2009 Iron Butt Rally

On April 14, 2008 I received an E-mail from Lisa Landry of the IBA saying

"Congratulations! Your application was drawn for entry in the
2009 Iron Butt Rally - The World's Toughest Motorcycle Competition!"

My heart was in my throat! Am I ready for this? I am NOT ready to leave my wife and kids (the older one is out of the house but the little one will have just turned 4 as I shove off) for two and a half weeks. If I go away for a day I'm completely homesick and miss them terribly. What is 16 days gonna feel like?

Here's what my garage (and FJR) looked like when I got the notice.

I signed the application, wrote the check, and addresses the envelope.
All I have to do now is seal it, stamp it, and drop it in the mail box. First I am going to reread the rules for the 2009 rally and make sure I'll really be able to handle this. I have two weeks before my deposit needs to be into rally headquarters. Two weeks now feels like nothing, two weeks in August of '09 is going to feel like an eternity!

Latest Update

I wanted to brain storm about what preventive maintenance I should do
to take a 4 year old (with 31,000 miles) motorcycle on a 10,000-12,000
mile 11 day trip?
Here's what I'm thinking so far.
1. Change Wheel Bearings
2. Change Steering Head Bearings
3. Flush All Fluids
4. New Tires
5. New Brakes
6. Make sure fuel cell will pass tech.
7. Change as much of old hardware over to stainless as I can access.
8. Cut cats out of exhaust? Yes or no? The rally IS in August!
9. Mount Hydration System
10. Clean Injectors?
11. New Battery
12. New Spark Plugs
13. Rebuild Forks
14. Rebuild Shock

I just had the valves adjusted about 3,000 miles ago so I think I'm fine there.
I have the PHID's mounted.
I just ordered a Super Pro AVi Autocom system to mount permanently to
the bike instead of the portable Autocom I've been using.
I need a set of wheels that would fit a '04 FJR with ABS.
I'll need extra rims with tires mounted at the midway point.
I can't get 10,000 miles from a rear tire in August on that thing.
I need the rotors too but I can order up some Galfers if I have to.
I'm just looking for ideas.

Another option is to strip all the goodies off my FJR, sell it and buy a newer model. Maybe a lightly used generation two. A lot of my stuff wouldn't transfer over to the Gen 2 bike but a lot would. I could either sell my '04 after I stripped all the goodies off or I could part it out while I pulled all the goodies off.
I'd take a bath if I sold it as is with all the goodies on it.
This is the way I'm leaning right now.

Nick and I are going to go check out this used '07 FJR with 4,124 miles in Jersey on Monday the 12th.
Hey Nick, what are you doing Monday the 12th???
It went to $10,200 on eBay and his reserve was $10,800.
He said he was not flexible at all on the price.
I also found a new '07 and a new '08 that were damaged in shipping.
A dealer in Jersey bought them and I spoke with the owner on Saturday.
He didn't want to discuss the actual damage until he had them at his shop and was able to pull them apart and see what exactly was damaged.
Fair enough.
If it's just broken Tupperware I might consider that also.

Update 5/5/08 Cinco DeMayo
I stamped and mailed my signed waiver and check for my deposit today.
In a few days I will be an official entrant in the 2009 IBR!!!

Update 5/12/08

Lisa sent me an E-mail today saying that my paperwork was received and my deposit, deposited!

Update 6/9/08

Nick and I just returned from Jersey where I picked up a slightly used '07 FJR 1300 "Black Cherry"

Sorry for the crappy pictures. I must have been shaking since it was like 98° out today.

4,125 miles and the bike looked perfect!
That is until Nick Conaned the piece that covers the windshield screws off.

I will list the names of anybody that donates somewhere on this site (probably this page). Any amount collected over my expenses will be donated to the Karen Hornbecker Memorial Injured Riders Fund. Or the Roadracing World Action Fund. We're going this pretty grass roots. I would ask that you please do NOT pass this donation thing around. I have gotten permission to accept donations but I promised that I would keep it low key. Thanks for understanding.

Ralph L. Angelo Jr.
Author of "Help! they're all out to get me!
The motorcyclists guide to surviving the everyday world."
The Fuzzmops!
Thanks Guys!!!

Update 7/11/08

Today I received a couple of ECM's (Electronic Counter Measures). My new Valentine One radar detector and another piece of very cool electronics that I'm not ready to divulge. I'll get some pics and do a write up during install but I probably won't make it public until after the rally.

Update 8/14/08

I've been pretty busy working to pay for all the stuff I've been buying in preparation for this rally. I received my custom tank bag from Linda T. of CustomTankBags.com and WOW!!! That thing is AWESOME!!! I promise to post some pictures as soon as I can get the bike out and take some decent pictures of it mounted up.

I also picked up a large Motofizz camping seat bag lightly used on eBay. Might have been used on 2 or 3 rides at the most. Looks brand new. I also received my newly refurbished Garmin 2730. I have one Garmin 2610 that I've used for years and I bought a second, refurbed unit as a backup after I heard they were discontinued. I may just go ahead and sell my backup 2610 now that I have the 2730. It has XM Traffic and Weather and is loadable with custom POI's (points of interest). Ya know, speed traps, school zones, 7-Elevens, the important stuff. The 2730 can hold 2,000 waypoints as opposed to the 2610 holding 500. Better display type and higher resolution screen. Audio book and MP3 player. And a few other things but I have to load my waypoints and play around with it first before I decide to off my backup 2610.

I'm still looking for some spare wheels and a spare subframe that I'm going to need for the rally. Wheels will be used to speed up the tire swapping at the mid point (so maybe I can sleep a bit) and the subframe is for some testing we'd like to do before I shove off.

Well, I've done my first interview so lets call it "exclusive".
Click here to read it on FuzzyGalore.com.

Fuzzy also came up with this logo.

I LOVE IT!!!

Update 8/24/08

OK, it's exactly one year to the start of the 2009 IBR.
Everybody keeps saying "Oh, you've got a year." "You've got plenty of time." Well I don't!!!
Between fabricating and testing I'm behind schedule already. Here are some updated pictures of my garage.

I have GOT to get my ass in gear!!!

Update 8/27/08

I've received my bar risers and "Barn Door" Cee Bailey +4,+4 windshield. I just ordered a dozen retractable key holders.

I figure I can use them to hold everything from pens to the bite valve on my hydration system. I also got my name on the list to have my seat redone by Bill "Rocky" Mayer. Should be done in a week or 3 so I need to take some pictures and send that in with my seat.
I need to keep plugging away. 362 and counting.

Update 8/31/08

I've really been getting into a groove the last few days. I've been ordering parts and making decisions. I've received the 12 retractable key rings. Let's see, in the last 2 days I've ordered

Givi Rack and Top Case
Autocom Super Pro AVI
Bill Mayer Seat
Wild Bill Highway Pegs
N/ Line Dash Shelf
N/ Line Valentine 1 Enclosure
N/ Line GPS Brackets
N/ Line Garmin GPS Sun Shades
Datel Voltmeter

I still need to order a few more things.

Electronic Cruise Control
Tail Dragger Fuel Cell
Sonic Fork Springs
Littlite Map Light

Then I need to get everything mounted.

The forth running of the Void Rally is October 10th-11th.

Jaime and I are signed up to run the 24 hour rally starting in Harrisburg, PA at 10am on Friday the 10th and finish at 12:30pm (I guess it's actually a 26.5 hour rally) on Saturday the 11th in Lynchburg, VA. We'll leave LI on Thursday after work and get a room in Harrisburg so we can start fresh in the morning. We'll be back around dinner time Sunday. I figure this will be a great shakedown run. Now I just need to see if we can get the bike built in the next 4 weeks. Here's what I figure is mandatory for us to get done by the end of the month.

Fuel Cell (It's not mandatory for the Void but we must install that BEFORE we start wiring.)
Givi Rack and Top Case
Seat
Highway Pegs
Dash Shelf
GPS' Wired and Mounted
Voltmeter
PHID Lights
Heat-Trollers

Problem is we want ALL of the wiring to be done in one session so that means we'll also have to wire up the following even though we probably won't NEED them for the Void. I'm sure it won't hurt though.

All the Electronic Counter Measures
Electronic Cruise Control
Map Light

Update 9/4/08

Nothing official yet but it looks like the 2009 IBR will start in Spartanburg, SC!!! It seems that the information was "leaked" over several beers at the IBA National Meet a few weeks ago in Tulsa. I, unfortunately, was not able to attend. One of the head muckity-mucks at the IBA has said that we will be notified as soon as everything is ironed out. Spartanburg is near the intersection of 26 and 85 in north western SC. About 90 miles northwest of Columbia, SC and about 75 miles southwest of Charlotte, NC.

It's the little skull and crossbones in the top left of SC. :D

Update 9/6/08

Well, I've had a pricey week. I ordered a Sampson Sport Touring "Taildragger" Fuel Cell and a Motorcycle Cruise Control electronic cruise control. About $1,800 just for those 2 items alone. I've also received my highway pegs, peg lowerers, Power Commander, and two Fuzeblocks. The pile of stuff is getting bigger, the pile of money is getting much, MUCH smaller!

Update 9/13/08

Everything seems to be coming together as far as parts showing up. I'll probably end up only adding the bear minimums before the Void since I don't think there will be time to get EVERYTHING added. The fuel cell is due to ship on September 20th so that's cutting it REALLY close. Bottom line is that if Nick thinks we can get it done I'm all in. If he doesn't want to rush it, we won't even bother. If we start it and can't get it finished I can always use the KTM as a backup for the Void.
I mailed my stock seat off to Bill "Rocky" Mayer yesterday the 12th. I don't think the turnaround time will be an issue but I bought another stock seat just in case.
I became a dealer for N/ Line so I have a half dozen dash shelves coming along with some other goodies.
My Givi rack, E46N top case, Wild Bill highway peg brackets (I still need to order the pegs), and Power Commander are all here and will be installed by me in the next week or two.
My Autocom Super Pro AVi is in but I'll use my Active-Plus for the Void and hardwire the Super Pro during the big install for the IBR.
I only wiring I will absolutely need to do for the Void will be for a GPS (or two). I have a Powerlet plug on the left passenger peg so I'll probably just run a temporary wire from that up to the dash shelf and some audio cables to patch it into my Autocom.
That's all the news there is for now. More later.

Update 9/18/08

So I did a little work to the '07 FJR this Tuesday on my day off. The Void rally is 3 weeks away from today and I have a lot of work to do. The fuel cell shipped today so there's NO WAY it'll be here by the 20th but maybe it'll get here early next week. I got the Givi rack installed.

I aborted the Superbrace install. I'm going to wait until my springs come in and I'll swap out the weak .80 kg/mm stock springs for a nice set of Sonic 1.0 kg/mm straight rate spring.

Here's pretty much a running list I have so I can see what's what.

2007 FJR
Farkles
Seat	Waiting	Shipped 9/12
Dash Shelf	Waiting	Shipped9/12
GPS Sun Shades	Waiting	Shipped9/12
GPS Brackets	Waiting	Shipped9/12
Comm System	Have	Need to install
Highway Pegs	Have	Need to install
Fuel Management	Have	Need to install
GPS'	Have	Need to install
Music	Have	Need to install
Tank Bag	Have	Need to install
Fork Brace	Removed	Need to install
Peg Lowerers	Have	Need to install
Risers	Need to Order
Fork Springs/Oil	Waiting	Ordered 9/14
Map Light	Need to Order	Wrong Part?
Fuel Cell	Waiting	Due 9/20
Voltmeter	Waiting	Shipped???
V1 Enclosure	Waiting	Shipped9/12
T-Shirt	Waiting	Shipped9/12
Lights	Swap
Shock	Swap
Horn	Swap
Cruise Control	Have
Hydration System	Have
Windshield	Have
Heat-Trollers	Have
Radar	Have
Satellite Radio	Have
Ham Radio	Have
Clothes Line	Fabricate
Hand Guards	Done
Rack & Topcase	Done

Need For Void
Optional For Void
Completed

It's getting late, I'm off to bed.

Update 9/20/08

I got my dash shelf and a few other goodies from N/ Line in the mail yesterday.
N/ Line Products
Sunshade for my GPS' and brackets to mount them to the shelf. I'm still waiting for the box for my Valentine One radar detector though.
All I need now is the fuel cell and I'm ready for install.
Hey guess what??? I ran by the store today to pick up a regulator for my Suzuki TL1000 and my Sampson Sport Touring Tail Dragger cell was sitting there!!!
That was the one piece I was waiting for to get this whole project started! (By project I mean the install of all these parts.) I think I may have my friend Carmine mount the fuel cell and maybe even the cruise control. He's been finishing a lot of the projects I haven't had the time (or skill) to finish and he's work has been good. He's also been great at fabricating parts as he goes along. His calendar is empty so his turnaround is awesome.

Update 9/21/08 Thanks to Fuzzy for the logo I set this up today.
RallyFund
$5 from each item sold will go to the Rally Fund.

Update 9/28/08 10 days until we leave for the Void.
Here's a small list of what I still need to install before actual testing starts.

Seat - Bill Mayer - Shipped 9/12 should be here this week.
Dash Shelf - N/ Line
Comm System - Autocom Super Pro AVi
Highway Pegs - Carmine's Custom Cycles
Fuel Management - PC3 Undecided map at this point
GPS' - Garmin 2610 & Garmin 2730
Music - XM through the 2730 and iPod mounted
Tank Bag - Linda T custom
Fork Brace - Superbrace
Peg Lowerers - MCL
Risers - Heli Top Triple
Fork Springs - Sonic 1.2KG/mm
Fork Oil / Amsoil Medium Weight
Map Light - Littlite LED x 2
Fuel Cell - Sampson Tail Dragger
Voltmeter - Datel Ordered a month ago still waiting.
Radar - V1 Waiting for N/ Line enclosure
HID Conversion Headlights - KB Car Stuff Ordered 9/26
Driving Lights - PHID's
Shock - Penske
Horns - Magnum Blasters
Cruise Control - Motorcycle Cruise Control
Heat-Trollers - 4 Single Mountable Coax 2 front, 2 rear
Ham Radio - Yaesu VX7R
Top Case - Givi E460N With top rack with AdMore Lighting tail/stop/brake light kit.

Hand Guards - V-Strom

Update 9/30/08

Just thought I'd post some pics of the progress.

Fuel cell is almost done, Penske is in. 8 days until we leave..
Bill Mayer seat is in. Testing Smart FTP.

Update 1/5/09

I haven't updated the site in a while since my web guys won't turn on Front Page extensions so I need to teach myself how to FTP so I can finally update this site.
It's January 5th and we're down to 230 days until lift-off. I still have a lot of work to do and quite frankly, I'm scared to death. It's gonna be one hell of a trip. Jaime is considering taking the van to drop me off in Spartanburg, SC for the start (the FJR will fit inside) and taking the eleven days to work her way across to the left coast and pick me up at the end. Then we'll have to bomb straight home to make sure she's back in time for work.
More later, I need to get to work.

Update 1/7/09

I'm just trying to catch up on some of the things going through my head since the last time I really updated this page back in September. I've been busy with the holidays and all.
Jaime and I rode the FJR to the forth running of the Void Rally on October 10th-11th.

We left Long Island on Thursday October 9th after work for Harrisburg, PA. The rally was starting at 10 am on Friday the 10th. This was our shakedown run so we had a few things to work out, mostly with the Autocom VOX levels. Our mics were turning on WAY too easy so once we got to the hotel I got to work on fucking things up further.
I turned the VOX all the way down (or is that up?) but played with another dial that turned out to be balance between rider and passenger. I could hear fine but she could barely hear anything. We pulled the seats at one of our bonus stops and fixed that so for the rest of the rally and the ride home it worked fine.
I did find a few things that I need to address before the “Big Dance”.
I need to mount the GPS’s on the N/ Line dash shelf.
I need to mount my Heat-Trollers so I can run my Warm & Safe electric jacket liner, pants liners, gloves, and socks.
I need to move my Littlite map light.
I want to pull my suspension and have it rebuilt. It basically sucks at slow speeds so I need to get it fixed. Riding through a small town (which I'm sure I'll be doing plenty of) is dangerous.
I signed up for the Russell Day Long seat group buy so I need to send in my stock seats and have them redone. The Bill Mayer seat wasn’t all I had hoped it would be.
Great! I'm back to "I need to get my ass in gear!!!" status!!!
I found a deal on Avon AV45/AV46 Azaro Tires. The fronts were $40 each and the rears were $80 each. They were from 2 different places but there was a 20% added discount on the rears. I bought 3 sets and the total was $343. That's $114 a set delivered! Smoking deal! I ordered them Sunday night (1/4/09) and the rears are already here, shrink wrapped, and stored in the back room on a shelf. My store is probably the most climate controlled place I have. I am actually contemplating using a car tire on the rear of the FJR for the rally. I know it sounds crazy but Goldwing guys have been doing it for years with no ill side effects. Also, Eric Vallancourt mounted one on an FJR a few weeks ago and has been testing it with good results. I’m figuring that since I have the Coats machine I would only be out a few bucks (>$100) if it sucked. If it turned out good I think I could go the whole rally on one set of tires. If I were sure I could get 11,000-12,000 on one front I would do the car tire on the back in a second.

Update 1/9/09

Testing File Zilla now.

Update 2/2/09

OK, I need to catch up. As of today there are 202 days until I leave and I have a lot to do. Not enough to consider it a rush but enough where it'll be a rush come July when I haven't gotten off my fat ass and done SOMETHING about it. Today I made the revervations for the hotel rooms at the start in South Carolina. The only other thing I've done this week is send out my other stock seat to Russell Day Long for a custom seat.

Update 2/16/09

I got my new Russell Day Long Saddle back today and it looks GREAT. I need to get some seat time to break it in and then choose between the Corbin, Bill Mayer, or Russell. Only miles will be able to help me decide.

Update 2/21/09

Well, there was some HUGE news today presented for the IBR headquarters. All of the bonus locations coordinates for the 2009 Iron Butt Rally will be presented to contestants in electronic format. Let that sink in a second.
This is HUGE news!!!
That is going to save me countless hours trying to find the best way to input all that data.
Again, this is HUGE news!!!

Update 2/22/09

Busy week! It has been common knowledge for the last several months that the start was going to be in Spartanburg, SC.
Today we received an E-mail confirming that there will be two mandatory checkpoints and the finish location.
So here's the breakdown to what we know so far.
The itinerary for the start will be as follows.

Saturday, August 22
Tech Inspection/Odo Check - 9am - 5pm
Rally Check In - 10am - 6pm
No Host Dinner Riders & Guests - 6pm

Sunday, August 23,
Tech Inspection/Odo Check - 8am - 1pm
Rally Check In - 9am - 2pm
Mandatory Riders Only Meeting - 2:30pm
Opening Banquet - 5pm

Monday, August 24
Motorcycle Impound - 8am
Rally Start - 10am

The itinerary for the trip will be as follows.

Spartanburg, SC - Start - Monday, August 24, 10am
Chicago, IL - Checkpoint 1 - Wednesday, August 26, 9 - 11pm
Los Angeles, CA - Checkpoint 2 – Sunday, August 30, 9pm – 11pm
Spokane, WA - Finish – Friday, September 4, 9am

Without stopping for any bonus points that's just shy of 4,100 miles and will cause you to be a NON-FINISHER!
OK, where do I plan my tire swap? I plan to have a set of wheels all ready with fresh rubber mounted and waiting for me at one of the two checkpoints. I'm assuming right now I have to go with Checkpoint 2. Checkpoint 1 is only 2 days after the start and will leave me with 9 days to go on my second set. Checkpoint 2 will break up the trip into 6 days on the first set and 5 days on th second set. Although I'll be less tired (hopefully) at Checkpoint 1 I still don't think I'll want to risk running the last 9 days on the same set. Unless something changes it looks like I'll be shooting for changing tires at Checkpoint 2.

Update 6/6/09

Well time sure flies!!! This is my first update since February and as of today there are only 78 days until Spartanburg! I rode the Rhody Rally back on May 16th with the FJR and although I had a fuel cell and GPS issue the bike felt good. It needs a few days over at Carmin's Custom Cycles to iron out those bugs and finish some other minor things I want done before I shove off.
As I typed about before I'm going to need to do something about my tires to make sure I get to the finish. I was figuring on getting a second set of rims set up complete with bearings, rotors, and such so I could do a quick swap at the second checkpoint. I think I have the balance of the parts needed to create my second set of wheels coming this week. All I'm waiting on are some brake rotor bolts. But now my question is this. There are a few guys running car tires on the rear of their FJR's with some pretty good results. FJR Car Tire Before you go ballistic saying I'm crazy for even considering it this is not going to be a leisurely trip to Deals Gap. This is going to be thousands upon THOUSANDS of interstate miles. Day after day for 11 days. If I can't find a trailer like these Aluma Trailers in Spokane Washington for sale I'll be riding home after the rally is over. I'm thinking if I could save the time it will take me to change tires (with no outside help whatsoever) and have tires that will get me from home, to Spartanburg, to Spokane, and back home WITHOUT a swap in the middle I might have to go that route. This is the tire I've been considering. Yokohama Advan S.4
Now what I need to know is “What FRONT tire options do I have to get 18,000 miles without needing a change?” Some guys were talking about the Pilot Roads and Pilot Road 2's. I have ZERO experience with these tires. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. OK, Back to work now.

Update 6/15/09

More later.

Update 7/4/09

OK so there's 50 days until kickstands up and I'm trying to get used to saying "Next Month" instead of "Next Year"!!!
The bike is almost done and ready for testing. Car tire is in place and I'm almost 100% certain I'll be using it along with a Michelin Pilot Road 2 front and NOT changing tires for the whole rally.
If I really need a front halfway through I'll have to bite the bullet and stop for one. I'm not looking to win so I'm sure it won't matter THAT much.
Penske is back from getting freshened up. They told me the spring was set up for a bike weighing about 100# less than I'll be running in the rally. I carry about 50#-60# of fuel (including the tank) under the brake light and about 40# of tools in the right saddlebag. I'm hoping the Penske feels as nice as it did when it was new. I'm sure it will. The original fuel pump for my fuel cell went TU so I bought a low pressure electric fuel pump from NOS. It works AWESOME! I still need to time it to see how long it takes to dump the whole 4+ gallons of the cell but our guesstimate is about 5 minutes.
Carmine's Custom Cycles fabricated up a waterproof antenna mast that will house my V1. On top of that will reside my GXM30 for satelitte weather (and maybe XM radio), and the 2 external antennas for my Garmin 2610 and Garmin 478. I scrapped the idea of the Garmin 2730 when I saw what the weather really was. I went with the Garmin 478 with Nexrad weather. I can't wait to see how well that all works.
Heat-Trollers are in.
We're waiting on parts for the hydration system.
I still need to test the Stadium Pal!!!

I bought this Aluma MC210 trailer in Idaho. The seller agreed to hold it for me until the first week of September so we (me and an IBR veteran) don't have to ride 2,700 miles home after 11 days in Hell.

This trailer has two chocks, ramp, LED lights, 800# jack with swivel wheel, stone guard, 10 tiedown points, plus a bunch of other stuff and only weighs 540#. Loaded up we should still be under a ton. This trailer is about an hour east of the finish line so either my Father-In-Law will pick it up on his way to the finish or we will just ride there on Saturday the 5th on our way home.

Update 7/5/09

OK, Carmine started working on the FJR this afternoon and I just got an updated text message.
Power for the Garmin 478 - DONE!
Littlite relocation - DONE!
G2 Throttle Tamer - DONE!
Penske Install - DONE!

Update 8/9/09

Alright, 11 days until I leave for Spartanburg and 15 days until the green flag drops!!!
There's still a few things I'd like to do to the bike and I should be able to get them done.
If I don't I'm not gonna stress over it.

Doran 360 Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Hydration system is ready to mount, we just need to swap out the stock passenget pegs with the "new" ones.
Repair sticky clutch switch.
Epoxy Littlite Map Light in place.
Epoxy auxilliry fuel pump switch in place.
Possibly fabricate a rally flag holder.
I've also been toying with the idea of making a "Jump Start Lug". A small lug that would be hidden so it couldn't accidently get bumped by anything and shorted that runs directly to the positive side of the battery. That way if I needed to jump start the bike I wouldn't need to dismantle have of the bike to get to the battery but like I said if I don't get to it no big deal.
I'd like to wash and rewaterproof all my riding gear this week
I think I'm going to start packing tonight

Update 8/17/09

OK, this will probably be my last submission before I head for Spartanburg. I'm mounting a fresh front tire tomorrow, washing and waterproofing my gear, and loading up the bike tomorrow. I need it all ready to rock a few days early so I'm not loading it up at 4:30 Friday morning (as usual). This is a MAMMOTH undertaking. In years past I would be excited with antipation the last few days before the rally. This year I'm truly frightened! I'll try to post a few pics of the FJR after it's all loaded but it might need to wait until I get back. Wish me luck.

Update 1/10/10

OK, so it's been 4 months since the rally has ended and I want to post my pictures.
I have a little trouble remembering which bonuses were which and where I was but that could just be old age setting in. I'm not really sure.
Here are my pictures from Leg 1. I'll get around to trying to add descriptions when I can.
Here's my driveway the night before leaving for Spartanburg.

This is all the stuff I still needed to find room for.

These are the Spot tracks inserted into S&T's.

Here's the list of stated visited before I left and after I got back.

First bonus.
BMW mueseum in Greer, South Caroline

Save-A-Lot Murphy, NC

Dayton, TN

Harlan, KY courthouse (Right across the river from Hazard. So far in the sticks they need to truck in sunshine.)

Where the Hatfield/McCoy fued all started. McCarr, KY

Matewan, WV

Charleston, WV
I got here at about 9:30am and was questioned by a very nice woman that worked there.
After a few minutes we looked up and her coworker was inside with phone in hand ready to dial 911.
Once the woman saw her coworker she waved her off like a "Oh don't worry, I'm OK." sort of wave.
Pretty funny.

Nitro, WV

Shamrock Liquors, Ashland, KY

This wasn't a bonus but I just HAD to stop. I'm pretty sure it was in Springfield, TN.

Hohenwald, TN. Beautiful park, very peacful. I almost took a nap but decided against it.

Palooka Joe, Oolitic, IN.
This is where I left my rally flag and "The Screwdriver".
Luckily I went about 4 miles up the road to squat in a shed in the Lowes parking lot and pulled out my phone to read the LD List news of the day and when I heard that Jeff Earls was the first to lose his flag I realized what I had done so I just went back for it.

La Porte Indiana Municiple Airport

Portage, IN

Benton Harbor, MI. What a dump!

Chicago, IL. I held up traffif standing in the middle of a Chicago street at 5:30pm to get this shot.

Here are some pictures from legs 2.
I didn't dump my camera at the second checkpoint and never saved my bonus pictures from my rally camera after stage 2.

So there I was in southern Wisconsin traveling east on route 19 getting onto 151 north and off to my right I see this!
I had to pull off to the side of the road and snap a few pictures.
Rally be damned! I couldn't pass up a picture of "Fuzzy's Liquors".
I do regret not being able to get a picture of my bike and flag in front of the sign though.

Sun Prairie, WI

Fox Lake, WI

Austin, MN

Austin, MN (again)

Hobo Muesum, Britt, IA.
I got here a little early so I took a nap on the bench right in front of the Hobo Muesum.
I wish somebody had a picture of that!

Backdrop for the movie "The Bridges of Madison County".
I guess the crime was that was actually a movie.

Winterset, IA

Police Department of Stuart, IA. Read the 2nd floor window.

Horseshoe Casino Council Bluffs, IA

Public Safety Center, Westminster, CO

Coors Wellness Center,Golden CO. This is the last picture with "The Screwdriver". I'm bummed that I lost it.
Luckily my rally flag was clipped to the bike or I would have lost that too.
I called Nick from my next stop, gas about an hour and a half down the road, and asked him to call the Coors Wellness Center to see if he could get somebody to go outside and get it but no luck.
So long to "The Screwdriver".