Stage 16 (part 2) of the Motorcycle Cannonball - on to the finish. I am a little late, but with all attention on finding the stolen bikes, their rescue (don’t forget to keep an eye out for the two missing JD motors and other parts) and trying to get my energy back after it was all over, I trust you will be understanding. I’m not certain there really is a story about the final stage to the finish. Yes there was a finish line and the Lamay Museum provided a beautiful setting in Tacoma to end this run, but as we came closer to the end, it became more obvious that this is really 90+ stories about 90+ individual riders and machines. It is the story of what compelled each to sign up, their full year of preparation and how they held up through the many tests of endurance that arose each day of the run. Riders initially signed up for a multitude of reasons; a physical challenge for some, a mechanical challenge for others, to prove something to someone, or just for fun. A few didn’t make it to the end, most notably a couple of riders that were detoured through hospitals along the way, but even these riders are reported to be doing OK now. Mechanical failures were dealt with as we went. Even what seemed catostrophic was usually made right overnight as cases were split open, cylinders honed and parts loaned between riders to get a sleep deprived Cannonballer back out on the road at 7am. Some bikes needed parts so rare that they took several days to acquire, and boy would it be great to see these bikes back on the road again. Then there really were some failures that were beyond the means of everyone’s combined tools and parts that sent riders home, but for the most part, even in these cases, in the spirit of the event, a bike hidden in a trailer was pulled out or borrowed, or something was rented along the route, just to keep going to the end. As they came over the finish line, riders were immediately greeted by teammates, support crews and families and then after parking the machines, supporters that followed them on-line the entire way would come up with questions and words of praise, in amazement for everything before them. It was pretty much the same in every city along the way, but it was bigger and more celebratory here at the finish. The riders were clearly pleased with themselves and their machines. They were exhausted and for the most part, ready for it to be over, but these last couple of days were spectacular and a good note to finish on. For the first time in 16-stages, no ride sheet was handed out. There was no schedule, no expectations of getting out to start your antique motorcycle in the cold at 6:30 am. There was talk all afternoon about who would sign up for the next Cannonball in a couple of years and what that may look like. Many are speculating it will be a centenial run of 100+ year old pre-1917 bikes, and some are so sure of this they have already purchased bikes to start working on that fit the bill. With time, for those that are doubtful about returning, the difficulties will fade from memory and the special times will stand out, so you just never know - 2016 could be much bigger than any of us imagine. To end the festivities, the Seattle Cossacks drill team put on an amazing show on their old Knuckleheads and VL’s that no matter how many times I or anyone has seen them, brings a huge smile of amazement to our faces. When they finished, the bikes started up without fanfare and rode away for the last time. Some were headed to the port to ship overseas, most back into trailers for the trip home and a few would be getting back on the road for the final test; a few more days to get their owners home. A wonderful banquet was held at the Murano Hotel to wrap things up that last night. Spirits were high as winners were announced including Hans Coertse of South Africa as the overall winner on his 1924 Indian Scout and Shinya Kimura with Nimi and Ayu were presented with the first “Spirit of the Cannonball” award for persevering all three Cannonballs on the same 1915 Indian. Everyone was delighted how things turned out. As a thank you to the riders, I gave each rider a post card book and a promise to send each a print of themselves as I presented a slide show so people could get a sense of what I saw and how they looked as they were so involved in the moment for this entire adventure. After 16 days of riding, I felt programmed as if it would never end, but it did and we returned the incredible bike Victory loaned us to accomplish this feat. Monday morning, Dave and I were off. What took took so many days on the ground to cover took just 3 short hours to fly over in a plane. I’ve been home for several days now. The adrenalin that kept me going has disappated and I’ve come down from the high, perhaps even crashed. In the end, for me, the Motorcycle Cannonball is the best example of a trip being about the Journey, not the Destination. What an adventure it has been. And now, I have two years to digest it all and to prepare for the next.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 00:41:16 +0000
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