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Brian Roberts' Ride Report First a little background: 1. While I love riding my VFR I planned on riding a Valkyrie with a nine gallon gas tank but that bike took a rock in the engine and was hemorraging oil one week before the event. So I pulled out the beloved VFR and did a full inspection on it, changed tires, put on a new chain, removed my great sounding Staintune pipe and installed the GPS and V1 just to make the bike useable for a rally. No aux fuel but I will have to live with it. 2. I finally started to lose some weight about 6 weeks before the rally and wanted to keep that momentum going even under adverse rally conditions. That meant eating properly (which I felt would benefit me anyway) which would take more time. You may wonder why I note food intake - hey, it's a weight watcher thing... 3. I had a predetermined strategy that I would work fairly hard on leg one with the intent not to lose the rally on that leg. I felt that with the checkpoints and the times that the rally would be won on legs three and four but could only be lost on legs one and two by overreaching and wearing yourself out. Getting to the rally from San Francisco area would be good practice for leg four and I used it as such. I covered the ground from Bakersfield to Navrasota with ease, staying in a hotel each night, completing my first 1,000 mile day on the VFR...and eating properly! I'll tell you, losing some weight and eating right I had no problems with the heat and it was becoming worth all the effort. Leg 1 Day 1 (Mon) - We received our additional rally sheets but I quickly decided to stay with my previous plan of getting the Hell out of Texas and going for Northern bonuses. I did decide to be more aggressive because of the big points available from some of the other route sheets, and loop through Kansas picking up Wilders house before heading to Iowa. I stayed overnight in Leon Iowa (food intake: subway sandwich, Sliced Chicken, potato chips and fruit) Day 2 (Tue) - I planned a loop to the church in Monterey then north to Iowa City and west to Des Moines for a $10.00 bottle of BBQ sauce before stopping for a late lunch in Mankato (Chilito and Chicken Burrito)and cruising in to the check point easily without getting caught in afternoon traffic. It was not real aggressive but it should keep me in the middle of the pack with little risk of blowing it. There is something about pulling up to a deserted little country road at 6:30 in the morning with two other bikes bearing down from the other direction to reaffirm that WE ARE ALL NUTS! Jason Jonas and Grady Durham come sailing in to follow me to the Monterey Church until we determined that I took a wrong turn. Grady does a quick donut with the nimble R1 and Jason and I being senior and more "worldly" cautiously turn around in a large intersection like the old man I now feel I've become. We get our bonus and head in different directions...literally...Grady to first place and me to 53rd. Oh yes, 53rd place thanks to putting my odometer readings and times on the line above the questions instead of the line below the questions. I was really pissed when this happened and mentally I just checked out for the second leg - why work so hard on the bike if it would all be nullified at the scorers table, was this an endurance rally or an adult SAT test? Leg 2 Day 2 - Perusing the Route sheet I knew that there was not much time in leg two to do anything but just get there. Still I saw that coffee mug and figured I at least needed to get that and tried to summon some excitement to go for the four state capitals and a couple of pics along the way. Back to Minneapolis and get the mug and head back into St. Paul to get a state capital in case I decide to persue this. Heading back towards Dickenson North Dakota I knew that I would need to ride through the night to get the state capitals, Baker and Butte pics. Around Fargo I decided to get a room for the rest of the night and forego the four capitals and probably the Butte pics since I probably would not make it there in daylight. Simply put, I was depressed about the scoring, planned on calling it quits and staying home once we got to California and was just in an all around shitty mood. (food intake: subway turkey sandwich and Chilito with Chicken Burrito - hey it was a bonus!) Day 3 (Wed) - I leave the hotel in Fargo at a leisurely 7:00 or so in no big hurry (still pissy) and headed out across North Dakota. I got to Baker, MT and something happened. First a lady I asked directions from simply led me right to the bonus location (nice folks). Then the ladies manning the museum where "Steer Montana" rests were so excited and wanted to talk to me about what all these motorcycle riders were doing. Hell, I had nothing to lose being nice and taking pics with them for a half hour or so while telling them about the rally. These two elderly matrons put me in a decidedly better mood and I decided to just make the best of it, quit my whining and enjoy the damn ride because I would run into more nice people just like these along the way. Next thing I knew I was on Hwy 12 in Montana moving at the rather spirited pace the VFR allows and I remembered why this shit is fun - even better I realized that I could still make Butte if I hustled. Something to shoot for and a goal for the day which I am glad to say I made with time to spare. I ended the day in Missoula at the same hotel that was such an outpost of hospitality in my darkest moments on the 49 state ride when I thought I could not carry on any farther. Once again it was a breath of fresh air and a good nights rest for a new beginning on the third leg. (Food intake - Subway Veggie Sandwich, Sliced Turkey, Cantalope and Grapes)
Leg 3 Day 4 (Thur) - The checkpoint at Post Falls brought some surprises. Seems like many of the riders I saw heading away from the checkpoint looking for bonuses ended up being time barred. I did not have ANY points disallowed and with my simple ride I moved from 53 up to 31st and was going into what I planned and knew would be my strongest leg. I was motivated and knew that I would ride with all I had the next few days. Looking at the bike I determined that the rear tire may not last the next leg if I got that aggressive so I whipped it off the bike and obtained a new shoe right there. I received the extensive bonuses for leg 3 and split them into two - separated by the Sierra mountains knowing full well you needed to chose one or the other. I knew almost every bonus location very well and the roads in and out and immediately zeroed in on a sweep of the mid Cal coast starting with Wizards cafe (which I knew to be the Corbin factory). I also knew how slow Hwy 101 would be and not to get bogged down on that north of Monterrey getting there. I decided to get the Crater Lake and a couple of smaller bonuses on the way south (driving straight down Hwy 97 and I-5) and ride through the night (Now I'm motivated). Long story short - I make a wrong turn in Washington (after trying to keep up with the van!) and in correcting my course happen onto the Stonehenge bonus I had not planned on - boy I love free points! I picked up another rider on an LT going down Hwy 97 late at night. He was looking a bit worn so I did not let him get out of sight and was worried about the abundance of deer at the roadside. After passing through a couple of samll towns he stopped and said he needed a hotel and I moved on down Hwy 97. I bagged a gas receipt in Bend then carried onto Crater lake where at about 1:00 or so ran into Paul Pelland. I found the store in Olema, OR and could not find a level space for my bike. Finally I parked it and it immediately fell over. I was so tired I had to take the bags off to right it, but finally got it up and saw minimal damage. I checked the phone for a number and decided there was none. Day 5 (Fri) - Finally in Weed, CA I got tired and sacked out for an hour in a gas station parking lot. That was all I needed to get to Wizards - taking the back route in via Hwy 152. Then Monterrey and a sweep down Hwy 1 to Morrow bay picking up the Big Sur post office. I had a ball on Hwy 1 with the VFR and had plenty of time to get the James Dean memorial on the way back to the Valley. At this time I knew I had about 7,500 points or so on this leg and thought about doing the Mexico border overnight. It would be a piece of cake at night and once again - I knew the roads (12 years in So Cal). I knew that would make me a contender but also I would be physically spent with just a few hours of sleep in two days. I decided to get to my favorite Bakersfield (believe it or not we have an annual Valkyrie rally in Bakersfield) hotel and get a very good nights rest for the final assault. I get to the hotel and there are a bunch of my Valky friends having an informal meeting for dinner. I politely decline dinner invitations and get some well needed rest. Day 6 (Sat) - Checkpoint scoring goes well and I get all the points that I think I've earned except for the phone in Olema where other riders reported a number - faintly (too bad I dropped my bike for that damn thing). Some of the riders look well worn by now and I am fresh after a great leg 3 and long nite's rest. I have moved from 31st up to 15th and am feeling very good. I now really have something to shoot for - a top 10 finish. I get the bonus listing and make a fatal error. My watch is displaying the wrong DAY and I forgot to correct it. In my mind I think it is friday and the bonus list has several timed bonuses for Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I think I have a day longer than I really do to get to these places. It appears (to my thinking it is currently Friday) that the rally masters are trying to keep us in the west a day longer to make us dash for the final checkpoint after getting big points in Phoenix. I decide to immediately take my sleep bonus as I ponder what to do and carefully assess the situation. I looked at the Mexico route and was really intrigued. I thought the points were there to get me into the top 10 (I thought 7,000 points could do it) and it would fill another criteria I have for being fun and adventuresome. I was worried about the quality of the roads and was a bit worried about protocol (and the time it would cost) in making the crossings but my big worry was gas at night time. I felt to make that run worth it I would have to travel at night and my lack of auxilliary fuel really was limiting my routes in the wee morning hours. This is all not to mention communicating with a constable when I am found sleeping god knows where - at least in America I don't think that will get me thrown into jail or my bike impounded. So I lay out a nice plan that has me getting all kinds of bonuses on my way to Kansas for the big 4,000 point bonus. I could not understand that big bonus since I figured everybody would be there because two and one half days to Kansas would be easy. So, three hours later off I go sauntering up to Baker, CA where I pull off to reassess myself as I know I'm passing a bonus from the other routes. Suddenly it hits me what I've done. I immediately check and know I will probably not be able to make Kansas as planned - my whole three hours is shot to hell! I quickly look at the other bonus list and realize I've missed the only other big bonus I can get - Phoenix, because of my three hour rest period. I'm absolutely sunk but know I can salvage points by working the I-10 route hard. Just start from this point and plot out the best bonuses I can get from the route traversing I-10. I pick up Baker, CA, Kelso, CA and Lake Havasu, AZ which was fortunate. There is something about young women running around in 105 degree heat in thong bikini's that really...well...LIFTED my spirits - hell, I almost just stayed there for a few days - but then again, the Live Oak beckons. About the time I get gas in Chandler, AZ (South Phoenix) I notice my gas receipt is still pacific time. I ask the attendant if that is correct and then look again at the Arizona bonus - WooHoo - I can make it since the bonus is open to Midnight and not closed at 10:00 like I thought. That really got me going and after leaving Phoenix I decided to even get the Tombstone bonus. (Food Intake: Oatmeal, one egg and toast, Fruit, Three bags of baby carrots, banana) Day 7 (Sun) - Finally in Benson, AZ I run out of gas (me, not the Viffer) and take a 1 hour siesta face down at a table in an all night convenience store. That nap was ugly but it got me going to Tombstone where I actually had a "little Chat" with the MARSHAL (no doubt a direct decendent of Marshal Wyatt Earp). He was curious why he rousted another cyclist taking a pic of the city limits sign and why I was there at such an ungodly hour getting gas. I told him about the rally and he gave me an official Tombstone Marshall miniature badge (I guess for being so helpful?) and told me where to drive to see the town. Onto the Gila Cliff Dwellings where I was met with an 88 mile one way passage down a very twisty road. No problem for the Viffer but I had difficulty with the pic. I hiked up to a dwelling and had no film in the camera. Went back down and got film and after taking an acceptable picture I turned around and cracked my forehead on the damn wall of the cave. Holy Moses - I never take my helmet off but I did for all the hiking back and forth at this location...sheez. By this time I was getting a better feeling on my time left and as I planned on going to Corpus Christi to see Bob Hall I knew that would be difficult now with all the energy expended on the Cliff Dwellings. I needed a nap and took an hour at a rest station. I decided to augment my points with Stonehenge, Luckenback, LLano and my secret weapon - a gas receipt from Odessa TX. These would net more points that Corpus Christi and provide me with a run over 7,500 points which I figured to be pretty darned respectable as I put it together on the fly. Now, I say Odessa was a secret weapon because nobody in the right mind, having ever been there before, would go there on purpose again - especially for a measely 400 points. So by my calculations, I was the only one dumb enough to go 150 miles out of their way for this priviledge. I got there and safely escaped with the receipt and took the cut off back to Hwy 10 pulling in to grab four hours of so of sleep in Ozona, TX. I needed rest as two days with only two 1 hour naps was now starting to show. (Food intake - A KIT KAT BAR, Subway Chicken Sub, Salad). Day 8 (Mon) - I'm off to Stonehenge and on the way there I pass Junction, TX and do not get gas. I know that Stonehenge is about 50 miles out in the middle of nowhere but ther must be gas some where closer. No gas....Once again my limitation causes me to go another 20 miles to fill up in Kerrville and return to seek Stonehenge. I pass Heidi and company as I am having a little fun on the nice country road leading to Stonehenge. I'm also now pressed for time as I wanted to be there at daybreak which was an hour ago. I get my pic and head for Fredericksburg and Luckenback. I saw the sign to Luckenback on my way down to Navrasota and figure I can find it easily. Not so...after searching for about 20 minutes for the road to Lickenback I abandon that search and head for LLano which is a much larger bonus and the last thing I want to get before heading back. I briskly run the 38 miles up to LLano and am there at almost 11:00. I was only going to get a receipt and leave the food but that 1/2 chicken looked real good. I sat down and just made a mess of the meal - this was like a dog and you did not want to get your limbs close. I don't even think I took my helmet off (lesson learned at Cliff dwellings) and was certainly not paying attention to anything but my task when a faint voice said (over my earplugs) - "are you in the Butt Lite?" I looked up to see a group of BMW riders out for a weekend ride. We exchanged pleasantries and I'm sure they have a complete new appreciation of LD riders now after witnessing what I did with that poor chicken! Hell, that chicken never had a chance - me with my helmet on and all. (Food Intake: 1/2 chicken demolished and everything at the banquet along with a Big Mac later) I got on my "horse" and headed for the barn stopping only to pick up the required beer. I checked in and was completely satisfied that I "left it all out on the course". When all was totaled my last leg was about 7,600 points and I was satisfied with that. It moved my up two places where I finished 13th which goes to show how determined all these riders were. I was proud of several things: 1. I finished. 2. I rode a good rally. 3. I placed well in a very tough and determined field. 4 I had fun with a fine bunch of riders and met some good people. 5. I had a crappy attitude which I'm glad I recovered from. 6. I was in much better condition and rode better than I did in May during the 49 state ride. 7. I managed to ride 2,300 miles home afterwards (Funny...it was only 1,900 there). 8. That VFR is a fun bike to ride - maybe that is why it was 400 miles more going home. 9. I lost 5 more pounds during the week - Now you know why food intake was sooo important.
A couple of things I learned: 1. I was not singled out for points punishment - next time I'll have a different attitude about denied points. 2. I'm going to learn some spanish... 3. It's not the bike, it's the rider - Todd, Grady, Paul all great rides but everytime I looked there was Bob Lyskowski on that Harley and Rick Miller on his Concours/Harley. Congratulations to all the finishers but particularly to the top 10 and Todd who really turned in an impressive ride. Road Queen, FJR, Cub Cadet - does not matter what he was riding it was a great effort. I'll watch for him and Grady in the IBR. Brian Roberts Rid'n the Naked VFR - In honor of our hosts. |
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