Plan Your Ride and Ride Your Plan,
Theoretically…
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| Musings of a Long Distance Rider |
Essentially the available waypoints and the obligatory pic
at the fountain created a sort of “odometer check” type route that could be
pretty routinely followed with not too much effort. One rider, who happens to be an Iron Butt
Rally finisher, got a little off course.
Joe Green got things done ok in San Fran, then headed out to the Mausoleum
for the RIP waypoint, and intended to then capture the Vallejo Ferry Terminal before
heading back to the hotel in Hayward. It
seems Joe accidently selected the SFO Vallejo Ferry waypoint (the dock in the
city from which Wyman sailed to Vallejo on Day 1) and was routed to one of the
toll bridges heading back into town.
By the time Joe realized his mistake it appeared to be too
late to get off the road before being forced to cross the bay. Ever resourceful as all IBR Finishers are,
Joe spied a stretch of payment heading off to the right which appeared it might
be an out. It became evident quickly
that the side lane was not an escape route but rather a special bus lane that routed
vehicles through a private toll lane. In
order to discourage patrons from getting into the lane improperly a sign was
posted declaring a $267 fine for illegally using the bus only lane. Again summoning his immense IBR skills he
quickly recalled that someone had told him (thus it must be true) that if you
straddle two lanes with your bike the toll readers could not pick up your
license plate and you could therefore avoid the toll.
Joe’s not sure if the deceitful trick will work but when
questioned later about his screwed up ride he remarked that there is always
something that you are going to screw up on a multi-day ride or rally. He further theorized that if you get it out
of the way early you can stop stressing over the inevitable mistake that is
coming and get on with a successful ride.
That’s the story of how Joe Green became the first rider in history to
screw up the Wyman “odo check” route. I
held the news so that Joe, now a fugitive from justice and wanted by the
California toll police, could get well out of the state before the press got
wind of it. Now only extradition from
Nevada could impede Joe’s Wyman ride.
There is however a problem with theories. That is, they are just that – theories, not
facts. And so begins the tale of “Joe
Dirt” on Day 1 of the Wyman. Having been
told on several occasions not to take the unmaintained dirt road to the Upsal
waypoint in Nevada because it was almost impassable and there was really
nothing to see there, Joe determined that his BMW GSA would have no problem
with the task. Already at the back of
the pack of the “normal” bikes, maybe because he had to go get the Vallejo
Ferry Terminal waypoint, Joe led only Richard Worsham who was ably piloting his
Janus “factory sponsored” bike along the course. It sort of conjures up a “tortoise and the
hare” picture, doesn’t it?
Joe laid the GSA down gently, not once, not twice, but three
times on the Upsal road, the last time requiring boot removal to extricate himself
from under the bike. Ride scorer Tim
Masterson resolved to give him the bonus for the gallant, if not ill-advised,
effort. Richard Worsham stopped to check
on Joe as he caught up to him back on the paved road and dutifully called in to
report a rider in distress. The two
motored in to Wells, NV to the first night “checkpoint” without further
incident, save a few drops of unwelcome rain.
So much for theories, Joe Dirt.
THE WYMAN “SAND TRAP” AWARD
Joe ‘Dirt’ Green is hereby
recognize as the first person to drop his/her motorcycle while navigating along
an unpaved road while participating in the George A. Wyman Memorial Challenge.
Having fallen over three times in soft sand while navigating along “Upsal Road”
Joe ‘Dirt’ has distinguished himself among his fellow ‘Rendezvous’ riders. This
is in keeping with the finest tradition of navigating over rough unpaved roads
and frequently falling, first established by Wyman riding from San Francisco to
New York City, c.1903.
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| Joe 'Dirt' Green 516.1 Lotta's Fountain |
All other riders enjoyed a mostly nice weather day with
spotty rain toward the end. Gary Huff
was the first bike to the barn and had a good day bagging waypoints and sending
Tim and I pictures. He needs a bigger
challenge. Robert Rehkopf and Doug Vance
road together and seemed genuinely pleased with their effort and reported to be
enjoying the ride. John and Nadine Huval
found the two-up riding to be right up their alley – part rally training and
part sight-seeing. Tim and I spent the
day hopscotching around to visit with local museum caretakers and store owners along
the route who are putting up plaques and signs to memorialize the Wyman
ride. We also did a fair amount of phone
calling and spot checking to make sure any rider safety issues were taken care
of.
Tomorrow we gather again in Laramie, WY. Rumor has it that at least three guests will
be at the RTE gathering. Come and join
us if you can.
Footnote – Robert Rehkopf and Doug Vance striking the “Wyman Pose” atop their modern rides:
Footnote – Robert Rehkopf and Doug Vance striking the “Wyman Pose” atop their modern rides:
