R&R taken care of, it was time to make haste! I was scheduled for a 6:50 a.m. flight--headed for four days in Park City, UT, on business, and needed to get home to pack, return a car to the office and pick up files.
After locating a clock and checking a map, we decided to take the most direct route rather than to head for I-15. The most direct route meant Route 89 to Route 287 in Choteau, then Route 287 to I-15 in Wolf Creek, then I-15 to Helena. About 200 miles to travel, almost all of it on 2-lane winding roads through nowhere. Traffic was, for the most part, non-existent. We were both totally unfamiliar with the roads and there are few street lights in nowhere, so speed wasn't considered as an option.
We did hit a long straight stretch, and after the full day of travel at reduced speeds, I was overcome by the urge to open it up. Roger was behind me when I cranked the throttle all the way and shot forward. I was still accelerating long after pegging the needle at 80, checked the mirror and could barely see the light on Roger's wing. With a curve coming up, I let up on the throttle and the speedo's needle dropped immediately to 10...and that's where it remains still. (Note, the tach has been broken for about a year and a half, now the speedometer doesn't work. Could it be time for repairs?)
So.....I waved Roger around to take the lead and settled back to follow the wing's tail lights. With nothing more to see than those lights, my mind was free to wander and a Great Plan(tm) developed: The 1997 First Ever RMH Run to the Sun! I'd already decided that I would return next summer and reverse the direction--I've been told that the road *must* be done from both directions to get the full effect. If at least a few more people are interested, it could develop into an annual event!
An owl, spooked by the wing, flew up in front of me and brought me back to reality and the need for awareness. I filed the plan away for future reference.
Finally back on the interstate and much closer to home, we picked up speed and the right lense fell out of my night glasses. I tried riding with my right eye closed, that didn't seem very safe. I tried riding with it opened, but that didn't feel good at all. I signaled Roger and we pulled over with about 10 miles yet to go. Fortunately, I had goggles in my bags, so I dug those out and we were back on the road--side by side for the close of the trip.
A mile before the exit leading to my house, a skunk darted out into the road from the right side. I swerved right just enough to miss it, and it stopped before running into Roger. We passed it safely, about a foot of clearance on each side. We spared the skunk, and the skunk spared us. (A *really* Good Thing(tm) since I had a plane to catch and no time for deskunking.)
It was 2 a.m. when I finally rode the Roadster into the garage. Shawn was still awake, frantically trying to accomplish repairs to his ISP main server before he, too, caught the plane at 6:50. (He was on his way to Denver for business.) The first order of business for the bone-weary bikers was a race to the bathroom. I won. Then came the slow shuffle to the kitchen for a much-needed cup of hot coffee. We both made the critical mistake of sitting down at the table to drink. And it took us almost another hour to pick ourselves back up to attend to the rest of the details.
Roger followed while I drove the car back to the office. I made him leave his knives and other weapons at the house because we'd have to pass through security to enter the building. And at 3:15, we arrived and two bone-tired, road-weary, grubby, disheveled bikers strode toward the security check point in the middle of the night without a thought towards appearance. Only to find no guard in sight and no way to contact one. And the door was locked.
Undaunted, I steered Roger around to the loading dock and pulled my card key out, inserted it, heard the click and opened the door. Roger hesitated. "Am I allowed in here?" he asked? "Yeah," I answered, and pulled him inside, closing the door before the alarm sounded. "Are you sure," he asked. "Do you see anyone stopping you?" was my response.
We made our way to the secured entrance via back halls, but still, no guard could be found. (So much for metal detectors and x-ray machines!) I signed the login sheet, not bothering to add Roger to the sheet, and we took the elevator up to my office.
Business completed, I signed back at at 3:45, steered Roger back to the loading dock and we left as we'd entered. Unquestioned; unobserved; undetected!
And, yes, the lioness returned home on the back of the wing with the coyote at the controls. Gratefully, in fact. And ready to kick the travel preparation into high gear. I half-threw a bunch of stuff into a suitcase with little concern about contents. That was enough as far as I was concerned. One very long shower later, followed by more coffee, and my exhaustion was complete. It was 5:30 a.m., Shawn and I would leave for the airport together at 6:15. Only 45 minutes more and I could sleep on the plane.
Good plan, but it didn't work out quite that way. Instead, I fell asleep and missed my flight. Fortunately, I was able to reschedule on the next flight out--at 2 p.m. Which gave me time for more sleep after calling the office to put myself on leave for the day.
I'll admit, I almost missed that flight too! But thanks to Roger and his Wing, I made it to the airport just in time. I was asleep before take off and didn't wake until after landing in Salt Lake City. I died again immediately after checking into my room in Park City, slept through two phone calls, was finally awoken by an insistent bladder at 8 p.m., and called home.
The kids reported that Roger had left 10 minutes earlier and that he'd never heard a word from Jeff and Vince. So he was traveling back to Wisconsin alone--carrying the only tent, all of the water and all of their photographic equipment.
Jeff & Vince --- in case you guys ever get online and discover dejanews.....it was nice meeting you. You guys are super and I had a blast. I hope you made it back safely, and I'd love to hear the rest of *your* story....
Coyote --- (who plans to be online soon)....going to the sun with you was a wonderful adventure. When you look up at the night sky, be sure to wave. I'll be there, resting in peaceful contentment in the ladled end of the greatest dipper. --- Princess Puma
And to all here --- what do you think? Next summer? Should I start planning for the first annual R.M.H. Run to the Sun?
CLM -- 8/16/96