Today was the first of 2 of the longest days of the Motorcycle Cannonball Run. Day 9, Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Lawton, Oklahoma is 276 miles, and it’s hot out. As Cris took off this morning I was just praying that the heat and distance didn’t wear too hard on her and Effie, yet I expected it would. Athena and I looked at each other as she rode away, deep breath, and got into the Team Effie sweeper van with Pat.
DAY 9 - Cris and the "Roughians" (we named them that), Dave Bettencourt, Dave Johnson "Plumber Dave", Steve Huntsinger, Cris, Mike Madden - Cris is riding with them today.
The first person we came up on was actually Carl Olsen and his bike was just loaded on the reaper’s trailer. But no worries. I had no doubt Carl would have it fixed up quick. He just needed a part from his crew at the lunch stop he calmly told us. He was back on the road in just a few hours after getting the part he needed to get rolling again.
The next load up was Buddy Stubbs and his sidecar, again. Buddy is one of the many that inspire me. How can you not be inspired by such pure determination? He keeps going and fixing and going and fixing. That whole “wrench, ride, repeat” saying that is on the back of Bill Rodencal’s teams shirts. So true. We got our ramp out and helped load him up onto the trailer, gave him a hug, and left knowing we would see him out there again, because he does NOT give up.
We did get a text from Cris that Effie had pushrod trouble again, and now a rocker issue. We were a little bit behind them, but headed their way. I texted her back “on the way!”. When we got there we got a nice surprise! By the time we caught them, the “Roughians” – as we have so lovingly named them – Dave Bettencourt, Mike Madden, Steve Huntsinger, Rick McMaken – had it fixed. Dave had a rocker, and we thankfully had an extra pushrod in the saddlebag after learning that an extra pushrod is a saddlebag supply. They were heading out as we pulled up. Phew. The Roughians are rocking the top spots in the competition having completed all their miles, and Steve is the one that rebuilt Effie. Blessings.
About 55 miles out of Ada Oklahoma was the half way point of the trip!
DAY 9 - HALF WAY TO CALIFORNIA!!!! This sign was posted 55 miles from the lunch stop in Ada Oklahoma. Had to be a bit of encouragement for the riders as they rode past it because I know it was for us!
Got to the lunch stop in Ada to see a group of very heat exhausted riders. When they went to take off, all the Roughians, and Effie, started fine, expect for Dave Bettencourt, Roughian #39. He needed to try a push start so I jumped in to help. We tried several times…and note to self, need to exercise. I was sweating from places I didn’t know you could sweat from and gasping for air. To no avail, we didn’t get him started. So, Team Effie van pulled into a shaded section of a gas station parking lot and helped Dave. This is how things work out…it’s a pay it forward type of thing. Dave was the one that was willing to hand over a rocker and pushrod to get Effie going again, and now he needed a magneto, and we had one in the van. I’m not even including a photo (mostly because my camera battery went dead at lunch break dangit!) but it’s a familiar site if you’ve followed the stories at all. Crouched down, wrenching on the bike on the blacktop. Sweating. Getting greasy. Passers by stopping to take a peek. Got the magneto in (ATHENA ROCKS) and off he went.
It is such an amazing feeling when you can help someone. It just fills you with the good stuff when you know that you hadn’t been there, he’d probably be on the trailer and since this had happened to him once already on the trip, cutting off a finger may have felt like a better option to him at the time. When you give, it seems that you receive it all back 10 fold. We stayed back with Dave. We were still 110 miles from the finish line. Dave got off course when he took off ahead of us, so we had to back track to find him and when we did we hung with him…all the way to finish. We arrived just before sunset. JUST before. It was close. But Dave got his miles and that’s something to celebrate. He rode that last 110 without stopping once (he has an auxiliary gas tank which is allowed) – not an easy feat on a 1915 Harley.
Effie blew out a rear tire 12 miles from the finish. Cris was able to hold her up, but we weren’t able to be there to change the tire roadside. She got credit for her miles, minus 12 and was loaded onto Urban Hirsch’s truck. Urban was trying to get his bike started road side so she said it was the longest 12 miles of the trip because she now learned what we see and do as sweepers…waiting, cheering, helping if you can. We arrived following Dave at the finish to a very tired and a little shook up Cris. Endurance and strength tested and today her riding skills were tested too. She rode out a flat like a pro. She said it was the first time she’s had a flat in 33 years of riding. Just a reminder that this is an ENDURANCE run – it tests you mechanically, mentally, physically, spiritually.
We faced a long night after not rolling in until after 8:30. We had a tire to change and lots of adjustments to make after a long grueling day like that. But it didn’t matter. We cheerfully got covered in oil again, and prepared Effie for the next day. We needed to make sure we checked every bolt because Day 10 is 293 miles. The longest of the run. Cris was exhausted and we still had to talk her in to getting some rest. She wanted to help prepare Effie too. Athena and I plugged away with helpers stepping in here and there. It was probably 1:30 am or so when we got to the room, but we still found laughs at how absolutely greasy we get. Many clothes have been ruined on this trip. Small sacrifice to make really.
DAY 9 - Sorry to our husbands...but both Athena and I will need some new clothes when we get home. Old bikes, no matter where you touch them, get OIL on you. And our clothes look like this when we are done with maintenance and adjusting for the night. hehehe.
Today is Sunday, and I thought it appropriate to include some of the church signs we saw along the road today. Athena and I smiled as we noticed the messages from God. And later when we talked about Day 9 we realized those messages were sent in a special way, because in hindsight, it’s part of what kept us sane during a long tiring day that got longer once the finish line was crossed. I’ll share a few with you:
“God makes all things, so He can fix all things”
“Regret can be an awful waste of time”
“Different People…Same God”
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:29-31”
“It’s your choice – Heaven or Hell”
And here’s a theme for this journey we are on: Hebrews 12:1
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (New Living Translation)
Happy Sunday!
(PS – got to see the German couple riding together today. She drafts behind him. She is poetry in motion when she starts her bike…but THEY are poetry in motion riding together. So amazing.)
Continue to check http://www.motorcyclecannonball.com/ for updates on scores and other riders. Felicia is doing a great job updating it. Cris’ riding buddy Jim Petty #55 has been calling all over the country for parts for his Indian. Another one that won’t give up. So we hope to see him out again.
DAY 9 - Pat helping Cris prepare for takeoff on Day 9 
DAY 9 - The view from my seat in the Team Effie Van. I am the navigator and try to make sure we are on course. We miss a turn once in a while :) but it's been fun.Godspeed,
Laura Klock
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