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Having recently
returned from Aerostich’s Very Boring 25th
Anniversary Rally http://www.boringrally.com/vbr-events
a ride/rally report seems in order. As usual this
report is (mostly) truthful and based (mostly) on
the facts.
I was first introduced to ‘Stich products during the
2001 Wolf’s Head circumnavigation of Lake Superior,
Jerry (subsequent founder of the SKUNKs:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/SKUNKtails/ ) leading our
small group. This was the first of many “Adventures”
Jerry and I had together where during each, good
follower that I am, he repeatedly led me astray,
slow learner that I am. Having returned to motorcycledom a year earlier, after a 40 year
layoff, I was ready to travel and luckily (?) met
Jerry on the net. We had several shorter rides
together before The Lake tour and I noted that Jerry
wore a faded, well traveled Roadcrafter. A one
piece, zip in, armored, road rash, water and wind
resistant contraption that looked kinda weird,
certainly not like the competition black leather
outfit I had newly acquired. OK, each to his own.
The trip around The Lake was to follow the inland
shoreline, counterclockwise from Two Harbors,
Minnesota, to Copper Harbor an the tip of the
Keweenaw Peninsula (Yooper Country), on to Sault
Ste. Marie, Canadian Highway 17, through Wawa, past
the birth place of Winnie the Poo, around the
headwaters of the lake and back to Two Harbors; 4
days and 1,100 or so miles. Dates chosen were for
the least likely for rain to occur, so said the
weather sages. Well they were wrong!!!
This was the trip where Jerry acquired the
reputation as “Rainmaker”. It rained, and rained and
rained for at least 18,000 of the 1,100 miles and 23
of the 4 days of the trip, or so it seemed. My
treated leather and rain suit simply delayed
(briefly) the chill that accompanied the cold Lake
Superior rain seeping through to the skin. Jerry was
not content to lead around the lake, he led
through The Lake, or so it seemed. As the
leather gained kilos of water weight, Jerry remained
warm and dry in his ‘Stich – an eye opening
experience for me and I vowed never to be so wet
again. There were several other “new riders” on this
trip that reinforced this vow. There was 9 year old
Steve and his father, both wearing light weight
leathers (dry weight) who toughed it out and
followed original intentions to camp –Steve was a
better man than I was. I had wimped out in favor of
warm motel rooms. Check in, turn air conditioning on
high (dehumidify) heat on high (dry) drape wet stuff
in front of all vents and rotate every several hours
so in the morning all was only somewhat wet. I think
Steve and his father lived in their wet clothes,
leathers and all for the duration.
Jerry also in his "unique fashion" provided
sightings of not only Lake Superior moose, deer and
bear but of the Nort' Shore elleyphants. For one
used to dodging cow pies and horse apples on the
roads of Wisconsin, it was interesting to dodge
elleyphant piles for a change.
--and then there was Donna. Donna another biker
newbie with 182 miles on her bike, who popped in and
out of our company, leaving with a flash of TTFN,
and who, of course, insisted on having her picture
taken in front of the statue of Winnie. Now less
than 8 years later she is closing in on 200,000
miles and has more Iron Butt rides under her belt
than can be easily counted, including South Africa.
The next year I futilely experimented with a variety
of rain suits, but invariably wound up with water
logged leathers as Jerry and I continued to travel
together, he warm and dry, me damp and mildewed.
Soooo, I got my Darien jacket and pants, black pants
and YEEESHHH!!!! Yellow jacket. Regrettably, plans
had been made for a trip to New Brunswick, PEI and
Nova Scotia before I knew of the 20th
Anniversary Very Boring Rally. Thus while the first
VBR was occurring in Duluth, I was on a 26 day trip
to the Maritimes. It rained 19 of the 26 days but
I WAS DRY!!!!! Still had to dry
out gear using standard motel procedures (both air
conditioning and heat on high as had not yet got the
Ortlibe Tank and Saddle Bags) but I was dry and
often muttered a prayerful thanks to Aerostich for
their fine products!!!
It was in Nova Scotia, half way around the Cabot
trail (clockwise), in the rain, fog and mists, with
the hack tire hydroplaning through the 10kph
hairpins that I came to the realization of rider
brother/sisterhood. Peering through a fogged shield
a single oncoming light appears through the spray.
Two cold riders, pass in the mists, unknown to each
other but immediately experiencing a warm bond with
the recognition that there is some one else just as
insane, riding for the joy of it in this weather.
All fair weather riders are warmly ensconced in a
motel, perhaps sharing a lively conversation and a
libation or two, but we are out challenging the
slings and arrows of nature, just as humankind has
done since time immemorial. A BIG smile, a BIG wave
and a feeling of warm comfort and camaraderie as we
pass. A lesson learned: “It is really amazing the
amount
discomfort one will endure to have fun”, so he says
with a BIG grin.
Over the years of comfort with
my Darien, the acquisition of the aforementioned
waterproof bags and a pair of Combat Lite Touring
Boots’ plus some of Mr. Goldfines underwear and
other goodies, I was determined not to miss the 25th
Anniversary Very Boring Rally and so registered as
soon it was announced; this, then, dear reader tis a
recounting of A Very Boring Rally,
which wasn’t, very boring, as it turned out.
http://www.boringrally.com/
Up early Thursday August 21, not to cover the 150
miles to Dulut’, but to leisurely drive the back
roads and arrive early enough to have the pick of
campsites. Success, although there were around 100
or so tents already set up and National Trials were
in progress, I found a site several ski runs over
from the sound/band stage with a magnificent view of
the river, towns and Lake below.
The final round of the 2008
USA
Championship trials series
was in progress and there was little to do this
first day other than make camp, hang out, trade
stories and other lies, and enrich the local economy
by a trip to The Rider Warehouse. Time was spent
talking, looking at bikes and taking pictures. I
particularly wanted pictures of sidecar rigs and
their owners, modifications to carry extra fuel for
long distance rides, scenery and other stuff.
       
Gawking through the parking lot, my name was called
and there was Lady Donna, once again. Since our
first meeting many miles ago our paths cross at many
Nort’ Shore (Minnesota) events and I always like to
hear of her latest Adventures. I am convinced that
she and other endurance riders, like Mike S. (LD
HACK) have a completely different metabolism and
neural circuitry that the rest of us. Here tis Lady
Donna herself along with her fore and aft.
  
As the Rally progressed more SKUNKs trickled in,
Uptown-e Al, Bill, Kevin, Mary, even a canine one
and more. But with the first day bike looking,
discussions, stories and tall tales – it twas
bedtime.
 
Friday, was the first day of scheduled VBR
activities with presentations throughout the day,
trials competition in the background and with riders
continuing to trickle in the place was getting
crowded – glad I got my site early. A cloudy day
with occasional light mists but only a couple brief
spits of rain the early evening. Walking through the
rows of bikes I encountered a couple of ladies, one
seated, the other standing and holding an umbrella
over her companion. The seated lady, Jessica, I was
to later learn, had violin under chin and was paying
a variety Hungarian Rhapsodies and other classical
selections. She had been approached by Aerostich Kim
(?) to play for the 25th Anniversary
Celebration, perhaps outside. Much to her surprise
she found herself surrounded by bikers and their
bikes, most of whom would stop and listen for awhile
and many who took pictures. She said that this was
her first solo engagement, usually she played with a
string quartet, and she was having a great time,
even playing while sitting on motorcycles. She also
returned for a performance on Saturday, sans
umbrella, as it was clear and sunny. A touch of
delightfully unexpected “class” which graced the
rally.
 
As a further “class act” a Poetry Reading contest
was held between 5 and 7 Saturday evening. Guess
what. The winner, by unanimous audience acclimation
was none other than the Grande Phewbah of the
SKUNKs, our one and only Kevin which goes to show
that even members of the Mephitis mephitis
clan have (some) redeeming attributes.
Walking through the Rally HQ earlier in the day I
once again heard my name called. There was John W.
of the New Mexico Butterfly roving Rally fame who I
met over a flat tire during the first Butterfly
Rally I attended. The year following our meeting he
went into a right turn too hot, flew the chair and
as best can figure the left cylinder of his Ural got
briefly wedged between the road and the bottom of a
guard rail, with his leg between. Rig broke free and
continued down the highway, albeit without a driver
in a red Roadcrafter, who had been catapulted over
the rail and into a canyon. John recovered, spent
the last year as a volunteer in a Mexican orphanage
and is still riding. He is without a doubt one of
the nicest gentlemen I have been fortunate to meet –
a sentiment shared by Sheldon A. who also knows John
– it tis indeed a small world. I was absolutely
tickled pink to see him again!!
  
Also met Albert again.
I don’t remember what he rides but he remembers what
I ride and more. Albert must be a frequent visitor
to 8 S 18th Ave W in Duluth because I usually see
him there when I stop by. He has a phenomenal memory
and will remind me not only of the bikes/rigs I have
had, but of the purchases I have made that he has
happened to observe, where I live and of the trips
I have told him about over the years; an
interesting retired steelworker. Actually there is
always an interesting person or three in to spend
some money, just look or simply sit on a sunny bench
outside the door, each with a story. Don’t have to
shop to enjoy the visit to “Stich’ can simply look,
talk and listen to the stories.
An evening of more camaraderie, entertainment and so
to bed, quite glad that there were several ski
slopes between my campsite and the sound stage,
having learned that lesson at a Tomahawk, WI HD
rally, some years earlier, after Jerry had said,
“This looks like a good camp site, wonder why no one
has taken it yet?”
Saturday morning the day dawned, as it usually does
with the sun rising, and another very boring day
began. More lookin’ at newly arrived bikes, more
talkin’ with newly arrived riders. Revisited Jessica
the violin lady, attended Pat Hahn’s MSF
presentation re choosing paths through turns/corners
to maximize time/space in case need to evade errors
of other drivers and took some nice people for hack
rides, being kinda partial to kids and pretty young
ladies.
 
Spent some time watching some of the trials. Amazin,
the balance the trial riders have, kinda caused one
to realize how much one could improve on their own
balance. Got some pictures of trial riders but
missed the most important ones. Kevin had decided to
give a trials course a try with his rig and had
prevailed upon me to act as his monkey. Besides
being easily led I thought this would be a good
opportunity to get some action pictures. However, as
we were going over the course shown below, the only
pictures I got were those in the second group. Never the less, I think
Kevin would have won if there had been a sidecar
class.
Some pictures of the regular trials I watched:
 
 
Some of the pictures I took while riding monkey for
Kevin over the same course:
   
Later on Saturday Donna (you do you remember her,
don’t you, dear reader?) snagged me while I was
wearing a SKUNK hat and she was rather
emphatic that I be present in the stage area during
the awards ceremonies that the evening and to be
sure to wear the hat. I agreed, figuring, I
might get something for wearing the silliest hat –
but, I had forgotten that Donna relishes in her role
as TROUBLEMAKER extraordinaire. There were serious
awards based upon skill. Awards such as the
Tametoshi Ushimaru Award for being the quickest
to don a Roadcrafter, the winner, this year having a
time of 14 seconds
 
and the Joe Miller Award (The Worst Breakdown
on the Way to the Rally) and the Still Mint, For
One More Day Award (The Newest Bike Ridden to
the Rally). Some lucky(?) gentleman from Oregon or
Washington, won the both of them. The bike he
originally left home on sized up in Montana and had
to be shot - so he bought a new one to complete the
trip to the rally.
Well I also recieved 2 awards and was roundly booed
for the second. The first was the H.M.S.
Dreadnought for riding the most massive thingee
there (95 Virago 1100, Motorvation Formula II Hack
and what were apparently judged as a "variety of
accoutrements". The second was for Mr.
Beefcake, nuff said. I can only infer from
the nature of these awards that I must be massively
handsome, to the point that one plaque was not
sufficient. I also got my picture taken with “The
Lady in Red” aka Mrs. Cheesecake, who I am forced to
admit tis much prettier than me.
Now some people upon receiving such prestigious
awards may chuck them into a drawer, to gather dust
and never see the light of day. Others may hang them
on a wall in the privacy of their garage, or, with
spousal approval, in a place of prominence on the
living room wall, among the Rembrandts and Picassos,
as it were, but still far from public view. Well,
given the honor of receiving these awards I have
elected to display them proudly, wherever I go.
   
So the sun set and darkness fell as is the typical
result; after a goodnight’s sleep and riders
breakfast I leisurely turned my handsome countenance
via my massive rig homeward.
Learnings:
-The Very Boring Rally wasn’t. By all appearances a
great time was had by all!!! I wonder what the final
attendance count was.
- It was wonderful to see people I haven’t seen for
years and to attach faces to internet acquaintances.
- A “different” Rally. Diverse bikes, diverse
riders, diverse experiences but with the commonality
that all are riders with modifications to
describe and tales of the road to tell.
- Since imitation is the truest form of flattery, at
the 6th First Annual SKUNK Rally,
Typhoon Watch and Bear Scare-a-Thon, to add
a touch of class next year, Kevin will play the
harmonica, Jerry the kazoo, Mike the accordion and
the two Al’s will alternate between the bagpipes and
the didgeridoo.
- Donna will be in charge of chaos.
- Looking forward to the 30thVBR
- In the past have learned that when approaching
Border Guards (Canadian or US) an ungainly, lopsided
three wheeled contraption with a driver wearing a
YEEESCH!!! YELLOW Jacket, astride a maroon and gold
rig with a SKUNK decal or two, modulated head light
flashing, “Back Off” flashing brake lights, wooden
rack holding 5 gallons extra fuel and a “kitchen”,
large (doll) eyes on the rig, kitty ears and tail on
the helmet, an IBA license plate holder and
generally trying to look as much like a school bus
as possible, that the Customs Officials simply
cannot take the traveler seriously. Oh, they try,
but just can’t seem to suppress a grin or two. I
can’t help but wonder what the reaction will be with
a newly acquired tiger ears and tail and the two
plaques weather proofed and firmly attached to the
rig.
Gust, who/whom figures that life is too serious to
be taken seriously.
Some more of the 180 or so pictures, each with its
own untold story.
        
 
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