Bob Johnson's Ride Report
This was going to be an experience! I have been looking forward to for a couple of years, I have been following the Team Strange events since I got online in March of 2000. In '99 I rode a 24 event put on by GLMC (Glacial Lakes Motorcycle club) in Watertown SD. That is when I Began to know Shannon (Lunatic),we were acquaintances before that day. I rode my 81 Honda 900C 1003 miles in 24 hours and picked up a bunch of bonus points. Lun kept mentioning Team Strange would not accept this receipt, or that would be tossed in a Team Strange event. Who were these STRANGE GUYS??? I had to know! Shannon gave me the papers I needed to submit my ride to the IRON BUTT ASSOC. people for a Saddle Sore , but I never did do it. I was worried that with only 1003 on my odo, they might check and find I did not quite make it. I was not going to take the chance. Shannon asked me several times if I had submitted yet, and always ..... no..... but I am going to. I also do not have my 01 taxes done yet, extension properly filed tho. you see how I am?
Fast forward to this years Rally.
I rose from bed at 4:10 am, got in there at midnight, but could not sleep. I was making last minute preparations to my trailer, my plan B if the Ol' Mule crapped out was to call my cousin Ken, and have him bring my trailer to get me home. Thankfully that never had to happen, but my car and trailer were ready.....just in case.
You see, 26 years of being a Service manager and mechanic at a car dealership has told me that most people do not have a plan B and that is why I get all those frantic calls. I may not get my taxes done on time,But I am prepared fro anything else that could go wrong.... I Think?
I hit the road at 5 am, stopped at Shannon's house, he was doing final packing, we hit the road by 6 am, and ride across the bridge and into Niobrara about 10ish, had some breakfast, talked to a few of the guys in the restaurant, headed down to the saloon and got checked in. I must have had that, I am new here look, as a tip came from a grey haired guy behind the table, be sure to check bonus # 4, with a big smile. Actually I was just in awe of all the BMW machines sitting around, you see, where I come from BMW is kinda rare, the bikes looked awesome,and a lot of interesting packs and lights, I wandered up and down the street,I had parked my ol' mule at the end, not really worthy of such company. My ride is an 83 Goldwing, that I purchased on Ebay last august, in North Carolina, for $1500, I flew there and rode it home, sight unseen, the previous owner said it ran ok, but had some electrical problems, he mentioned that it was ugly, but not that all the gauges and lights were inoperative, ahhhh yes, an adventure. Well I was able to fix the speedo, and lights for the temp and fuel gauge at an Advance auto parts store in Yadkinville, NC ( I did not make that up). And rode it home, mostly uneventful 4 day ride, following the rivers all the way to Red Wing, MN. It was a beautiful ride........... ok back to the present
In my mind I had expected to ride Sat morning, and I definitely wanted to see Arlene Liska's presentation, I needed a good nights sleep, before the ride,,,,,, but alas, like so many others that is not what happened, I too, felt kinda sheepish as I walked out on Arlene's presentation, but at least I was not alone. I saw Bob Corio, working on his laptop, we had just met 2 weeks earlier in a GLMC 12 hour ride, I knew he was there to ride, and this was not the last time Bob Corio and I were in the same spot.
I stepped out into the street, zipped into my riding suit, and headed west to Mononwa, for the first bonus point stop, I was passed by 2 bikes, and when I got there, were 5 bikes, all stopped. I grabbed my sheet, scribbled down the miles etc, and was off, last one there, first one to leave, this is not so tough! I got passed by all of those bikes. Ahhh yes, we will let them set the pace.
The sun went down while on Hwy 12, turned on 281 south, I saw something in the road,,,a coon? maybe? no a Turkey!! it flew as I approached, I actually moved my head to keep from getting hit! Whew, Ok keep calm, to O'neil and Atkinson, stopped for fuel there, hoping for a pay at the pump, I pulled in close to the pump, darn, no credit card reader. I dismounted,and got the gas nozzle, while my back was turned, my bike decided to drop off the stand, hit me in the hip, and since I had nowhere to go, with a gas nozzle in my hand..... down I went hard on my left elbow, Bob Corio who was fuelling up at the other island, came a running to help me up with the bike, I can pick it up, but it is a good grunt,,,,,,, Thanks Bob!! Embarrassed, I fuelled up, wondering if this was the way it was gonna go, first gas stop, dropped bike,,,,,, geeez, Thank Heavens my riding suit has a good oops pad in the sleeves, but my elbow definitely was hurt, I just was not going to let it slow me down.
I left the gas stop a little after Bob C. and was riding fast enough, Bob was riding a little faster, as I watched his taillight disappearing into the night ahead of me. Oh well, I was not there to ride fast, just long. My radar detector let out a yelp. and then was quiet, oops better slow down, lights on up there, slow down, came by as the officer pulled over a bike...... I rode by sheepishly, I know that guy I thought as I rode by.......... darn.
I missed my turn at Ainsworth, my GPS and I were just getting to know each other, since I had just installed it a few days before, had to back track 22 miles,got a nice lady in Ainsworth to reopen her gas station, darn, lost almost an hour there, on a stupid mistake.
Travelled on south to Brewster, took a road 91 diagonally to Neb # 2, it was hilly and curvy, now after 1 am, met a car, the only one in 75 miles, by radar detector whelped,,,, hmm no brake lights, ahhhh I was only going ummmm 72? Hit hwy 2, nice smooth road, no cars, meeting a SUV whelps again, oops lights, better stop........ as I climb off my bike , the LEO, says," don't bother to dig out your papers, I am just going to warn you, I just investigated a deer collision 11 miles up the road, we sent those people to town by ambulance. You are going 76 mph, what do you think would happen if you hit a deer?"" Well no need for an ambulance" " thats right, now slow it down,because there are deer out here, and I don't want to get out of bed again" " Ok Sir. I will" He asked me how far I was going, "back to South dakota?" No I'd like to make Alliance before I stop, I told him.Are you ok, I mean not too tired he asked? I told him I had a Mountain dew in Brewster and a 20 minute nap ( lies) but oh well...... And I did slow it down for at least 10 miles.Sometime after Thedford, my eyes refused to stay open or even focus, I pulled into the ditch......... whoaaa the front wheel plowed into the sand!!!! soft beach like sand!, I turned on my park light and laid down,I think I fell asleep immediately, not sure how long, but I heard a car coming,,,,hmm maybe a truck?? kinda loud,,,,, in a daze it seemed the sky was lighting up,,,, darn that must be a really big truck coming, I can feel it shake the ground. All of the sudden TRAIN !!!!!!!!!!!. as I sat upright, I realized the road ditch also had train tracks in it and now about 15 feet from my boots was a train travelling as fast as I had ever seen one!!!!! OMG I am awake now!!! I never even saw the tracks when I pulled into the sandy ditch, the tracks were in another deeper part of the ditch.
Well I might as well ride now, I am awake!! I climb on Ol' Mule # 3 and proceed to plow my way in the soft sand back to the pavement.
I made Alliance, found Carhenge, tried to count the cars, in the dark with a flashlight, darn that is waaay tougher than it looks, I tried a couple of different methods, walking around the outer, then the inner, then, oh geez, what about those out there?
Hmm I read the newspaper article posted on the sign, they said 28 cars, I thought I counted more, WTF I am confused, I write a love note to those seemingly nice guys back in Niobrara, no doubt sleeping on full stomachs. Off to get gas, my radar detector mount has decided to come loose, I repair it under a streetlight, get gas, head to Scottsbluff. 2 Young deer in the road, wondering where mommy is? I come to a stop, they look at me, I look at them, We are friends, but Get the heck out of my way, I blast my horn, they scamper off. I can see the lights of Scottbluff, but again my eyes are refusing to cooperate. I hear a noise, clunking, look back to see the lid from my right saddle bag is dangling by the safety chains I just installed the night before, I stop, secure the lid, lay down, fall asleep. The next thing I know a guy is standing over me "you ok" he yells? Ahhhh yes umm just resting my eyes,I sit up to see his car sideways in the road, light shining in the ditch, he saw me laying there, thought I was dead, he was nearly right. But I got up thanked him for stopping, and rode into Scottsbluff, need a gas receipt, and gotta take a crap,,,, really bad. I ride into town, find a gas station not open will not take my card, another, will not take my card, hmm , I really gotta go bad, I have been by this hospital 3 times, hmm I am not doing well here, another gas station, no, will not take my card, WTF, the weed patch out back of the station almost got a deposit, but hmmm nothing to wipe with,ohhhhh this is bad. I remember seeing a Wal- mart on my way into town, I try to find it,,,,, closed, hey , another gas station,,, YES my card works!!!, hey an 24 hour restaurant, I stagger in, the nice waitress asked if she can seat me, I say in the bathroom please! She points, I do my job. I look in the mirror, OMG, I look like hell, I water down my hair some, hand her a $5 as I walk out the door, feeling much better.Ahhhhhhh
I ride out of town as it is getting light, putting all my faith in my GPS as my directions are completely messed up from driving around that town. The GPS clearly states travelling NW on 25, a compass I would have argued with, and the fact that is was getting light in the west?????? huh, ok GPS lead me to Mother Featherlegs!!! It is a chilly 44 F by my digital thermometer, as I ride into Torrington WY. The sun had thrown enough light on Scottsbluff for me to see it, WOW awesome sight, I gotta go back,,,,, sometime.
The ride is going well now, I look at my map, south of Lusk, Hmmm the Mother Featherlegs monument is on my map, it shows just south of the county line, I am at the county line, there is a road, Those darn guys wanted me to ride 20 miles of gravel when here is a road that should take me right to it, maybe 2 miles. I ride down the road, soft loose sand, not what my mule likes, I lock my arms and plow through, hmm the road does not go south, I wonder what I am looking for, maybe a little white marker? maybe I rode by it?
It is clearly south of the county line on the map. Darn I get in about 5 miles, and am about to head back to the highway, when the road takes a turn north, and I decide to ride it. About 5 more miles of gravel and rock. Hey I see something, oh a cow, wait a fence, There it is,I stop take a pic, write down the needed info. And travel on.The map was wrong. I meet 3 bikes heading south, on the gravel, I give them the thumbs up. Finally hit the highway, stop at the rest stop, splash some water on my face and hair, have a OJ and Ibuprofen (6) for the elbow. Darn, I made it!! I smile as I sit there on the bench studying my maps.
Aladdin, Deadwood, Keystone, scratch Devils tower, Interior, back to Niobrara, on time.......Those are my goals.I was time barred at a GLMC 12 hour last August, I am not going to let that happen again!
I fill in Sundance,head over to 111, pick off Aladdin Wy. I meet up with a few riders there, Bob Corio steps out of the General store, and smiles,how's your ride going he asked.He told me he was off to Pierre and Mud Butte, I said good luck and that I was not going to attempt Pierre, I was headed to Deadwood, maybe Keystone, then the Badlands.He left as I went in to grab my bonus, a patch, and a receipt. I rode east a few miles, had a deer pass between me and a couple of Beemer riders, headed west, close one.
I rode into Deadwood, stopped at the Bullock express, grabbed a coin, and then to Sturgis, I was about to hit the exit onto I 90, when my bike mysteriously went into the Burger King drive instead, I dismounted and went in for some fast food, so I thought. Ordered up a burger and onion rings, took forever it seemed, then I realized my time was off, and they were just switching from the breakfast menu. I sat down to eat, slipped my jacket off,leaned on the table, ouch!!! that hurt.
I looked at my elbow for the first time since my mishap 15 hours earlier, woweee that was swollen, and turning interesting colours. No leaning on the table for me! Wolfed down my food, and hit the Interstate to the Badlands.
I was rolling down the superslab east of Rapid city, when a cycle light appeared in my mirror, closing fast, a horn honks, the thumbs up, as Bob C passes me, and then another BMW, am I really that slow?, nah, I look down at my GPS to see it dangling out of its bracket, darn where is that adjuster stem? It is missing, I slide forward, looking down into my fairing brackets hoping it was there, nope.I sort if secure it with some velcro tape, so it does not bounce down the road. My bike sputters, and I switch to reserve, gonna need gas in Wall. I see the 2 bikes a couple of miles ahead of me turn off into the Badlands loop, I continue into Wall, and get gas. I grab a toothpick, to secure my GPS, now it cannot fall off, but is tilted so I must hold it up to read it. Oh well that will do for now.
I head east and turn into the Badlands east entrance, go through the pay booth,and head down to Interior Guest facility for my stamp. Just as I stamp the sheet, I hear, how did you beat me here? I look up to see Bob C. I smile, and say, I keep running into you, ya gotta know the tricks, smiling as we walk out.
Just outside in the parking lot is JTBB and the Choppa, and rider #1 , they tell me tales of lost parts, no brakes, and license plate lost, battery , taillamp etc etc. I shake JTBB's hand, you are one tough dude I say. Mark says they are going to try and head back now, hoping to make it.
I head out of the Badlands south to Interior, deciding to stay off the superslab, too many campers and motorhomes for my taste, knowing that I am going to forgo some bonus stops at Chamberlain, and another I think. Oh well, I am going to ride into Nebraska on 83, via 44, and then take 12 across, I am happy with my ride, and just want to finish on time.
Hwy 44 is beautiful, rolling hills, no traffic, then at White river I fuel up, and ride south on 83, Oh darn, road construction,On a Saturday? flag lady, pilot car, darn, I think about turning back, but she says 10 minutes, then 4 miles, Ok I wait, get off my bike have a drink of SoBee.
More like 18 minutes later, we go, through the one lane fresh blacktop, Finally the pilot car turns off, I pull out to pass the 7 cars in my lineup, as I am about to pass a Ford diesel pickup with an empty horse trailer, he pulls into the left lane to pass the lead car, I hit the brakes hard, he pulls into his lane and I hit it, faster and faster, geez 96mph to get past this cowboy! Finally I overtake him, and he brakes, I give him the universal "you are # 1" hand gesture,and settle into a nice ride on a brand new road.
I ride into Nebraska, fuel at Valentine, and take Hwy 12 out of town, a very nice ride, the road is hilly, curvy and basically I am on it alone. As I near Spencer a rider comes up from behind, we talk at a stop sign, How far? he asks, 60 miles I think, I am gonna get gas here, he continues on, no need for gas. I ask how far at the gas station, the lady says 35 miles,,,,, cool.
I check in 60 minutes early, John takes my numbers, I go into the saloon to find Bob C, and others working on their sheets.
He asked me how I did, I told him the last 200 miles I was basically Sunday riding. And I was happy to be in on time.
I organised my receipts, and went to Adam for scoring, he gave me some friendly tips, commented on my receipts and accuracy, I guess all these years of living by the clock and paperwork as a service manager in a dealership have paid off. I can't count tho, and get my Carhenge bonus disallowed.
My score seems ok to me, I am sitting in the bar, having an excellent meal, when I realize Lunatic is not around, I ask around some, no one has seen him, I am out in the street when I hear a Goose coming down the highway. In rolls Lun,his riding suit covered in dust... "I don't wanna talk about it" he says. Ok, I know that feeling, we go into the bar, and sit down. My elbow is really swelled by now, I just want to sit there with my elbows on the table, and listen to stories, in my sleep starved state. I am less than sociable, so head back to the campsite, crawl into my tent, and the next thing I know it is morning 5:57 am, birds are singing. I wander up the hill to my bike, wipe the bugs off the windshield, and have an OJ, wandering around chatting with Mike Austad, and others I do not know.
Shannon comes up , and I mention the Poker run Eddie talked about,,,, what the heck we might as well ride that too. So we did, and luckily too, Shannon and I did well, and saw some pretty country, too.we stood around visiting, and a friend of mine from Sioux Falls rolls by on his '75 Wing. I chatted with Gordy and his wife Kathy, then rode back to the campsite to change out of my riding suit , I rolled back onto mainstreet just in time to here the Noon whistle blow,as I walked into the saloon, everyone was seated,Shannon had saved me a seat right in front of the award table, geeeeeez I don't belong here I thought as I sat down.
The awards began, the standard, other awards, and then my class T, I listened as the points were read off, 10th 9th so on til 3rd, and I was thinking, I could be in the top, 2nd place awarded , oh my I am gonna win this thing ! As Eddie named me the other Bob, I collected my plaque, thinking I am not even worthy to ride with these guys, Shannon looked at me and smiled. Then again Eddie mentioned the other Bob for the Poker run 5th place, I was smiling, mostly in disbelief. I was looking forward to riding with all the Team Strange regulars, never expecting to be a contender. Thanks Thanks Thanks
Bob Johnson from Ohio( I think) came over to say hi, and many others shook my hand and congratulated me, for a ride that I was just there to have fun on. Now I suppose I will have to get serious.......... not!
Thanks Eddie, Adam,Victor and Tammy(who always had a smile for me) and John, all the other's who contributed to the event.
A very special Thanks To Arlene Liska who sat right next to me at the awards, and made me feel like a person who really accomplished something. After all of her adventures, mine was truly minuscule in comparison.
Bob Corio , Thanks, and Congratulations on your winning ride.
Jim Winterer, for your simple tip, "keep your butt in the saddle and moving"
And a very very special Thanks to Shannon Lee (lunatic) Bruns, for introducing me to this good clean sport, and my mentor for the last 2 years. His advice was rolling through my head alot during this and previous rides.
I have my Plaques proudly displayed in my home.
Bob Johnson ( the other bob) rider # 498
I will be back............... expert class? better kick OL' Mule #3 in the butt a little!