Mental

On the Sunday before the launch, it starts to get a little mental.  Sleepless nights; THINKING about what might be found in the rally pack later today; double, triple-checking batteries and flashlights; filling gas tanks; checking tires.  And then there was the little post, almost in passing, in yesterday’s IBR report that Lisa was trying to find secure accommodations for 80 laptops to hold in ABQ…. WHAT?!  Are the riders going to have to leave their COMPUTERS at the hotel?  Minor panic.  More speculation.  Until it was revealed tonight that you can’t believe everything you read on the interwebs.  This same report, I will note, did have a mention of Kirsten.  If you’re going to end up in the daily report, you’d rather it be for nice than not.

Kirsten, like several riders, spent the day finishing laundry, checking e-mail before her social media blackout while riding, and bringing all the Garmins back to the room to be ready for the rally pack release.  She also got her special Smurf Karma card from Jerry White – insuring that she will have Smurfy Karma throughout the ride (i.e. if the bike breaks down, at least there will surely be someone there to help).  

She also found her lost mercat!  The mercat was a gift from Motor Maid friend Gayle who cracks up every time she rides behind Kirsten and sees her pop up to stand on her pegs and look around.  The mercat rode the 2011 IBR with Kirsten and we couldn’t find it before she left VA.  Turns out, he had tucked himself into her side case and is now properly re-mounted in the cockpit (upper right).  Every little bit helps.

Others found another way to mentally prepare for tomorrow’s launch – hair painting.  

Cletha and Eric took their task seriously, cutting out wax paper patterns so that people could have custom paint jobs.  Eric Bray, grinning after his star application, told Kirsten, “It’s better if it’s in direct sunlight.”  Indeed.  The winner of the best paint job gets to roll out first tomorrow – with their head still painted.  Kirsten, warily snapping pictures, saw Higdon and Warchild come out and point in her direction, prompting her to exit stage right and enter the hotel via another door…. See mental alertness is key.

Just about an hour ago I got a quick excited call that they have received all of the rally locations for this year, and in fact, there are over 250 national park sites.  She said, “I can’t even tell you how excited I am!  And yes mom- Fort Monroe is in there!”  Of course they won’t know the point value or any other restrictions until later.  Leg 1 is released tonight.  There's still a lot to process, so I told her to keep mentally on track.  Have fun, and stand up now and then to just look around.