Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Bob and Rusty stand with the leaf blowers they used to dry their gear after a wet morning in Kimball's City Park. They were joined by Kimball law enforcement, from left, KCSO Chief Deputy Marla Knigge, Chief of KPD Andy Bremer, Bob, Sheriff Harry Gillway and Rusty.
Bob Quick isn't afraid to live, in 14 years he was been dead twice, once for 3.5 minutes and once for 22 minutes.
Bob has had 27 heart procedures, 19 stents and now has an ICD in his chest that doctors use to track him. He is a heart disease survivor who has also survived a stroke.
"Everything says I should not be here. They told me I would never get on a bike again, but look, I'm on it," Bob said. "If it wasn't for guys just like your sheriff, your police chief, your paramedics and fire department, I wouldn't be here. I would have never got to hold my grandson."
Bob has found a way to show his appreciation of the first responders and emergency personnel across the nation that save lives, like his, every day – he is riding his bike cross country, thanking the men and women in fire departments, law enforcement personnel and emergency responders along the way.
As he treks, he spreads his message.
"When you see your local Sheriff, Police and Fire Department, say thank you and pay it forward," he said.
His first journey began in May of 2013 with his son, Conrad, from San Diego to Florida. He rode again in 2016 from Cannon Beach Oregon to Montauk Lighthouse Museum in New York, making this his third trip.
This most recent trek began in Ogden, Utah and will end in Lexington, Ky.
Bob and his riding partner, blogger and photographer, Rusty Healey, rode into town on Wednesday, Sept. 24 just in time to catch the Kimball Volunteer Fire Department hosing down the freshman and coating them with eggs and flour for initiation night. They were able to capture the fun on video, which they posted to Facebook.
"This is how you do it in small town, USA," he said. "Chief (Rick Wynne), I think you have the best video on our page."
After witnessing the fun and shenanigans, Bob and Rusty headed to City Park to camp for the night and, at 2 a.m., they got to experience the hosed-down feeling for themselves as the automatic sprinklers came on and began soaking them and their belongings.
Later that morning Kimball Police Chief Andy Bremer joined Kimball County Sheriff Harry Gillway and Chief Deputy Marla Knigge at City Park to talk with Bob.
They took a moment to sign his bike, as all emergency personnel are asked to do and gifted him with Kimball Police Department and Kimball County Sheriff's Office patches.
He enjoyed his experience in Kimball and left, headed east, on his trusty bike with a heart full of gratitude and a lot of stories to share.
Bob has sponsors, including Murphy Door, Scott USA, Bob Gear, DeFeet, Hyperthreads, Skyline Cycle, Brake Time Bobs and Lizard Skins, who assist him along the way.
Follow Bob and Rusty's journey on Facebook or on his blog, Bob Quick's Journey.