Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84Winter 2014 | IRON BUTT MAGAZINE  because of their interest in motorcy- cling, experience, and outgoing person- alities.”While these attributes are indeed important, Ron says they are toward the bottom of the list of qualifications needed to be a professional tour leader. At the top of his list are maturity and judgment, character and integrity, and interpersonal and organizational skills. Ayres Adventures now has  perma- nent full time tour leaders and guides. They also have some very good competi- tors who keep them on their toes from the standpoint of sales, marketing, and new tour development. The result of the hard work has earned Ayres Adventures a reputation as the world’s leader in pre- mium-level motorcycle travel. TRANSITION Ron has always taken an active role with Ayres Adventures. Recently, he and his Latvian-based tour leader, Janis Cimins, helped lead their inaugural “Russia, Beyond the Golden Ring Tour.” Before the Golden Ring Tour, Ron per- sonally organized and led some other interesting international events in con- junction with the Iron Butt Association. Longer distances with the opportunity to ride a SaddleSore  in a unique loca- tion distinguished these tours from his other offerings. One of these was held in South Africa, another in South America, and a third across Norway and Finland. With Ayres Adventures well grounded, Ron was planning to retire from running day-to-day operations, but he first wanted to survey a new tour, Moscow to Hong Kong — a challeng- ing -day ride through some of the most remote and breathtaking scenery in Asia. Ron also intended to lead the actual adventure in , which would be his last as tour leader before turn- ing management responsibility of Ayres Adventures over to Managing Director John Jesson. However, Ron soon discov- ered that planning this epic journey was not the biggest challenge he was about to face. At the end of the first scouting trip in Russia last June, Ron returned to the USA thinking that he might have a hernia. He was right about the hernia — but also learned he had stage four cancer in his liver and abdomen. Since the cancer is inoperable, Ron is now undergoing chemotherapy. Obviously, being diagnosed with cancer has made it impossible for him to ride the scouting trip from Moscow to Hong Kong.As for riding the actual trip next year,it remains to be seen if he’ll have the strength. “Although the future is a bit uncertain now, I’ve had a more interesting and rewarding life than anyone I know, so I won’t start whining now.” Ron is approaching his treatment just like every challege he’s faced — with determination and confidence. Given his track record, we have no doubt he will be just as successful at overcoming this medical challenge as he has been in life.