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It'd take two of him to make one Bruce... |
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July 2001 Volume 2, Number 3 Lauranne covers the WIW Rendevous =============
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2001 WALTZ: How to Lose a Rally before You Turn the Key by Billy Street Just outside of Russellville, I get my first sign that there is hope for the rally. A WallyWorld is on the left. Four packs of film, school supplies and a teddy bear. I think he will go well with my chicken. Into Russellville for the mandatory gas stop. As I am filling the tank, two other idiots pull in. Now, in the middle of Full Rally Search & Destroy, I have a serious case of CRS (can't remember shit). And, I sure remember bikes better than I remember names. If I remember the bikes, they were a Voyager and a K75. These guys are all smiles and having fun and don't seem to notice the sound of that cast iron manhole cover slamming down over us and sealing our fate. I comment on how far behind I am and Mr. Voyager says, "No way, we are right on schedule. We just have to get over to Ft. Smith. Then, we are back in Oklahoma. I know this area." This is the voice from someone who has ridden the area for years, a complete fool, or a demon sent to continue my torture.
Two points of clarification: The reservoir was properly disposed near Miss Laura's Social Club in Fort Smith. We deemed it appropriate to leave a lubrication device in this area. And, Hawke replaced the reservoir at no cost. He even designed a special reservoir that utilizes two retainers and included the note "STREET SPECIAL" hand lettered in indelible ink. I believe that this was done purely for my embarrassment. I do highly recommend his oiler.
One of Jack's rally requirements is that each rider check in during a pre-set time period. We must call Jack back at rally central to confirm our mileage, time, and location. This is one of the tricks that RallyBast...er...RallyMasters (I plan to be back) use to maintain their own sanity. They worry about us. Or, is it the liability thing? At any case, Jack wants us to call, and we all want to stay on Jack's good side. We all take this opportunity to call in from the Social Club. With six or so cell phones and a collective two brains working, we figured out that we needed to call the hotel directly and got through on one of the phones. Thank you to whomever allowed all of us to use his cell time. I think Jack was pleased to hear that we were all fine and at a house of ill repute. Butt, there was no time for socializing. We were still in a deep hole when we consider getting back to Longview.
SLAM ... AIRBORNE ... "This is MadDawg, requesting permission to land." SLAM II...
The capital of the Choctaw Nation is in Tuskahoma, OK only 37 miles down the road. Did I mention that Albert Pike was One of the Low Points. Choctaw Nation had to be the other one. Due to the excellent programming of a GPS III+, we were able to ride straight to this out of the way location. Photo's taken. Mr. K75 looks at his map and comments on the 90 or so miles to the next town. Mr. Voyager asks, "Do you have enough fuel for 90 miles." I turn on the ignition. As the gas gauge shows 3 bars (VFR speak for less than 75 miles), I set my picture of the stone marker on the bike. I thought I heard someone say something. Grasshoppa, "ALWAYS PUT THE PHOTOS AWAY FIRST!" So, I won't get credit for this one. While K75 went off to look for a gas station, Voyager and I sat and thought. For the first time in the rally, I closed my eyes. This was gonna be a hell of a way to end it -- dead out of fuel in the middle of Oklahoma. I couldn't stop thinking and the occasional car that passed kept me from sleep. Hey, there are cars. There must be gas. We decided to stop the local traffic for information. After about 30 minutes of this, we got directions to a gas station just as K75 rode up with a hit. There was gas about 15 miles down the road.
We fuel and head for the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Hugo. The road has straightened slightly and the run to Hugo is quick. We ride right up to the cemetery and find the gates open. I am not walking when I can ride. So we ride straight to the gravesite. We hadn't even gotten the cameras out of the tankbags when the locals started checking on who was riding in the cemetery. Well, they let us get our pics and we headed out. I was leading as we left Hugo and headed for Mandatory Checkpoint No. 2. It is the middle of the night and the roads are desolate. There is this temptation to twist hard. But, I have a bad feeling about it. Just as we pass Indian Nation Turnpike, I see a car coming off the ramp. Did I see a reflection on the side? Was that a sign on the car? Bogie Confirmed. Yep, it said something about the State of Oklahoma and some patrol. So we ran at a conservative speed most of the way to Durant. There, we picked up US 69 into Denison. Somebody must have put an ad in the paper in Denison ---- "Crazed Bikers will descend on Denison during pre-dawn hours Sunday morning." and every LEO from anywhere near that place was cruising or sitting on US 69 and along the route to Eisenhower's Birthplace. This was a run at the speed limit if you value your license kinda place. At the Phillips 66 in Denison, we held a sorta Rally Reunion with John and Greg, and Tracy, Bruce "B2" Barge, and a couple of others decided to show up for this one. When we announced that we were headed for Dallas, everybody looked at us with that "are you outta your #%&*ing minds" look. But, we decided that we could make the run to Dallas and get to Longview before the 7:00 a.m. "Nice ride but you're TIMEBARRED!" door closed. (Have any of the rest of you wondered why that word has to be in all--caps? Isn't it bad enough without the emphasis?) This route was all high--speed slab. And, Mr. Voyager who knew the ropes of getting into and out of Dallas quickly led us. We made the bonus at Dealy Plaza and had to reevaluate. Scottish Rite Hospital would have to be ditched. All
three of us will need fuel before we reach Longview -- 137 miles away. We
find a station near Dealey's Plaza, fuel, miss the turn out of there and
ride along slow downtown streets for what seems to be an eternity. I have other problems at this point in the rally. I always schedule a bonus as near the finish as possible to keep the adrenaline pumping all the way to the finish. Full Rally Search & Destroy overcomes many difficulties -- exhaustion is one of them. Since I changed the route, I have a longer than normal run to the finish. I am tired and the brain has just told the body that there are no more bonuses to collect. Mind to Body -- Close FRS&D. Body says thank you and begins to shut down. I recognize that I am focussed on the rear wheel of the bike I am following. It is time to change things. So I wave them on and take control of my own ride. Now, I have to think about where I am riding. The plan works -- along with seeing RallyRadarRanger and a couple of more official speed checkers. I roll in to rally headquarters with 16 minutes to spare. My only thought is that we had time to get Scottish Rite. I apologize to Jack for quitting and coming in early. ;--) Summary Jack Tollett puts on a class act. Sometimes, it helps to find a riding buddy or two. Always, it helps to bring your brain to a rally. It helps even more if you use it. Fifty riders completed the Waltz Across Texas Rally. Several more exercised the good judgement to stop when the body demanded it. I hope that I will make that choice when it comes to it -- and it will come if I continue to rally. Rallying is about making good decisions and eliminating mistakes. But, it is far more than that. We also raised over $8,000 for one of the best organizations in Texas, Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, and donated many items to local charities.
Did I mention that Jack puts on a class act? Part of that class act is that he takes the extra time to find local needs and a way for us to help with them. Part of that class act is that he spends most of the year planning for some of the finest riding in Texas. And, part of that class act is that he and a great group of volunteers work all weekend to see that the riders only have to deal with the rally, the roads, and their own limitations. Thank you, Jack. I hope that we left Longview with a positive image of Long Distance and Rally riders. This report did not mention weather other than brief notes about heat or heated clothing. That is because the weather was not a factor in WATR2001. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. I cannot imagine what my rally would have been like under difficult weather conditions. P.S. Get well soon, Bruce. You remain in my thoughts. |
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Well,
I have never been one to ride a rally with anyone else. But, I had a few
reasons to change that right here at Mandatory Checkpoint No. 1, WATR
2001. If you are unclear on my reasons, go back two paragraphs. Reading
comprehension is everything. Note that I am not in the best of situations
right now. We decide to take SR22 because it is shorter than the slab
(remember speed controls). Voyager led, I was second, and K75 followed.
All of a sudden, K75 was MIA. We stopped and I was just about to head back
looking for him when he comes into view. My best guess is that SR 22 was
last paved by the owner of an auto suspension shop, and he saw the paving
as a marketing opportunity. This road is so rough that it physically hurts
my body at RallyNominalSpeed 
In
Ft. Smith, we found The Hanging Judge's gallows at the 
