I am still there perplexed as what the heck I am going to do about the route. I am like a squirrel with a nut, unwilling to ride within 25 miles of a bonus and not tag it. I also refuse to give up going to Roanoke (where there is a nice large straight). Panic finally breaks the stale mate, and I start kicking off bonus points. Miraculously, I happen to kick off enough of the dinky ones that were keeping me off high speed roads. After a few more tweaks, I have a route that is 9.5 hours…which I convince myself will give me enough time to stop for pics and gas.
It’s now midnight, and the room temperature in the hotel is sweltering 84F. Apparently, the HVAC cannot heat and cool simultaneously. They have turned off the A/C for the season. This wouldn’t have been too much of an issue if I had not traded my original room on the 2nd floor, for this nice walk out ground level one. Since the hotel happens to be attached to a conference center, and it’s the Navy Birthday Ball night, lord knows I won't be sleeping with the patio door unbarricaded! Predictably, I sleep poorly. The phone rings at 0430. It’s Lisa who I was supposed to meet for Bfast (and probably the only meal I will have for the next 12 hours). I’ve apparently set my alarm for PM vs AM. Just under an hour and I need to check out of the hotel and be ready to ride.
At the mandatory riders meeting, the rally master hands out manila envelopes. Closest to him, I am one of the first one he hands one too. A few more riders, then someone squeals “OH SNAP”. While the rally master snickers at her revelation, he collects the envelopes back up. They were empty, and just a ploy to make us think the routes would have to change. As a rookie, I had Wiley Coyote Syndrome—I didn’t even realize what the packet thing was about, so I didn’t even realize the potential fear.
Never the less, we are quickly sent on our way into the dark pre-dawn light. He's given us an early start with an extra 13 mins to ride! It’s been raining all night, and it’s still drizzling out. Our rally packet (shirt, 14 sheets of paper, flag, and sticker) were all distributed in a large clear Ziploc. Everyone seems to have theirs as they walk to odometer check. Everyone but me that is. Standing out in the rain drops watching my paper gets wet, while everyone else covets dry paper in a Ziploc it makes sense now. I just thought it was a way to pack all that crap...mine is safely packed will all the kit I am leaving back at the hotel. Having somewhat the home team advantage, my first stop is the Wilderness Battlefield very near RT20/RT3 which I have ridden by countless times. Should be easy, right?
It’s now midnight, and the room temperature in the hotel is sweltering 84F. Apparently, the HVAC cannot heat and cool simultaneously. They have turned off the A/C for the season. This wouldn’t have been too much of an issue if I had not traded my original room on the 2nd floor, for this nice walk out ground level one. Since the hotel happens to be attached to a conference center, and it’s the Navy Birthday Ball night, lord knows I won't be sleeping with the patio door unbarricaded! Predictably, I sleep poorly. The phone rings at 0430. It’s Lisa who I was supposed to meet for Bfast (and probably the only meal I will have for the next 12 hours). I’ve apparently set my alarm for PM vs AM. Just under an hour and I need to check out of the hotel and be ready to ride.
At the mandatory riders meeting, the rally master hands out manila envelopes. Closest to him, I am one of the first one he hands one too. A few more riders, then someone squeals “OH SNAP”. While the rally master snickers at her revelation, he collects the envelopes back up. They were empty, and just a ploy to make us think the routes would have to change. As a rookie, I had Wiley Coyote Syndrome—I didn’t even realize what the packet thing was about, so I didn’t even realize the potential fear.
Never the less, we are quickly sent on our way into the dark pre-dawn light. He's given us an early start with an extra 13 mins to ride! It’s been raining all night, and it’s still drizzling out. Our rally packet (shirt, 14 sheets of paper, flag, and sticker) were all distributed in a large clear Ziploc. Everyone seems to have theirs as they walk to odometer check. Everyone but me that is. Standing out in the rain drops watching my paper gets wet, while everyone else covets dry paper in a Ziploc it makes sense now. I just thought it was a way to pack all that crap...mine is safely packed will all the kit I am leaving back at the hotel. Having somewhat the home team advantage, my first stop is the Wilderness Battlefield very near RT20/RT3 which I have ridden by countless times. Should be easy, right?