By Allison T. Williams

Correspondent

One of Adam Sandoval’s greatest regrets is having never served his country.

But in his own way, Sandoval, a 36-year-old former fight gym owner and promoter from Florida, and his sidekick, a 5-pound Chihuahua named Scooter, are serving the military now. With Scooter riding shotgun, Sandover is half-way through Scootin’ America, a two-year motorcycle ride across the continental United States to raise money for The American Legion’s Legacy Scholarship Fund.

Sandoval and Scooter spent Saturday at Tidewater Motorcycles, where more than 100 bikers turned out for a meet-and-greet cookout and donated $1,693.50. Since his tour started in November 2014, Sandoval has raised $132,000 for the Legacy Fund, which is used to pay for higher education for children whose parents were killed in the line of duty.

With Scooter in his backpack, Sandoval said this journey — which will take him 68,000 miles and through 48 states — is his way of giving back.

“Just because I didn’t serve in the military … doesn’t mean I can’t support those that did,” said Sandoval. As part of his Scootin’ America tour, Sandoval and Scooter are visiting 690 Harley Davidson dealerships around the country.  The tour is funded entirely by donations earmarked for Scootin’ America’s travel, he said. Although Sandoval and Scooter often stay with Harley dealership owners or veterans, they’ve also spent nights in churches or under the stars.

Tidewater Motorcycles is the only independent shop where Sandoval has made a stop, said owner Brian Mathis.

Several months ago, Mathis began following Sandoval’s journey through social media. After seeing that a transmission manufacturer donated a stronger transmission to Sandoval during the Sturgis Bike Week in Sturgis, S.D., Mathis offered to install it for free whenever Sandoval traveled to Virginia. It turned out that Sandoval needed that transmission earlier, after his bike broke down outside of Boston in September.

“But Brian has become a friend for life,” Sandoval said.

Mathis — a military veteran — said he and his wife, Pam, were struck by Sandoval’s message when they first saw his posts and videos.

“Everything he is doing really struck a chord with me,” said Mathis. “Our goal is for him to leave here today knowing that our motorcycle community is strong, charitable and generous.”

After seeing Tidewater Motorcycle’s Facebook post, biker Brian Marsh came down from Elizabeth City, N.C.

“What he is doing is awesome,” Marsh said. “But I still think the government should be taking better care of vets and their children.”

Duane Weber, a disabled veteran from Suffolk who served in the Coast Guard for six years, didn’t realize Sandoval and Scooter were going to be at the bike shop on Saturday.  He stopped by after his morning ride around western Tidewater and decided to stick around.

“He is doing good stuff,” Weber said, eating grilled chicken and slaw and enjoying the sunny, cool fall weather.