, thereby helping to get healthy exercise for the body and the mind.
Wounded Warrior Hero, Michael Fox and I spent an hour together before I headed north to Oceanside. He is making tremendous progress in his injuries sustained in Afghanistan this past November. All of these heroes, including Michael, could use financial and moral support for years to come. Any fundraiser or benefit you can have in their honor is always a help. Visiting and getting involved in helping with the many programs that improve the lives of these Heroes is a necessity.

“We were just talking about what you just said to us,” Firefighters Brian and Eugene said to me when I told them that The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes is about creating an awareness about who the real positive influences should be in all of our lives. I visited Firehouse #20 this afternoon and found a Firehouse full of positive influences. Eugene, who is the Firefighter on the right, in today’s photo, is a Wounded Warrior. He has recovered from his wounds from an RPG in Iraq. He now is a Hero working as a Firefighter. Captain Cory and some of the other men from this house came out to meet me just before leaving, to give praise for The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes.
I start to head back north towards Los Angeles and surrounding areas tomorrow, before heading slowly to the east next week. It will be great to see some familiar faces from my travels south through this same area. Bogart is even going to get a break as he will be staying in spa-like surroundings while in Santa Monica for a week. Lucky dog!
A big One Million Acts Of Kindness thanks to Jeff and Phil of Phil’s B•B•Q for making all the arrangements for my stay in San Diego and for the generosity in helping The Kindness Bus roll safely down the road. Phil’s B•B•Q is the best BBQ west of the Mississippi…and east of the Mississippi as well. If you aren’t in San Diego order their award winning sauce from their website at www.philsbbq.net
One week from today marks the beginning of One Million Acts Of Kindness Week. Please take the time to sign-up for this important week on the homepage of this website.

I met the biggest Hero of my life today. It was an incredible honor! His name is Michael Fox. I met Michael’s dad, Tweed, a few days ago, while on one of my coffee breaks from The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes. Tweed asked me if I could talk to his son. Before he finished his sentence, my mind went to the thought that his son might be having a hard time in school or that his son might have a problem with drug use. That was not at all what Tweed wanted me to talk to his son about.
Wherever I am during the course of the day, I make myself very visible. The Kindness Bus is an advanced guerrilla marketing tool. The Kindness Bicycle extols the values for the issues it represents. I wear a highly self explanatory jersey. And when I am at a coffee shop or restaurant, I pick a table that everyone has to walk by and I strategically place my literature in full view to try and start conversation with as many people as possible. Tweed chimed in first as he was in line near my table. “I’m wondering if you can talk with my son Michael. He is Marine Corporal and he is at Balboa Naval Hospital.” In a nanosecond I had an answer for him. Tweed gave me Michael’s cell phone number and we talked soon after.
Michael is a Hero. He is more patriotic in his mid twenties, than most people are in their entire lives. Michael chose to become a Marine to protect our freedoms. Freedom to live the life we live right down to being able to ordering a triple venti skinny mocha with no whipped and be able to complain about it when it isn’t just perfect.
Michael and I met a couple of days ago. It has been nearly 12 weeks since Michael stepped on an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Afghanistan. Michael lost both legs just below the knees to that IED. Many surgeries later and now learning to walk again with two prosthetic legs, Michael is amazingly upbeat. He is even talking about going to Florida to fly fish in the very near future.
Michael and I talked for an hour about family, honor, role models and both of our plans for the future, both short term and long. Tweed was quoted in a recent newspaper article that Michael will make something good come of this. Reading that quote, one could tell of the high standards Michael was brought up with. We shared many smiles about life and many other stories. Michael even bragged that he is gonna have a Bluetooth knee. I went to Balboa to thank Michael and he ended up thanking me. We are getting together in a few more days on my way north through San Diego. Thank you Michael for being of the highest moral character and being a Hero to all of us.
Complaining about that triple venti skinny mocha with no whipped being not quite perfect seems pretty flippin’ trivial about right now.

“I could get up every morning for the rest of my life, to a view like that,” Nuvane said from his 2nd floor window, about his birds eye view of The Kindness Bus. Starting my day, hearing words like those, I knew it was going to be a very special day.
I rode all throughout the streets of downtown San Diego today, the response is incredible everywhere The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes goes.
Today was all about enjoying the perfect weather during my ride. The conversations and words of praise were so encouraging. One outdoor group on a patio, as I was passing them by for the 2nd time, gave The Kindness Bicycle a standing O. I am still blown away. One thing is for sure, this country wants the message of who the real heroes are, to be a message that all of us embrace.
Yesterday’s travels took me through some of these same streets as today and to meetings with Firefighters from Firehouse #4 and soon to be retiring Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Carle at his administrative offices. The feeling was unanimous, The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes is very much appreciated.
Thank you to Larry, the owner of Lions Coffee, for his generosity and a late afternoon caffeine boost.
One Million Acts Of Kindness Week is in nine days, please let everyone in your life know about this important week.

You can’t come to San Diego and not go to Coronado. A ten minute ride by ferry from San Diego gets you to this Island where it is a great way to spend a day.
I came to honor Heroes and thank them for their work. I paid a visit to the Police Department but found that all were out on patrol with all of the tourists in town for the day. My visit to the Coronado Fire Department netted much better results. Jon without an H, Mark with a K and Brian, who Jon and Mark joked, is so old he used to teach some ancient scholars. These guys were a so much fun to talk with and they included me in their camaraderie as we kidded each other about how well they get along.
This island serves as home to the Navy as the northern half is the North Island Naval Complex. Many Navy personnel spotted the Wounded Warrior signs on The Kindness Bicycle. Much interest in my trip ensued. I met the wife of a Navy EOD expert, she has particular respect for all of the brave forces in the field.
Ten days and counting until One Million Acts Of Kindness Week. Please take the time to plan to take part in this week.

I started the day at the Encinitas Elks Lodge 2243, the Best People On Earth let me overnight in The Kindness Bus, making for a very restful night in a quiet neighborhood. I set out for an early morning ride in Del Mar, California.
Getting great interest from the moment I put The Kindness Bicycle on the ground in Del Mar and at the urging of a couple of local residents, I called the local newspaper, The Del Mar Times. Claire, the editor of the paper came out to interview me and take some photos for the upcoming edition. I gave her enough information to fill an entire section if she wishes. What a very professional interview, with very good questions to help me tell my story.
I met Danny from the Army 82nd Airborne, who has been home from Iraq for a few weeks. He had many kind comments about The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes.
Captain Patrick O’Neil from the Del Mar Fire Department met with me as well. He has many nieces and nephews and loves the idea of kids learning about the real role models in today’s society. He was very excited about The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes.
With the level of interest the residents of this town had for The Kindness Bus Tour, I am making a point to stop in this town as I head north early next week.
This afternoon, I visited Marine Corporal Michael Fox. I will write about this Hero tomorrow.