Dawn Breaks in Provo ~ Day 11

The first grey light of dawn found IBR riders #1 and #8 at the same bonus location North of Salt Lake City.  It was a daylight bonus, so Kirsten (#8) arrived early and took a nap next to her bike.  When she got up, she saw one other rider - #1, Wendy Crockett.  There’s something special about the last morning of the rally, and for these two amazing riders, to have that moment together was pretty cool.

Meanwhile, back at Rally HQ-Provo, the gaggle had formed by 4:30 a.m.  With penalty points starting at 8:00 a.m., riders were lined up in the early hours to head into the barn, or to scoop the last 80 point bonus on their way through Salt Lake City.  I came out, coffee and my nieces’ signs in hand.  Within minutes, a roll of duct tape was found to post some final encouraging words as riders entered the parking garage to park. at. the. finish.

In those late hours of the rally, riders start to rethink their routing as they prepare for final scoring.  At 10 p.m. last night, Kirsten was still considering her options.  It’s a conversation we’ve had many times before, but it bears repeating.  In the evening of Day 10, all the previous days no longer matter.  At that point, it’s a 10 hour rally - you gobble up the points in front of you and come in.

Other spouses and friends had similar conversations yesterday evening and this morning - some of them just talking their riders in as fatigue sits heavily on the last day.  In a marathon, we always say it’s that last .2 mile that will get you.  A huge part of rally riding is the stamina it takes to finish, with enough mental wherewithal to still calculate your points and get yourself through scoring.

For Kirsten, Leg 3 was filled with soaking rains, then heat, then chill in the damp evenings.  On Tuesday morning, she let me know that as she rode into Mississippi, there were two rainbows, one on either side of her.  She took that as a sign and at the next gas stop, pulled her boots off and dumped about a cup of water out of each one and then wrung another ½ cup out of her socks.  The Houston, TX bonus was a boost for both Kirsten and Eric Bray, who happened to be there at the same time to take a photo of their bikes with the replica space shuttle.  Soon after, an IBR follower showed up, rolled down his window and said to Kirsten, “have a great ride!”  They introduced themselves and he paused a minute and then said, “you’re KTS!”  She said, “yes - thanks for coming out!” and was on her way.

She rode on an “amazing” road coming out of Douglas, AZ on Wednesday and said she had seen some crimson red sun rises because of the storms (sailors take warning).  She maxed her time at the highest point value rest bonus yet, and turned over 11,000 rally miles somewhere on Thursday.  Her description of traveling through Window Rock, AZ to photograph the memorial to the Navajo Code Talkers makes me want to go.  Rally packs frequently become future travel destinations for rally families.

Between about 7:15 and 8:45 this morning, spouses and families were all smiles as the SPOTs turned into riders coming up the hotel lane.  Kirsten arrived with nearly 30 minutes to spare.  About 20 minutes into penalty points, there were still 6 outliers showing on the Spot tracker.  One of them was Jim Owen, riding in hard from Colorado losing 20 points per minute.  However, if he was able to grab the big points he was after, that 1800 or so point penalty probably won’t hurt too much as scoring.  He’s been here before.

Tonight is the Finisher’s Banquet where the results will be revealed.  Between now and this evening, riders are finishing scoring, eating, and getting some much needed rest.  We can all use it.  Although, Wendy’s daughter Montessa informed me that she had to go practice her diving in the hotel pool.  Mom is in.  All is well.  Time to go swimming.