Aloha Guys,

I wish that circumstances were not quite so congested so that I could be with you on the start of this wonderful journey. I had these made bandanas and kerchiefs made for us to have something of a “uniform” to mark our troupe on these travels. Tina chose red and black because they are the colors traditionally associated with this island and the volcanic rumblings of the goddess Pele. When the seamstress ran out of matrerial I chose the purple and blue- because they’re pretty! I just thought you hard core biker types needed bandanas to keep the wind burn to a minimum.

The actual reason for this note is to tell you guys some of what this journey has already come to mean for me – even though I’ve been far away while you’ve been planning. Ito have been included in the Starcher family is one of the greatest gifts I could have imagined for my life. This is not news to you – my gratitude at being a part of this family is a matter of public record. Once more you have come to amaze me with the depth of family expressed in your lives. To connect with Dad and his history, then travel across this great counter we all love so much, then go back to connect with Mom’s family and her story… all this shows how tangibly important family is to this generation on Starcher men.

I will be logging on to the website each until I meet up with you in San Francisco. Joining you for the last leg…. following the journey back to Bellingham and the arms of our respective families… this will be one more gift you haveafforded me. For 37 years we have been comanions on this journey called “life”. I look forward to when I can join you for this next leg of our travels together.

All my love and prayers

Your Brother,

Bud