From Bob Young (who rode with Mike Marzitelli):
Well, here goes. On Friday evening after the Liars banquet, we had the
option of picking up one bonus before the start of the rally on Saturday
morning. So many of us took advantage of gathering this bonus then, rather
than after the clock started ticking on Saturday at 8 AM. So what could go
wrong with a great plan like that? On cue the skies opened up and dropped
four inches of rain in the next hour or so, trees blew over, man-hole covers
blew in the air, freeways and streets were under water. So we rode through
it all (did I forget the frequent lightning strikes?) to Betty’s Bikes and
Buns to get a receipt for a purchase of our choice. We all looked like a
bunch of drowned rats. This drowned rat had a fine warm chocolate cookie
before swimming home on my motorbike.
At home I spend about an hour going over the bonus options but
don’t do much more than plot them on my maps. I know more bonuses will be
given out in the morning. Saturday after we have our next set of bonuses and
our route planned we’re off and running at about 08:30.
Stops:
1.. Bongards,MN- picture of large cow.
2.. Ottawa, MN- picture of plaque on the town hall.
3.. Norseland,MN- info from historical marker at one of the four
cemeteries in town.
4.. Cosmos,MN- picture of a Lions head drinking fountain.
5.. Morton,MN- Picture of an informational kiosk outside of town
somewhere.
6.. Renville,MN (kind-of)- info from a Politically Incorrect massacre
monument.
7.. Motevideo,MN- picture of another monument.
8.. Clark,SD- info about the “Little Fellow” grave site down a ½ mile
muddy rut of a road. Not fit for a dog much less a bike. Many riders dropped
their bike on this one.
9.. Britton,SD- Picture of sign about Continental Divide (actually in town
and not down a crappy muddy road). We talk to another FJR rider who had
dropped his bike in the black gumbo mud at Little Fellow. He and his son are
okay.
10.. Kulm,ND (well somewhere in the vast area that might by some stretch
of imagination be considered by Kulm.) With instructions actually from the
town of Ellendale, ND (but who reads instructions anyway?).
The bonus point by Kulm, ND is the Whitestone Battlefield site. The site is
down about six miles of gravel roads. Mike and I were coming from the east
and heading west into a setting sun. A little info here, Mike had a lens
fall out of his glasses several hours back so he was riding with half a pair
of glasses. He also had a face-shield covered with bugs. This all comes into
play after about four miles of gravel road and a curve around a pothole of
water. Mike went into the ditch and took off his brake pedal, right foot
peg, a spark plug, and turn signal. Mike was okay (well as okay as you can
be under the circumstances). I was ahead of him and didn’t realize what had
happened until I was coming back to look for him. Another rider had already
stopped to help. The bike wouldn’t start so we transferred his personal gear
onto my bike and started the long 350mile ride home. We didn’t stop for
anymore of our planned bonuses but I did continue my fuel log. After I
dropped Mike off in St Paul, I picked up gas receipt to start the sleep
bonus a little after 03:00 Sunday. I went home and got my paperwork in order
and slept for about 90 minutes. I picked up another receipt for the end of
the sleep bonus and headed to Leo’s MC shop and the end of the rally.
About 13:00 Sunday Mike and I took my bike trailer back to the crash
site in North Dakota and picked up his bike from its resting spot in the
ditch. Luckily the kickstand was still doing its job. Then back to the Twin
Cities we went again.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Oh! And we had a lot of fun
and would do most of it again but just not tomorrow.
Bob Young