Waltzing 2004

just a brief note on the return from Waltz Across Texas Rally 2004.

the Waltz long distance rally raised over $8,000.00 for the Texas
Scottish Rite Hospital for Children this year. Saw many old friends
from Waltzes past with the best in LD riders coming in from Florida,
Colorado, Canada, Pennsylania, Minnesota and other places including
Texas. This event is a serious challenge for the best long distance
riders anywhere, as well as being a great charity event. Damn good
combination imo.

all riders returned safe and sound, even with the start of the rally
being in the midst of the major thunderstorms that blew thru the state
Satruday morning. It was blowing full fury in Marble Falls at the 7 am
start, but this rally goes no matter what.

Sorry about Joe, Sunny, I hope he's doing ok.

FWIW, it's not just deer. Two years ago a big javalina nailed a Waltz
rider at 3AM near Halletsville, breaking the rear shift lever off and
putting it deep into the riders ankle but he didn't drop the bike. He
made the finishers banquet noon next day in Ft Worth, on crutches, but
he made it. Like the tag says, IBA members are "The Worlds Toughest
Riders"

The ride back today was just gorgeous, so it was backroads all the way.
We'll all miss this wonderfully cool riding weather shortly.

More about this years Waltz winners and details later on. Many stories
to tell but no time right now.


Iron Butt Assoc., WATR 4X, BL3 paparazzi, EOB

 

Glad to hear you got back okay. Weather was great today too on my long
way home. Congrats on taking home the trophy! Props to my peeps!

MAN! You talk about a tough rally. Driving rain AND a huge cold front
that saw temperatures drop about 40 degrees from the day before. Yet
riders dug down deep and pulled some amazing finishes out of their bags
of tricks.

 

You were out bagging roadkill safari locations too, ya bastahd. I've
got to get started on that. Thankfully that runs thru October.

Heh, surprised the hell outta me, i thought i'd totally blown everything
by the time i got to Sonora and then especially after getting to Menard
on nothing but fumes. I just didn't stop and it paid off. Thanks man,
it's a trip, it really is. I about fell outta the chair at the awards
banquet when they called me up. I still laugh when I think about it.

When I saw B2 on the way to Del Rio in Rocksprings, he said if it was
still raining east, he wasn't going. then I saw him again in Brady and
he finally stops at Coopers in Llano for BBQ and says the hell with it,
it's time for a good dinner. Man is true to his word. LOL

Standing outside under the canopy at 6am, timing the lightning/thunder
strikes well under a mile during the final riders meeting just before
the launch can only be described as, uh, inspiring. Yeow, what a way to
start a long day. Full electrics running on high heat in driving rain.
And, you *never* know when you will need a rubber chicken.

I love this stuff, it's freekin' fun. Everyone had to be on a 1000/24
pace just to do the base route with no bonii, and then the weather kicks
in too? Dig it.

 

I am still thinking on doing a trip report when I get time assuming anyone
here on tx.moto is interested. I am snowed under right now at work as I had
taken vacation all but 8 hours last week and it has all piled up. I made a
few comments as I am heading out to work right now.

Congratulations AV, this was my first rally ever and I got a quick
appreciation for the amount of work it takes and the thought that has to go
into it before one even leaves the finish line. I met a lot of fine folks
up there and got a photo of myself and the hottest bikerchick up there.
That photo was worth 10 points as I recall, but I had to hide if from my
wife when i got back. There was some talk about me getting the "moron"
award as when I got up for that bikerchick photo I discovered that I had the
motel towel in my pocket instead of my rally flag. It only took me 5
minutes to go back to my room and get the correct towel so I didnt loose any
points and maybe somebody more deserving can get that "moron" award. I can
see where if I actually rode off with the hotel towel I might be in the
running for that award.

If you hear and see the flash at the same instant, it is under a 1/4 mile.
There was on of those right in middle of the riders meeting and I noticed I
was not the only one looking for a place to hide.

I have been reading some of the posting here that occured during and after
the rally and it remindes me of the NFL back in the old days. Some guy
would jump offsides and since he was fixing to get a penalty he would go
ahead and take a crack at the quarterback even though the ball had not been
snapped and that would cause both benches to empty. Then they instuted
penaltys and fines for taunting and that took all the fun out of the game
and they are no longer adoing stuff like that but at least no one gets hurt
which is the way it should be.

Anyway, I was 40 minutes past that 8pm "drop dead" by the time I got back
to Marble Falls. That was mainly due to all the stopping I did in the rain
trying to get photos of the historic markers. I should have just left for
del rio immediately as I know I wasted at least an hour trying to take
photos and not let anything get wet. Also contributing was the 81 in 70
ticket outside of del rio on my way back. I emailed sputnik the details on
what happened as I am sure those cops have cameras in their vehicles and can
review them to see if I was wearing a helmet (i took it off when i
dismounted). As it was I was able to show him a "no helmet sticker" that
was partially hidden on my license plate. I do not see how any LEO can spot
a 99bmw and think it is a 94ninja, one should identify what is going on
before writing down stuff like that on the ticket. If he tickited me for no
helmet and no insurance for the "ninja" I was fixing to take out my camera
and take some pictures along with his and send the photos to the judge. As
it was, it was windy and he wrapped my drivers license in the ticket and
handed it back to me. I didnt notice the license wrapped in the ticket so I
dropped them both into the glove compartment. When I filled up at Sonora I
immediatly noticed my license was missing from my wallet and assumed the LEO
had kept it by accident. That is when I decided to set the throttle lock to
under the speed limit instead of right on it. Thinking I didnt have my
license got me worried about being pulled over for anything and then haveing
my bike towed off. I had the throttle lock set to 70 and coming over a
hill got a gust of wind and got clocked before I could set the throttle
down. I took my time comeing back and that contributed to being to late to
qualify but it was not the key item. That was lack of prep when starting
out and all the stopping I did in the rain.

The best part of that trip was my ride thru that willow city loop with the
majestic rock formations and all the little turns thru those texas size
hills. I will never forget that willow city area. Neither willl I forget
the 6 vultures on highway 277 that were feasting on one of the fellow
vultures. Course they could have been holding a pray service.

Anyway, I am already late to work. I think this post turned out to be my
trip report after all unless I can think of someing to say later.

 

I'd sure like to read it.

 

Just reading your goofy shit, John...it's amazing!

You rode 547 miles in 12 hours and received a final score of 0 (that's
ZERO) and you talk like you just rode that motorcycle up Mt Everest.
You're a silly little man!

BTW, your looks match what I'd have imagined you to be.

 

That it does. One of the riders blew off the rest of his ride to have
dinner there because you can't get that stuff in Florida where he now
lives after moving from Texas. I think that's the place that has had a
continuous fire going since it opened 50 or 60 years ago, not sure about
the the age but it's been around a long time. When the founder died a
few years ago, there was a split about the smokehouse; one heir wanted
to do something with the property and the others wanted to keep the
restaurant going and so the restaurant was moved, but they didn't put
out the fire. They used a big old bathtub loaded on beams to carry the
burning logs to the new location, escorted by the Llano police and fire
dept. Nonstop fire for 50+ years and tradition held with a little
innovative thinking. dammit, now i'm hungry.

 

shooting.

Bet those folks were sure glad when the "hunting season" was over.. Everyone
in the area breathes a sigh of relief to know that YOU have "stalked and
shot" all you are going to.. What a scary thought.. someone like you on the
loose with a loaded weapon...

 

Well just toodle on up here to Irving.. Nah.. 547 miles in 12 hours.. 0
score tally.. Hell.. I can't wait for all that.. LMAO... C'mon Johnny boy..
You washed out on the Waltz run.. Look around you bubba, all your buddies
have dropped by the wayside.. How far is it from Houston over to
Galveston.?? I can manage that.. You and your ol' trashy buddy over there be
sure and don't get out of pocket on me.. now..

 

I'll bet, John!!!

Although, judging by what I've seen of you, you might want to back off
on the "dinners" a bit more. Stick with Slim Fast(tm) dinners instead.

How's the scenery down on Ector today, John?