Well well.
No hot tubs this time, too busy riding. This was probably the hardest BBG I've ever done.
8 hours to ride 227 tedious slow miles, then every spare minute ( save three <G> ) was spent trying to make the finish. I got sleepy around 11pm ( poor sleep in the days previous ) and fought that off and on all night. Short naps staved off imminent collapse but this was a supreme test of all I've learned about myself while LD riding.
Typical ride scenario on the way to the barn via Casper was this: Ride hard, ever vigilant, always diligent about my work. Short nap. Wake, resume riding, do a Time/ Distance equation in my head and try to make up enough time for another short nap. Repeat.
All night I kept a pace that allowed short naps so that I could continue riding and make goal. Tough work, and a bit nerve wracking cutting it that close, but I trust mt T/D accuracy so I knew I could do it. Tough ride. I'm pretty chuffed. <G>
As for the tire, WTF? It had MAYBE 3K on it at the start. I pull in to the rally end and park, and someone says "nice tire". I had no idea. I know from experience, that tire was about to blow ANY SECOND! That would have been a sure DNF for moi. Whew. Ya gets lucky sometimes.
Marbach improved his rally quite a bit over his last effort, and should be proud. I was speaking with Ira Agins the Rally Master after the ride, and he was telling me that Casper was a sucker trap. I replied: "Can't sucker trap an FJR. Which two bikes made the bonus?"
Heh. Sucker trap my ass. B)
So I had a really great time and got my ass spanked. Life is good.
George Z