First thing upon arrival was the odometer check. I was checked in and set off on about a 15 mile loop down Route 5, back up 91 and back to the Rally HQ, the roadster said 15.2 miles on the odometer but about 14.6 per the GPS??? As I dismounted, a woman approached me, introduced herself as Linda Melanson from New York and said she had trailed her husbands GS in from New York, he was flying in later and would I mind doing his odometer check. I agreed and we got some assistance getting the bike off the trailer and I set off again. The GS was fun to ride, but I did have to figure out how to change the display to show the trip odometer reading and total mileage The GS said 14.6 miles (like my GPS) and I wondered how my odometer could be so far off? Well time to go in and register and check in. Another view of the parking lot. Over at the AdvRider forum I found this picture that someone took of me checking in for the odometer check.

In case you are wondering, the Sportster is an 883 and the young lady riding it was already an Iron Butt Rider and she was more than prepared for the 1,000 + miles to start Saturday. As I prepared for bed Friday night I tuned in the Weather Channel which said rain, rain and more rain for Saturday, just about everywhere we would be headed Saturday. This forecast turned out to be 100% accurate as we spent almost the entire ride in sometimes light and sometimes heavy rain. All I can say is I was glad to have all the gear on hand, Gortex suit, Leather and Gortex boots, rain gloves, Gerbings and G3 gloves, First Gear Sierra rain gear, etc. I used every bit of gear in my bags before Saturday was over. More views before we set out Saturday morning.

Second Leg: Swanton, VT to Bangor, ME: With a full tank of gas, my "four corners" log book entry made and 2 pints of Maple Syrup stashed in my tank bag I set off on the most challenging part of the course. First the next few roads across VT are a bit of a challenge. I am new to the GPS world, got my Zumo all of 3 weeks ago and could not figure out how to make Zumo follow the Route from the Swanton stop out to 78 to 105 to 118 to 58, etc. etc. So I was back to following the best VT state map available at Barnes and Noble and the AAA road maps I downloaded. Garmin was not much good for this part of the ride. In the rain I made it thru this section, occassionally pulling over to check the map to make sure I had not missed a turn. When I get onto 58 I really wonder if I am on route as this soon turn to a dirt road and keeps going up hill. Actually later several riders said they had never seen 58 in better shape, but with dedicated road tires, I am glad this was the case. Eventually I make it back over to Interstate 91 for a bit, go past St. Johnsbury and get on Interstate 93 to exit 1 to pick up Route 2 towards Maine. Route 2 has a reputation as a great biker's route, but it was not this day. Raining, it starts getting heavy around noon, and loaded with slow moving traffic. About 25 miles down Route 2 a vehicle headed towards me on this 2 lane road hit a moose about 100 yards in front of me. I watched in disbelief as the moose slides up the cars hood and crushes the windshield and roof down on the car. The driver crosses my path and ends up stopped pointing in the wrong direction of travel for her. Believe it or not, the moose is not seriously injured and leaves the scene back into the woods. I approach the scene very slowly and notice moose poop all over the road. Cars coming in both directions stop and render assistance. After a few minutes I motor on towards Maine. After crossing into Maine the rain gets the heaviest all day. My visibility is low, the face shield fogs up when fully closed and let rain in when open even a small crack. I obviously miss a 35 mph sign for the village of Bethel, Maine but the cops don't miss me and cite me for doing 55 in a 35 zone. Worse, they make me stand in the pouring rain for about 20 minutes while they write me up. I ask the cop to pose with my rally flag (50 bonus points) but he curtly declines and tells me to watch the speed limit. On and on and on up route 2, sometimes at under 30 mph and with no place to pass for 20 miles at a time. Around 3:00 pm I finally make it to Interstate 95 near Newport, Maine and take off for Bangor. Better yet, it finally stops raining. On to the Hogan Deli and Citgo in Bangor. Arrive around 4:15 p.m. Been on the road practically non-stop for 10 hours! I notice the effects of fatigue, I go into to order something to eat and the words coming out of my mouth are not exactly what I meant to say! I notice I am having problems with taking my gear off, zippers and velcro seem a challenge suddenly. I decide I need to take a break, so I lay over in Bangor for 30 minutes enjoying to warm sunshine and letting my gear dry out. Towards the south all you can see are dark storm clouds!!!

Last Leg: Back to rally HQ: So back on the road and quite better after the 2 hour rest. Rain is steady and surprisingly there is a lot of traffic once I get on Interstate 91 heading north. I am glad I have the Motolights and seriously envy the riders with 4 or even 6 lights mounted to cut thru the dark and rain. Just south of Hartford I notice a dark blob in the high speed lane ahead, I am traveling in the middle lane and move over to the right side lane just to be extra careful. I come upon a small deer which looked to have been hit and killed very recently. The body is mostly intact and certainly would have taken me or any other bike out. I head onto to Deerfield counting down the exit signs until I see Exit 18 for Route 5 in Northampton. I pull into the parking lot at 3:45 a.m. Sunday morning. I made it. I trudge up to my room, take an extra long hot shower and shave. About 5:00 a.m. I go outside and the crew are already at work verifying the return odometer readings. Mine shows 1,059 miles (later said to be 1,019 or thereabouts). I find Rob about 5:45 and turn in my scoring sheets and finish the Rally! I didn't realize then I was walking around in a state of semi-consciousness. I ask the front desk what time we must check out - 11:30 a.m. Well the banquet is at 10:30 so I decide to gather my gear, pack and load the bike for the 130 mile ride home. Here's where I learn the effects of fatigue. After packing I discover that I cannot find my wallet. I check both system case bags, the tank bag and the soft bags. No luck, I unpack everything. No luck. In despair I pick up my helmet and my wallet falls out. I remember now when I pulled off all my gear and emptied my pockets that I tossed my wallet into the helmet! D'oh!!! Pack up everything. Then I discover, no keys. I had just gone thru everything, 2 or 3 times so I know there are no keys in my gear. Inspiration, I walk out to my bike, the keys are in the ignition where I left them at 3:45 a.m. as I wandered off to the room. Here's the scene the next morning.

Thank you Muriel, I take that as a great compliment after enjoying your wonderful piece in ON this month.