The End of an ERA
Every April for the last 9 years, we have known exactly what we were going to be doing around Barbara's birthday. Not celebrating a birthday in the usual fashion, but doing something we had grown to enjoy tremendously - competing in a motorcycle endurance rally. The Cape Fear 1000 had become a part of our lives and sadly now, it is gone. 2015 was the final running of the rally.
Participating each year had become a lot like a family reunion. You get to see old friends and acquaintances that you may not encounter for the entire year. Each year there would be new friends, new friendly rivalries, and we sadly would note the absence of those either no longer with us or having moved on to different pursuits. We were part of a family....an odd collection of personalities with wide ranging interests. Yes, just like those cousins or aunts and uncles you normally see at the family reunion. Some you are very happy to see replete with hugs and kisses, others simply get that head nod acknowledging their presence but nothing more.
What a ride it has been. 2007 was my rookie year complete with rookie mistakes. In the excitement to start my first rally, my start receipt was outside the start window by 2 minutes. My watch said it was time but sadly the gas pump in Jackson, TN had other ideas. I made my call in to start reading exactly what was on my receipt, too filled with excitement to notice the error. Upon arrival at the finish, the benevolent Rallymaster, Jim Bain, asked to see the receipt and informed me of my error. Rather than disqualifying me, he simply took 50% of my points resulting in a 68th place finish. These were the days of Polaroid pictures so no record exists of that sterling performance.
In 2008, I added a pillion that would be there for the next 8 years - Barbara. What a way to take a gal out for her birthday when you are dating! "Hey, want to go ride over 1,000 miles in less than 24 hours for your birthday?" "Sure, why not!" was the reply and she has been firmly entrenched in the back seat ever since. With well over 200,000 miles of pillion experience, she is now the consumate back seat navigator and motivational coach. She has a competitive streak that often encourages me to continue on through the dark, cold, rain soaked backroads of West Virginia at 1:00 AM. Come to think of it, I've only been able to ride one rally solo since 2008! With cheering section in place, we've managed a top 10 finish every year since 2011.....way to go Barbara.
Now every time we ride anywhere in the southeastern United States, we run across one of the hundreds of bonus locations we've visited. It's pretty neat actually. I'll remember the little town, Barbara will remember when and often exactly what the conditions were.
We've encountered a bit of everything. From the tornado sirens blaring as we were leaving Savannah, TN in 2011 to the countless rain soaked miles of dark West Virginia, each year has brought something memorable. We're going to miss it. Only a rally rider understands why you would leave Dyersburg, TN and go to Mobile, AL in order to get the Wilmington, NC. We understand!
The 2015 Cape Fear rally is now in the history books. Bonus locations arrived Wednesday evening and the night was spent figuring out which way to go. A leisurely ride to Brownsville, TN on Thursday for the start on Friday April 17th. Start locations were scouted on Thursday to ensure that perfect start receipt. We did manage to gather for a nice BBQ dinner before rally start sharing tales of rallies past and bemoaning the fact it was our last Cape Fear. Our good friend and riding companion, David Clark from Athens, GA would keep us company for the duration of the rally. Amazing how we have the same style of riding and even what seems to be equivalent bladder capacity.
At 0859 we got that start receipt and were off and running. The start odometer read 72736 and that information was quickly texted to the Rallymaster. Helen's BBQ in Brownsville was the first stop and part of the 2 part start. Photo grabbed and off we went.
A combination bonus was available by getting a receipt from Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois. Blytheville, AR was the first stop for a receipt and the first in a collection of different packs of chewing gum. Odo is 72830 and the time is 1027.
North to Charleston, MO for gas and another receipt. Odo is 72915 time is 11:36. We are 179 miles into the rally and on schedule.
Into Illinois and a visit to the home of Superman, Metropolis! We've seen the giant statue in previous rallies but this time we had to take a photo of both of us with his girlfriend Lois Lane. We got gas finishing the three state trifecta and a photo of Lois. Odo is 72976 and the time is 12:44. 240 miles down.
Our next bonus is in Kuttawa, KY for a monument honoring Cobb's Battery. Located along a country road, it was a bit hard to spot and we were a bit distracted by the local women's prison population outfitted in orange picking up trash alongside the road. We managed to park and hike down to the bonus snapping a hard to get photo. Time is 1:30 and the odometer now reads 73204.
Kentucky is a long way across when you run west to east. We stopped in the Falls of Rough River for a photo of the Corps of Engineer project office. Time in 15:38 and the odometer now reads 73139. 403 miles into the rally and pretty much on schedule.
Into horse country around Lexington we went. Some of the most beautiful farms replete with miles of perfect fencing lined the road. Stables that make our home look almost shabby filled the hillsides. Horses are big business in this part of the country. I mean big business!
This is also bourbon country and we were headed to Labrot and Graham makers of Woodford Reserve, a premium small batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon. A horse sculpture inside the gate is our goal and luckily it was still daylight. This would be a tough one at night. Time is 18:33 and we are at 538 miles.
A short run to Stomping Ground, KY for a historical marker honoring the parents of the infamous outlaws Frank and Jesse James. 558 miles into the rally and all is well.
The next bonus is 142 miles away. Seems we always had a long run between bonus locations! Huntington, WV is the home of Marshall University. On November 17, 1970 a Southern Airways DC-9 was on approach to landing in Huntington when it crashed into a hillside killing all 75 aboard. Among the dead were 36 players, along with five coaches, two athletic trainers, the athletic director, 25 boosters, and a crew of five.
For movie afficiandos, check out "We Are Marshall" starring Matthew McConaughey
as the replacement head coach.
It is now 21:15 and the odometer reads 73436. 700 miles and we've been on the road for just over 12 hours.
What Cape Fear Rally would be complete without venturing into the hills of West Virginia in the dark. In previous years, it would also be raining cats and dogs, but the rally gods smiled on us this evening and it was dry.
General Chuck Yeager graduated from Hamlin High School in 1941 and went on to be the first man to break the sound barrier in 1947. A monument in his honor is erected in front of the high school. Hamlin is a small town of 1142 people and a very inquisitive local law enforcement officer who watched us diligently as we took our photos of the monument. It was dark and I'm sure rather strange to see fully garbed motorcyclists tromping around in front of the high school. The LEO watched until we were mounting back up and sped off to protect the citizens of Hamlin from other possible harm. Time is 22:30 and the odo reads 73478.
We eased through Hamlin headed to Charleston and I64. Just as we entered the tiny town of Sod, WV we encountered a massive traffic checkpoint. Flashing lights, mobile command centers, and a multitude of West Virginia State Troopers blocked the road. Easing up to one of the officers, a very imposing mountain of a state trooper, he looked us over and asked if we had been drinking. A very respectful "No Sir" and he let us proceed on our way. There must be a serious drinking and driving problem in Sod.
Our rest bonus could not start until midnight and we had a reservation at the Econolodge in Beckley with a scheduled arrival time of 0012. We arrived 7 minutes early and started our rest bonus. A restless 4 hours of sleep passed and we were back up and moving. Our planned schedule had us departing at 0512 and since we had remained pretty much on schedule to this point, that's exactly when we left.
Lewisburg, WV is home to one of the 6 Carnegie Halls in the US. Built in 1902 for just under $37,000 it is an impressive georgian revival style hall. Time is 6:05 and the odometer reads 73634. 898 miles under our seats!
In Charlottesville VA is a monument honoring George Rogers Clark. A photo of the monument with the statue on top is the requirement. Time is 8:04 and mileage is now 1040 miles. We've completed a Saddlesore 1000 while in rally mode and taken a 5 hour rest break. Not too shabby!
A quick stop by the HHM for Castle Hill, VA is necessary for the 2193 points that go along with it.
Onward to Glen Allen VA where General JEB Stuart was mortally wounded while trying to rally his troops in the Battle of Yellow Tavern. We had to take a photo of the panel that reads "Upon this field" and the large letters STUART visible. Surrounded by the metal fence, this made getting a photo with Barbara in the picture a challenge. Success was finally achieved and we're on the way again. Time is 0945 and odometer reads 73864 or 1128 miles into the rally.
The clock ticks, the miles roll under the wheels as we approach the end of our route. At the Virginia Aviation Museum on the north side of Richmond International Airport is a SR-71, a US reconnaissance plane capable of flying in excess of Mach 3. In it’s final flight it flew from Los Angeles to Washington, DC in just over 1 hour!. Time is 10:10 and odo is 73883.
The next to the last stop of the rally is the Kenly 95 Truck Stop and a photo of the lighthouse. We splashed in fuel to make sure we could hit the finish without another stop, emptied bladders and refilled drinks for the final push. We’re starting to run across other riders as everyone makes that final push to the finish. 12:20 and 1306 miles into the rally.
The final bonus location was worrisome. We had to photo a historical marker on the waterfront in downtown Wilmington NC. It had been a bonus in a earlier Cape Fear Rally and we had to park quite a distance and negotiate the crowds. We had allowed extra time just in case. A couple of detours later we pulled right up alongside the boardwalk, parked with a bunch of other riders and quickly grabbed the picture. Time was 1420 and we had to be at the finish line 5 miles away by 1459. No problem!
We stopped at the quicky mart across the street from the hotel to pick up a wild card bonus of a six pack of our favorite beverage and arrange the remainder of our wild card bonuses - mardi gras beads and our pirate flag flying from the antennae.
We crossed the finish line at 14:37 which was 7 minutes ahead of our planned arrival. We had ridden 1434 miles in a bit less than 29 hours. Noteworthy also is the fact that we rode exactly what we planned without deviation. It was our personal best mileage wise out of the 9 Cape Fear rallies. Woohoo!
We had completed the rally only encountering a smattering of rain in the last 100 miles. Motorcycles had performed flawlessly, gear worked like it should, and now it was paperwork time.
I’m a bit anal about rally prep and preparing for scoring.. Cameras are all set to the correct time, clean formatted SD cards are installed, note cards prepped, etc. etc. etc. Nothing is more disheartening that to lose points at the scoring table because you did something careless with the paperwork. We are proud of virtually never leaving points on the table so to speak.
I opened the camera to transfer photos to our laptop and could only stare in shock when I discovered there was no SD card in the camera. The intial and immediate though was “We are sooooo screwed”. I did not have a USB cable that would fit the camera but did have a backup camera with SD card. Of course, there were no photos on it. I put the clean SD card in the camera and prayed there was an option to transfer photos from internal memory to the SD card. Hallelujah! There was an option and photos were copied from memory to the SD card. Rally saved!
Scoring went painlessly and we left nothing on the table.
After a quick cleanup we were back for the banquet. Delicious BBQ as always and then the frivolity began. Scott LaShier, Void Rallymaster, was entertaining as Jim Bain was semi-roasted and given several gifts for his service over the last 10 years. We finally got the important part of the evening - announcing the winners.
4th place! No plaque but we did get our top finisher shirts from last year.
It seemed as though we just laid down to rest when it was time to get up for the 620 mile trip home. We said our goodbyes and mounted up to pull away. I noticed my Tire Pressure Management System flashing a low tire warning on the rear. Hoping it was just a battery issue, I quickly checked the tire and it was indeed low. A spin of the rear tire and there it was - a nail that had been picked up somewhere towards the end of the rally.
With the assistance of David Clark and Ray King, I got the nail out, gummy worms installed and the tire inflated. Now we could go home.
Although it had been a dry rally, it would not be a dry ride home. We were in some pretty heavy rains through Augusta, GA and finally clear skies as we scooted through Atlanta. We stopped at the Alabama line to remove some waterproof gloves and settle down for what should have been a dry ride home.
Outside of Anniston we encountered a micro cell that hadn’t showed up on a previous radar check. Rain so heavy that visibility was virtually nill...traffic on the interstate slowed to 20 mph and I could only follow the flashing lights of the car in front hoping I wasn’t going to get plowed into from the rear. KLIM gear did what it was supposed to do and we stayed mostly dry inside. About 10 minutes of torrential rains and it was over. The bright sunshine was almost blinding reflecting off the wet highway. The micro cell had followed the interstate as evidenced by the number of cars off in ditches right and left.
The final run was now complete. Home safe and sound with over 2400 miles since Thursday. It was a good night’s sleep Sunday night.
Our SPOT track.
The next chapter begins the 15th of May when we depart for a trip to Alaska with the MTF and the running of the BMRx on the way home. Yes, we’re going to do a rally after 3 weeks and over 8,000 miles. Silly huh?
