Revised 13 JAnuary, 2008
Mason-Dixon 2020
Rhody Rally
The Void
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My 1978 Honda GL1000K3 Near Pilot Mountain In North Carolina
Rallys I Have Entered
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Mason-Dixon 2020
The 2007 Mason-Dixon 2020 was held May 26 & 27th. The 50 bonus locations were posted on their website May 16th. After riding the Rhody Rally I knew I needed to buckle down and not waste time at bonii locations. The MD2020 does not have photo bonus so stops were very quick and most were easy to find once you got there. Of the 50 bonus locations 4 were classified as Quarters, worth zero points themselves but each were worth as a multiplier of .25 for the number bonii points you collected. There was also 6 letter bonii, declaring your route, fuel log, 2 hour rest bonus(major point value of 2007), and three surprise bonii.
After mapping nearly a dozen routes on Street & Trips, the first one was the one I choice. I had used what I had learned from Jim Owens talks on planning a route. Color coding the waypoints to represent the level of point value and look for groups of high value ones and develop your route from there. Annville(PA), The Indiantown Gap National Cemetery was the only mandatory bonus and the closes of the posted bonus locations, 46 miles NE of the Holiday Inn in York which is Rally Central. Not having the confidence to leave this bonus for the end of my route I ran my route counterclockwise, Annville, Lewistown, Driftwood, East Smeltport, Jamestown(NY), Punxsutawney, Grantsville(MD), Hundred(WV), Clay(WV), Hillsboro(WV), Elkins(WV), Romney(WV), White Post(VA), Washington(VA), Baileys Crossroads(VA), and Washington(DC). This route had 2 Quarters, over 4200 point value, 1296 miles and 1 hour to spare before penalties started.
The highest value surprise bonus was a trip to Todd Witte house for a license plate number. Rick Miller noted a change to the rally book that instead of the White Ford Excursion we needed to get the plate number of the White Ford Expedition, there was some lame reason about the Excursion not running anymore, that's what I heard anyway. So once we were released off I went to Todd Witte house like most others. When I got to the cuc de sac along with about a half-dozen other riders who were looking at the rear of the White Ford parking in the cuc de sac. Before I got off of my bike the herd moved to the other White Ford parked in the driveway, the Expedition, and so did I.
Off to Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, I had been there the day before to locate Jim's grave since I knew that the gravesite was part of the bonus. At the visitor center you can find the section and grave number on a koisk out front, you can even print out a map of the cemetery, I printed it out and used it to find Jim's grave and then headed for York, I gave the map to a non-rally rider at the hotel who wanted to stop there. As I'm going to the cemetery Saturday morning there was two riders ahead of me on I-81, the lead was Gary Stipe, co-Rally Master of The Void and then a two-up team, the Smith's. The Smith's and I followed Gary since he should know where he was going, right. As we passed a section I did not go by Friday I knew I had been had, following the herd again. I wish I had a decent camera, the cemetery all decked out for Memorial Day was inspiring, the pictures I took did not do it justice. My mandatory bonus is bagged.
Next stop was Lewiston, as I'm cruising through town I see several riders at a gas station and they pulled out following me, I'm nervous now, will I get lost or blow by the bonus marker. The lady in the Garmin 2610 tells me the I have reach my destination on the left, I look over and see the marker, pulling up close to it with the other riders behind me and pulling in front but on the opposite side of the marker. I write down the required information and fill in mileage, time etc on the answer sheet. I then selected the next bonus on the GPS and head out going north before the GPS finishes the routing, why is everyone else heading south, I make a U-turn and follow them, I see more riders in the same gas station, I don't need gas yet so keep going, this was one time I should have followed the herd by getting gas.
I was now headed towards Driftwood, gas is good, I should be able to get there without stopping. I need to keep a 42.6 mph overall average, I have a 55.5 mph average so far but it is early and I have that two hour rest bonus that will eat into that average. I pass through Snow Shoe, PA, this is the gas stop for my PA In-State SS1K I have planned, I should stop to check out the gas station as I go by, gas is still good. Then about 44 miles from Driftwood I see I will need to stop to be safe, twenty miles later I'm on reserve and no gas station in sight.
As I'm rounding a curve heading for a bridge at about 35mph that starts as the curve ends, Wow! it's a open steel grade deck, straighten up and slow down boy. Now as I near the other end, almost the length of a football field, there is a stop sign, the pavement is about the length of two motorcycles to come to a stop on. One of the other riders is at the stop sign, he proceeds left towards Driftwood, I see two bikers in the parking lot of the diner at the intersection so I pull up to them to ask where a gas station maybe. We aren't local, we believe 9 miles one way and 12 miles in the direction I'm going...I'm not going to make it. They suggest I go ask in the diner. I see a pickup truck and trailer with 2 ATV's in the parking lot. I go in the diner in full gear, ask the waitress about gas, she said she could not help then I ask two men if the ATV's belong to them, two couples sitting at another table said they belong one of them, I asked him if he had some gas I could buy. I got about two gallons out of his 5-gallon container, he said he didn't want any money but I insisted he take the $5 bill I had in my hand, I should have gave him more really.
I proceed to Driftwood, the monument is in the middle of a small square. And the answer is "4". Now on to East Smethport, but first some gas in Emporium. After East Smethport, last name of four men on the honor roll killed in WWI, it was on to Jamestown, NY for my first Quarter to retain 25% of the number points I bag. Somehow converting from Street & Trips to MapSource this waypoint got moved a few blocks, right into the Lucille Ball Festival going on in town. The answer is "1820".
A few miles south of Jamestown it starts to rain and rain and rain, my 5-function clock-voltmeter-temp gauge shows moisture has gotten inside and the clock & voltmeter are not working. I have to use the GPS-V as a clock. Getting close to Punxsutawney for the next bonus I noticed the GPS was getting hard to read, not just because of the rain, the screen is getting so dark nothing is readable. I pulled over in the parking lot of a drive thru beer distributor and turn off the bike. I recycle the GPS power switch, the start screen comes up then fades away, darn, the GPS is dead. Okay, it's raining, no GPS to find my way around and I'm not having fun. Plan B, find the interstate and head to Yorktown, VA and pickup a second Quarter and maybe it is not raining in that direction. Time to get out of Dodge, push the starter button, nothing, not even a groan. Then I notice the alternator belt is missing. the battery is dead, I have a spare belt no problem there. I walked into the beer distributor and ask if they know if there is some place that I can call to get a jump. I have AAA-RV+ but thay will take hours. The owner after a few minutes says he has a charger, he brings it out, perfect, even has a starting position. I push the bike to the building so I can reach the charger, then pull out the spare belt and tools, I then notice the old belt is stuck between the engine and radiator still in one piece. So while I reinstall the belt the battery is being charged. Back in business, lost atleast 20-30 minutes.
The Punxsutawney Viet Nam monument is about 5 blocks from there and I was affaired to shut the bike off, butt the old girl won't go into neutral with the engine running very easily and of course no luck doing it so I had to take the chance and shut it off. And the answer is "6". The rain has stopped for the moment anyway. Next bonus is in Grantsville, MD, finally just before getting to Johnstown the rain has stopped and the sun starts to shine again.
As I'm zeroing in on the Grantsville historic marker another rider joins me and a few minutes later the Smith's show up. Not only was it great to bag a bonus after all the rain, rough running engine and dead battery it also showed I wasn't falling behind the herd. Next stop is Uniontown. I'm already on US.40 but the now working GPS has me jump on I-68 for a few miles then exit at the next exit, I see a rider at the end of the exit and he turns right, not paying attention to the GPS voice message I follow that rider. I reenter Grantsville and I'm asking why, the next turn is the same entrance ramp I was on to get on I-68, I see Verne Hauck coming from the bonus location and we ride a while on I-68 until the GPS has me get off at the same exit as before, Verne stays on I-68 maybe he is skipping Uniontown. I make the left hand turn this time. Verne and I rode together earlier from Lewistown, he saw a short cut and I just followed the GPS wasting 10 minutes.
I'm working on my IBA-NPT Certificate and while riding I saw the exit signs for numerous National Parks that I don't have the stamp yet, but no time to go off route, then while heading to the historic marker on US.40 in Uniontown I rode right by the park entrance to Fort Necessity National Battlefield, but it was 7:30 at night. I remember the question but I can't spell the answer. Who was some friend of George Washington.
The next bonus is Hundred, WV. In hind thought I should have skipped this one but I did not realized how much time I had lost with the rain and dead battery. And the bike was still running rough at times, especially up hill, more time lost. I can't remember the question or answer here, but it was quick and easy. Next stop was Clay, WV for Quarter #2, I now realize I'm a couple hours behind schedule and the bike is not running any better. I stopped for gas, looked the bike over to see if anything jumps out to me as being the problem. It's definitely fuel related. I grabbed a Red Bull and headed for Clay. Now traveling south on I-79 is almost all uphill, so 11:30 at night doing 36mph on an interstate it dawns on me, drain the carbs. I'm not sure if I have a screw driver big enough to do the job so I start looking for a Wal-Mart or truck stop where I can buy a large screwdriver. Finally I come across a rest stop and pull in. I dig out the tool bag again and I find a screwdriver that will do the job. I headed back south for Clay, after a few minutes the bike is running smooth and at highway speeds. My schedule called for me to be in Clay by 10:30pm, it is now pass midnight and I'm still on I-79.
The road into Clay was a nice twisty road that would be a nice ride in the daytime not at 1:30am with deer roaming around. Next bonus is Hillsboro, WV, now my Garmin 2610 is set to avoid unpaved roads. This 'road' became narrower and narrower and the switch backs became tighter to the point that I had to pull into a pull off to reposition the bike to make that last one before it turned into a gravel and rock trail, now I'm in too deep and can't turn around I have to follow the trail I'm on, which by the way the GPS has no problem with. Finally I reach a closed gate, there is something like a campground to the right and another gravel and rock trail forming an 'Y' with the trail I came in on. There was no way I was going back the way I came in so I tried the other trial, some named road according to the GPS. I finally came across pavement again, I'm now on a street not a road. I figured I rode about 8 miles on twisty gravel and rock roads, down hill and up. After I got back to York, two other riders also found that closed gate, Jim Owens and the Smith's.
I found a GoMart gas station and decided to take my 2-hour rest bonus. I filled up the main tank to start the bonus, no pay at the pump, the attendnt say for me to go ahead and pump over the loud speaker, so I go to the store and the doors are locked, the attendent has a bank teller type window to give him my credit card, my receipt is time stamped at 3:45am. The restrooms are inside the locked store, the attendent says he will unlock the doors in about 20 minutes. So I look at the maps and GPS and made my plans for what I'm going to do, Hillsboro is no longer in the cards. Washington, VA, which is the largest bonus value is too risky, but Elkins and Romney who's combined values are much larger then Washington anyway are on the way back to York. A nap behind the dumpsters, waking up before the screaming meanie even went off, filled the aux tank, ending receipt has 5:51am.
The carbs needed draining again at Elkins, the third time I drained them. I stopped for my final gas stop after getting the Romney bonus, the GPS shows it will be 1:11pm before I get there, 11 minutes after the penalty phase begins, that 275 points wasted. Traffic on US.50 to I-81 moves quickly and I gain 2 minutes before I even get to I-81.
As I pull into the tent manned by Dale I'm there with 15 minutes to spare, Dale tells me there is an award for the rider who returns closes to the 1PM time without going over, so he notes my time but just as he says that two more riders come down the road to the hotel. I finished 35th with 4039.5 points, 2 Quarters, and 1224 miles. 49 riders finished, 2 DNF. If I had made my entire route I would have to maintain an 42.6mph overall average, I ended up with a 36.8mph average, 24:55 hours moving and 7:58 stopped.
Rhody Rally
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The Rhody Rally was being runned on Saturday, May 12, 2007. Friday the weather was going to be beautiful but I woke up to wet roads. The plan is too bag some NP stamps on the way to Narragansett, RI. Stops at FDR Home(NY), Vanderbilt Mansion(NY), Eleanor Roosevelt NHS(CT), and Weir Farm(CT), visit a vendor in Bridgeport for work, and if time permits a couple NP in Rhode Island or Massachusetts. But I spent too much time Bridgeport so straight to the Lighthouse Inn, Rally Central.
I pulled around back looking for others riders, Sean Lyons, the Rally Master, Peter Leap, the co-Rally Master and Dave Lampila are there. I never meet Dave before so after a while I realize he is the Dave I'm rooming with. The riders start showing up and soon it is time to go to George's Seafood place for registration and issuing of the Rally Books. While getting the bike ready for this trip I took the registration and insurance card and placed the pouch I carry them in, in the AeroStich tank pannier several days before I left. Now I need these to register, I walked back to the motel to get them, I went thru everything 2 times and still can't find them. Okay, all this way and I must have left them at home packing up. I know I put them somewhere so I check one more time, sure enough, the pouch is in one of the pockets that hold the plastic liners.
Bikes are staged at 5:30am, a brief rider meeting and by 6am we are free to go. Lesson learned here, don't let yourself be blocked in at staging. I was helmed in by three riders who were not ready to go. Other then the wildcard bonii all other bonii are photo bonus, digital camera were allowed. So off to the first bonus on my list the SeaBee Statue. I seem to be the only one going there. Now on to the Station Night Club site, where 100 people died when the band pyrotectnics set the stage on fire.
My original plan was to stop at the Roger Williams VC next but the Rally Book had this tidbit that a NP Stamp was required so the bonus was not available until 9am. The Pineapple Arch in Providence was next, then the Crescent Park Carousel.
The next bonus was Battleship Cove, I had a little trouble getting to the parking lot were the sign was. This was the first time I ran ino another rider, Michael Jordan, darn he was in and out fast, he is using a digital camera. While doing my paperwork the rider log blew away, it took several people to finally stop it, I'm sure am wasting alot of time. Next stop is the Schooner Ernestina in New Bedford. The New Bedford Whaling NHP was near the docks but I could not find the VC so I pressed on. I see the schooner mast in the harbor and ride as close as I can to them, I don't really see the schooner, just a bunch of masts but I do see Michael again, I didn't see the walkway down to where he was so I moved my bike to the lot where his parked. No time to find the Whaling VC, I'm behind schedule.
Next bonus was the Nobska Lighhouse, a slow ride on back roads, but very beautiful scenery. My favorite bonus that I stopped at. Then on to the Mary Baker Windmill. This turned out to be a long, very agonizingly slow ride on SR-28. I did see one rider going the other way.
Now back up on US.6 to Provincetown located on the tip of Cape Cod. A quick stop at the Salt Pond VC, part of the Cape Cod National Seashore, for a NP stamp and another new state. The Marconi Wireless Site was a bonus on the way up to Provincetown. I saw Michael heading back to Rhode Island a few miles before I got to Provincetown.
Now when I got to Provincetown I had forgotten the Pilgrim Monument was this tall tower, I found the VC but with my helmet on the chinbar up I did not see the very tall tower. Okay, so I go inside the VC and I see something outside but I'm still in a fog, but I pay the $6.00 to go thru and take a picture, it still isn't dawning me I should have been able to see the tower from the parking lot. Back out to the parking, I finally remove my helmet, it is getting hot, and Duh! There is this very tall tower appearing above the VC. More wasted time and $6.00.
I am seriously behind schedule so I cut out the bonus at Plymouth Rock and head for the Rhode Island Red Monument. I stopped for gas on the Cape, my only gas stop, and picked up a local newspaper, one of the wild card bonii, a newspaper from each state you visited was worth 500 points. Some where on I-195 the bike starts running rough and my top speed is 50-55mph. I've had this problem before but it would go away after a few miles, this time it lasted awhile, a group of 9 members of the Rhode Island Hells Angel came blasting by. I have a set of Dynatek coils at home waiting to be installed. The number 1 & 2 cylinder sparkplugs are running sooty, either too rich or a weak spark and since I can disconnect the number 1 spark wire and the engine doesn't slow down a bit, I think it is an ignition problem, but it sure feels like fuel starvations.
Looking for a RED rooster statue I rode right pass the ball park, a local sent me back to the ball park but still no RED rooster in sight. The owner of the house pass the left field fence is outside working, I parked the bike and asked him. he sent me down to the home base fence, there is this BRASS plaque. The little green building in the background came in handy, all bonus locations should have one.
I skipped the Sakonnet Lighthouse and headed for the barn, hoping to be able to make the Beavertail Lighhouse or one of the other bonii near the Lighthouse Inn. I only had time for a Rhode Island newspaper. There was this hugh 1500 point bonus for a live lobster, maximum of two but I had no plans to spend that kind of money for bonus points. Those 3,000 points would have moved me up 4 places if I had.
I finished 17th out of the 20 finishers, 20,294 points and 376 miles. All starters finished the rally. I took way too much time taking pictures at each bonus location especially for a 12-hour rally, 15 more minutes at the end to score another bonus would have made a big different in my score.
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The VOID II
The VOID II was held in Lynchburg, VA, October 14th, 2006 was the first rally I started. I low sided my bike in a rain and hail storm going to the Mason-Dixon 20/20 in May, 2006 and after the 'Oil Leak' coming home from Denver I withdrew from the Tinbuttu in September, 2006, I had only 30 miles on the bike after having the engine opened up before I would have to leave for New York.
We got the bonus 'general' locations via the The Void Website. They had a group bonus for each of three states, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. The VA and WV route would be a 600+ mile ride and I wanted to keep my mileage between 450-500 miles. The NC route fit that Bill with a route of 466.4 miles and estimated time of 10:40 hours.
Group A
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