Starburst – IBR 2017 Launch

Jeff Earls popped the anticipation balloon on Sunday night with the words, “You are going on a photo safari!”  As the poster foretold, animals of all varieties, but all of them undoubtedly huge and along scenic American roadways, will capture the attention of our IBR riders for the next 11 days.  There are a 107 riders on this rally.  And when they all started their engines yesterday, co-safari master Karen said, “Isn’t it amazing to have 100 bikes start up and barely be able to hear them.”  One must be stealthy on safari…

Kirsten and Routemaster Jeff (sporting his holstein fleece) 

The rider field is about 50% IBR veterans and 50% rookies.  It is an international ride, as the World’s Toughest Motorcycle Rally should be, with riders from Switzerland, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Africa, Portugal, Japan, Mexico, Tasmania, and Texas. :) But the start is in Minnesota, Team Strange Territory.  And the honor of the 01 flag was given to our friend and 2011 IBR winner Peter Behm.  His wife Paula accepted the rally flag to a standing ovation.  “Ride your ride!” she said.  There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.    

All the waypoint locations for the ENTIRE rally were given on Sunday.  (You’ll find more details on the rally and the full rider list in Sunday’s official daily report.)  The points for each of those locations will likely change, and increase in future legs, if past rally protocol continues. IBR veteran Chris Purney exclaimed, “Well, they pretty much cover entire North America.”  After a night of plotting, and a morning of bouncing on their toes, the riders rode out of Rally HQ at 10:00 a.m. on their way to – everywhere.  You can watch the starburst pattern of riders expand from the IBR Public Spot page as they spread across North America to ride their ride here in Leg 1.  

Always aware that safety is a priority, rally staff have admonished riders to go dark on all things social media – no e-mail, no live streaming, no live reports.  Riders need to be focused on the task at hand.  Rally watchers, who love our riders as much as the entertainment they provide, understand.  Therefore, I will not be providing much detail about Kirsten’s ride while she is underway.  She is doing well and in good spirits.  She was excited yesterday morning, and it made me think of another start line we were at (with considerably less pressure) just last month. 

Jennifer and Kirsten at Malin Head (northernmost point of Ireland) along the Wild Atlantic Way. 

In May, we rode an incredible trip with several other IBR veterans, organized by IBA – Ireland President, Chris McGaffin.  In addition to seeing incredible views and from the pillion seat of a BMW GS, I was constantly amused by the spring crop of lambs that wandered the Irish roadways.  Whenever they’d hear the bikes coming, they’d jump and twist and kick up their heels, running to find their mama.  I don’t know if there are any huge sheep boni in the IBR rally pack, but riding along with Kirsten now is a small fuzzy lamb.  It’s a little Irish talisman to keep the way clear.  The little lamb rides near her MD 20-20 rubber duck (from her very first rally) and Mr. Happy (still smiling after all these years).

MN Rally HQ is packing up for the next few days to relocate to the Leg 1 checkpoint in Texas.  Penalty points begin for tardy riders at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday night.  We are now 24 hours into this rally and likely the first 1,000 miles of the famed 11 days, 11,000 mile ride.  Oh the critters they’ll see.

Kirsten heading out on safari at the launch of the IBR 2017