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Day 5: NEBDR Track 5 complete, 75 miles into Track 6 (Into Plymouth, NH)

9/8/2020

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So, sometimes you have to sacrifice to the motorcycle gods. Armyguy starts the day realizing his kickstand is missing the nub that helps you locate it with your foot. But he has a quite calm about him, and has accepted the demise.

We start off track 5 a bit gun shy given the rock gardens we rode yesterday. Nonetheless, we give it another go today. If I was a bit upset about yesterday's track, today's route was absolutely desirable. We picked up the track near Mt Hunger C-4 and, had a heck of good time. We sent the X bikes to test it out, then rode another victory gallop with the Grey Goose. In fact, we didn't find a bad C4 on today's track and the Grey Goose had a darn good hoot also.
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The Grey Goose has all these fancy smancy suspension settings. It is such a damn shame that the only way he knows that the bike isn't in low is when he gracefully comes to halt. Then balances for 10 seconds, then scratches at the ground like a chicken looking for grub. Only to realize that he and the bike will soon be cuddling on terrafirma shortly as the ground is many inches below his foot.

Blaster has all but convinced himself that his clutch is on the way out. As we climb a few hills, the RPMs are revving really too high. He is delighted to realize that a rock has lodged itself between the clutch case and the cable....and he didn't even take the rock home nor take a photo. Such a pitty!

https://www.facebook.com/586184849/videos/pcb.10158656580104850/10158656577074850/

Armyguy has really bonded with his steed. So much infact when I chide him that Blaster has just sold his bike to a random stranger that he is chatting to, his face gets all sullen. Almost the same reaction if we had kicked his dog.
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During California Superbike School, they often talk about riding at a speed your can maintain. While you certainly can wick it up to 100% of your ability, it takes incredible mental stamina to stay at that speed. Instead, ride at a speed 70-80% of your ability. This is the same technique that Blaster and I use on the long trips. Sort of like the Bugs Bunny cartoon of the Turtle and the Hare. We fully realize we are no longer turtles, but Blaster asks what kind of Hare am I? A Jackrabbit or a Cottontail? I let him know I am more roundish, like a meat bunny

So then came lunch. We had just passed a covered bridge and we were near and interstate running north and south. Those sound like pretty big descriptors when we have been riding dirt roads for the last 5 days. AMIRIGHT?

We average about 30 miles/hr. Imagine my surprise when I realize that we are 75 miles east of where were at lunch. Another interstate and another covered bridge! And we have four C-4s to ride. Time slips by and we are going to miss the cardinal rule to be off the road by Beer-Thirty. We decide to trudge on, but 1 hour before sunset we will just slab into the hotel we booked at lunch. When that time comes, it seems that we are still going to be 1+ hours after sunset. That is simply no good in moose country.

So plan b. A fool and his money are quickly parted. The next hotel we pass we check in...paying my stupid tax for 2 rooms is my penance for not looking closer at the map. But it was an amazing execution of plan b, and ending an incredible day.
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