My Mason-Dixon rally stated benign enough with the standard check-in process and pleasantries.  At first glance this year's scoring was going to a challenge.  Bonus points were grouped and there were going to be additional points issued for those that completed each group.  There were three jokers that could be used to substitute one location in three different groups.  The jokers were easy to get.  One, $5 worth of lottery cards from either MD, PA or VA, two, a picture of your rally flag and a "welcome to" sign from any state that did not boarder PA, three, a picture of a 24 hr. rider with your rally flag (Steve Whetstone did not know it, but he was going to be on tap for that one).  An additional twist was a good friend of mine, Leon Begeman, was running around the country side and was going to be in  different locations at a particular time.   If you caught up to Leon four times (three times with use of a joker) there were additional bonus points. 

 

When planning for my "attack", my calculations called for using the jokers for the greatest impact.  That impact called for using them against those bonus locations that were the furthest away offsetting my reason to ride really long distances.  I could accomplish more group bonus because most groups had a one way out of the way place and several "in close" Mid-Atlantic locations.  My plan called for using the jokers against Madison Wisconsin, Marathon Key Florida and some place in Iowa where Buddy Holiday's plane went down. 

 

I was running well making it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame about 1 hour ahead of schedule.  The traffic in Cleveland was light and the Hall was very easy to get to.  A short 5 minute stop and I was off to Cairo, Indiana to get the Skywatchers memorial.  Cairo is not on any map, but is at the intersection of Indiana Rt. 18 and I65.  The memorial is dedicated to all those Indianans that dedicated their life during WWII watching the skies over their glorious state for enemy aircraft. Someone should have clued them about a WWII aircraft's range.  I was at this location last year for the MD 20/20 rally, but it took me about 30 minutes to find the thing.  This year due to the recon mission the year before, it was another 5 minute stop.  Next on my list was Westville, Illinois, the home of the first Monday night football game. 

 

I got to the intersection of Indiana Rt 63 and I74 around 2am.  I had been running since noon and needed a break so I pulled in the Pilot truck stop.  I calculated I was around 2 hours ahead of schedule.  I was planning a rest bonus right after the Westville stop on my way to Shakerstown, Kentucky.  I went in and got a cup of coffee and started to walk around the store looking at the life of a truck driver and the things they need.  I made room for someone coming out of the bathroom and my Aerostitch jacket caught a shelf of glassware and knocked it to the ground.  Standing there with one of the world's worst cases of helmet head, I felt really small.  I went up the cash register unzipping my jacket pocket and asked the lady how much I owed her.  She was very nice when she said nothing.

 

At about the same moment, a very large man at about 6'7" looked down on me and ask "what is that all about?".  After I figured out that he was looking at my suit I told him about being a bike rider.  I do not know if it was my state of mind, his size, the time, or the issue of him being a close talker, but all I wanted was to be out of the situation.  I headed out to my bike and he followed me asking me all about the mount, my DOD sticker and what I was doing there at 2am.  I kindly excused myself as I put in my earplugs, mounted my bike and rolled off to Westville.

 

I got the bonus location at Westville pretty easily because even at 2:15 in the morning one could not miss a "Welcome To" sign.  At this point in the rally, I am feeling great because I have two jokers in my pocket, three bonus locations and three good gas receipts.  I now head off back east going down I74 looking forward to burning off the rest of my tank and looking for a nice rest bonus location.  In Brownsburg Indiana, I saw many opportunities for a good gas receipt to start my rest bonus.  A "good" receipt would contain the following information, time, date, location, gallons, place and odometer reading.  It is hard to get a "good" receipt because usually one of those items would be missing.  The odometer reading you write on the receipt.  I pull into the Shell and start my gas stop routine.  My routine was abruptly halted when I go to reach for my zipper and notice that it is fully open and my wallet was gone.  I search the bike for a desperate attempt of hope, but at last I am true to my actions and the only place it would be has been open to the elements for the past 90 miles.  It was gone. 

 

Since I was running so far ahead of schedule I make the decision to return to the last place I remember it, the Pilot.  Luckily, I had enough gas to return to the Pilot, but I was going to be on fumes when I got there.  On my return the lady remembers me, we all look, but on no avail.  Normally, I would have a spare credit card and some cash on reserve on my bike.  I had spare cash/credit card during the Ironbutt the year before, but this time I did not even think about placing anything in my secret location.  I called my parents and the gas lady let me use their credit card number to fill up my tank.  I set off to attempt to find the needle in the haystack at 3:30am by re-riding my route from the Pilot to Brownsburg. 

 

It is amazing what little you see when you have been riding for over 12 hours, it is o'dark thirty, and every piece of retread on the side of the interstate is about the size of a wallet.  As I ride to Westville, my major hope is that it is laying there near  the "welcome to" sign since I got off the bike and walked around.  When I get to the sign, Brad Ketterling is getting the bonus location.  I tell him of my plight and he reaches into his bike into his secret stash and give me $40 for gas money to get back home.  Go figure.  I continue my search down the interstate to Brownsville, but luck is not on my side.  In Brownsville, I call the rally masters and ask for a DNF.  It might have been a little premature to DNF, but licking my wounds, not knowing if everyplace I went to would accept my parents credit card, and the fact I did not have any ID I just wanted to get home.  Thanks to Brad, I made it home with enough cash for three fill-ups and a meal. 

 

The lessons I learned the hard way on this rally include to have spare cash and credit card on hand and breaking my zipper on my stitch so it does not go all the way down.  On the plus side I did get to ride 1600 miles and enjoyed every moment of that aspect.

 

-scott