Day 8 – Shhhhhhh, She’s Sleeping

Kirsten did a couple “Iron Butt Hotels” (i.e. propped up on the bike, or a curb, picnic table, wherever you can rest for a few minutes) last night. She arrived in Jacksonville, FL this afternoon, got her tire switch completed and bike restocked for the last leg, and then through scoring. Good news – she got all the points available on this leg!  And my spies at the checkpoint sent me a text to say she looked good. But, it took her longer than she thought it would. So after 4 p.m. this afternoon, she was finally going to sleep until the rider’s meeting tonight at 10:00 p.m.  She wanted me to send a huge thanks to Jim Boone and Calvin Eichner who met up with her at the checkpoint for personal well-wishing!

Jacksonville, FL

The toll of this multi-day ride is becoming clearer. Today's IBR report mentions the various errors riders made during the call-in bonus. And there are three people now out of the rally, including an experienced rider who won the IBR 5000 last summer. He’s doing better, but went home via MetJet after hydroplaning his bike just outside of checkpoint one.

All indications are that, per normal, the IBR staff is going to switch it up a bit for the final leg. Remember that visiting all 48 states is just the BASE route. That is what riders must do to be considered a finisher. To be competitive for a top 20 or top 10 finish, riders must gather state capitals, or other bonus points (Alaska, Four-Corners, etc.) in addition to getting all 48 states. Today’s IBR report notes that there are three separate paths to the podium, so we expect the final scores to look very different than they do at the moment. However, Kirsten realizes she’s not competing against anyone, just doing the best ride she can. This is NOT a race. It’s a rally. And at the moment, she’s trying to gain back some energy to go for Leg Three to the best of her ability.

Points at the end of Leg 2: 3,693
Points at the end of Leg 1: 4,992
Total Points so far: 8,685

Miles ridden in Leg 2: 3,067
Miles ridden in Leg 1: 5,044
Total Miles so far: 8,111

State Tally for Leg Two (36 of 48): Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, (District of Columbia), Virginia, West Virginia (again – this time for the capital bonus points), Kentucky, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

State Tally at End of Leg One (21 of 48): Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York.