Dropping south out of Newcastle, Wyoming on US85/US18, there’s an 80 mile stretch of road in front of you heading almost due south.
Sunset happens late at this lat/long - at 9:45 PM, I could look to the west as I rolled along, and see a still vibrant sunset, turned radiant orange by the smoke of the California wild fires. Turning my head to the left, the horizon was barely visible, stars showing brightly, and the crescent smile of the moon already established in the eastern sky.
Very alone, the rumble muted by ear plugs, thoughts of how amazing this was - here I was in my first solo rally, in the middle of eastern Wyoming, and I was being presented what was truly a once in a lifetime perception of our wonderful country.
Incredible.
Stop and take pictures?
No.
Time would not allow it.
I was en route to my third bonus of this alternate route in the 1088, and I still had 10 hours to go.
I’d arrived on Wednesday afternoon, having slabbed into the hotel around 3:30 pm. Other riders began showing up mid morning of Thursday, with an onslaught of bikes from everywhere descending upon the eastern parking lot of the hotel, each selecting a reserved area parking spot to rest their mounts.
BBQ at the Rally Master Steve Chalmers house that evening. New faces met, names I’ll some day be able to remember, and many friends I’ve made along the way. BBQ Sandwiches, coleslaw, baked beans, mud pie… and totally incredible company.
Tech and Odo check Friday afternoon - rider’s meeting at 7:00 PM, where the bonus packs were handed out. Reading through the pack, there were three alternate routes - and when I read through them, one stood out as it offered me an opportunity to really push my envelope. It called for over 1500 miles, which I’d done before and was comfortable doing again – I would get to visit Devil’s Tower National Monument in Wyoming, and Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. The third bonus was a gas receipt in Cheyenne, Wyoming, then back to the stable.
Driver’s license and registration sealed in an envelope, I retired to my room to examine my options.
Saturday morning lots of early risers - bikes being prepped, gear checked, many riders looking like they hadn’t slept well. Too many variables? Decisions? Hard to tell.
I let Steve know I would be running the alternate route (there were two other riders running the same route - we’d encounter each other throughout the day/night) so he would not expect me at any checkpoints.
At 7:00 am, riders were free to leave the lot, as the rally had started. I held back about 5 minutes, as there was a huge crowd of bikes in very close proximity heading for the driveway. I think I was the last one out of the lot.
And I headed east. Farther east than I had ever ridden before. Out the 80, I turned north on US220 at Rawlins, Wyoming.
Incredibly beautiful terrain, vivid colors of green and purple, rolling plains, few vehicles, wonderful roads.
The first bonus I hit was Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming. My bike was parked in front of the park entrance sign, hat displayed, picture taken about 5:20 PM -
Heading east again into South Dakota, you had to handle the massive crowds of tourists, I finally gained the parking gates for the monument, and buying a 10.00 parking pass, slipped the bike into a close slot, grabbed my rally hat and camera, and wearing my hi-viz stitch and helmet, ran out of the parking area and up the stairs to the entrance, looking for a location where I could get the picture I needed.
I was away from Mt. Rushmore about 7:45 PM or so, and headed west to exit South Dakota and turn south into Wyoming, heading for Cheyenne, and my last bonus.
In Cheyenne, I had picked a Conoco station at the 18/80 junction - I arrived just before midnight, filled up the bike and grabbed my receipt. This was the last bonus of the route. Headed inside for a beverage, and noticed they were selling really greasy but hot corn dogs - so I bought one. Shoved it into my face while I did paperwork standing next to the pump.
Now came the grind back to the hotel, and the finish. I knew I’d need a nap some where along the way, and about 3:00 am, I pulled off into a Wyoming state rest area. Several vehicles were there, and many sleeping occupants. Very quiet – few people out of their cars, and only one other in the head when I visited.
I set my Screaming Meanie for 32 minutes as that’s all my schedule would allow - then dropped my gloves onto the sidewalk in front of the bike, laid down with the SM sitting on my chest, and proceeded to fall asleep very rapidly.
Sleep was wonderful. There’s nothing like a Roadcrafter with full armor to keep you padded while napping on the concrete.
The Screaming Meanie is loud. I heard it through my ear plugs and helmet - and I can’t help but wonder how many of those sleeping drivers heard it as well. Up off the concrete, gloves back on, and headed on down the road.
I rolled into the finish check in about 10 minutes before 7:00 - and Steve immediately started my sign in - checked my unopened envelope, and welcomed me back. Badcat was there, having beat me in by about 30 minutes or so - it was good to see that everyone was ok. I grabbed my memory card, gas receipts and gas log, did a quick double check of my paperwork, and placed it all into an envelope, and dropped them into the basket.
Badcat was filling me in on various things that had happened - Iggy’s puncture experience, Warchilds’ tire consumption, the two up couple that had hit a deer, and managed to keep the bike upright and were not injured. Thank God.
I offloaded my gear, secured my bike, and went to breakfast with Badcat and Maura, then to my room for a hot shower and a 4 hour nap before the finisher’s banquet.
Following the banquet, it was back to the room and to bed. Dinner via room service.
Corrected mileage - 1521.9, 204 points for a three way tie for 29th place.
I departed Monday morning at 4:30 AM for Atascadero, California to visit some long time friends of mine. They graciously welcomed me into their home, fed me dinner, a hot shower and a warm bed. And some really good beer, by the way. Firestone Double Barrel Ale.
I slept in Tuesday morning. I did NOT get up early. Headed for home about 10:30 am, arriving in Orange Tuesday afternoon.
NAFO next, then SPANK.
Distance: 3,347 miles.
Sunset happens late at this lat/long - at 9:45 PM, I could look to the west as I rolled along, and see a still vibrant sunset, turned radiant orange by the smoke of the California wild fires. Turning my head to the left, the horizon was barely visible, stars showing brightly, and the crescent smile of the moon already established in the eastern sky.
Very alone, the rumble muted by ear plugs, thoughts of how amazing this was - here I was in my first solo rally, in the middle of eastern Wyoming, and I was being presented what was truly a once in a lifetime perception of our wonderful country.
Incredible.
Stop and take pictures?
No.
Time would not allow it.
I was en route to my third bonus of this alternate route in the 1088, and I still had 10 hours to go.
I’d arrived on Wednesday afternoon, having slabbed into the hotel around 3:30 pm. Other riders began showing up mid morning of Thursday, with an onslaught of bikes from everywhere descending upon the eastern parking lot of the hotel, each selecting a reserved area parking spot to rest their mounts.
BBQ at the Rally Master Steve Chalmers house that evening. New faces met, names I’ll some day be able to remember, and many friends I’ve made along the way. BBQ Sandwiches, coleslaw, baked beans, mud pie… and totally incredible company.
Tech and Odo check Friday afternoon - rider’s meeting at 7:00 PM, where the bonus packs were handed out. Reading through the pack, there were three alternate routes - and when I read through them, one stood out as it offered me an opportunity to really push my envelope. It called for over 1500 miles, which I’d done before and was comfortable doing again – I would get to visit Devil’s Tower National Monument in Wyoming, and Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. The third bonus was a gas receipt in Cheyenne, Wyoming, then back to the stable.
Driver’s license and registration sealed in an envelope, I retired to my room to examine my options.
Saturday morning lots of early risers - bikes being prepped, gear checked, many riders looking like they hadn’t slept well. Too many variables? Decisions? Hard to tell.
I let Steve know I would be running the alternate route (there were two other riders running the same route - we’d encounter each other throughout the day/night) so he would not expect me at any checkpoints.
At 7:00 am, riders were free to leave the lot, as the rally had started. I held back about 5 minutes, as there was a huge crowd of bikes in very close proximity heading for the driveway. I think I was the last one out of the lot.
And I headed east. Farther east than I had ever ridden before. Out the 80, I turned north on US220 at Rawlins, Wyoming.
Incredibly beautiful terrain, vivid colors of green and purple, rolling plains, few vehicles, wonderful roads.
The first bonus I hit was Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming. My bike was parked in front of the park entrance sign, hat displayed, picture taken about 5:20 PM -
Heading east again into South Dakota, you had to handle the massive crowds of tourists, I finally gained the parking gates for the monument, and buying a 10.00 parking pass, slipped the bike into a close slot, grabbed my rally hat and camera, and wearing my hi-viz stitch and helmet, ran out of the parking area and up the stairs to the entrance, looking for a location where I could get the picture I needed.
I was away from Mt. Rushmore about 7:45 PM or so, and headed west to exit South Dakota and turn south into Wyoming, heading for Cheyenne, and my last bonus.
In Cheyenne, I had picked a Conoco station at the 18/80 junction - I arrived just before midnight, filled up the bike and grabbed my receipt. This was the last bonus of the route. Headed inside for a beverage, and noticed they were selling really greasy but hot corn dogs - so I bought one. Shoved it into my face while I did paperwork standing next to the pump.
Now came the grind back to the hotel, and the finish. I knew I’d need a nap some where along the way, and about 3:00 am, I pulled off into a Wyoming state rest area. Several vehicles were there, and many sleeping occupants. Very quiet – few people out of their cars, and only one other in the head when I visited.
I set my Screaming Meanie for 32 minutes as that’s all my schedule would allow - then dropped my gloves onto the sidewalk in front of the bike, laid down with the SM sitting on my chest, and proceeded to fall asleep very rapidly.
Sleep was wonderful. There’s nothing like a Roadcrafter with full armor to keep you padded while napping on the concrete.
The Screaming Meanie is loud. I heard it through my ear plugs and helmet - and I can’t help but wonder how many of those sleeping drivers heard it as well. Up off the concrete, gloves back on, and headed on down the road.
I rolled into the finish check in about 10 minutes before 7:00 - and Steve immediately started my sign in - checked my unopened envelope, and welcomed me back. Badcat was there, having beat me in by about 30 minutes or so - it was good to see that everyone was ok. I grabbed my memory card, gas receipts and gas log, did a quick double check of my paperwork, and placed it all into an envelope, and dropped them into the basket.
Badcat was filling me in on various things that had happened - Iggy’s puncture experience, Warchilds’ tire consumption, the two up couple that had hit a deer, and managed to keep the bike upright and were not injured. Thank God.
I offloaded my gear, secured my bike, and went to breakfast with Badcat and Maura, then to my room for a hot shower and a 4 hour nap before the finisher’s banquet.
Following the banquet, it was back to the room and to bed. Dinner via room service.
Corrected mileage - 1521.9, 204 points for a three way tie for 29th place.
I departed Monday morning at 4:30 AM for Atascadero, California to visit some long time friends of mine. They graciously welcomed me into their home, fed me dinner, a hot shower and a warm bed. And some really good beer, by the way. Firestone Double Barrel Ale.
I slept in Tuesday morning. I did NOT get up early. Headed for home about 10:30 am, arriving in Orange Tuesday afternoon.
NAFO next, then SPANK.
Distance: 3,347 miles.
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