Pulling over some commentary I'm providing on another moto-related list.
We are now nearly 72 hours into a 264 hour ride, or a little over 1/4 of the event.
If you've been reading the official reports, you know that Ken Meese and Roger Sinclair have both claimed Alaska and are on pace to make the first checkpoint. When I talked with Roger at the start he said he was hoping he was doing what I would have done. He did not tell me where he was going or ask me for advice. I said nothing other than wishing him a safe and fun ride. I would not have gone to Hyder. However, he and Ken look to be making it work. My hat is off to them. It's a huge gamble on the first leg.
I was sorry to hear that **** Peek got the business at the border coming back into the lower 48. **** is a great guy and I hope he makes it to Buffalo to keep his rally alive.
Riders that claim Alaska and the rest bonus will be in the lead at the first check. If they add a few capitols, they will be even farther ahead. Unless the leg 2 or 3 bonuses really throw the field a loop, those Hyder riders may well be able to "coast" with the field to the finish with an insurmountable lead. The battle for the win would then come down to Ken and Roger, provided they both make the finish and get all 48 states. But who knows what awaits them in Buffalo and Jacksonville.
Presume that the Alaska riders also snagged Blaine on the way north.
So where is everybody else?
Yesterday's challenge was water. There were no open bridges across the Missouri River between Omaha and St. Joseph. A few riders had hours-long detours just to get across the river and claim Nebraska.
Some riders are still dealing with that.
Today's challenge may also be water for a few other riders.
https://picasaweb.google.com/KGTpilot/IBR11?authkey=Gv1sRgCIa_xZSzi-CZkAE#5621441931322768370
Here is a snapshot of public rider positions as of 0825 PDT today.
https://picasaweb.google.com/KGTpilot/IBR11?authkey=Gv1sRgCIa_xZSzi-CZkAE#5621436914533395026
Looking at the tracking shot, you can see one rider well into Pennsylvania. This rider has likely collected Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky over night as well as banking West Virginia (a leg 2 state). This rider may be behind the curve to get Madawaska but word is that other riders are ahead of him/her on the road. Anyone going into the New England states today is going to get whacked by the weather. Heavy rain and the northeast corridor do not make good conditions for maintaining the required pace. Any rider headed for Madawaska better have their weather radar going and a sneaky route plan to avoid congestion.
Most of the field is strung out along I-70 in Missouri. The riders at the east side of this pack and into Illinois/Indiana should have no problem bagging the big bonus in Harrisburg, PA. On the way, they will clip Michigan and Kentucky. If they have time, they may go for the capitols in Lansing or Frankfort. They probably won't be going beyond that before turning for Buffalo; they are not in the hunt for Madawaska on this leg.
The riders near KC and Des Moines have a lot of work to do but can be expected to make the checkpoint. They may have to skip on a capitol or two on the final push for the barn.
Those few riders still up in the Dakotas and Minnesota are in trouble. They are quickly approaching the time at which they will need to skip leg 1 states entirely just to make the checkpoint. If they make it to Buffalo, they will need to go back and get those states on another leg. Given their pace so far, this does not bode well for them becoming IBR finishers.
They have until 2000 local time tomorrow to arrive at the checkpoint in Cheektowaga, NY before the 2-hour penalty window starts.
A lot can happen in the next 32 hours.
