Hello Friends of the Marsh Family Foundation,

     This is Ellen Bonner, Mic’s wife.  Mick had a very difficult time getting cell range,  forget about internet for the last week.  Hence the lack of daily blogs and pictures.  I have been fortunate enough to fly out and join my husband for a short portion of his trip where he will be relatively stationary attending and volunteering at the Bub Bonneville Land Speed Trials at the Salt Flats.   I got here Friday and before I knew it, I was completely immersed in the Salt Flat Family experience.  Mick has spent much of my visiting time relaying story after story of this last week.  He can not wait to share.  In the meantime, between work at the Salt Flats and lack of a personal computer, it is impossible to update regularly.  Dave Swift, from California,  was so trusting and generous, he has let me steal his laptop for an hour to bring to our humble room to give a quick update.

     West Wendover-Salt Flat Country-This is like taking a space shuttle to a different planet.  The topography, weather, and people so foreign to me I am enveloped by this experience of a lifetime.   The people, oh the people…  From all walks of life, Australia, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and of course most of the United States represented you name it they have come from it.  All with one common denominator, a pure passion for motorcycles and ingenuity.  With much arm twisting (four kids in school, three of which in college, and sixty hour work week) I was coerced to change my Monday am flight to Friday. My Salt Family would not take “No” as an answer.  I pray my office manager does not quit with the extra work load and my children don’t use the “You abandoned us for a whole week” guilt trip to get all their future desires met.

   I must say this has been such an opportunity for me.  I always get the whole motorcyle thing as it is my husband’s love, but until now, I never really got it.  In just the couple days I have been here  I have sobbed with a beautiful mom who had lost her son last year to an accident to the deepest laughter my insides could produce.    The people who share Michael’s (Mic)passion are from all walks of life.  Doctors, farmers, software people, teachers, contractors, CEO’s, moms, dads, 85 year olds, 14 year olds, millionaires to mechanics (some fo the mechanics are millionaires themselves) these people let it all show in what they consider the safest place on earth, those that share their passion here on the Flats.  We presently have standing offers to visit half the states in Amercia.  As Mick had said to me the other night.  “This is where all your insecurities are left behind and you can be raw, sincere, and open.”  Exactly! (people who understand….priceless)

     Well, we are pretty disappointed that we are still unable to find a spot to upload the pictures. The WiFi isn’t letting us do “unauthorized” things such as that and the closest Walmart or such store is a good 100 miles away.  I will be home by Saturday 2am and by Saturday night I should be able to post the pictures from the storage card Mick will give to me before boarding my plane. 

   This is a beautiful thing, seeing my husband in his element.  No one here is a background guy or perhaps I should say many are, just not here.  By the way, we have befriended many of the Speed Record Holders such as the fastest woman in Australia, Kimmie.  She ran 220+ mph. on a Turbocharged, alchohol burning gsxr750 (ask Mick).  Her friend,  Greg is also a World Record Holder and set the fastest run for the day yesterday at 205mph+.  You would never know it though.   Like most of the people out here Greg is a shy fellow sharing all his secrets to help his competition get better numbers.  That’s how it is here.  If someone just broke a record and is done racing they will give a part right off their very expensive modified bike to another racer (known or unknown to them) if he or she needs it.  It’s about testing your skills, your mechanic modifications, and your spirit.  The team from France has spent thousands of hours on their bike and are within 8 mph of the record.  Greg, referenced above, was sharing with them tips for a good half hour last night as we watched in awe.  Greg is an Australian crop farmer.  A regular Charles Ingalls.

  Mick could write a book on this week alone.  The characters are the big draw.

   The Libraian Nazi is peeking above her reading glasses and glancing back at the clock so I will wrap things up.  God Bless and God speed here on the Flats.