Back to St. Louis

I picked up the other York bonus before heading back once again to the Pennsylvania Turnpike.  Of course, once again, it started raining.  Between the rain and the fog, I never threatened the speed limit.  Fortunately, the foul weather would be short lived as dawn approached.  Making my way back across I-70 once again, I crisscrossed Ohio, picking up bonuses as I went.

The Longaberger Basket in Newark, Ohio

I arrived in Marysville, Ohio where taking a picture of the Honda plant was a bonus location.  I pulled up to the security gate of the Factory and explained to the guard that I was on a scavenger hunt and was going to take a picture of the Honda sign.  The guard at the gate was an elderly gentleman.  He said something, but because of my ear plugs, I could not hear what he said.  I thought he waved me through.  I rode to the middle of the parking lot and quickly snapped the picture.  As I was finishing up, the security guard was quickly walking my way and didn’t look particularly happy.

I removed my plugs, just in time to hear, “I guess you don’t mind too well.”  Now, it has been a few years since anyone told me that I didn’t “mind” too well, but I was pretty sure I knew what he meant.  I guess he hadn’t waved me through after all.  Once again I got a tongue lashing.  Something about trespassing, arrests and violation of picture taking policies, but I really quit listening.  It was clear he did not want me there, and I did not want to be there, so I decided to make us both happy and leave.  Little did he know that there would be numerous other riders visiting him throughout the day.  Perhaps they would mind him better.

Illegally Obtained Photo of Honda’s Top Secret Plant

Leaving Ohio, I dipped south for a few scattered bonuses in Kentucky.  There was nothing spectacular about any of them, though I did get to stop at the home of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.  The track was disappointingly similar to just about every other track I have seen. I am not sure what I expected, but I was disappointed.

Yes, someone lives in the Spaceship House.  Very strange.

One Very Serious Louisville Slugger

I started back for St. Louis heading out of Louisville.  The ride was uneventful all the way back.  Ironically, and annoyingly enough, I arrived back at the checkpoint in yet another rain storm.  Starting and finishing in the rain.  I was very surprised by the number of riders that seemed to have arrived very early.  I arrived about 30 minutes before the penalty minutes started, which is not cutting it particularly close.  However, given that we were facing a mandatory rest bonus, I don’t know why so many riders chose to arrive so early. 

Arriving at the Checkpoint, courtesy of Voni Glaves

After checking in to stop the clock, I checked in to a room to get organized.  After going over my receipts, it was obvious that my first fuel receipt was going to be a problem.  The extreme heat in the left Jesse Bag had bleached out the receipt.  I suspected the judges would not be kind in their ruling about the validity of the receipt.  The receipt for parking at the St. Louis Arch was similarly damaged, but still readable.  I had moved the other receipts to the other Jesse Bag early in the leg so no other receipts were affected.  All the other bonuses seemed to be in good order.

After getting organized I went down to be scored.  There was a considerable wait.  While I waited, I left my helmet with Paul Taylor and John Ryan.  John’s attempt at 11 consecutive 1500 mile days came to an end when he shredded a tire early on and suffered a blow out.  Though he was not injured, it had brought his attempt to an end for now.  Paul and John had the new J&M headset from Roger and were going to try and sort out the problems.  They also replaced the gas cap on the auxiliary tank.  The RID problem persisted but there was nothing that could easily be done to fix it.

I met with the Ira Agins, prior to being scored.  Ira was the head scorer for the Rally and would be the arbiter of any scoring disputes.  I presented my two damaged receipts and got the rulings I expected.  The fuel receipt was out, but the Arch receipt was accepted.  Being one of the last riders scored, I finally finished being scored near midnight and made my way back to the room.

In all, I collected 33 bonuses on the first leg over 4874 miles.  This was more bonuses than I had collected during the entire rally in 2005.  I figured we would get more of the same for the second leg, with a choice of a southwest or a northwest route.  I thought I would be well positioned to make a run during the second and final leg.  I went back to the room and got some much needed rest.  The next bonus listings would be handed out at 4:00 AM Saturday morning.

Continue to Chapter 7

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