Our wonderful GRRMF volunteer Frank Carter started his Bike Across America challenge in memory of his best friend, his golden Murphy who sadly went to the bridge this summer. Frank mapped out his next adventure to ride his bike from San Diego, CA to New Smyrna Beach, FL.
To quote Frank…”As a marker for all of the good and joy that he brought to so many, I will be raising money in support of the Golden Retriever Rescue of Mid-Florida (GRRMF). This will continue Murphy’s legacy of “bringing happiness to both ends of the leash”.
You may remember we followed Frank in 2019 when he hiked over 2000 miles of the Appalachian Trail end to end (and then some)! He raised $5000 for GRRMF and presented his “check” at our annual reunion in St. Cloud on March 7, 2020, right before all our events shut down due to COVID.
Leaving from a beautiful beach in San Diego on November 20, 2020, Frank was met by the Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue volunteers and their dogs for a splashing send off! Watch the video of this great golden gathering! Thank you SCGRR!
Frank was met in Austin, Texas on Sunday, December 13, 2020 by volunteers and their goldens from the Gold Ribbon Rescue in Austin. We are so thankful for the volunteers and dogs who met Frank. 
The special joy that goldens and people who love them bring uplifted his spirits at the mid way point of his cold and rugged trip. This gathering was truly a highlight of his week!
Watching Frank’s Facebook page and website blog, he highlighted his adventures through many cold days, sharing photos of the grandeur and splendor of this fabulous country that we are blessed to live in, his interactions with “trail angels” both goldens he met along the way as well as special human encounters forever in his memory. Through it all he says he will truly miss the daily hobo life.
Many of his family members and his GRRMF family met him on Saturday, January 2, 2021 at New Smyrna Beach to welcome him home. 
Frank rode his bike across the beach to the Atlantic to dip his tires in the cold water (as he did when he left the Pacific Ocean) symbolizing the end of his coast to coast journey. The GRRMF volunteers and their goldens are so thankful that Frank returned home safely. With humans masked and socially distanced, the goldens made up
for the separation with loving leans, eager recipients of Frank’s attention and hugs and bestowed kisses of gratitude on behalf of everyone in GRRMF. Check out our video capturing this special event.
Welcome home Frank and thank you!
