I’m back safe and sound with 55 minutes to spare.

Doug and I had split up this morning and I snagged some more points while he was getting tires replaced an oil changed. Not much, but it was fun using the ride back into St. Louis to see more countryside including Honda of America and the World’s Largest Basket. The latter was fun because I had seen it before on John Rattzenberger’s Made in America.

Scoring was stressful for me as I had been hosed on the fuel log portion in SPANK on both legs last year….I had something to prove. Worth 10,000 point you have to properly transcribe all the receipts you gathered to a single log including date, time, city, state/province, mileage, and gallons. One receipt I had was fine when I got it, but wet. Since the first day it’s faded so it was VERY hard to read the numbers.

I got 78,844 points total with 4,050 miles. 70,000 is the benchmark for a “finisher” and 80,000 is a “bronze medal” level. We had hoped to be between bronze and silver…..but not bad since I think the leg was hard on most everybody.

Hey, I see they put the Bonus Listing for Leg #1 on the Internet.  See exactly what I had to digest.

The other thing I’m thinking is that I just can’t do justice to what has happened in the last leg. I absolutely am going to have to write a detailed trip report after I get back home. Definitely, come back for that. You’re just getting highlights here folks.

For example, yesterday was the funnest time of the rally for me. Riding with Doug and John Langan around New Hampshire, beating feet to Pennsylvania the same day, and coming up to the Reading Pagoda at late twilight just in time to snap the picture was a great ride that finished a great day. It’s clear in my mind, but I have to somehow put the red neon against the deep green of Pennsylvania in text for you all somehow. This rally has been full of vivid color.
Had another surreal experience today…two of them in fact.

One was in Urbana shortly after I called John and he typed my entry. Dude and his girlfriend or wife drive by me as I’m walking from the CVS for fresh earplugs and Sharpies, “You in the Iron Butt Rally?”

Another stalker? I wasn’t with Doug so he couldn’t have seen the Star-Traxx. He just spotted my bike and knew. Rich (I see he e-mailed nust now)….great to know there are fans out there. It makes me remember how lucky I am to compete in this thing. Truly a life event!

Second one (don’t read thest two paragraphs Mom) was I encounter a storm cell. Headed right at it for 50 miles and put my rain gear on before. As I approached it I realized it was a giant vertical wall of blackness that was only broken visually by these weird leading light gray runner clouds.

When I hit the thing I went from dry to drenched in less than 1/2 mile. I couldn’t see 50 feet in front of me at one point and wasn’t sure if there was a Tornado lifting me off the ground….so I kept the handelbars straight and a few seconds later I saw pavement again and kept going. Surreal…and I know how Dorothy and Toto must have felt. Once through the wall it was just rain riding. 100 miles is far easier than 1100 miles…let me tell you.

You can start reading again Mom. I’m getting up at 3 a.m. for packets being handed out at 4 a.m. This leg will likely be Western in theme. And this one we’ll be on the clock. I used the “Jim Owen” method for inputting the Leg 1 packet and Doug liked it so much we’re tweaking it slightly for our purposes and going to divvy up the packet in the morning.

After that, I’ll blog before I got with a plan. Just be aware that I’m not 100% sure I’m going to ride with Doug on this leg. I’ll announce in the morning.

Physical condition is pretty good. My right ear was raw on the third day from the silicone earphone/plug. I’ve put a regular foam plug coated in Neosporin for the last several days and it’s better. The left is getting a bit tender.

My hands are pretty good. Just a slight tingle in two fingers of the right hand, but my throttle lock his helping. Fingers are overall a bit sore.

Knees and between the shoulders are tight, but livable.

My eyes have been much better than before….I’ve been forcing myself to keep the visor down when it’s hot.

Monkey Butt is almost non-existent. I made a beaded seat at the last minute and that one thing has truly turned my seat into a 4,000 mile seat.

I’m also tired at the end of each day, but I don’t think exhausted. I feel good through the day afterwards…..however, I’m sure that will change in the days to come.

Hoping for Leg 2 to be the West…and maybe even the Pacific Northwest where I have some experience riding.

Matt